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Jap Passed Away Suddenly

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Angelica

Angelica

Junior Guinea Pig
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I haven't been on in a very long time so some of you may not remember me but I'm back with awful news.

One of my boars, Jap, passed away today. I'm shaking and distraught. I feel awful because I fed them this morning before I left the house, but I was in a hurry so I barely had time to do anything with them and I feel like maybe if I had taken a few minutes to slow down I might have noticed something. But I never noticed anything wrong in the past few days, both my boys were healthy and, hopefully, happy as usual. They were both active, vocal (for food), and affectionate. I feel so sick because he's only 4 months old, I've only had him for that long but I loved him from the moment I got him. I'm really, really struggling to understand what went wrong, they had water, they're breakfast then I come back and he's laying at the bottom of the hutch, laying on his side. Thumper is seems healthy and is sitting next to Jap's body and it makes me feel so horrible because I feel like I should have seen signs, anything, maybe prevented whatever happened. Ironically enough I was leaving to go to the vet this morning, for work placement, I felt happy and like I was in a really good place then this happened.
 
HUGS

I am very sorry for you. Heart attacks and strokes can sadly strike at any age without warning. Please don't feel bad. if something major was wrong, you would have likely noticed, but you can't what isn't there! Some piggies live with a hidden time bomb in their bodies that can go off at any time. :(

I have lost two young piggies to sudden acute heart failure even despite being at home and rushing them to the vets immediately as an emergency as soon as I noticed the first signs. It is very likely that even had you been there, it wouldn't have made any difference to the outcome. :(

Because of the shock, pet owners are even more prone to feelings of guilt or failure after a sudden death than they are normally at the onset of the grieving process. It is par for the course that you have a strong need to make sense of what has happened and to see where you could have failed. We all go through this after the death of a beloved pet.

You are most welcome to post a tribute to Jap in our Rainbow Bridge section if and whenever it feels raight for you.

Here are tips what you can do for Thumper: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/looking-after-a-bereaved-piggy.110463/
 
I'm really sorry. As Wiebke says is sounds like a heart attack. Hope you're ok.
 
Thank you both for your kind words. I will post a tribute for Jap in time. I really don't want to a get another piggy at least for a while, but Thumper is my priority, unfortunately I don't have any sort of shelters that offer 'boar dating' so I'm not quite sure what to do for another companion for Thumper. I don't want to get just another boar (without boar dating) if there's a good chance they won't get along because I don't have the space for another cage. Thumper is young (4 months) so would getting an older boar work better? I've considered getting Thumper neutered and get him a female companion, but is the operation too risky? I'm not sure what to do when the time comes for Thumper to have a new friend. I know it's not replacing Jap but it still hurts to think about getting another piggy because the two were so closely bonded.
 
I'm really sorry to hear about Jap :( I'm going through something similar, we had one of our boars pts this past Sunday which was the second guinea since February. RIP Jap.
 
Angelica said:
Thank you both for your kind words. I will post a tribute for Jap in time. I really don't want to a get another piggy at least for a while, but Thumper is my priority, unfortunately I don't have any sort of shelters that offer 'boar dating' so I'm not quite sure what to do for another companion for Thumper. I don't want to get just another boar (without boar dating) if there's a good chance they won't get along because I don't have the space for another cage. Thumper is young (4 months) so would getting an older boar work better? I've considered getting Thumper neutered and get him a female companion, but is the operation too risky? I'm not sure what to do when the time comes for Thumper to have a new friend. I know it's not replacing Jap but it still hurts to think about getting another piggy because the two were so closely bonded.
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Under the circumstances, neutering may be an option for you, provided you can find a good vet with plenty of experience in small furries operations; that is the most crucial point.
Thumper is coming up to the age where he can be neutered (between 4-6 months). You will also have to count in a full 6 weeks post neutering wait until he will be 100% safe to go with a sow. I have the daughter from a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post op boar (not one of mine), just to prove the last point. That will give you some time to come to terms with what has happened. The big advantage is that cross gender pairs are the most stable piggy bonds with virtually no fall outs. Most sub-adult sows are accepting of a boar.
We can give you tips on how to best prepare for an op and post op care and provide ongoing support if wished.
I am tagging @Glynis for you. She is local to you and may be able to help you re. information about suitable vets.
 
Wiebke said:
Under the circumstances, neutering may be an option for you, provided you can find a good vet with plenty of experience in small furries operations; that is the most crucial point.
Thumper is coming up to the age where he can be neutered (between 4-6 months). You will also have to count in a full 6 weeks post neutering wait until he will be 100% safe to go with a sow. I have the daughter from a supposedly safe over 5 weeks post op boar (not one of mine), just to prove the last point. That will give you some time to come to terms with what has happened. The big advantage is that cross gender pairs are the most stable piggy bonds with virtually no fall outs. Most sub-adult sows are accepting of a boar.
We can give you tips on how to best prepare for an op and post op care and provide ongoing support if wished.
I am tagging @Glynis for you. She is local to you and may be able to help you re. information about suitable vets.
Click to expand...
Thank you!
 
Very sorry that you lost such a young piggie so suddenly. :soz: One of my past piggies died from a stroke, and like you, it happened when I wasn't there. :td:
 
Hugs to you from myself and my boys. Never any rhyme or reason to these things. It's heartbreaking. I'm so sorry for you and thumper good luck and don't blame yourself x
 
I'm really sorry for your loss! If it was sudden at a young age, I really think it was likely to be heart or stroke. Unfortunately there's no warning and nothing that can be done. One of my friends lost one of her pigs like this recently... she fed him in the morning and he was fine, an hour or so later, he was gone. ((HUGS)) and don't blame yourself, although I know it's hard.
 
So sorry to hear about your little piggy. It must have been a terrible shock. Thinking of you x
 
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