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My darling baby died suddenly...why?

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scarlett73

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This morning, my little year old guinea, Sparkle died suddenly. I noticed yest. that she was rather quiet and wasn't tearing around the room with her sisters during their playtime ( they live indoors.) When I picked her up , she seemed a little lighter, but there wasn't anything you could put your finger on.She had just been treated successfully for an uti about a month ago.I rang the vet,but couldn't get an appointment until today.Last night when I checked on her I decided to put her in a seperate box in my bedroom, as she seemed a bit lethargic and I started syringe feeding her with some special intensive feed I had used before.This seemed to go down ok and I put a warm towel in her box.During the night I could hear her on the water bottle, so thought she was ok.This morning, she was extremely frail and then started jerking...minutes later she passed away in my arms.I feel terrible because I feel I have let her down and feel she must have been unwell and I just hadn't noticed....even though she is indoors and I check them everyday.What could she have died from ? Her eyes were a bit crusty this morning and I'm not sure if she sounded a bit croaky.I just feel bad, because just before she died she started crying such a heartfelt cry and I can't forget that.She was a beautiful brown girl and I feel she should still be here.:0
 
Hi,
Try not to feel bad about it - I know its easier said than done but we cant always spot things we are not looking for or expecting. Try to take comfort in the fact that as soon as you realised there was a problem you got a vet appt as soon as you could and tried your best with syringe feeding her etc. Also I'm sure it was more a comfort to her to die in your arms than in a vets surgery.
It might be worth keeping an eye on her sisters and monitoring them and their weights just in case theres anything they could also have.
Hugs to you and RIP little Sparkle ....
xx
 
so sorry to hear you lost Sparkle pocprn free little lady xx
I'm sorry I cant offer any advice on why she died so suddenly but our thoughts are with you at thsi sad time xx
 
Thanks for your replies. I am keeping an eye on their sisters.I just wish I knew what Sparkle died from. Will her 2 sisters be very upsept ? What should I look out for ? Will they be ok because they have each other ? I took Sparkle upstairs last night, so they didn't see her, or is it distresssing for other guinea pigs to see their dead siblings , anyway? It's such a shock at how quickly they can go down hill.
 
I just wanted to say I'm so sorry for your loss... it's so sad to lose a pet. I really have no clue as to why she could have gone so quickly. I've had small pets for years and they can go from looking reasonably well to gone in a short period of time. It sounds like you did everything you could for her, so try to take comfort in that.

As for whether her sisters will notice, I'm sure it will be easier on them because there are still two of them left. When we got out pigs, we got two females (not siblings) who had always been together. Last summer one of them got an abscess in her jaw... in spite of two surgeries and some heavy duty antibiotics and syringe feedings the infection moved down into the bone and she died of osteomyelitis and septicemia. She was in the cage with sister when she died and it was obvious that the other pig knew something was up... they were actually both in the pigloo together, and after she died the remaining pig dragged the pigloo over to the other corner of the cage. She definitely knew something was not right. She did seem 'down' afterwards, but after a quarantine period we introduced a new pal for her and she perked right back up. In her case I think it was the solitude moreso than the loss of a specific companion that had her upset. Hopefully the adjustment will be easier because the remaining pair still have each other.

((HUGS)) and RIP Sparkle.
 
sweetie, don't beat yourself up.I'm going through the exact same thing, asking what I did wrong and getting paranoid over things people usually wouldn't think anything of.

The main thing you need to remember, is there was probably no way you could have known

PM me if you want to chat <3xxx
 
Thanks Lexiebee,

I can't work out how to send a pm, but I'm sorry to hear you are going through the same as me. Our guineas are so sweet natured and quietly loving, that is why it is so hard when they are ill .......we know they would do anything for us. My little Sparkle used to lie in the crook of my arm resting her head on me and every so often looking up at me to check eveything was ok.I will really miss her.


Thanks for your good wishes, eveyone.
 
So sorry for your loss. They hide illness so well, it is often too late to help. I have lost three guinea pigs this month so I know what you're going through. It is so sad. xx
 
oh I'm so sorry to read your sad news, rip young sparkle, sleep well in peace x

Hope you are ok hon, please dont beat yourself up it sounds to me like sparkle was cherished xxxxx
 
sorry that you've lost sparkle so suddenly. Run free over the bridge little one x x x
 
We lost Theo in similar circumstances. I know a zillion times more about Piggles since we lost him, but remembering the symptoms so clearly, I still don't think we could have done anything to save him We had a vet look at his body within half an hour of his passing, and he said he'd had an anaphylactic shock, an allergic reaction to something...
I've now nursed Piggles with URI and bloatiness, and Theo's illness was very odd. Sometimes there's simply nothing you can do, so don't feel bad. They hide their illness so well. Sleep well Sparkle Piggle X x Sending Big Love X x
 
Thanks everyone.I feel a bit better this morning, I know I did everything I could, its just knowing she was suffering and scared before she died that is horrible.

Rubybubbles.......my Sparkle was going to be one in Jan...she didn't even have a first birthday or christmas:( What happened to your Sparky ?

Nutmeg.....I'm sorry you have lost 3 guineas .....what was wrong ?
 
I am so sorry to hear about your loss hun. Sending lots of love and hugs your way xxxxxxxxxxx
 
These things happen hunny I'm afraid. Guinea pigs are prey animals and they can hide their illnesses until its too late to save them. I lost two guinea pigs on the same day in October (both from URIs). they had both been fine the days leading up to it but on the day they just went completely sad and basically gave up the will to live. One of them I had to have put down as he was beginning to suffer and the other one died in my mums arms.
 
scarlett73 said:
Thanks everyone.I feel a bit better this morning, I know I did everything I could, its just knowing she was suffering and scared before she died that is horrible.

Rubybubbles.......my Sparkle was going to be one in Jan...she didn't even have a first birthday or christmas:( What happened to your Sparky ?

Nutmeg.....I'm sorry you have lost 3 guineas .....what was wrong ?
Click to expand...

:(


Sparky went from quiet on the friday, her wheek didn't come out then on Sat night she was curled up with me not eating as much, then Sunday morning I watched her fit then she passed away in my arms:0 She was about 5-6yr old though (we think as she was a resuce)
 
That was almost identical to my experience.I watched Sparkle fit too, really horrible and she gave such a plaintive cry whilst looking at me, which I keep thinking about.She died in my arms too. I hope you are feeling better.Sparky was a good age ? and being a rescue, must have had such a lovely few years with you.:)
 
8...8...

Our condolences, we send all our wishes to you and your other piggies.

You mustn't blame yourself though. It seems you did everything you could and Sparkle couldn't have been in better hands. I know that makes it even worse, to think there's nothing you can do but you must remember that she passed peacefully and was loved and cared for 'til the very end.
 
I'm really sorry for your loss. At least she got to be held and comforted when she passed. That will have helped.
 
I am very sorry for your loss; I lost a piggy to heart failure during a vet visit in the summer where I had taken her as soon as I could after I noticed she wasn't well. Guinea pigs can sometimes go downhill so very quickly with not much warning. You did what you could and you did all the right things.

Guinea pigs often fit shortly before dying; it is a reflex of the body and much worse for the bystander than for the piggy going through it. One forum member used to describe it as "running towards the Rainbow Bridge".

I hope that you are feeling a little bit better now!

RIP Sparkle
 
my first guinea pig Fudge who died back in 2004 had a fit before he died. I knew something wasnt write and he had had countless problems for ages. Before he died I remember him jumping on the box he was in and running around my living room :) Shortly after I picked him up and he fitted in my hands - but he was then gone and at peace.
 
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