My guinea pig died

[Rosiemarshall13]

Hello, today I went to feed my guinea pigs. One of my guinea pigs cookie wasn’t taking the lettuce from me like he usually does. At first I thought he was asleep so I stoked his nose and said cookie but he didn’t answer. He felt cold so I lifted up his house and he just looked like he was curled up and sleeping... i lifted him up and he was stiff and cold and I just can’t get the image of his little eyes and his mouth out of my head.. his little eyes looked so sad and had all white stuff around them. I’ve been crying all day and I just feel like the heartbreak is never going to end. Life was so cruel to him and he was only a few months old. He was paralysed by a generic disease, he bit his toes off and was just genuinely not able to do basic guinea pig things such as popcorning. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to cope with the death of such a beautiful and gentle soul? I feel like it’s my fault and I should have cuddled him last night but I was just so tired. I’m regretting not giving him a cuddle as he probably needed it

 

[Wiebke]

Hello, today I went to feed my guinea pigs. One of my guinea pigs cookie wasn’t taking the lettuce from me like he usually does. At first I thought he was asleep so I stoked his nose and said cookie but he didn’t answer. He felt cold so I lifted up his house and he just looked like he was curled up and sleeping... i lifted him up and he was stiff and cold and I just can’t get the image of his little eyes and his mouth out of my head.. his little eyes looked so sad and had all white stuff around them. I’ve been crying all day and I just feel like the heartbreak is never going to end. Life was so cruel to him and he was only a few months old. He was paralysed by a generic disease, he bit his toes off and was just genuinely not able to do basic guinea pig things such as popcorning. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to cope with the death of such a beautiful and gentle soul? I feel like it’s my fault and I should have cuddled him last night but I was just so tired. I’m regretting not giving him a cuddle as he probably needed it

Hi!

I am so sorry for your loss. It sounds like there was quite a lot wrong with poor Cookie.

Unfortunately feelings of guilt are very normal for the onset of the grieving process; you only experience them when you truly love. He would known how much he was loved and how well he was looked after.

It sounds like Cookie's body has simply closed down and that his passing was quick and on the peaceful side. Please try to take comfort from that!
In the moments of death or shortly after afterwards, bodily fluids can be release from any orifice (this also happens to humans, by the way); in your case, it is eye cleaning fluid and is nothing to worry about. Dying just is a lot more physical than our vague sanitised version of drifting gently away in one's sleep would suggest - which is actually pretty rare!

Please take the time to read these two guides here. One that tells you what you can do for Cookie's companion and the other for yourself to help make you sense of your feelings as you go through the grieving process in the coming days and weeks.
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

 

[DM241119]

Aww that's sad it's hard to come over the death of an amimal but I do really think you should get another Guinea pig it will make you fell better and won't let you other Guinea pig be lonely xxxxx

 

[Rosiemarshall13]

Hi!

I am so sorry for your loss. It sounds like there was quite a lot wrong with poor Cookie.

Unfortunately feelings of guilt are very normal for the onset of the grieving process; you only experience them when you truly love. He would known how much he was loved and how well he was looked after.

It sounds like Cookie's body has simply closed down and that his passing was quick and on the peaceful side. Please try to take comfort from that!
In the moments of death or shortly after bodily fluids can be release from any orifice (this also happens to humans, by the way); in your case, it is eye cleaning fluid and is nothing to worry about. Dying just is a lot more physical than our vague sanitised version of drifting gently away in one's sleep - which is actually pretty rare!

Please take the time to read these two guides here. One that tells you what you can do for Cookie's companion and the other for yourself to help make you sense of your feelings as you go through the grieving process in the coming days and weeks.
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

Thankyou xx

 

[Flutterby]

I'm so sorry for your loss xx