My Guinea pig Rose crossed the rainbow bridge this morning.

Charss

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
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Location
Australia
Rose was an incredible guinea pig who I will always love and remember. She was a delightful curious being who loved
capsicum and pats. And she bought so much joy into my and my family's life. I will miss her so much
for the rest of my life. But I hope she's happy running in a field with lots of capsicum. I can't stop
crying but I'm glad she's not feeling anymore pain. I just wish I could have had so much more time with her she wasn't even a year old.

A bit more about how this happened warning it's quite sad.
I adopted her as an eight week old in May, from a shelter as well as her friend Swann, eventually Buttercup, a desexed male who is one, and a 3 month old female guinea pig called Adora, came into the family as well. I love guinea pigs I've done short courses on them I want to learn more about them. I make sure they have a huge enclosure, unlimited hay and water, regular inclosure cleaning and the right amount of veggies. And I was rewarded with one of the most rewarding experiences in my life.
And Rose was a part of that, she was a fuzzy white and orange teddy guinea pig, who loved to be pat but also wanted to be on the move, she would make the most adorable sounds, and was so interested in the other guinea pigs. It may have only been 10 months but it felt like so much longer.
About a week
ago she started to stop eating so I took her to the exotic vet, they couldn't do a blood test because
of new years but they sent her home with a lot of medications to get her gut moving, unfortunately
the next day I saw her pacing her inclosure , she became flopped to one side her legs started to stop working, I took her to an emergency vet but it was night time.
And there's no emergency exotic vets in Victoria Australia so they said they could only do first aid,
they gave her fluids, and I went home with her and sat with her on my lap, I petted her and told her I loved her she had quite a few seizures
and then died in my arms. This happened over a few hours and it was agonizing to see her in so much pain and not be able to do anything. I'm quite devastated and a bit frustrated about how much cats and dogs
are prioritised over small animals. I think if Rose had been able to get to an exotic vet again maybe
she could have been saved. She was very brave throughout the whole thing, and my t other
guinea pigs definitely new something was wrong. I'll never forget her and I definitely want to try and
help make a difference to make it easier to get emergency vet care for guinea pigs in Australia.
I'm having a lot of trouble coming to terms with her death, she was so young she deserved to live so much longer, I had so many plans, it was the four of them. I keep thinking even though in reality I know it's not possible that you will appear again , I keep wanting her to come back.
Thank you so much for reading and I'm so sorry for everyone who has also lost a guinea pig or any pet. Here is a photo of RoseFB_IMG_1765370149073.webp
 
So heart breaking..I'm so very sorry for your loss,
Rose was such a beautiful girl..RIP Sweet Rose.
 
So sorry to hear about Rose. She was a lovely girl and you didn’t have her for long.

We never know how long we have with these lovely creatures.

My Henry (also a Rescue from May) passed away yesterday. I’m heartbroken. Although I have had other pigs I think there is always a favourite. He was fine the day before and developed heart failure overnight. Luckily I managed to get him to a Vet yesterday who helped him along. Saving your awful experience.

Love to you.
 
Rose was an incredible guinea pig who I will always love and remember. She was a delightful curious being who loved
capsicum and pats. And she bought so much joy into my and my family's life. I will miss her so much
for the rest of my life. But I hope she's happy running in a field with lots of capsicum. I can't stop
crying but I'm glad she's not feeling anymore pain. I just wish I could have had so much more time with her she wasn't even a year old.

A bit more about how this happened warning it's quite sad.
I adopted her as an eight week old in May, from a shelter as well as her friend Swann, eventually Buttercup, a desexed male who is one, and a 3 month old female guinea pig called Adora, came into the family as well. I love guinea pigs I've done short courses on them I want to learn more about them. I make sure they have a huge enclosure, unlimited hay and water, regular inclosure cleaning and the right amount of veggies. And I was rewarded with one of the most rewarding experiences in my life.
And Rose was a part of that, she was a fuzzy white and orange teddy guinea pig, who loved to be pat but also wanted to be on the move, she would make the most adorable sounds, and was so interested in the other guinea pigs. It may have only been 10 months but it felt like so much longer.
About a week
ago she started to stop eating so I took her to the exotic vet, they couldn't do a blood test because
of new years but they sent her home with a lot of medications to get her gut moving, unfortunately
the next day I saw her pacing her inclosure , she became flopped to one side her legs started to stop working, I took her to an emergency vet but it was night time.
And there's no emergency exotic vets in Victoria Australia so they said they could only do first aid,
they gave her fluids, and I went home with her and sat with her on my lap, I petted her and told her I loved her she had quite a few seizures
and then died in my arms. This happened over a few hours and it was agonizing to see her in so much pain and not be able to do anything. I'm quite devastated and a bit frustrated about how much cats and dogs
are prioritised over small animals. I think if Rose had been able to get to an exotic vet again maybe
she could have been saved. She was very brave throughout the whole thing, and my t other
guinea pigs definitely new something was wrong. I'll never forget her and I definitely want to try and
help make a difference to make it easier to get emergency vet care for guinea pigs in Australia.
I'm having a lot of trouble coming to terms with her death, she was so young she deserved to live so much longer, I had so many plans, it was the four of them. I keep thinking even though in reality I know it's not possible that you will appear again , I keep wanting her to come back.
Thank you so much for reading and I'm so sorry for everyone who has also lost a guinea pig or any pet. Here is a photo of RoseView attachment 279980

BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry about your traumatic experience. Holidays and weekend cover are always a very difficult time.

Personally, I don't think that Rose may have been necessarily able to be saved by an expotics vet, seeing how quickly she collapsed and then passed but it may have made things a bit easier for you and poor Rose. Keep in mind that she passed before any bloods would have been back so you will never know what actually happened; only that it was fatal. :(

However, please try to take consolation that as a loving owner you have done everything you could and have not failed Rose in any respect.
Having lost piggies over Christmas and the turn of the year myself, I know that as an owner you can never choose when and what from your piggy dies but that there is also a third aspect outside your control that I have dubbed 'circumstances'.

Piggies can sadly go downhill very quickly once their body is starting to malfunction and/or closing down. Loss of mobility at the start of the acute dying process is not uncommon at all; whether it is neurological or physical. Once the body has started that process, there is nothing any vet can to do stop it - this is when their extremely fast metabolism is turning against your beloved piggies. :(
A natural death is a lot more physical than you would expect; gently passing away in one's sleep is actually rare. If you have never witnessed a death before, it can be sadly very distressing.
Perhaps this link here can help you to make more sense of your experience and help you to put it into a bit more of a perspective and lift some of your trauma a little more: A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs


It is absolutely normal that you are seeking the fault within you or somewhere else. As humans, we are wired to focus everything back onto yourself as guilt or - more rarely - as anger onto others. This is even stronger after a rather traumatising death when you were feeling so helpless to prevent what unfolded.
Unfortunately, like multiple organ failure, our grieving process is a lot more complex than you'd expect and can take you to some rather weird mind loops and emotional traps.

Here is our grieving guide with practical tips and resources for some countries, which may help you with putting your own experiences into a bit more of a perspective and make you feel a little bit more in control: A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

In any way, we are here to provide community support for as long as you need. We recommend that you please bookmark your ongoing support thread so you can pick it up again whenever you need it.

For Rose's companion(s): Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig

My thoughts are with you.
 
So very sorry to read of your sad loss.
Rose was a beautiful girl.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve.
Hugs 🤗
 
So very sorry that you lost your beautiful girl. She had a lovely life with you and her friends.xx
Sleep tight little one.🌈❤️🐾
 
So sorry to hear about Rose. She was a lovely girl and you didn’t have her for long.

We never know how long we have with these lovely creatures.

My Henry (also a Rescue from May) passed away yesterday. I’m heartbroken. Although I have had other pigs I think there is always a favourite. He was fine the day before and developed heart failure overnight. Luckily I managed to get him to a Vet yesterday who helped him along. Saving your awful experience.

Love to you.
I'm sorry and thank you
 
BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry about your traumatic experience. Holidays and weekend cover are always a very difficult time.

Personally, I don't think that Rose may have been necessarily able to be saved by an expotics vet, seeing how quickly she collapsed and then passed but it may have made things a bit easier for you and poor Rose. Keep in mind that she passed before any bloods would have been back so you will never know what actually happened; only that it was fatal. :(

However, please try to take consolation that as a loving owner you have done everything you could and have not failed Rose in any respect.
Having lost piggies over Christmas and the turn of the year myself, I know that as an owner you can never choose when and what from your piggy dies but that there is also a third aspect outside your control that I have dubbed 'circumstances'.

Piggies can sadly go downhill very quickly once their body is starting to malfunction and/or closing down. Loss of mobility at the start of the acute dying process is not uncommon at all; whether it is neurological or physical. Once the body has started that process, there is nothing any vet can to do stop it - this is when their extremely fast metabolism is turning against your beloved piggies. :(
A natural death is a lot more physical than you would expect; gently passing away in one's sleep is actually rare. If you have never witnessed a death before, it can be sadly very distressing.
Perhaps this link here can help you to make more sense of your experience and help you to put it into a bit more of a perspective and lift some of your trauma a little more: A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs


It is absolutely normal that you are seeking the fault within you or somewhere else. As humans, we are wired to focus everything back onto yourself as guilt or - more rarely - as anger onto others. This is even stronger after a rather traumatising death when you were feeling so helpless to prevent what unfolded.
Unfortunately, like multiple organ failure, our grieving process is a lot more complex than you'd expect and can take you to some rather weird mind loops and emotional traps.

Here is our grieving guide with practical tips and resources for some countries, which may help you with putting your own experiences into a bit more of a perspective and make you feel a little bit more in control: A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

In any way, we are here to provide community support for as long as you need. We recommend that you please bookmark your ongoing support thread so you can pick it up again whenever you need it.

For Rose's companion(s): Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig

My thoughts are with you.
Thankyou so much
 
What a beautiful tribute to your sweet Rose these little lovelies certainly make a big impact on our lives and leave our hearts broken when they have to leave us 💔
She will have taken all of the love with her as she crossed The Rainbow Bridge 🌈 and that will have given her peace and comfort 🌈
 
I am so sorry your beloved Rose was called to the bridge so soon. Please take comfort that she would have known how much you loved her and tried so hard to help her. A few of us on this forum have lost our piggies recently and fully understand the raw emotions you are feeling. She will leave her little pawprint on your heart and will always be with you in treasured memories. Please take care of yourself as you grieve and I send you hugs at this sad time.
RIP beautiful Rose 🌈
 
What a beautiful tribute to your sweet Rose these little lovelies certainly make a big impact on our lives and leave our hearts broken when they have to leave us 💔
She will have taken all of the love with her as she crossed The Rainbow Bridge 🌈 and that will have given her peace and comfort 🌈
Thankyou
 
Very beautiful little piggy. Ours are also teddy piggies and they are just the cutest. We've had ours about 10 months and I can understand completely how that is not long enough for such a lovely little creature! Best wishes.
 
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