My little piggie has gone :(

[Lauralouise]

I feel absolutely awful. Yesterday morning I peeked in on our 2 piggies and they seemed fine. When I went back in to clean them out in the afternoon one of our babies had died. His ear seemed very swollen almost as if something has burst. I cant believe I hadn't noticed anything was wrong was him has this happened to anyone before? I'm completely unsure what could have caused it

 

[Lady Kelly]

I'm really sorry for your loss. Sometimes lumps do appear out of nowhere, it may or may not be responsible for the death. I had a piggy fine when I popped their heat pods in at 10pm one night a few years back and then the following morning (Christmas Eve) around 8am I noticed she had a huge swollen face where an abscess had come up. There are also underlying conditions like heart problems, heart attacks and strokes that can strike at any age and without warning so don't be harsh on yourself.

There is no way to know for certain what caused the death unless you opt for a post mortem through the vets which can be very costly and may lead to inconclusive answers as well.

 

[VickiA]

I agree with @Lady Kelly.
I am sorry for your loss. How is his friend doing?

 

[Abirose]

I am so sorry for your loss x
Rest in peace little one x

 

[Wiebke]

I feel absolutely awful. Yesterday morning I peeked in on our 2 piggies and they seemed fine. When I went back in to clean them out in the afternoon one of our babies had died. His ear seemed very swollen almost as if something has burst. I cant believe I hadn't noticed anything was wrong was him has this happened to anyone before? I'm completely unsure what could have caused it

HUGS

I am very sorry for your unexpected and dramatic loss.

Lumps (abscesses, tumours etc.) can suddenly blow up seemingly out of nowhere and double/triple or even quadruple in size in a matter of hours. It is always a race for time when this happens. Please don't beat yourself up for not noticing - there was nothing to notice when you saw him in the evening if the problem was sitting deeper in the ear/head.

Sadly for you and poor piggy, the very sensitive location was obviously well inside the body and has fatally impacted on the head/brain. It is highly unlikely that your vet would have had any other choice but to euthanise had you been around to notice and get your boy seen by a vet immediately as an emergency. It is just one these thankfully rare cosmic bad luck things that are not your fault, not foreseeable and therefore not preventable.
These incidences, especially when you find your piggies too late, always leave you totally shaken by their very nature. But it is definitely not due to bad care or anything you have done wrong!

Please take the time to concentrate on your surviving piggy and take care of yourself. You may find the two links below helpful to know what you can do and to make sense of what has happened and of your own storm of emotions.
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

 

[sport_billy]

I am so sorry, to lose one suddenly is such a shock. Massive hugs x

 

[Flutterby]

I am so sorry for your loss x

 

[Hholmes]

I feel absolutely awful. Yesterday morning I peeked in on our 2 piggies and they seemed fine. When I went back in to clean them out in the afternoon one of our babies had died. His ear seemed very swollen almost as if something has burst. I cant believe I hadn't noticed anything was wrong was him has this happened to anyone before? I'm completely unsure what could have caused it

So sorry for your loss. Sweet dreams little piggie xx

 

[Rivervixen]

So so sorry xx

 

[Bill & Ted]

So sorry for your loss
Sleep tight little piggie x

 

[Merab]

So sorry for your loss.
It is devastating to lose a piggy who seemed fine just a short while before.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve.