• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

My piggie died today at 15 weeks

P

Piggy newby

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Apr 30, 2019
Messages
10
Reaction score
1
Points
45
So my daughters 3 year old hamster died 2 weeks ago so to help her deal with her first loss(shes8) I bought her 2 piggies from pets at home,,one was so happy n noisy n one is more reserved,,,the noisy cheeky one(popcorn we called him) just got really lathargic this morning,,so flew him to the vet,,they gave him a shot n sent me home,,,2 hours later he’s gasping for breath later almost dead in his cage with the other one stood next to him! I flew him back to the vet and they had no option but to put him to sleep,,,absolutely gutted,,,and baffled!!
 
Sorry for your loss. It's horrible when that happens. I lost a little girl at about the same age from Pets at Home about 10 years ago from a respiratory infection. Her sister, the piggy in my avatar pic, lived until she was 8 though.
Did the vets have an idea what it was?
 
Thanks for your reply,,,well he had a lump on his face too n they said it could have poisoned him,,,he defo had some respiratory problems,,he was gasping for breath and his nose was leaking,,,they’ve offered me a new one but I really don’t know wat to do,,, sorry about your loss too but encouraging to hear your other loved to 8! Did you not get him another buddy?
 
Charlotte also had a respiratory infection so had to be quarantined from my other piggies for a bit after Millie died. Eventually I rescued two more girls to be her friends and have got all of my piggies from rescues ever since. You have a better chance that they have been checked for illnesses before you get them and you know you are not helping to fund the pet trade. I would ask for as much money back as you can get and then let things settle and go to a rescue. I got all my money back for Millie and Charlotte and all their vet bills.
To be honest I don't really think the vets sound like they have any clue. A lump on his face should have surely meant that he had more than just one injection. It should really have been investigated better but the chances are if he went downhill so quickly there is nothing the could have done.
 
Awww what a shame, I'm so sorry you lost him. I would find it hard too to think about excepting another one from them. On the one hand you dont want a lone piggy but on the other if it was a contagous infection with the piggy you lost you would have to do a quarantine of sorts with the remaining piggy and any new piggy brought in. I hope your daughter is doing as well as can be. so sad :soz:
 
Thanks guys,,,aw this is what I mean,,,I’ve lost faith! My other is a right fat bigger he’s thriving,,,but don’t want him to get depressed n if u leave it then you have to get 2 separate cages n introduce them,,,well I can’t afford that,,nor do I have the space,,,n what if they don’t mix! So maybe I’m better off now but just not keen on the store :( they did my daughter little foot prints from him 😭😭😭❤️❤️
 
Ps what are I all doing awake! Are you on a night shift like me!
 
If you go to a rescue they will do the introduction there and make sure they are happy together before they come home. Whereabouts are you maybe someone can suggest somewhere local to you.
 
I am in Liversedge near Mirfield,,,they were bought at Birstall pets at home x
 
I think Milhaven rescue is quite close to you. It's in Keighley. Barnsley animal rescue has fosterers around your area too I think. I have got a piggies from both of them in the past. If you hold off getting another just for a week or two so that you can be sure the other piggy doesn't have anything contagious then take the little guy and he can pick his own friend.
 
I was out in a similar position with my piggy Smudge, who also passed away shortly after we got him from Pets at Home

I’m so sorry for your loss x
 
Aw that would be nice to take him with us,,,yes it looks like pets at home have a bad rep for pets! This is so sad and really scarey!
 
So sorry you and your daughter had to go through this.
I would definitely go with the advice given. See how your piggy is for a week and maybe get he checked by a good vet. Then contact a local rescue and go piggy dating. Also was your cage from pet's at home? If so please make sure it's big enough on the forum cage guides. If it isn't big enough claim a new cage from them a bigger one!
Please don't let this put you off keeping piggies they are the most wonderful animals.
Fingers crossed everything works out and let us know how you get on.xx
 
sorry for your loss, a nasty shock for you and your daughter.
 
Piggy Newby, I'm so sorry for your loss. Which pets at home store was this? Because my piggy was pts yesterday too, he was a rescue from pets at home and also had a respiratory infection. I am livid and devastated x
 
Sorry I've just seen you said where from. I feel for you, this is a very rubbish time. I have spoken to pets at home and am sending them my vet bills!
 
Piggy newby said:
So my daughters 3 year old hamster died 2 weeks ago so to help her deal with her first loss(shes8) I bought her 2 piggies from pets at home,,one was so happy n noisy n one is more reserved,,,the noisy cheeky one(popcorn we called him) just got really lathargic this morning,,so flew him to the vet,,they gave him a shot n sent me home,,,2 hours later he’s gasping for breath later almost dead in his cage with the other one stood next to him! I flew him back to the vet and they had no option but to put him to sleep,,,absolutely gutted,,,and baffled!
Click to expand...

BIG HUGS

I am ever so sorry for our horrid time!
It sounds like your little boy could have gone into acute heart failure, which can happen at any time of life if a piggy has inherited a genetic timb bomb. Injecting steroids does unfortunately not work with guinea pigs; it slows down the organs instead of picking them up. Many general vets are unfortunately not aware of that but it would not have made a huge difference in the end - once the heart goes into failure and the body is closing down, there is nothing you or a vet can do. :(
You have done all the right things, so please do not feel guilty or like you are failure; nothing is your fault, it's just cosmic bad luck!

Here are our tips on what you can do for the bereaved companion right now and in the medium term. Ideally you find him a companion of his choice at a good rescue that rehomes only quarantined/vet cared piggies that are fully healthy at the time of the adoption as well as properly sexed so you can minimise the risk of any unpleasant experiences. At this age, babies are desperate for company. The listed rescues will also be there if your bond runs into major trouble during the life time of their adopted piggy or if you can no longer keep your guinea pigs.
Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig (includes lists of recommended vetted good standard rescues in various countries that we can vouch for you being in safe and experienced hands)

Our human grieving guide also contains resources of how to deal with a pet death for children: Human Bereavement - Grieving, coping tips and support links for guinea pig owners and their children

You may also find our new owners guide collection helpful: Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
 
Potterpig said:
Piggy Newby, I'm so sorry for your loss. Which pets at home store was this? Because my piggy was pts yesterday too, he was a rescue from pets at home and also had a respiratory infection. I am livid and devastated x
Click to expand...
It was Birstall hun,,,let me know if it’s was n we can let them know it’s the whole batch!
 
Wiebke said:
BIG HUGS

I am ever so sorry for our horrid time!
It sounds like your little boy could have gone into acute heart failure, which can happen at any time of life if a piggy has inherited a genetic timb bomb. Injecting steroids does unfortunately not work with guinea pigs; it slows down the organs instead of picking them up. Many general vets are unfortunately not aware of that but it would not have made a huge difference in the end - once the heart goes into failure and the body is closing down, there is nothing you or a vet can do. :(
You have done all the right things, so please do not feel guilty or like you are failure; nothing is your fault, it's just cosmic bad luck!

Here are our tips on what you can do for the bereaved companion right now and in the medium term. Ideally you find him a companion of his choice at a good rescue that rehomes only quarantined/vet cared piggies that are fully healthy at the time of the adoption as well as properly sexed so you can minimise the risk of any unpleasant experiences. At this age, babies are desperate for company. The listed rescues will also be there if your bond runs into major trouble during the life time of their adopted piggy or if you can no longer keep your guinea pigs.
Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig (includes lists of recommended vetted good standard rescues in various countries that we can vouch for you being in safe and experienced hands)

Our human grieving guide also contains resources of how to deal with a pet death for children: Human Bereavement - Grieving, coping tips and support links for guinea pig owners and their children

You may also find our new owners guide collection helpful: Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
Click to expand...
Thanks so much! This is really helpful xx
 
Potterpig said:
Sorry I've just seen you said where from. I feel for you, this is a very rubbish time. I have spoken to pets at home and am sending them my vet bills!
Click to expand...
They paid for it all because I’d only had them 2 weeks xx
 
Piggy newby said:
I was ruined! It was horrific to watch 😭😭
Click to expand...

HUGS!

Watching a piggy dying and its body closing down when you have never been confronted with the sheer physicality of it is very tough and frightening. We have this vague concept of drifting peacefully away in one's sleep, but that is actually only a small minority.
Try to take consolation that you have not failed your little boy and that at the end he would have already been mostly out of it, especially the last minutes when the oxygen supply fails and the body is reacting to the lack of fuel. :(

If you are ever confronted with an emergency, including your piggy going into organ failure, you may find this guide here helpful. I also hope that it is giving you confirmation that there is nothing wrong with your instincts and your good care!
Emergency and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

You are welcome to post a tribute to your hamster and your baby boy in our Rainbow Bridge if you feel that it would help you and your daughter to mark their death more formally and to officially remember them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top