My young Guinea pig died

[Kiki74]

I am new to this forum and sadly I am posting a sad situation.my son has 2 guinea pigs and 1yr 2 months old .yesterday we got Ginger out and after a minute she slumped over and started breathing funny-she felt floppy.then she would perk up but then would lie on her side.my son(8) and I took her to emergency vet and she listened to her heart -said that was fine but admitted she wasn’t a guinea pig expert and to see how she is overnight.we took her home and she stopped moving and laid on her side -let out some gasps and died.we don’t know what to do as her companion is there and I left her there for a while.i have left the blanket in there but I’m worried about her now.i keep thinking I startled her getting her out (hadn’t done this for while )or held her too tightly when closing the hatch.she was healthy and young.
Sorry for long post but not sure how we are going to cope.....

 

[pig in the city]

I am new to this forum and sadly I am posting a sad situation.my son has 2 guinea pigs and 1yr 2 months old .yesterday we got Ginger out and after a minute she slumped over and started breathing funny-she felt floppy.then she would perk up but then would lie on her side.my son(8) and I took her to emergency vet and she listened to her heart -said that was fine but admitted she wasn’t a guinea pig expert and to see how she is overnight.we took her home and she stopped moving and laid on her side -let out some gasps and died.we don’t know what to do as her companion is there and I left her there for a while.i have left the blanket in there but I’m worried about her now.i keep thinking I startled her getting her out (hadn’t done this for while )or held her too tightly when closing the hatch.she was healthy and young.
Sorry for long post but not sure how we are going to cope.....

So sorry to hear this. It does sound like a heart issue, probably something she was born with given her young age. Its nothing you did that caused this.
The main thing now is to focus on her friend
Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig
Consider contacting a local rescue, see our recommended rescues list, and finding your remaining piggy a new friend
You have been very unlucky, but don't let it put you off keeping piggies x

 

[Kiki74]

So sorry to hear this. It does sound like a heart issue, probably something she was born with given her young age. Its nothing you did that caused this.
The main thing now is to focus on her friend
Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig
Consider contacting a local rescue, see our recommended rescues list, and finding your remaining piggy a new friend
You have been very unlucky, but don't let it put you off keeping piggies x

 

[Kiki74]

Thank you so much ..
It’s obviously very raw and painfully sad this morning.i didn’t realise how much she meant to us.
I have looked at the guide which is brilliant,I just wish I didn’t need to read it...
I hope we have somewhere in Middlesex where they can meet and greet each other to check their compatibility.shes eating and seems ok but definitely a little lost without her pal ..

 

[pig in the city]

Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues
I would think Woodgreen and Hazelcroft rescues in Hertfordshire might be your best bet.
I used to live in Enfield are you near there?

 

[Bill & Ted]

So sorry you lost her x

 

[VickiA]

I’m so sorry for your loss.

 

[Wiebke]

I am new to this forum and sadly I am posting a sad situation.my son has 2 guinea pigs and 1yr 2 months old .yesterday we got Ginger out and after a minute she slumped over and started breathing funny-she felt floppy.then she would perk up but then would lie on her side.my son(8) and I took her to emergency vet and she listened to her heart -said that was fine but admitted she wasn’t a guinea pig expert and to see how she is overnight.we took her home and she stopped moving and laid on her side -let out some gasps and died.we don’t know what to do as her companion is there and I left her there for a while.i have left the blanket in there but I’m worried about her now.i keep thinking I startled her getting her out (hadn’t done this for while )or held her too tightly when closing the hatch.she was healthy and young.
Sorry for long post but not sure how we are going to cope.....

Hi and welcome

You have not killed a guinea pig that was already in sudden acute heart failure. This is a genetic time bomb that can go off at any time in guinea pigs who have inherited bad genes. I have lost two young, seemingly healthy piggies this way myself. It is a very frightening experience. The good news is that is that you are not dealing with a contagious problem.

It is very normal to have strong feelings of guilt after an event like that. We are wired to seek the fault with us. Any loving pet owner experiences feelings of guilt or failure at the onset of the grieving process, but the circumstances of a death can intensify this. Please don't feel guilty!

Please bring her companion indoors if you have outdoors piggies (it is the season for it anyway to bring outdoors piggies under cover for the winter). See how she copes. If she stops eating and drinking, then you need to act fast (acute pining or illness); if she is hanging in there, then you have ideally about 1-4 weeks to organise new companionship. Your girl is likely very withdrawn for a few days as she is grieving. As long as she is still eating, she will come out of it again while you are doing your research.

The safest place for fiding a new friend of your surviving girl's liking would be by dating at a good standard rescue under expert supervision. With sows you can look at both sows or neutered boars of any age. Mutual liking comes long before either aspect!
By rescue dating at a rescue with mandatory quarantine/vet care, pregnancy watch and neutering post-op wait (ideally 6 weeks) you can also be sure that you can neatly avoid all the usual pitfalls and bring home a healthy piggy of your bereaved girls' choice.
All the best with finding a new friend! It usually pays to contact all rescues you can get to and then start with the one that has the largest number of potential candidates for dating.
The RSPCA Middlesex Northwest branch also have guinea pigs from time to time but they are more limited in what they can do (only a few places will offer dating) and their piggy savviness varies quite a bit from branch to branch; but the RSPCA have a mandatory quarantine, pregnancy watch and a mandatory neutering policy with 6 weeks post-op wait. It may however be another place for you to contact if the two closest rescues haven't got any suitable piggies available at the moment.
Middlesex North West & South Hertfordshire Branch - Home - rspca.org.uk - RSPCA

You may also find this link here helpful for yourself and your family: Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

 

[Kiki74]

Hi and welcome

You have not killed a guinea pig that was already in sudden acute heart failure. This is a genetic time bomb that can go off at any time in guinea pigs who have inherited bad genes. I have lost two young, seemingly healthy piggies this way myself. It is a very frightening experience. The good news is that is that you are not dealing with a contagious problem.

It is very normal to have strong feelings of guilt after an event like that. We are wired to seek the fault with us. Any loving pet owner experiences feelings of guilt or failure at the onset of the grieving process, but the circumstances of a death can intensify this. Please don't feel guilty!

Please bring her companion indoors if you have outdoors piggies (it is the season for it anyway to bring outdoors piggies under cover for the winter). See how she copes. If she stops eating and drinking, then you need to act fast (acute pining or illness); if she is hanging in there, then you have ideally about 1-4 weeks to organise new companionship. Your girl is likely very withdrawn for a few days as she is grieving. As long as she is still eating, she will come out of it again while you are doing your research.

The safest place for fiding a new friend of your surviving girl's liking would be by dating at a good standard rescue under expert supervision. With sows you can look at both sows or neutered boars of any age. Mutual liking comes long before either aspect!
By rescue dating at a rescue with mandatory quarantine/vet care, pregnancy watch and neutering post-op wait (ideally 6 weeks) you can also be sure that you can neatly avoid all the usual pitfalls and bring home a healthy piggy of your bereaved girls' choice.
All the best with finding a new friend! It usually pays to contact all rescues you can get to and then start with the one that has the largest number of potential candidates for dating.
The RSPCA Middlesex Northwest branch also have guinea pigs from time to time but they are more limited in what they can do (only a few places will offer dating) and their piggy savviness varies quite a bit from branch to branch; but the RSPCA have a mandatory quarantine, pregnancy watch and a mandatory neutering policy with 6 weeks post-op wait. It may however be another place for you to contact if the two closest rescues haven't got any suitable piggies available at the moment.
Middlesex North West & South Hertfordshire Branch - Home - rspca.org.uk - RSPCA

You may also find this link here helpful for yourself and your family: Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

Thank you for your reply including all the links.It has been such a shock.Bailey is eating and drinking but looking very forlorn and laying under Gingers blanket which was around her after she died.ive left it there.I will get her a companion as she is young and she needs it..it says even if I’m not ready she will need a new pal..!
I brought her in yesterday ,I was going to bring them both in today.
Thank you all for your responses ..I’m so glad I posted as feeling slightly better but I know there is along way to go...

 

[Rivervixen]

so sorry for your loss, be gentle with yourself x

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for your reply including all the links.It has been such a shock.Bailey is eating and drinking but looking very forlorn and laying under Gingers blanket which was around her after she died.ive left it there.I will get her a companion as she is young and she needs it..it says even if I’m not ready she will need a new pal..!
I brought her in yesterday ,I was going to bring them both in today.
Thank you all for your responses ..I’m so glad I posted as feeling slightly better but I know there is along way to go...

A sudden death is always devastating, especially when you happen onto it in the middle of the dying process, which is usually much more physical than you'd imagine.

You can't unfortunately hurry on the grieving process. Give yourself and your own feelings time and don't put yourself under undue pressure of having to fall in love with any newbie straight away; that is going to happen on its own and without you noticing because the next love will be very, very different from the way you loved Ginger.

Please leave the blanket with Bailey (as grotty as it is going to become) while you sort out a potential rescue date. Seeing a piggy grieve and not being able to tell it in its own language that all will be fine again is very lowering, as feeling helpless always is. That is why I find it helpful to do something constructive like scouting for a new comepanion so helpful at this stage...

You will find that seeing Bailey busy and having her sparkle back will help your own mood intensely, and that all the argee bargee of a new bond is also helping to fill the gap in your life and your daily routine that is going to be at its most painful over the coming days. Not having Bailey in the same place as where you lost Ginger is hopefully going to buffer it a little bit!

 

[Hholmes]

I am new to this forum and sadly I am posting a sad situation.my son has 2 guinea pigs and 1yr 2 months old .yesterday we got Ginger out and after a minute she slumped over and started breathing funny-she felt floppy.then she would perk up but then would lie on her side.my son(8) and I took her to emergency vet and she listened to her heart -said that was fine but admitted she wasn’t a guinea pig expert and to see how she is overnight.we took her home and she stopped moving and laid on her side -let out some gasps and died.we don’t know what to do as her companion is there and I left her there for a while.i have left the blanket in there but I’m worried about her now.i keep thinking I startled her getting her out (hadn’t done this for while )or held her too tightly when closing the hatch.she was healthy and young.
Sorry for long post but not sure how we are going to cope.....

So sorry for your loss. I too have lost a you

I am new to this forum and sadly I am posting a sad situation.my son has 2 guinea pigs and 1yr 2 months old .yesterday we got Ginger out and after a minute she slumped over and started breathing funny-she felt floppy.then she would perk up but then would lie on her side.my son(8) and I took her to emergency vet and she listened to her heart -said that was fine but admitted she wasn’t a guinea pig expert and to see how she is overnight.we took her home and she stopped moving and laid on her side -let out some gasps and died.we don’t know what to do as her companion is there and I left her there for a while.i have left the blanket in there but I’m worried about her now.i keep thinking I startled her getting her out (hadn’t done this for while )or held her too tightly when closing the hatch.she was healthy and young.
Sorry for long post but not sure how we are going to cope.....

So sorry for your loss xx

 

[Sophie B]

I lost a piggy at only three or four months and felt enormously guilty, so I definitely know how you feel but I am certain it wasn’t your fault x

 

[Abirose]

I am so sorry for your loss of Ginger x

 

[Flutterby]

I'm so sorry for your loss xx

 

[Merab]

So sorry for your loss. What an awful shock for you.
I can only echo what others have said.
We have a Rainbow Bridge thread where you can post a tribute to Ginger

 

[Kiki74]

I have seen the rainbow bridge thread and it’s so moving so I will in a few days ..

 

[Shelley anne]

I believe we meet our piggy friends again one day. Thinking of you at this difficult time.