Need closure ~ Warning: Morbid and probably disturbing

[MeiXiTian]

Hi there, guys. <3 I know this might be hard to read for some piggy owners, and generally a strange question to ask...but...

Is it normal for Guinea pigs to twitch when they're dying?

I don't know how to explain it, but when my Robo was dying right there on my lap..it's like his body was forced into a position where he HAD to lie on his side.

His leg kept twitching, and when this happened he squeaked a little which led me to believe he was in pain.

Is this normal? I can't bare the thought of him dying in pain. It's really been playing on my mind since he passed away...

If anyone can help I'd be so grateful...thank you.

<3~ xx

 

[Claire W]

I have never witnessed this myself BUT I have heard that when animals die, they can perform a running type of motion as if they are running from this world and in to the next. Please do not dwell that Robo may have been in pain. It is most likely that he was just leaving this world. (((hugs))) xx

 

[Tani]

Aw poor you! So sorry for your loss

I lost my little pootle last week (the one in my avatar) and she did twitch a bit - mainly gasping for her last breaths 8...
I'm sure it's normal - like the body shutting down and the muscles going into spasm, so I don't think he was in pain at all. His squeak was probably just saying 'bye' to you
xx

 

[Little Piggles]

I too have never been witness to this (and I don't know if this will help), but whenever when Marmite is getting comfortable on my lap, she will twitch and kick until she is settled enough to sleep and can sometimes end up on her side doing this

Hugs to you x x

Sleep tight Robo x

 

[flintstones]

I haven't saw it but it also happens when a pig is PTS, I choose not to stay and remember the pig how they were.

Hugs. Sleep well Robo xx

 

[dollheart]

I have had a few of my rats die at home with me, on my lap and 3 of them in the final moments had spasm like movements.
With one of my girls it was painful to see and I can't honestly say I wasn't sure if it was painful or not but I think that at this point all of them had gone beyond that kind of awareness? And at the moment of passing they all relaxed and looked peaceful so I felt a little better about it but it is hard to see.

I have unfortunately seen an animal that has died in pain, you would know by the face if they were in a lot of pain.

I know this wasnt about pigs but hope it may have been helpful xo

 

[2280CLAIRE]

From my experience, there is some twitching before, and for a short period, after death. I think it is to do with the nervous system shutting down. Also (this is morbid...sorry), as a nurse, when I have the unfortunate job of preparing a body for the morgue, there is sometimes movement in the chest area when moving the patient due to some air being in the lungs still. I would think it is the same with animals? If there is any air remaining in the lungs, it will be expelled when you move them-giving the impression of movement, or twitching...

I don't think the twitching would have been down to pain...

 

[Niki]

I have sadly had a few furries pass away in my arms.
They can twitch, run & even take a "breath." They are of course, not breathing, it is air leaving the lungs, the twitching/running are motor functions which are all part of the body shutting down; there is no pain.

 

[Farquhar]

The late great Petery Gurney states that when the piggie is in 'the running man' position then the piggie has already passed and it is simpy the bodies reaction. I'm pretty certain that the piggie feels no pain at this stage. I havent been present for any of my piggies passings but I know how upsetting it must be to see..

 

[Hanwombat]

Usually when anything dies even though the heart has stopped the brain can still be functioning a little longer and this can be muscle spasms etc that can make it look as if their still alive when they are actually gone.

 

[MeiXiTian]

Thank you so much for your advice, everyone...I feel a little better now I know what he was going through was completely natural and normal.

Thank you SO much. It's a load off my chest, it really is... <3

<3~ xx

 

[charliesmum]

It is normal hun, the ones who have died in my arms whether PTS or naturally have all gone like that.... I like to think they are running to the Bridge to wait for us again...

 

[flintstones]

It is normal hun, the ones who have died in my arms whether PTS or naturally have all gone like that.... I like to think they are running to the Bridge to wait for us again...

Thats a nice thought, I must say I just can't bear to stay when they are pts. Although I always make sure they are giving some gas first and then giving the injection so they don't feel anything.

 

[Claire W]

Thats a nice thought, I must say I just can't bear to stay when they are pts. Although I always make sure they are giving some gas first and then giving the injection so they don't feel anything.

Same here When I had to have my rabbit pts a few years ago, my mum stayed with him but I could't do it

 

[Emmiiee]

when my beautiful Basil died it was awful! he was twitching and gasping and wouldn't stay still, it was soo tramatic! i was in floods of tears!