One of My Boys, Koda, Died

Mikknu

Mikknu

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jan 10, 2020
Messages
259
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364
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350
Location
Nebraska, US
Hey everyone.

I haven't been around for a while due to personal circumstances that have kept me busy. My mom had a heart attack and can't get scheduled for surgery to help her because of covid, and we're moving my grandma into hospice tomorrow.

Naturally, this is utterly heartbreaking to me. I don't know why it happened but I cant help but feel it was my fault. I checked his stomach but it wasn't bloated or hard. I don't know what happened to him. I have a picture from just last night of him and Kenai checking out their new twig and hay mobile from SPS. He's been shedding due to the weather change but he didn't have any skin issues, his eyes bright, he was active and eating.

I'm utterly heartbroken. I can't stop crying. We put him in a snuggle sack with his favourite treats and then in a box that I wrapped in extra space fleece. He's in the freezer now. We have my nieces and nephews over for a birthday party in just a few hours, and my mom doesn't want me to bury him yet. My significant other is on their way to me after taking the day off work. It will take him time though, he's nearly 100 miles away.

I'm terrified for Kenai. I'm not sure how long Koda was in there dead before I discovered him. I know he either needs a new friend or I need to find him a new home with other guinea pigs but I can't take the thought of either without breaking sown again right now. I'm a mess and I just don't know what to do.

This is the last living picture I have of him. If I'd known I'd have taken so many more. I feel so horrendous, like I missed something, but I don't know what. I don't know if he suffered or if it was quick or anything at all and I don't know how I'm going to get through the rest of the day right now.
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I'm so sorry for your loss. Don't be hard on yourself. Piggies hide their issues very well and most of the times, we see symptoms when it's already bad. Please remember that he had a good life with you, no matter how short it was.

Popcorn free Koda. 🌈❤
 
So sorry you have lost Koda, please be kind to yourself, it was not your fault. I felt like this in February, stupid that I had missed something when I found Bill laid out in the hay one morning, the night before he was full of health and happy with his brother.
I’m also so sorry about your Mum and Grandma, it’s going to be a hard time for you, bit you will get through it and come out the other end stronger, sending you big hugs x
Sleep tight little Koda 🌈
 
Oh no, I’m ssooo sorry for your losses, and your mum and grandma.

It is likely something you wouldn’t have known about and not something you missed, so please don’t beat yourself up. Hugs.
 
Thank you everyone. I'm trying to reread through the guinea pig bereavement guide again. Trying to figure out what my next steps are going to be. I need to have a conversation and watch Kenai and figure out how he's feeling too. So far he seems to be eating and drinking, but he doesnt wheek when I stand up anymore and he seems really subdued. I think he knows Koda is dead but he keeps looking for him.
 
Mikknu said:
Thank you everyone. I'm trying to reread through the guinea pig bereavement guide again. Trying to figure out what my next steps are going to be. I need to have a conversation and watch Kenai and figure out how he's feeling too. So far he seems to be eating and drinking, but he doesnt wheek when I stand up anymore and he seems really subdued. I think he knows Koda is dead but he keeps looking for him.
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It’s good if he’s still eating. Unfortunately at the moment that’s all you can do due to current circumstances. Just be aware that he will likely ‘recover’ quicker than you. I’d get your name on the waiting list for rescues nearby so they know you’re looking for a friend. Best will be boar dating of course.
 
Sorry to hear this sad news. One good thing is that it seems like your little guy didn't suffer and your last memories together are positive ones.

Hopefully you will be able to have a good read through all the guides on here once you've had time to process. If your other piggy is still eating and drinking I don't think you need to feel under any crazy time pressure to find a new friend for him.

Sounds like you've been having a tough and stressful time generally, so remember that it's fine to feel whatever your feeling, and try to be as kind to yourself as you would be to someone else in your situation.

Sending supportive vibes.
 
I’m so sorry to hear about Koda - it’s natural to feel you ‘ missed something’ but all animals are good at hiding their symptoms - so try to take comfort from the lovely memories you have and remember that special little boy.
wishing you comfort with your family they’ll need you, just as Kenai will.
we are all here for you ...
(Koda will be playing with all the other little piggles at rainbow bridge)
 
So sorry that you have had such a difficult time.
Sorry for the loss of Koda but as @anyar.dris said, piggies do hide illness very well.
Koda had a life full of love and care so be kind and gentle with yourself now.
Grief takes time.
Hope your mum recovers from her heart attack and that your grandma does well in the hospice.
Holding you in my heart
 
I appreciate all the support so much everyone. It means a lot to me right now.

Koda is eating and drinking, but he's more skittish and scared than he was when I first got him. I can't hold him, pet him, or anything at all that I did just a few days ago without problem. He's so scared being alone...

I started to look into boar dating, but found an immediate problem. There are no guinea pigs for adoption in my state right now. Literally zero. The closest single guinea pig is in Montana, which is at least 7 hours or more away. I looked everywhere, even the small mammal rescue in Pavillion. A few months ago they had 7 different Guinea pigs looking for homes. I guess with quarantine, everyone has adopted them out, and I don't know anyone who has other guinea pigs.

I'm loathe to buy a random pet store guinea pig, especially because the ones near me sell babies that are barely even 3 weeks old(they're absolutely.miniscule little things), but most pet stores are also out of all animals right now. They're just not getting them in.

I'm so torn as to what to do. It doesn't look like I could find Kenai a friend for weeks, and with my personal situations going on I'm not sure I can guarantee being there for him to provide him the social reaction he needs every day. With work too, I'm gone for full shifts at least 2 or 3 times a week. He had Koda to keep him company and a large cage for exercise to play with him because I knew that I worked, but if he's going to be home alone for hours and hours... It doesn't feel right to me. It breaks my heart to think of giving him up to anyone but I just don't know if I can provide him the interaction he needs right now without any other guinea pigs nearby. It feels so confusing and heartbreaking. I don't want to give him up, but I don't want him to suffer because I'm just not reliably home during daylight hours while all these crisises are occurring.
 
Popcorn over the rainbow bridge sweet little Koda ❤ Be gentle with yourself as you grieve. It can be so easy to place blame on ourselves as owners when an unexpected death happens.
It sounds like you care deeply about your guinea pigs and their welfare. Although no rescues currently have any single male guinea pigs, I would definitely ask to be put on their waiting list.
 
Mikknu said:
I appreciate all the support so much everyone. It means a lot to me right now.

Koda is eating and drinking, but he's more skittish and scared than he was when I first got him. I can't hold him, pet him, or anything at all that I did just a few days ago without problem. He's so scared being alone...

I started to look into boar dating, but found an immediate problem. There are no guinea pigs for adoption in my state right now. Literally zero. The closest single guinea pig is in Montana, which is at least 7 hours or more away. I looked everywhere, even the small mammal rescue in Pavillion. A few months ago they had 7 different Guinea pigs looking for homes. I guess with quarantine, everyone has adopted them out, and I don't know anyone who has other guinea pigs.

I'm loathe to buy a random pet store guinea pig, especially because the ones near me sell babies that are barely even 3 weeks old(they're absolutely.miniscule little things), but most pet stores are also out of all animals right now. They're just not getting them in.

I'm so torn as to what to do. It doesn't look like I could find Kenai a friend for weeks, and with my personal situations going on I'm not sure I can guarantee being there for him to provide him the social reaction he needs every day. With work too, I'm gone for full shifts at least 2 or 3 times a week. He had Koda to keep him company and a large cage for exercise to play with him because I knew that I worked, but if he's going to be home alone for hours and hours... It doesn't feel right to me. It breaks my heart to think of giving him up to anyone but I just don't know if I can provide him the interaction he needs right now without any other guinea pigs nearby. It feels so confusing and heartbreaking. I don't want to give him up, but I don't want him to suffer because I'm just not reliably home during daylight hours while all these crisises are occurring.
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I’m sorry you’re in such a difficult position. Did you look on the websites or call them up to see if they have any single boars? Would you consider having him neutered and (after six weeks) pairing him a sow or two?
 
I agree with @Siikibam- that could be a possibility for Koda if there are no single boars.
I went down that route when I was left with a single boar.
I got 2 sows so if things didn’t work with Titus the girls would still have each other.
 
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