• 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

Our New Baby Piggy Didn't Make It Through The Night

Status
Not open for further replies.
Beck

Beck

New Born Pup
Joined
Sep 9, 2016
Messages
7
Reaction score
18
Points
70
Location
Doncaster
Hi I'm new to the site and new to piggys too.
We adopted 2 little girls from Pets at Home on Monday 5th (about 11 weeks old) and 1 of them passed away last night
She was acting strange yesterday. Not moving much and not eating at all. I called PAH and the vets and was advised to see how she was in the morning and to fetch her in to the vets if no better.
Well she didn't make it.
The other little girl (Binky) is fine and is bright as a button.
We couldn't see any outward signs of illness on Chewy but she was very docile from the day we fetched her home compared to Binky.
I feel terrible not knowing why she died and if it was something we did or not.
Just wanting advice really on what it could be and how do we move forward regarding Binky who is now on her own.
Thank you x
 
Beck said:
Hi I'm new to the site and new to piggys too.
We adopted 2 little girls from Pets at Home on Monday 5th (about 11 weeks old) and 1 of them passed away last night
She was acting strange yesterday. Not moving much and not eating at all. I called PAH and the vets and was advised to see how she was in the morning and to fetch her in to the vets if no better.
Well she didn't make it.
The other little girl (Binky) is fine and is bright as a button.
We couldn't see any outward signs of illness on Chewy but she was very docile from the day we fetched her home compared to Binky.
I feel terrible not knowing why she died and if it was something we did or not.
Just wanting advice really on what it could be and how do we move forward regarding Binky who is now on her own.
Thank you x
Click to expand...

Hi! I am very sorry for your loss. it always comes as a massive shock to see with which terryfying speed a guinea pig can go downhill.

Apathy and complete loss of appetite constitute an emergency that cannot wait and needs to be seen asap at all hours of the day. It may still be too late if you deal with sudden acute heart failure (which can happen at all ages), but if it is GI stasis (the guts have stopped working) or something else, you may be in with a chance. it is not your fault that you have not been given appropriate advice, so please don't beat yourself up over it; you have done what any good and loving owner would do - contact the vet and take their advice.
We have got a recommended UK vets locator on the top bar. If you are in an urban area, you also may want to google for cheaper out-of-hours services.

Please always start syringe feeding and watering as soon as a piggy is going off its food to prevent the guts from closing down; little but often around the clock. Guinea pigs cannot wait until tomorrow; they are too small and rely on a constant intake of fibrous food.
Here are some guides that can help you cope with an emergency situation; including what you can do with what you have got at home, as no emergency ever happens at a convenient time!
Should my piggie see a vet? - a quick guide
First Aid Kit For Guinea Pigs
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Here are our tips on what you can do for Binky now and in the coming days: Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

The best place to contact for you is Cavy Corner sanctuary, which is in Doncaster. They can help you with finding a new friend of her liking for Binky and also with giving you the contacts for the vet and the out-of-hours service they use, as they will know the ones in your area that have the most experience with guinea pigs. P@h in-house vets are no frills services working with general vets that often don't have much experience with guinea pigs.
You will be in very safe, kind and experienced hands with Sue.
Alternatively, Barnsley Animal Rescue Charity (BARC) have got a guinea pig fosterer in Sheffield, who is also a forum member (@pig in the city ) and may be able to help you with finding a new friend if Cavy Corner don't have a suitable new companion. Both rescues are on our list of recommended good standard rescues.
Cavy Corner | Facebook
 
Beck said:
Thank you so much for your advice.
I have contacted Cavy Corner in Doncaster and are popping over with Binky this afternoon. I feel like we are in safe jades already, so thanks again x
Click to expand...

All the best!
 
welcome to the forum & guinea pigs,so sorry to hear that one of your guineas has already made the trip to rainbow bridge prematurely :bye:

unfortunately guinea pigs are known to suffer with opportunistic heath problems/illnesses shortly after they arrive at their new home, especially with shop bought guineas & younger guineas, mostly because they have a lowered immune system so cant fight off any illnesses etc very easily.
they have usually been bred in large numbers, taken from mothers at a young age, transported for miles, kept in a new herd environment, usually in large numbers & then placed on the shop floor for sale, this is an incredibly traumatic time for them & stress can take its toll.
(they say for humans moving house is one of the most stressful stages in life, so its understandable for them really)

if you have only had the guineas for 4 days then the chances you have done anything wrong are incredibly slim, its just one of those things so please don't worry in that respect.

as far as your other little lady is concerned she probably could do with a new friend sooner rather than later as she is probably very stressed still too & to deal with it on her own is a lot to ask of an 11wk old :(

if i were you i would go back to pets at home &take your receipt (&maybe even the deceased piggies body-if you can cope with it(i would still bury her at home though)) & demand a refund, on health &welfare grounds. state that you phoned the store & the vets - the advice you were given from them was poor/negligent & insufficient to say the least.

if you can negotiate i would suggest you try & get discount/compensation for your little Binky & say you want to find her a friend from a rescue & the discount will go towards rehoming a healthy guinea with suitable lifelong support (which pets at home obviously cant provide).

i have no experience with Cavy corner personally, but the other members on here have a very high opinion of them, they will also double check to make sure she is definitely a girl & provide a healthy, suitable friend & companion for her.

good luck with finding her a new friend & sorry things havent gone as planned so far for you & your babies.
big hug for you & chinny tickle for binky at this sad time.

keep us updated with your little furball friends & a picture overdose will be fab when they have settled in :whistle:

x
 
I'm so sorry Chewy didn't make it.

Hope Binky is ok and good luck with the bonding.
 
I am really sorry u lost your young piggie, must have been a real shock. I agree with @GPTV that you should raise this with the shop involved. If u can face going in person that is ok but I would back that up with a strong letter about the impact on your family and remaining pet. Commercial chains such as the one involved will not change without statistics and written complaints ( I work in this type of area). But see how u feel when less raw.
Great you have plans for Binky! Hello from North Yorkshire as well.
 
So very sorry for your loss. What a shock. I am so pleased that you are heading over to Cavy Corner to find Binky a new companion. You will be in very safe hands. Popcorn free little Chewy xx
 
Huge hugs hun.It's incredibly sad losing little ones.I would contact the pet shop too.Good luck finding her a friend.
 
So so sorry for your loss, Chewy will be popcorning over the rainbow bridge now.
Don't blame yourselve it's P@H, all the way along you were given wrong advice. I would probably go straight to head office.
I've seen piggies in there limping, makes you so cross.
 
I'm sorry you have lost your young piggie so soon.Hope Binky finds a new friend soon.you did your best as a very caring owner,please do not blame yourself.Cavy Corner are fab.:)
 
You are very fortunate to have Cavy Corner on your doorstep. So pleased that they found a match for Binky. I've seen the photos on your other thread. Gorgeous.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top