boureki
Senior Guinea Pig
I can't quite believe I am typing this post, but at 1am this morning my gorgeous big Pepe, heartbroken over losing his soulfriend Leo just 3 days ago, passed away suddenly, unexpectedly and quietly in my arms. He was a little over 5 years old.
He came to us from Starshine abour 4 years ago, and because of his history we didn't think we would ever be able to bond him with another piggie - until we took him to GBH Rescue to let him choose another friend himself and bingo - the magic happened and baby Leo came home with us. Despite the odd spat, the two were insperable for all this time, until Leo passed away on Wednesday. Leo had been ill for several months, unable to eat so Pepe had been looking after him, hoovering up meals, coat and eyes bright, behaviour normal, weight constant.
We made a vet appointment for tomorrow to have him checked out because despite eating and drinking normally 2 days after losing Leo, yesterday he was completely off his food and looking depressed. So we tried him with our other pig Xander and they were fine together, no scraps, but Pepe just didn't seem interested. He nibbled a bit of food when they were together, but we decided to top him up with Critical Care which he just dribbled out. Because he had only gone off his food that day, we did not force him too much and were glad we had made the vet appt. I brought him out to try a little more food before I went to bed, and he lay slumped in my arms, refused the food then had a bout of what I thought were heaving hiccups. He died in my arms seconds after.
This was a healthy, physically normal guinea, he definately did not share any of the long protracted symptoms Leo had, so we think he died of a broken heart, despite our best efforts with human affection and an introduction to another guinea. After he lost Leo, he just decided to give up once he realised he wasn't coming back.
Pepe, you were MY boy, my special, big, timid, sweet, affectionate, unbelievably gorgeous, handsome chunk of a pig. We had a special bond, and we are in shock that you went so suddenly. Marty and I had a feeling you would not be able to cope without Leo, but you are with him now, with all the other beautiful stars in the sky we have all lost.
He came to us from Starshine abour 4 years ago, and because of his history we didn't think we would ever be able to bond him with another piggie - until we took him to GBH Rescue to let him choose another friend himself and bingo - the magic happened and baby Leo came home with us. Despite the odd spat, the two were insperable for all this time, until Leo passed away on Wednesday. Leo had been ill for several months, unable to eat so Pepe had been looking after him, hoovering up meals, coat and eyes bright, behaviour normal, weight constant.
We made a vet appointment for tomorrow to have him checked out because despite eating and drinking normally 2 days after losing Leo, yesterday he was completely off his food and looking depressed. So we tried him with our other pig Xander and they were fine together, no scraps, but Pepe just didn't seem interested. He nibbled a bit of food when they were together, but we decided to top him up with Critical Care which he just dribbled out. Because he had only gone off his food that day, we did not force him too much and were glad we had made the vet appt. I brought him out to try a little more food before I went to bed, and he lay slumped in my arms, refused the food then had a bout of what I thought were heaving hiccups. He died in my arms seconds after.
This was a healthy, physically normal guinea, he definately did not share any of the long protracted symptoms Leo had, so we think he died of a broken heart, despite our best efforts with human affection and an introduction to another guinea. After he lost Leo, he just decided to give up once he realised he wasn't coming back.
Pepe, you were MY boy, my special, big, timid, sweet, affectionate, unbelievably gorgeous, handsome chunk of a pig. We had a special bond, and we are in shock that you went so suddenly. Marty and I had a feeling you would not be able to cope without Leo, but you are with him now, with all the other beautiful stars in the sky we have all lost.
