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Specialist Please help, I can't stand to lose another Guinea

S

Sadboy1995

Junior Guinea Pig
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My girlfriend and I are not experts by any means, but we've done basic research and keep our guineas fed with fresh veggies daily, constantly have hay, water, pellets, and a very big 3 layer cage for them to run around in.
Today, the 3rd Guinea in approximately 18 months has died. No warning signs, she seemed fine just hours before, then suddenly she is gasping her last breaths. No change in diet or anything, and the other guineas seem fine. As mentioned before, all 3 Guinea pig deaths have been like this; sudden with no warning signs.
Has anyone else experienced this? Any help at all is appreciated. We plan to take our remaining guineas to the vet asap for check ups
Note: this is my first time ever on this website, so if there's somewhere more appropriate to post this please let me know.
Thank you.
 
Hello there! Are your pigs kept inside or outside? Sorry to hear about the loss of a piggy. Sending hugs.
 
Sorry to hear about your losses. I’ve no idea I’m afraid, and not sure anyone can give a clue why they passed away ☹

Where did you get them?

Good idea to take the remaining to a vet. Hopefully nothing will be found 💕

Forgot to add, being prey animals, they’ll hide their illness till the very end. So sometimes by the time it shows, it’s quite bad.
 
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The one that passed today we got from a local woman who was moving and couldn't bring her Guinea, we had her for about 3 months, the others have been from animal shelters
 
I am very sorry! It is ever so frightening when your piggies die out of the blue without any obvious cause; but when it happens repeatedly it becomes downright scary. :(

Coincidences do happen but by the third time you want to make sure that you are not missing something crucial, especially if you have still more piggies. It sounds rather like a heart attack or a stroke to me; they can happen at all ages out of the blue but it is rather cosmic bad luck to have it happen three times in a row.

It is impossible for us to say but at least you can exclude some things:
- No genetic link.
- 18 months is also rather too long for an infectious/transmittable problem.
- Symptoms from a potential gas leak are different; it is not an instant death. The same goes for any poison.
- A seasonal trigger like a heatwave can also be excluded.

Perhaps these two links with some practical advice for your bereaved piggies and yourself may help you cope in this stressful and puzzling situation:
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

I am linking in @Abi_nurse for you. Perhaps she has some more helpful insights.
 
I don't really have much to add except when I've seen this it's been often a twisted stomach but at this age it's not particularly likely. Out of general interest where did you purchase your piggies from? Seeing a lot of issues with some chain pet shop piggies being of poor 'breeding quality' of this makes sense. How many pellets did they have daily and did you weight then regularly? (Something to consider for the future if you don't) x
 
Just a general update for anyone interested, they went to the vet today and were both generally healthy but have been prescribed Rimadyl and rei-shi mushrooms for the next couple weeks, then one will go back for an x-ray. Fear was slight respiratory issues, but all in all it was good news
 
thank you for the update. Are they their usual selves?

What is the reishi mushroom for? Is it the actual mushroom or some kind of mix you give them? I don’t think they’re supposed to eat mushrooms. From a quick search, the rimadyl is a painkiller (NSAID). Seems rather generic. Was the vet cavy savvy?

Hopefully the X-ray comes out clear and they will be ok. 🤞🏾
 
Siikibam said:
thank you for the update. Are they their usual selves?

What is the reishi mushroom for? Is it the actual mushroom or some kind of mix you give them? I don’t think they’re supposed to eat mushrooms. From a quick search, the rimadyl is a painkiller (NSAID). Seems rather generic. Was the vet cavy savvy?

Hopefully the X-ray comes out clear and they will be ok. 🤞🏾
Click to expand...
My girlfriend was the one who actually brought them while I was at work. They're both medicines to be fed from a dropper. It was an "exotic" vet, the only one in my area who takes guineas. My girlfriend said they seemed knowledgeable. If it makes any difference the medicine says "OL immune+rei-shi mushroom". I didn't think they were supposed to have mushrooms either but assumed a vet knew better than I did
 
Siikibam said:
thank you for the update. Are they their usual selves?

What is the reishi mushroom for? Is it the actual mushroom or some kind of mix you give them? I don’t think they’re supposed to eat mushrooms. From a quick search, the rimadyl is a painkiller (NSAID). Seems rather generic. Was the vet cavy savvy?

Hopefully the X-ray comes out clear and they will be ok. 🤞🏾
Click to expand...
And yes they seem their usual selves, just a little annoyed about going to the vet today lol
 
Sadboy1995 said:
Just a general update for anyone interested, they went to the vet today and were both generally healthy but have been prescribed Rimadyl and rei-shi mushrooms for the next couple weeks, then one will go back for an x-ray. Fear was slight respiratory issues, but all in all it was good news
Click to expand...

Never heard of rei-shi mushrooms, to be honest. Mushrooms are not something that is on the menu list for guinea pigs.

Please give any medication by syringe to guinea pigs if you want it to be fully effective. They do not like additives to their food or water and will nibble around them or drink noticeably less.
 
Wiebke said:
Never heard of rei-shi mushrooms, to be honest. Mushrooms are not something that is on the menu list for guinea pigs.

Please give any medication by syringe to guinea pigs if you want it to be fully effective. They do not like additives to their food or water and will nibble around them or drink noticeably less.
Click to expand...
It is via syringe. I also didn't think they were supposed to have mushrooms. If it makes any difference the bottle says "OL immune+ rei-shi mushrooms"
 
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