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Poisening

Incredipigs

Incredipigs

Teenage Guinea Pig
Joined
Jan 3, 2018
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Location
Godstone Surrey, UK
Today something awful happened - we lost 4 piggies. I am Devasted.
This morning I went to let the Guinea Pigs out, a little later than usual, only to find they had already pushed the 'door' open (our pig door has been broken for the last couple of days so the entrance is just blocked with some wood. I decided to let them out to free roam the garden so I could give them a clean out. As I opened the door, I immediately saw Ozzy (our recently neutered male) laying on the floor, at first I thought he was doing the running thing (as they die) but quickly realised he was trying to get up and collapsing! Next I saw baby Disney, laying dead just behind him. Then Bumble behind the box, again dead. And then little Rosie, in the front corner doing the same as Ozzy. I picked up Rosie and Ozzy (crying my eyes out by this point) than saw little Tigerlily hunched in the run.
I took Ozzy, Rosie and Tigerlily indoors and moved poor Disney and Bumbles bodies. Ozzy and Rosie were in the same state - almost sedated, both kept collapsing and falling asleep. Tiger was a bit better - eating and drinking but still looked very tired and hunched. Within half an hour Ozzy and Rosie both passed away. Devasted.
Tiger is doing well, I think she will pull through, she has a vet appointment tommorow lunch time. All the other piggies seem absolutely fine.
I know we have lost piggies in the past but this was completely different, they just looked sedated until they passed away in their sleep. I can only think they have been poisened by something. They haven't free roamed for a while and there is nothing in their run that's poisonous, they have had the woodchip for ages so it defiantly wasn't that. As for their food, their hay and veg have also been given to my rabbits and skinny pig - all of which are fine. The only thing I can think is possibly the straw, it definitely wasn't damp or mouldy but could there have been some chemicals or something on it? Another thing is that the neighbours could have done something, maybe I'm just being paranoid, but our neighbour was very rude to my sister so I put a note through their door telling them it was unacceptable and asking for an apology. I'm worried they have poisened them as a kinda revenge, I wouldn't put it past them.
I'm so Devasted and just want to know why this has happened.
 
I’m so sorry that you have lost some of your piggies, sending you hugs at this awful time. I’d take any piggies in the same area for a full check up just in case it’s something contagious
 
Oh I am so sorry for your losses that is an absolutely horrible thing to have to find and witness--huge hugs!

Of course it is probably only a postmortem that would fully lay to rest your 'whats' and 'how's' but a poisoning is likely. Where did you get your hay from? If it was from a local farm it's possible there was chemicals sprayed on it, but I don't see why they would consciously sell it if they had?

I know a friend had a similar situation where all 5 piggies of 7 died in quick succession out of the blue from what was believed to be pneumonia.
 
Incredipigs said:
Today something awful happened - we lost 4 piggies. I am Devasted.
This morning I went to let the Guinea Pigs out, a little later than usual, only to find they had already pushed the 'door' open (our pig door has been broken for the last couple of days so the entrance is just blocked with some wood. I decided to let them out to free roam the garden so I could give them a clean out. As I opened the door, I immediately saw Ozzy (our recently neutered male) laying on the floor, at first I thought he was doing the running thing (as they die) but quickly realised he was trying to get up and collapsing! Next I saw baby Disney, laying dead just behind him. Then Bumble behind the box, again dead. And then little Rosie, in the front corner doing the same as Ozzy. I picked up Rosie and Ozzy (crying my eyes out by this point) than saw little Tigerlily hunched in the run.
I took Ozzy, Rosie and Tigerlily indoors and moved poor Disney and Bumbles bodies. Ozzy and Rosie were in the same state - almost sedated, both kept collapsing and falling asleep. Tiger was a bit better - eating and drinking but still looked very tired and hunched. Within half an hour Ozzy and Rosie both passed away. Devasted.
Tiger is doing well, I think she will pull through, she has a vet appointment tommorow lunch time. All the other piggies seem absolutely fine.
I know we have lost piggies in the past but this was completely different, they just looked sedated until they passed away in their sleep. I can only think they have been poisened by something. They haven't free roamed for a while and there is nothing in their run that's poisonous, they have had the woodchip for ages so it defiantly wasn't that. As for their food, their hay and veg have also been given to my rabbits and skinny pig - all of which are fine. The only thing I can think is possibly the straw, it definitely wasn't damp or mouldy but could there have been some chemicals or something on it? Another thing is that the neighbours could have done something, maybe I'm just being paranoid, but our neighbour was very rude to my sister so I put a note through their door telling them it was unacceptable and asking for an apology. I'm worried they have poisened them as a kinda revenge, I wouldn't put it past them.
I'm so Devasted and just want to know why this has happened.
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BIG HUGS

I am ever so sorry; what a horrible shock for you! Good that you have brought your remaining piggies indoors!
A very infectious illness from one of the rare real nasties that can kill in a matter of hours or the shock from a rat or mice breaking in or a fox/cat trying to getting into your the piggy hutch/shed may also be considered. Piggies can die from sheer fright.

Only a post mortem examination of one of the dead piggies at the vet may or may not be able to give you the answers you crave.

Here are our emergency, crisis and bridging care tips that tell you what you can do until you can see your vet: Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
 
I’m sorry for your losses.

I think given the extreme nature of what has happened it would be most advisable to get a post mortem done on one of the piggies you have lost and get all the others professionally checked by a vet. Otherwise all we can do is speculate and that isn’t going to help your surviving piggies.

You need to know if it is an illness and if so what illness and then get the correct treatment from a vet to treat those who are sick and to prevent illness in the others. Only a vet will be able to do this for you.

If it’s an illness then having so many locked in close quarters overnight and in bad weather means that illness can spread very quickly through a herd and devastate it. Do you have means to move them indoors in separate enclosures so that you can move it or them more carefully and quarantine any sickly piggies?

In the meantime I would do a deep clean of your piggy house and enclosure. Bin all bedding hay straw etc and start afresh with new bales. Be sure to thoroughly soak all wooden houses and enclosures in a vet quality disinfectant such as F10 to kill off any bacteria.

Please let us know how you get on at the vets.
 
GPTV said:
Sorry no real advice, but if it was me I'd get a post mortem done on at least 2 of the passed piggies. They could hold the answer to saving the rest of your herd.

RIP rainbow piggies, condolences & a big hug for you. :hug: xx
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Good point actually, 2 same results would be concrete of what they all probably passed from
 
So sorry to hear you have lost so many more piggies @Incredipigs , if you seriously suspect poisoning you should definitely get postmortem tests done on the deceased piggies, and let the vet know you suspect poisoning. You should probably notify the RSPCA too if you think this came from a food or bedding source purchased for animal use, and notify the police if you think your neighbour maliciously poisoned your pets.
I appreciate that you must he grieving right now, but time and lab samples are really a priority if you are going to find out what happened to your piggies. I lecture in animal poisoning as part of my university teaching in animal health and disease, and notifying the relevant authorities, and submitting samples from your food and bedding and the poor animals you have sadly lost, and also getting your vet to take blood and urine samples from your surviving piggies, could really help find the cause and prevent either you or anyone else losing any more pets.
Sending hugs, but if you really think this is poisoning please take action straight away to confirm this for the sake of your other animals, and others in your area! Please keep us posted on what the vet and RSPCA say x
 
Please be aware that any gap you can stick a pencil through a mouse can get through, too. And that wild mice and rats can pass on illnesses to piggies, apart from really scaring piggies. :(

Have you deep cleaned your Wendy house each time with vet grade F10 after one of your incidents that have ended up with deaths? Otherwise you have factor in that the old bugs could still be lurking. :(
 
VickiA said:
I’m sorry for your losses.

I think given the extreme nature of what has happened it would be most advisable to get a post mortem done on one of the piggies you have lost and get all the others professionally checked by a vet. Otherwise all we can do is speculate and that isn’t going to help your surviving piggies.

You need to know if it is an illness and if so what illness and then get the correct treatment from a vet to treat those who are sick and to prevent illness in the others. Only a vet will be able to do this for you.

If it’s an illness then having so many locked in close quarters overnight and in bad weather means that illness can spread very quickly through a herd and devastate it. Do you have means to move them indoors in separate enclosures so that you can move it or them more carefully and quarantine any sickly piggies?

In the meantime I would do a deep clean of your piggy house and enclosure. Bin all bedding hay straw etc and start afresh with new bales. Be sure to thoroughly soak all wooden houses and enclosures in a vet quality disinfectant such as F10 to kill off any bacteria.

Please let us know how you get on at the vets.
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Hi, I have moved the piggies indoors for a couple of nights so I can keep a very close eye on them. I am going to deep clean the Pig house tommorow and replace all bedding. I am looking into a post mortem, any idea how much this would cost?
 
VickiA said:
Please remind me @Incredipigs how many piggies did you lose in a week last time and when was that? Were any symptoms similar? Did you get a post mortem at that time?
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I unfortunately lost quite a few in the summer, I think the most was 3 in a week but not on the same days. The deaths weren't similar to the ones this morning, those piggies had almost heart attack like deaths whereas Ozzy & Rosie were just extremely sleepy and passed in their sleep. No I didn't get a post mortem done. X
 
If you suspect accidental poisoning from a food or bedding source this could be a major animal health issue and if you contact the RSPCA about it, they should fund the postmortem and tests- similarly if you suspect deliberate poisoning and contact the police, they should pay for the tests to confirm this. If you are unsure if this a recurrence of a previous disease outbreak rather than poisoning then you will need to fund the PM yourself unless you contact the RSPCA and explain, in which case they may fund the tests but stipulate some quarantine conditions for you... however I am sure in this case they are the best people to contact, to help you keep your remaining animals healthy after such a sad loss x
 
Incredipigs said:
Hi, I have moved the piggies indoors for a couple of nights so I can keep a very close eye on them. I am going to deep clean the Pig house tommorow and replace all bedding. I am looking into a post mortem, any idea how much this would cost?
Click to expand...

At least you can keep a close eye on them indoors for a bit :nod: :tu:

Sorry I have no idea how much a post mortem would cost, but I would be inclined to have them done if they were mine & hopefully establish cause of death.
If its intentional poisoning there's an official record, if its accidental the same again but you'll be able to remove the source & prevent further casualties.

If it's disease you'll be able to vaccinate/treat the remaining herd & know exactly what to look for in the future to prevent further outbreaks.

It could save you £ hundreds/ heartbreak/further losses in the future.
If its from purchased bedding etc. The companies involved can do product recalls & warn other customers, before others face the risk of losing any of their guineas. (eg, ragwort in a field used for hay - poisonous for most animals, the field owner can get rid of the plants, make the field safe if made aware & the hay can be recalled. Horses are also affected by poisonous ragwort & can lead to fatalities).
Your actions could have far reaching benefits for the safety/wellbeing of many animals & owners :)

I see @PigglePuggle has given some suggestions for claiming costs. I'd also discuss with your vet & they should be able to fill out correct paperwork to claim costs back or how/where to apply for them to be paid in the first place?

Good luck & fingers crossed its a one off incident
Big hug xx
 
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So sorry you are going through this. I have to agree with the advice given,especially @PigglePuggle. When my piggies lived in the shed we had mice get in and it made them very sick. So we moved them indoors. Also people/neighbours can be weird,we had some next door who threatened to kill our pet chickens.They didn't but it made me very nervous.
Hope you find out what happened and your other piggies are ok.
Sending hugs.xx
 
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