• 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

Post Traumatic Stress?

Status
Not open for further replies.
ShadowHunter

ShadowHunter

New Born Pup
Joined
Jun 15, 2015
Messages
7
Reaction score
4
Points
45
Location
Lancashire
Hello everybody,
Unfortunately we had a bad experience last Wednesday when, we presume, a stoat managed to get into the building where we keep our guinea pigs. The three guinea pigs that are in there were attacked. One of the guinea pigs was taken and the other two are left with bites to the back of the neck. Reiushed them to the vet who gave us antibiotics to give them twice a day. The bites are healing well but our once brave and friendly piggies have become very reserved. They have all the typical signs of stress; not wanting to come out, eating but not as much as they should causing slight weight loss, nervousness. Grieving their lost friend and sibling won't be helping recovery either :(
Is there anything i can do the help them? I hate seeing them like this and there is probably nothing more to be done.

Life is cruel sometimes.
 
ShadowHunter said:
Hello everybody,
Unfortunately we had a bad experience last Wednesday when, we presume, a stoat managed to get into the building where we keep our guinea pigs. The three guinea pigs that are in there were attacked. One of the guinea pigs was taken and the other two are left with bites to the back of the neck. Reiushed them to the vet who gave us antibiotics to give them twice a day. The bites are healing well but our once brave and friendly piggies have become very reserved. They have all the typical signs of stress; not wanting to come out, eating but not as much as they should causing slight weight loss, nervousness. Grieving their lost friend and sibling won't be helping recovery either :(
Is there anything i can do the help them? I hate seeing them like this and there is probably nothing more to be done.

Life is cruel sometimes.
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome!

I am very sorry about this; what a horrible experience! it takes a long time to get over it, so please be patient. Guinea pigs grieve, too.

Where are your piggies housed now? Are they still outdoors in the same hutch where they won't be feeling safe? Would it be possible for you to bring them indoors?
 
Yes they are in the same place, with nowhere else to keep them I have no choice but I hadn't considered that. I don't think they were attacked in their cage so I suppose they will be staying where they feel safest?
 
Oh that's such a horrible thing to have to go through for both you and your babies.
Give them plenty of love and attention, hug them whilst watching you favourite program or something. Just because they may not be giving you the loving you need and want, lavish it upon them and they will soon feel better.
All the best x
 
Were they attacked in a run? It is very likely that the stoat has been back and tried to get at them.
 
They have their own outbuilding (10x14) which they have free access to during daylight hours. It is possible that it has been back, now that it's been successful. Theres no more injuries so it hasn't had hold of them again. I would imagine they would be nervous to venture out for a while.
 
If he has been back, try keeping them in for a few days to ease the scent and perhaps fool him into thinking they are gone.
 
Sad update I'm afraid.
We lost Pebble last night.
She took a turn for the worst yesterday. We brought her in as she couldn't maintain any body heat as she wasn't eating although still drinking. Often she would fall on her side and unable to get back up herself. Unfortunately there was little we could do but keep her warm, comfortable and give her the medication. She passed peacefully by her sisters side. I'm devastated and heart broken, i never expected any of this to happen.
Chocolate now has an awful lot to cope with but she is getting brighter by the day.
 
ShadowHunter said:
Sad update I'm afraid.
We lost Pebble last night.
She took a turn for the worst yesterday. We brought her in as she couldn't maintain any body heat as she wasn't eating although still drinking. Often she would fall on her side and unable to get back up herself. Unfortunately there was little we could do but keep her warm, comfortable and give her the medication. She passed peacefully by her sisters side. I'm devastated and heart broken, i never expected any of this to happen.
Chocolate now has an awful lot to cope with but she is getting brighter by the day.
Click to expand...

HUGS

I am so very sorry; it must be so devastating for you! Sadly small prey animals are quite fragile, and the trauma in conjunction with the injuries was likely too much for poor Pebble to cope. I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed for Chocolate!
 
All my love to you and Chocolate, I am sure Pebbles is running about happily in the hutch in the sky xx all the best
 
Oh no that's very sad. RIP little Pebbles, and all the very best to you and to Chocolate xx
 
I wish i could tell you better news but Chocolate died in my arms this morning.
I had a feeling that i might lose her; they were tough guinea pigs but this was too much for them especially at their age. I am now piggie-less for the first time in 7 years and I'm going to seriously miss having them around, and hearing their excited squeaks. From three to none in one short week, these are some of the hardest goodbyes I've had to do. I will welcome some more piggies into my life in the future but my heart needs to do some healing first.
Thank you for your well wishes and prayers.
 
:hug:
ShadowHunter said:
I wish i could tell you better news but Chocolate died in my arms this morning.
I had a feeling that i might lose her; they were tough guinea pigs but this was too much for them especially at their age. I am now piggie-less for the first time in 7 years and I'm going to seriously miss having them around, and hearing their excited squeaks. From three to none in one short week, these are some of the hardest goodbyes I've had to do. I will welcome some more piggies into my life in the future but my heart needs to do some healing first.
Thank you for your well wishes and prayers.
Click to expand...
Oh that's dreadful! I feel for you and your piggies. You could never have predicted this, and it is not your fault. What a an awful time for you.
:hug::hug:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top