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flower1290

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My 6 year old guinea pig, Patchy, crossed the rainbow bridge last night. I am currently on vacation and left my two guinea pigs with my dad. He said she was fine when he checked on her, then he went to feed her a few hours later and she passed in the corner of her cage. Since it was NYE, could fireworks scare a guinea pig to death? Is there any way to find cause of death? Maybe old age? I don’t know how she could die so sudden. I’m so upset and mostly because I couldn’t be there for her. Also, is my other guinea pig going to be okay without her sister? She’s 6 as well and we got them when they were <1 year old.
 
flower1290 said:
My 6 year old guinea pig, Patchy, crossed the rainbow bridge last night. I am currently on vacation and left my two guinea pigs with my dad. He said she was fine when he checked on her, then he went to feed her a few hours later and she passed in the corner of her cage. Since it was NYE, could fireworks scare a guinea pig to death? Is there any way to find cause of death? Maybe old age? I don’t know how she could die so sudden. I’m so upset and mostly because I couldn’t be there for her. Also, is my other guinea pig going to be okay without her sister? She’s 6 as well and we got them when they were <1 year old.
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Hi and welcome

BIG HUGS

I am very sorry for your loss. Patchy is slap-bang in the middle of the average life span. It can be that the stress from a new location or a sharp sudden noise may have contributed to lowering the immune system and allowing an underlying health issue to come to the fore. Guinea pigs can die very suddenly even without any warning; I have lost several of mine that way. It was just their day when the heart or another big organ packed in and their body simply closed down, or they had a heart attack or stroke out of the blue.

Please try to take consolation in that Patchy has lived to a very good age and that - as deaths go - she has had an easy and quick one and has suffered very little. It is the kind of death we would all wish for our pets; just please with a bit of a warning for us...

Please take the time to read the information in this guide link here. It has more detailed information on the dying process if you feel that this would help you with some of the questions you have; a guide on practical tips on what to do for a bereaved companion in the immediate and longer term and a grieving guide for yourself that will talk you through it and help you make sense of your feelings and experiences - like the need to find answers for an unexpected death and the inevitable soul searching whether mistakes have been made.

Here is the link. You will hopefully find it very helpful: Death, Dying, Terminal Illness, Grieving and Bereaved Companions: Information and Support for Owners and Their Children

Our singles guide does have a chapter on the specific challenges with bereaved piggies if longer term companionship is not an option: Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities
 
I'm sorry to hear that. It sounds like Patchy lived a long happy life.

In regard to her sister, she may be ok but as I'm sure you know guinea pigs are very social animals and are much happier with a companion of their own species. My oreo recently died at 2.5 years, it was so unexpected as she was quite young but we think she got fly strike. This meant that we were left with fudge (her sister) on her own. Fudge wasn't acting herself and seemed lonely and sad no matter how many cuddles we gave her. In the end we got a new rescue baby and they get along great. However as yours is older, the age gap is greater and you will have to carefully consider getting a new piggy as unfortunately you could be left with the new baby. It might be an idea to get a rescue piggy that isn't a baby as they will be closer in age. You would have to carefully consider this as if she is very dominant then she might not get on with the new piggy.

I understand that this is a very hard time and there are lots of options to consider but be gentle with yourself.

I hope this helped. Please keep us updated on how she is getting along.

Sleep well Patchy. X
 
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