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Guinea moar dragon said:
Our piggy has just died in our arms, I don't know what the next steps are?

Any guidance please 🥺 🙏🏼
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HUGE HUGS

I am so very sorry for you all.

Whenever a piggy of mine dies at home in my arms, I gently put them back in the cage, so their mates can have a lost sniff if they haven't said goodbye (about 15-30 minutes max). Please brace that companions who have taken their leave already may stay away. I respect and remove the body again.

This time gently place the piggy in an old cuddle bag which I have kept for this purpose but an old towel will also do to the let the body cool down and be sure that the piggy has really gone. You have about a day or so time before things become whiffy. If you want to place the body in a cold place, please wrap it firmly in a plastic bag.

This gives you time to think about whether you want your piggy cremated (please contact your closest vet. Not all animal crematoriums will accept pets directly from their owners.
Or whether you'd rather bury him in a plant pot or in the garden if you have access.

If you have children, they may want to write a message on a piece of paper, which can go with the body, whether that is for cremation or burial.

Pet Death: How To Tell The Children? (Tips and Resources)

This one here is for all ages:
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Processing and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children


Here is our detailed advice what you can do for any companion. As long as they are eating and drinking, you usually have 1-4 weeks' time to sort something out.
Only with piggies who stop eating and drinking, stare into a corner or who are very obviously not able to cope on their own do you have to act more quickly. They are thankfully comparatively rare. A feed of syringe formula can sometime restart the eating and drinking reflex.

This guide here talks you in detail through your options and the emotional conflicts that can come with a passing.
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig

I hope that this helps you? My advice gives you time to make enquiries and decisions tomorrow so you do not have to do them this evening.
 
Thank you so much for your excellent advice we did place Theo's brother in the pet carrier with him for 2 sets of 10 minutes so that he could be with him and recognise. Although Alvin seemed much more interested in getting his vegetables.

We stayed with Theo laying in a cuddle blanket stroking him gently and saying our goodbyes for about an hour I couldn't bare to do anything else he looked so peaceful eventually he started to feel cold so I was certain he had gone.

We wrapped him up and buried him in the garden with his other lost brothers (the ashes of our dog, our 4 gerbils and hamster that we have lost over the years) We will add his name onto our handmade memorial plaque at the weekend .

He was given antibiotics for a possible upper respiratory infection on Saturday so we knew he was really poorly but uncertain how bad. He seemed a little brighter and had more light in his eyes today. We had weighed him daily and he has only lost about 40g since Saturday.

He came down for his daily cuddle at 3:30pm and seemed to go into what I can only describe as a seizure, he lay on his side and was gasping for breath untill he finally went still.

It was so traumatic we are truly devastated especially my daughter as they live in her bedroom with her.
 
Guinea moar dragon said:
Thank you so much for your excellent advice we did place Theo's brother in the pet carrier with him for 2 sets of 10 minutes so that he could be with him and recognise. Although Alvin seemed much more interested in getting his vegetables.

We stayed with Theo laying in a cuddle blanket stroking him gently and saying our goodbyes for about an hour I couldn't bare to do anything else he looked so peaceful eventually he started to feel cold so I was certain he had gone.

We wrapped him up and buried him in the garden with his other lost brothers (the ashes of our dog, our 4 gerbils and hamster that we have lost over the years) We will add his name onto our handmade memorial plaque at the weekend .

He was given antibiotics for a possible upper respiratory infection on Saturday so we knew he was really poorly but uncertain how bad. He seemed a little brighter and had more light in his eyes today. We had weighed him daily and he has only lost about 40g since Saturday.

He came down for his daily cuddle at 3:30pm and seemed to go into what I can only describe as a seizure, he lay on his side and was gasping for breath untill he finally went still.

It was so traumatic we are truly devastated especially my daughter as they live in her bedroom with her.
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BIG HUGS

It sounds like his heart may have given out. Try to take comfort it has speeded up Theo's journey to the Rainbow Bridge and that he was no longer with it when he had the seizure. A natural death can happen like that.
Pets and people are often a little brighter before the final fast decline; it's a last flare of the candle.

Your daughter may find this link here very soothing. It actually works for all ages but especially children will find it comforting.
Rainbow bridge video I made, I hope it can bring some comfort to others

You are welcome to post a tribute to Theo and include any messages from your kids in your post if they wish to as well, if you feel that this would help you all to come to terms with his sudden decline and death as a family.
We have a Rainbow Bridge section available for that purpose at any point during or after the grieving process. There is no obligation to go there or use it you'd rather not. It is an option, not an obligation. We all grieve differently but we this space available for those for who find it helpful.
Rainbow Bridge Pets
 
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