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So Upset After Guinea Pig Death

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Curly2412

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi, my guinea pig died very suddenly yesterday of bloat which seems to have been a complication of another illness.

Seeing him so poorly and shut down yesterday when the night before he'd been running around and eating cucumber etc has really shaken me! It's come as such a shock and he was only 4 years old and seemed so healthy.

He was the most outgoing guinea pig I've had (3rd piggie!) And had such a strong personality and was so playful and smart!

Obviously I wouldn't be getting another guinea pig until after new year as I really feel I need time to mourn him but I now really don't feel confident. I've been assured by the vet that none of the veggies I gave him caused his gas buildup but I'm just so shocked that I didn't see any warning signs of it happening and am now worried and doubting my ability to look after piggies :(

I'm also worried that another piggie won't live up to my last one as he was a real star and warmed the hearts of my whole family and I'm just so upset he's gone.

Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thank you
 
Hello. I've stumbled onto this and several things have been asked and advise.
Pls what was your piggie called.
I'm no expert on piggies at all but I know when one gets poorly then many times theirs nothing we can do.
Honest not takin away your story but my well loved piggie PEDRO died on way back from the vets after being given a full bill of health. I was and still heart brokenI. Guilt why etc but time mends and we must remember why we have them.
I think it be sad if your don't adopt again when the time is right. Piggies die and not many outlive their humans who love them.
You come across as a carer and any piggie be blessed to have you.
RIP Little piggie say hello to my Pedro. xx
 
I am so sorry for your loss. Sometimes there is just nothing you can do. One of my pigs has been in a bloat battle for a number of weeks now and some are just luckier than others. Don’t feel disheartenedabiut your care, all Guinea Pigs are amazing creatures and in time you will find the confidence to open your heart to new ones. Making a photo album of your lost pig can sometimes help. X
 
I'm so sorry for your loss. One of the problems with guinea pigs and other little pets is how quickly they can go from seemingly fine to seriously ill. I'm sure it has happened to everyone on the board here (I know that the last two pigs I lost were fine the night before and were gone by that time the next night.) It's such a shock on top of grieving and how much we miss them. And sometimes a piggie has such a big personality that we wonder how we will ever replace them. The answer, of course, is that we can't, and we won't. They will always hold a special place in your heart. They are all unique and none can ever be replaced. However, I do believe that after the most intense part of the grief has passed, you will have a place in your heart for a new piggie- not a replacement, but a new personality to get to know and love, a piggie who will be irreplaceable in their own right. ((HUGS)), and so sorry for your loss. For little guys, they hold a big place in our hearts and it's so hard to say goodbye.
 
Curly2412 said:
Hi, my guinea pig died very suddenly yesterday of bloat which seems to have been a complication of another illness.

Seeing him so poorly and shut down yesterday when the night before he'd been running around and eating cucumber etc has really shaken me! It's come as such a shock and he was only 4 years old and seemed so healthy.

He was the most outgoing guinea pig I've had (3rd piggie!) And had such a strong personality and was so playful and smart!

Obviously I wouldn't be getting another guinea pig until after new year as I really feel I need time to mourn him but I now really don't feel confident. I've been assured by the vet that none of the veggies I gave him caused his gas buildup but I'm just so shocked that I didn't see any warning signs of it happening and am now worried and doubting my ability to look after piggies :(

I'm also worried that another piggie won't live up to my last one as he was a real star and warmed the hearts of my whole family and I'm just so upset he's gone.

Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thank you
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Hi and welcome

I am very sorry for your loss. Severe bloat generally hits right out of the blue and is by no means necessarily connected to a diet. Underlying problems can contribute to severe bloat. It is one of the nastier killers and really shock you with its severity and seeing your piggy going downhill very quickly. Many of our long time owner members (including me) have lost piggies to severe bloat.
Bloat, Gi Stasis ( No Gut Movement) And Not Eating

It is typical for the onset of the grieving process to experience strong feelings or guilt or failure and to firstly looking for mistakes you could have made. These feelings are usually stronger when the death has happened suddenly and unexpectedly.
Take your time to grieve if your boy has been a single piggy. Northing is ever going to replace him! But that doesn't mean that you cannot love again. Each bond is unique; you can love fully without taking anything away from any others as they tie into a different place into your heart.
You are also welcome to post a tribute to your boy in our Rainbow Bridge section if or whenever it feels right for you. It is there for those that want to make use of it at which point ever.

You may find that your love and your experience is very different next time round; that it is more of a slow burner that is creeping up on you. I would also recommend to please get a bonded pair of guinea pigs if at all possible. Guinea pigs are group animals that are wired to having round the clock company of their own kind. For you, learning about guinea pig interaction, which is what is making piggies so unique and fascinating will open a new and different world, so there is no comparison with the boy you have lost, but a journey into a completely new direction. If you can, please consider using one of our recommended rescues to get any new piggies from. Any good standard rescues will not adopt over the holidays anyway. ;)
Companionship
UK rescues we can guarantee that you are in safe hands: Guinea Pig Rescue Centre Locator
Recommended good standard rescues in some other countries: Guinea Lynx :: Rescue Organizations
 
Thank you everyone for your kind words, it's so lovely to have so much support off everyone!
My little man was called Billy and he was an albino coronet! Gorgeous!
I know that guinea pigs should be kept in pairs and I always felt guilty for having him alone but my current house is really rather small and the only size cage I have been able to fit after moving stuff around is 100 x 60 x 40 which is too small for two. I would love a pair and do feel that I'm doing piggys and injustice just having the one although I spend as much time as possible with them and have had very close bonds with my three piggys, I just hate to think that I would have to not have any just because I don't have the money and thus house space big enough right now to have a cage for two unless it was to be on my own bedroom floor!
 
Or a lot of people have put a cage in a run & just use the cage at bedtime. Bloat can be a rapid killer, don't feel guilty I doubt you could have saved little Billy. Because they are prey animals, They hide illness very well.
Maybe not the time to say this but welcome to our friendly forum.
I'm sure you will find many tips here.
You will find your space will get smaller as the guinea pigs increasing take over.
 
Curly2412 said:
Thank you everyone for your kind words, it's so lovely to have so much support off everyone!
My little man was called Billy and he was an albino coronet! Gorgeous!
I know that guinea pigs should be kept in pairs and I always felt guilty for having him alone but my current house is really rather small and the only size cage I have been able to fit after moving stuff around is 100 x 60 x 40 which is too small for two. I would love a pair and do feel that I'm doing piggys and injustice just having the one although I spend as much time as possible with them and have had very close bonds with my three piggys, I just hate to think that I would have to not have any just because I don't have the money and thus house space big enough right now to have a cage for two unless it was to be on my own bedroom floor!
Click to expand...
I've liked this comment and going to reply You say feel guilty having one piggie and didn't have a mate for Billy why. Don't.
I had a amazing Solo piggie called Pedro for nearly 3 years he came to me after being rescued from abuse at a children's nursey.I never had a piggie so to be honest only really found out after he died when I joined this forum that they like to be with another. He was very very happy alone in his home and the run of the house.
Not wanting to say I know best I DON'T but sometimes having a single piggie is better than none. No one on here will say I should have not rescued him and from then till he died Pedders never looked sad or acted as tho he be better with company.
 
Just read this through again, do you know any fella with a screwdriver or hammer boyfriend, dad, brother, uncle cos 9 times out of 10 you can build into small places, these males do amazing things if you keep them, topped up with beer. Not to much beer though otherwise you're find your shelves crooked. Lol
 
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