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Sudden Death

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Julesandamy

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Hi

I an new to the group, but not to having Guinea pigs(although not for about 10 years) tonight my daughters Guinea pigs died at the same time. They were both sisters 6 months old. My friend breeds them so I no exactly how old. My daughter saw them together then half an hour later she realised she could not hear them and found them both dead. They died next to each other. Has anyone had this happens to them. We are both very sad about this.
 
I'm so sorry, what an awful shock for you both. Had they eaten anything different? or is it possible that something may have scared them?
 
helen105281 said:
I'm so sorry, what an awful shock for you both. Had they eaten anything different? or is it possible that something may have scared them?
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Hi Helen

No they have been eating Kale and eating the best dry food available. We did run out of hay yesterday, which is on my list for tomorrow. They were both happily squeaking in my daughters room one minute, she left them for maybe 10 minutes. She noticed they had gone quite and found them in there bed next to each other.
 
I am very sorry! Are your piggies indoors or outdoors? Outdoors, it is likely to be fright, like from a predator or even rat/mouse getting into the hutch. Indoors, you also may want to check for a gas leak etc. Poisoning is also a possibility although that is generally not so sudden.
 
Hi Helen
Forgot to say
We have cats that some times look at them they are used to it. But the cats were not around tonight. Nothing else would have scared them.
 
Wiebke said:
I am very sorry! Are your piggies indoors or outdoors? Outdoors, it is likely to be fright, like from a predator or even rat/mouse getting into the hutch. Indoors, you also may want to check for a gas leak etc. Poisoning is also a possibility although that is generally not so sudden.
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Hi

No they are inside. We don't have a gas leak or any predators. It's just so upsetting they both died within the 10 minutes my daughter left them. They were eating and squeaking as they always did.
 
Julesandamy said:
Hi

No they are inside. We don't have a gas leak or any predators. It's just so upsetting they both died within the 10 minutes my daughter left them. They were eating and squeaking as they always did.
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As both died so suddenly and at the same time, it is likely that something has triggered the death. However, like you, we can only guess and it is most likely that you will never get to the bottom of it, as upsetting as it is. Guinea pigs can die from fright/being suddenly badly spooked.

As the two of them died together, it cannot be congenital heart failure, a heart attack or a stroke, which are usually behind a sudden death out of the blue.
 
Wiebke said:
As both died so suddenly and at the same time, it is likely that something has triggered the death. However, like you, we can only guess and it is most likely that you will never get to the bottom of it, as upsetting as it is. Guinea pigs can die from fright/being suddenly badly spooked.

As the two of them died together, it cannot be congenital heart failure, a heart attack or a stroke, which are usually behind a sudden death out of the blue.
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I know that's what I don't understand. They were used to the cats anyway. I wanted them to have a post mortem, but my daughter doesn't want this so we will never know.

I'm worried if we have two more sisters when my friend next breeds again they might die. I just hope I didn't do anything to cause their deaths.
 
I have only had Guinea pigs for about a month and a half so I don't know what it could be. But I'm really sorry to hear that. I hope that doesn't happen again.
 
I am so sorry for your terrible loss. What a shock for you and your daughter.
 
I am sorry for your loss :( It sounds like they had a shock of some sort, or that they ingested something they shouldn't. If they are in your daughter's room could she have fed them something she shouldn't? How old is she? The only other thing i can think of is whether there are any air fresheners or room sprays/scents in her room, perfume or deodorant as pigs are sensitive to such things they can be very toxic.
 
Huge hugs.So sorry this has happened.It is always heartbreaking losing pigs, doubly so two at once.
 
Poppy'sMum said:
I am sorry for your loss :( It sounds like they had a shock of some sort, or that they ingested something they shouldn't. If they are in your daughter's room could she have fed them something she shouldn't? How old is she? The only other thing i can think of is whether there are any air fresheners or room sprays/scents in her room, perfume or deodorant as pigs are sensitive to such things they can be very toxic.
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Hi

My daughter is 11 in two weeks. She does use body sprays so that could be the reason. Although she has used them for awhile now. And would they both die at the same time?. I will make sure she doesn't use sprays in her room again if we buy two more piggies.

Thanks so much for your advise.

Julie
 
I'm really sorry for your loss. Given that they both passed at the same time, I can only think it was something environmental- either something they ate or something they were exposed to. Is the house air-conditioned? Pigs can die of heat stroke fairly quickly and given how hot a summer it has been in a lot of places, without air conditioning that could be a possibility. Again, I'm so sorry, that must have been such an awful shock for both you and your daughter!
 
madguinealady said:
Huge hugs.So sorry this has happened.It is always heartbreaking losing pigs, doubly so two at once.
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Thank you.
madguinealady said:
Huge hugs.So sorry this has happened.It is always heartbreaking losing pigs, doubly so two at once.
Click to expand...
madguinealady said:
Huge hugs.So sorry this has happened.It is always heartbreaking losing pigs, doubly so two at once.
Click to expand...
Poppy'sMum said:
I am sorry for your loss :( It sounds like they had a shock of some sort, or that they ingested something they shouldn't. If they are in your daughter's room could she have fed them something she shouldn't? How old is she? The only other thing i can think of is whether there are any air fresheners or room sprays/scents in her room, perfume or deodorant as pigs are sensitive to such things they can be very toxic.
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Freela said:
I'm really sorry for your loss. Given that they both passed at the same time, I can only think it was something environmental- either something they ate or something they were exposed to. Is the house air-conditioned? Pigs can die of heat stroke fairly quickly and given how hot a summer it has been in a lot of places, without air conditioning that could be a possibility. Again, I'm so sorry, that must have been such an awful shock for both you and your daughter!
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Hi

They just died. They were not ill. I have a much better understanding now of piggies, thanks to everyone like yourself have taken the time to respond. There is a lady, local to me who has two females just over a year old who she needs a new home for. I am thinking about it but because I don't know what killed them I'm not sure if it would be a good idea. I don't think they suffered as their behaviour was that of happy content little sweeties, right up until their death. I am scared if I have them, they might die. It's perhaps a bit too soon but then thought of helping them have a home where they will be loved as they are in their present home.

Julie x
 
Out of interest - you mentioned you feed them kale. Is it possible there was perhaps some poison on the kale? Pesticides etc?
Or did they get anything out of the garden - grass perhaps - is it possible there was dog pee on it?

I can only begin to imagine how scary it must be contemplating taking on two new pigs without knowing what killed the previous two.
 
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