Sudden death

[Faypiggy]

I'm hoping maybe someone can help or sadly has experianced the same. This week I've lost all 3 6 week old babies, within 48 hours. The first baby seemed letheric and by the morning had died, the other male was disorientated and front legs splayed. I took him to the vets along with the female with the female which was ok at the time. The vet gave them both a jab - as he thought they had possibly been poisoned or intoxicated some how? the female was put back with mummy - the male I kept inside, nice and warm, he did try and eat. The only way I can describe how they were was like they were drunk? by the morning the male had sadly died and the female had gone the same way so we took her to the vet and had her pts.

I've breed guinea pigs for over 20 years and am at a complete loss as to why. All the other pigs are fine (adults only), including my female mummy - Freya. The vet thought it may be that they all had a genetic weekeness (maybe heart) and caught a virus that sadly they couldn't fight. I've gone through everything I've feed them every the last week but I can't think of anything that could of poisoned them?

If anyone could offer any advise it would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Fay

 

[Piggiewinkles]

gosh that's so sad
unfortunately I cannot help as I have never bred guinea pigs, and my piggies that have died young were all an isolated case and the brothers I had with them were ok.
i know this reply isn't giving you any answers but I just wanted to say i'm sorry to hear your news.
hopefully someone will be able to shed some light on the loss of your piggies

 

[Cozmo]

I'm so sorry about the little ones. How is Mum coping?

Unfortunately these things sometimes happen, and the reason is never known.

 

[Faypiggy]

Thanks guys :-) I know these things do sometimes happen but normally with babies when they are just born or a few days old not 6 weeks old - thats the upsetting part :-( Mum is absolutely fine, coping well the babies were going to be separated from her this weekend anyway. I've kept her in isolation for the time being until I'm sure shes going to be ok before putting her back with her lady friends :-) xx

 

[paulag]

Sorry that you lost your babies - it's always very upsetting.

I'm no huge expert but heart problems can show themselves as babies grow anad get to a size where the weakened heart cannot cope. Signs of heart failure tend to be a wobbly walk and they can feel quite cold. If there's a chance that it's genetic mum, dad and any related piggies shouldn't really be bred from again.

However I've heard of infections taking out whole litters of small and furries around this age. If you have any other pregnant sows (or elderly piggies) I would isolate mum from them and wash your hands well between cages as there is a chance it's an infection that adults can fight but not babies.

Paula