Sudden Deaths?!?!

[Morchy]

Hi

I'm just coming to get some other thoughts on what is possibly a bit of a problem....but possibly just twist in fate. I have (had) a herd of 14 piggies, gathered from various locations, rescue, free to good home, retired, you get the picture, a few of which have had health issues on arrival but pulled through and is/was now a healthy, happy herd! They live in a shed in our field and have an attached 25ft run that they can access all the time (opened up in April with the warmer weather)....the problem is i've had 3 sudden deaths in about 3 months, the latest last night, they've been approx a month apart but all 3 piggies where perfectly healthy, they'd not lost any weight, were eating/drinking etc.

Poisoning crossed my mind as all 3 were bold piggies that liked to go out in the run, so i've checked but there's nothing i can immediately see, it is field grass rather than a lawn and really long in some areas, nevertheless i can't see anything, besides if it were that surely the other piggies that are out in the run would have suffered a similar fate? It also crossed my mind that they might be older than the lady thought they were?! The 3 came in together in October as "free to good homers", they were nearly 2 years old and according to their previous owner she got them all from the same breeder and even supplied dates of birth, they weren't all related though as there were 2 Teddies and an Aby.

They're all fed on exel nuggets, copious amounts of hay and a variety of veg, all piggy friendly (i carry a list in my purse).....i would consider myself an experienced piggy owner but i just wondered if i'm missing something glaringly obvious, i've never had this number of piggies before so i'm not sure of mortality rates in larger numbers but........

Any ideas welcome....

Katy

 

[Elwickcavies]

It is so hard to tell what the problem might be. Some perfectly healthy piggies just die suddenly for no apparent reason - there in the morning, gone in the afternoon. I haven't had as big a herd as you have, but it has happened to me several times over the years. Certainly not every death was preceded by an obvious illness. It sounds like you are doing all the right things as regards checking for poisonous plants etc. I would expect a case of poisoning to be more apparent, rather than a sudden keel over.

I have heard of guinea pigs having heart attacks from sudden shocks, perhaps from a predator? Don't beat yourself up about this, although I know it can go round and round your head that you may have been able to prevent something. It's probably just one of those awful coincidences.

 

[Wiebke]

I agree with @Elwickcavies and rather think about either coincidence or shock - is the hutch safe against predators like foxes or cats, or rats? Poisoning usually leaves signs and it is generally not instant. Losing several piggies in a short space of time can seriously whack you around, especially if it is a mystery and a similar issue each time.

 

[Morchy]

Thanks guys, that's reassuring. In terms of predators it did cross my mind, however a fox or cat couldn't get in to the shed, a rat maybe could though. I've had a look but i just can't see any evidence of it, besides i would have thought there would be signs in terms of food missing, maybe injury.....who knows......part of my felt if they had been in pain or it had been a shock response their bodies and faces would have been contorted differently when i found them, they just looked asleep to be honest. I think you're right about poisoning, there would definitely be more signs, at the very least on the piggies, but nothing......well i suppose i'll have to chalk it up and keep an eye on everyone....i have one sickly pig at the moment (who's always been sickly since i got her) and dips up and down regularly and then another with a significant tumour (that's not bothering her at this stage), so potentially could end up losing another 2! Your confidence does take a bit of a knock but i guess knowing they've come from a shitty environment to practically free range with lots of friends, food, hay and fresh veg for their last days is some consolation?!