Think Pip is dying
- Thread starter Jemima
- Start date
BIG HUGS
I am so very sorry. I hope that we can continue to help and support you. My thoughts are with you.
Each natural dying process is different so it is never a tick box exercise and we all have that phase of doubt/hope/despair and sheer not knowing whether our gut feeling is right. Sadly, as I know all too well myself, it never gets any easier only that you learn to pick up on the tiny things more with experience.
The list in the dying guide is by its own nature just a very rough chart with the most common symptoms and pointers in order to give you a bit of an idea as to whether the line of no return has been crossed and a bit of a help as to what rather disconcerting or potentially traumatising developments you may need to brace for when you do encounter them out of any context.
I am so very sorry. I hope that we can continue to help and support you. My thoughts are with you.
Each natural dying process is different so it is never a tick box exercise and we all have that phase of doubt/hope/despair and sheer not knowing whether our gut feeling is right. Sadly, as I know all too well myself, it never gets any easier only that you learn to pick up on the tiny things more with experience.
The list in the dying guide is by its own nature just a very rough chart with the most common symptoms and pointers in order to give you a bit of an idea as to whether the line of no return has been crossed and a bit of a help as to what rather disconcerting or potentially traumatising developments you may need to brace for when you do encounter them out of any context.
Jemima
Junior Guinea Pig
He’s running to rainbow bridge at the moment. I’ve been with him for the last half an hour. And thanks to your guide, his little legs have been running and so I feel he should stay where he is. I’m heading back out to be with him now. Thank you all so much. I feel the support. And for my remaining piggie, I will know that I’ll need to seek peace for him quicker than poor little Pipsqueak.
HUGS
He's currently climbing the Bridge and is not far off. His consciousness has gone as oxygen deprivation is hitting the body now; the 'running' is a merely physical/biological reaction. Be with him; be sad, but try to be at peace. You are doing all the right things to make his last journey a good one.
Jemima
Junior Guinea Pig
He’s gone now. He is at peace at last. 
I am going to go for a walk and clear my head and soothe my heart, then come back and we will bury him under the apple tree.
Then I need to work out if I can somehow bring Pap inside back to his indoor home…
But I know it’s cold outside and was wondering if I can turn the heating off in the office so it’s colder in there and could transfer him to his c&c…
Or is it better to leave him outside? We don’t plan to get another piggie and if he is inside he will be with us and I can keep a really good eye on him.
I would appreciate advice on this aspect.
HUGE THANK YOU TO YOU LOVELY SOULS FOR BEING THERE FOR ME.
I am going to go for a walk and clear my head and soothe my heart, then come back and we will bury him under the apple tree. Then I need to work out if I can somehow bring Pap inside back to his indoor home…
But I know it’s cold outside and was wondering if I can turn the heating off in the office so it’s colder in there and could transfer him to his c&c…
Or is it better to leave him outside? We don’t plan to get another piggie and if he is inside he will be with us and I can keep a really good eye on him.
I would appreciate advice on this aspect.
HUGE THANK YOU TO YOU LOVELY SOULS FOR BEING THERE FOR ME.
He’s gone now. He is at peace at last.
Then I need to work out if I can somehow bring Pap inside back to his indoor home…
But I know it’s cold outside and was wondering if I can turn the heating off in the office so it’s colder in there and could transfer him to his c&c…
Or is it better to leave him outside? We don’t plan to get another piggie and if he is inside he will be with us and I can keep a really good eye on him.
I would appreciate advice on this aspect.
HUGE THANK YOU TO YOU LOVELY SOULS FOR BEING THERE FOR ME.
I’m so sorry for your loss.
Yes do bring him inside. He shouldn’t stay outside on his own, particularly if you aren’t getting him another friend.
You don’t need to turn the heating off, just turn it down in there and then slowly increase it back to normal over the coming day or so. A slow adjustment to warmer conditions is what he needs. Once he is inside and staying inside he needs to be kept at 18-20 degrees.
You will need to keep a close eye on him and ensure he is ok because they usually only tolerate being alone for 1-4 weeks and then are ready for company again.
Jemima
Junior Guinea Pig
I don’t want to rehome him as his is the dominant pig and was quite hard to bond with Pip. Plus we love him and will care for him. I will contact the rescue to ask their advice. Thank you. We will set up his inside home.
Sometimes rescues will allow you to foster a single piggy for you to bond with a bereaved piggy. Once your piggy passes away, you then return the foster piggy thus ending your piggy cycle.
As long as pap is ok, You’ve got time so you don’t need to think about this yet.
DavRz
Forum Donator 2025/26
Very sorry for your heartache and loss of Pip.
He’s gone now. He is at peace at last.
Then I need to work out if I can somehow bring Pap inside back to his indoor home…
But I know it’s cold outside and was wondering if I can turn the heating off in the office so it’s colder in there and could transfer him to his c&c…
Or is it better to leave him outside? We don’t plan to get another piggie and if he is inside he will be with us and I can keep a really good eye on him.
I would appreciate advice on this aspect.
HUGE THANK YOU TO YOU LOVELY SOULS FOR BEING THERE FOR ME.
BIG HUGS
Please bring Pap inside for company and stimulation but do so with his old smelly bedding and furniture and even Pip's lingering scent so he still has his territory and the sensory comfort he will need. Allow the scents to gradually fade over the coming days before you clean to make the transition as gentle and easy on him as possible. For once, it doesn't matter how the cage looks, it is the emotional needs and instinctive wiring that take precedence.
You have to play this by ear since like we humans, piggies react very differently to a loss. You can never predict that since it very much depends on the bond, the personality and the circumstances - sudden, unexpected loss or gradual passing etc.
Our bereaved piggy guide does contain helpful tips from the instant to the longer term - I am linking it in for the sake of other members following this thread as you have already read it:
Jemima
Junior Guinea Pig
Thank you. I will put up his C&C, with fleece, but bring lots of his smelly hay bedding in from the hutch. I hope that will be OK.BIG HUGS
Please bring Pap inside for company and stimulation but do so with his old smelly bedding and furniture and even Pip's lingering scent so he still has his territory and the sensory comfort he will need. Allow the scents to gradually fade over the coming days before you clean to make the transition as gentle and easy on him as possible. For once, it doesn't matter how the cage looks, it is the emotional needs and instinctive wiring that take precedence.
You have to play this by ear since like we humans, piggies react very differently to a loss. You can never predict that since it very much depends on the bond, the personality and the circumstances - sudden, unexpected loss or gradual passing etc.
Our bereaved piggy guide does contain helpful tips from the instant to the longer term - I am linking it in for the sake of other members following this thread as you have already read it:
We will keep a close eye on him and give him attention and TLC.
He has always been the shyer of the two. Pip was the cheeky boy always waiting for his veggies!
Claire W
Forum Donator 2025/26
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2008
- Messages
- 37,471
- Reaction score
- 30,282
- Points
- 2,915
I’m so sorry for your loss 
(((hugs)))
Sleep tight Pip x
(((hugs)))Sleep tight Pip x
Last edited:
Jemima
Junior Guinea Pig
We have buried Pip under the apple tree on the lawn, where he loved the most. I am sorry he didn't get to see another Spring with all the delicious grass.
Pap is now inside. I picked him up and he immediately started munching his apple. And he is OK in his new C&C home in my office. I have also weighed him. He is just over 1kg. So I can now keep an eye on his weight and make sure he thrives.
I will explore fostering options over the next few weeks.
I'd get another piggie, but my husband doesn't want us to.
Pap is now inside. I picked him up and he immediately started munching his apple. And he is OK in his new C&C home in my office. I have also weighed him. He is just over 1kg. So I can now keep an eye on his weight and make sure he thrives.
I will explore fostering options over the next few weeks.
I'd get another piggie, but my husband doesn't want us to.
HUGS
Give both yourselves time to grieve and to digest. Pap is OK, eating and settling. He has obviously known about Pip having had the call and has been able to brace himself and he seems to cope with the move well.
This means that you now have actually got several weeks' leeway to digest things yourself. It is perfectly normal for owners to feel very differently, which can put real extra stress on a relationship. Give both of yourself that extra space and time and reassess. Views can change as Paps needs become more obvious over time and you will meet them in due time. Be gentle on yourself. You are a very caring person and Pap is still in good hands. Take a rest and look after yourself now as well.
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2017
- Messages
- 54,374
- Reaction score
- 76,516
- Points
- 3,465
- Location
- East Riding of Yorksire
So sorry that you lost Pip.
You gave him the gift of a lovely life and a good ending surrounded by your love.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve
You gave him the gift of a lovely life and a good ending surrounded by your love.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve
Jemima
Junior Guinea Pig
Thank you. Self kindness is super important. I accept the choices I made for Pip. And I thank him for the teachings he shared with me in those last hours.
To know that with light and joy comes darkness and sadness.
And with darkness and sadness there is always light and joy to be found.
I looked death in the eye this weekend and it wasn’t romantic or peaceful. It was bleak and brutal.
But even though we will remember what we have lost, we can choose to focus on what we have.
And what Pip gave to us and what we gave to Pip.
Thank you. Self kindness is super important. I accept the choices I made for Pip. And I thank him for the teachings he shared with me in those last hours.
To know that with light and joy comes darkness and sadness.
And with darkness and sadness there is always light and joy to be found.
I looked death in the eye this weekend and it wasn’t romantic or peaceful. It was bleak and brutal.
But even though we will remember what we have lost, we can choose to focus on what we have.
And what Pip gave to us and what we gave to Pip.
HUGS
You are one great lady!
I have learned and am still learning most of my own forum 'wisdom' this way; and my, is it coming in handy right now that I have to deal with a life changing experience that a simple fall breaking my hip has turned out to be. I've looked my own death in the eye but it has turned out to be very much life affirming and not life destroying.
Just give yourself time to process and heal so what you are taking from it can then be there for you to use in ways to strengthen yourself further in times of need.
Jemima
Junior Guinea Pig
That is inspiring to hear - I love the take on life affirming rather than life destroying.
I hope you are healing well. That must have been tough to navigate both mentally and physically. We are just off to choose Papa, our remaining piggie, a treat at the pet store.
Trying to focus my energy on him (and the children) rather than on 'what if's' and 'should have's'.
Tomorrow we will make our 'Ode to Pip' and hang it on the apple tree. I miss him.
sam1
Junior Guinea Pig
I am so sorry that Pip has died
. As you grieve just remember that you gave little Pip the best life he could ever have wished for you sound like a lovely piggie owner and I am sending all of my love to you, Pap and wonderful Pip. I hope everything goes well for you x. 
I am so sorry you lost your beloved Pip
. As you grieve just remember that you gave little Pip the best life he could ever have wished for you sound like a lovely piggie owner and I am sending all of my love to you, Pap and wonderful Pip. I hope everything goes well for you x.