Unsure as to why my guinea passed away

[Ayallagreen]

About just over a year ago now, I lost one of guineas, Luna. Her partner is still alive etc (laika), but I wondered if anyone had experienced what happened with Luna when she passed.

Please don't read if you're easily grossed out, or find hearing about death is hard.

The day before Luna was absolutely fine, drinking, eating, squeaking as normal, asking for attention, nothing was out of the ordinary. I put them to bed and she settled as normal next to Laika. However, the next morning, about 7am I woke up to Luna squeaking, but a different squeak? (It was almost weaker and constant) And I felt in my stomach that something was wrong. I went to her cage and she was lying at the edge on her side, I stroked her and she didn't move, but continued squeaking. I picked her up and she was very, very floppy, I had to support her head etc. I then cradled her and called the vet to get her seen immediately but noone answered (it was a Sunday morning). I tired another emergency vet, and was waiting to talk to the receptionist, when Luna stopped squeaking, I was still holding her because that always used to calm her down. Then she started to have some sort of fit? Her body convulsed, for about 30 seconds, and then she was still again, I could still feel her heart beat, but then her nose started bleeding, and a little from her ears aswel. It was heartbreaking.

(This is extremely sad but I want to be as descriptive as I can if it helps the case of what possible happened) I felt her heart irregularly slow down until it stopped. I still remember it because I was so shocked at how she changed so dramatically in a few hours.

Any insight is appreciated, I really just want closure to be honest.

 

[HeatherRose]

I just lost my Sven last night, everything you are describing is exactly the same way he went. He was limp and laying on his side on my lap, he had the seizure looking things where his legs and head would stretch out and shake, then he took deep weird breaths with a squeak at the end of each one until he stopped breathing. It was terrible to watch but I was glad I was there with him. I held my Great Dane’s head in my lap as she passed away in 2011 and it was also the same kind of process, she was 13 so just died from old age. I think this is just how animals die. I’m sorry I couldn’t help with why she died but just wanted to offer my experience.

 

[Merab]

About just over a year ago now, I lost one of guineas, Luna. Her partner is still alive etc (laika), but I wondered if anyone had experienced what happened with Luna when she passed.

Please don't read if you're easily grossed out, or find hearing about death is hard.

The day before Luna was absolutely fine, drinking, eating, squeaking as normal, asking for attention, nothing was out of the ordinary. I put them to bed and she settled as normal next to Laika. However, the next morning, about 7am I woke up to Luna squeaking, but a different squeak? (It was almost weaker and constant) And I felt in my stomach that something was wrong. I went to her cage and she was lying at the edge on her side, I stroked her and she didn't move, but continued squeaking. I picked her up and she was very, very floppy, I had to support her head etc. I then cradled her and called the vet to get her seen immediately but noone answered (it was a Sunday morning). I tired another emergency vet, and was waiting to talk to the receptionist, when Luna stopped squeaking, I was still holding her because that always used to calm her down. Then she started to have some sort of fit? Her body convulsed, for about 30 seconds, and then she was still again, I could still feel her heart beat, but then her nose started bleeding, and a little from her ears aswel. It was heartbreaking.

(This is extremely sad but I want to be as descriptive as I can if it helps the case of what possible happened) I felt her heart irregularly slow down until it stopped. I still remember it because I was so shocked at how she changed so dramatically in a few hours.

Any insight is appreciated, I really just want closure to be honest.

I am so sorry for your loss.
I have no answers as to why but wanted to offer sympathy and support.

 

[Wiebke]

About just over a year ago now, I lost one of guineas, Luna. Her partner is still alive etc (laika), but I wondered if anyone had experienced what happened with Luna when she passed.

Please don't read if you're easily grossed out, or find hearing about death is hard.

The day before Luna was absolutely fine, drinking, eating, squeaking as normal, asking for attention, nothing was out of the ordinary. I put them to bed and she settled as normal next to Laika. However, the next morning, about 7am I woke up to Luna squeaking, but a different squeak? (It was almost weaker and constant) And I felt in my stomach that something was wrong. I went to her cage and she was lying at the edge on her side, I stroked her and she didn't move, but continued squeaking. I picked her up and she was very, very floppy, I had to support her head etc. I then cradled her and called the vet to get her seen immediately but noone answered (it was a Sunday morning). I tired another emergency vet, and was waiting to talk to the receptionist, when Luna stopped squeaking, I was still holding her because that always used to calm her down. Then she started to have some sort of fit? Her body convulsed, for about 30 seconds, and then she was still again, I could still feel her heart beat, but then her nose started bleeding, and a little from her ears aswel. It was heartbreaking.

(This is extremely sad but I want to be as descriptive as I can if it helps the case of what possible happened) I felt her heart irregularly slow down until it stopped. I still remember it because I was so shocked at how she changed so dramatically in a few hours.

Any insight is appreciated, I really just want closure to be honest.

Hi! Luna likely died from a heart attack, massive stroke or multiple organ failure. By that stage there was nothing you could have done apart from racing her to the closest vet for pts/euthanasia.

The last half hour/quarter of an hour when the body is closing down can often be uncomfortable for the piggy; fitting and 'running to the Rainbow Bridge' can be part of this process. It depends on which major organ fails first and how healthy the others are and in which order they break down. Dying is unfortunately a much more physical process than our vague concept of gently falling into one's forever sleep; the latter is actually very rare. It's only happened once to one of my own piggies.

If it is the first time to have experienced the dying process, then it can be traumatising.

If you have questions around dying and coping with grieving, you may find the new Guinea Pig Magazine issue helpful. It is also available worldwide as a cheaper download edition. Guinea Pig Mag

 

[Ayallagreen]

Thankyou everyone for the support, it's lovely to know people are so kind here. Usually when I talk about my Guineas I'm met with a bit of misunderstanding of why I want to know such absurd things, its very comforting to be accepted and supported with no judgement when looking for closure.

Unfortunately i have experienced alot of death in my life, pets included and usually it doesn't stick in my head besides a happy memory of the pets hopefully enjoyable life. I think the only reason I still think of how Luna passed is because I was never sure what exactly happened and if I could've done something. I do believe it must have been a heart attack or organ failure etc, it's sad to know how horrible it was for her, but to have a better idea of what happened is relieving.