Was Dusty’s death my fault?

[Liane]

My guinea pig, Dusty died in the early hours of Monday morning. She was barely 2 years old. I’m sorry this is long but I want to include as much info as possible.

She had a tooth root abscess on her lower incisor. We had noticed some weight loss (she was never a big piggy to begin with) and had her checked, and it was discovered she had a thickening of her tooth, which was monitored. Then she developed a very big abscess under her chin very quickly and it was decided she would have the incisor removed and a marsupialisation of the abscess. Her weight had dropped to 740g before her op but I managed to get her up to 830g before her surgery.

The surgery went well and she seemed to be recovering. For the first 3 days she was interested in food but was picking out mainly parsley and lettuce leaves from mixed salad, and I raised this as a concern at her post-op check because lettuce isn’t an ideal food to fixate on. I was still syringe feeding her and Simon wasn’t worried, he was pleased with her progress and her abscess drained nicely. She started eating more variety, including carrot which she had struggled with before the op, and maintained her weight around 800-830g.

Because she had a good appetite and was eating both hay and veggies, I stopped the supportive syringe feeds on 10th. She had been resisting them more and more, and I thought it would be better for her to be eating more on her own to wear her teeth.

On the 12th she didn’t seem as enthusiastic about dinner but I thought she just wasn’t happy with what was on offer - I hadn’t provided any mixed salad as I didn’t want her filling up on lettuce. With encouragement, she ate some parsley but was more interested in the hay.

On 13th, she looked a bit fluffed up at bedtime so I brought her in to monitor (she lived in an insulated shed). She was still on loxicom twice a day and Zithromax once a day. She didn’t want any dinner. I felt her tummy and it felt full but not rigid, and she didn’t seem to be in pain. She didn’t sound like a hot water bottle and I couldn’t hear anything unusual. She was pooping, although they were little. She was moving around and burrowing in the hay. I gave her some syringe food through the evening and I massaged her tummy with a toothbrush. Then around 2am she died - it was like she just went to sleep in her snuggy, it was so quick I wasn’t sure if she was really gone.

I’ve lost a piggy to bloat before and it was horrific. I’ve also had one who recovered from bloat. Both had been in very obvious discomfort, but I saw none of this in Dusty. Could it still have been bloat? Should I have carried on her syringe feeding? Was it the lettuce? I thought lettuce was ok a few times a week, so long as it wasn’t iceberg, but maybe it was too much for her tummy? Or too much when combined with parsley and greens?

I miss her so much.

 

[Merab]

So very sorry for your loss.
Please don’t blame yourself.
You gave Dusty the best care but sadly these things happen.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve.
Hugs

 

[weepweeps]

I’m so sorry you have lost Dusty. I’ve also had a piggy with a tooth root abscess and it sounds like you were doing absolutely everything right. I don’t think it was the lettuce. It was probably a culmination of the operation, medication, (Zithromax is a very strong antibiotic) and not eating properly. Sometimes the call to the bridge is just too strong. It really did take months for my piggy to recover. It wasn’t an easy road.

Please don’t blame yourself. You’ve done all you could.

 

[piggieminder]

I'm so sorry. You did all you could for Dusty, it's so sad she didn't recover but it's not your fault. I've lost several piggies after operations when they seemed to be getting better, it's devastating. I am linking the forums information on grief, I hope it will help you understand how you are feeling.

Thread 'Human Bereavement - Grieving, coping tips and support links for guinea pig owners and their children'

Mar 9, 2019

Overview
1 The Grieving Process
- Loss and the onset of the grieving process
- Grieving with a terminally ill piggy
- Going through the grieving process
2 Ways of Coping
- Expressing and processing your feelings
- Regaining your guinea pig
- Burial and marking the passing
- Dealing with special days
3 How Do I Tell My Children?
- Finding local bereavement support and charities
- Recommended...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 3
• Forum: Rainbow Bridge Pets

• 

 

[CTWC]

From what I've read all you did was love Dusty and do your best for her I lost our gorgeous boy at only five months old and I still question nearly a year later if it was my fault it's in our nature as a guinea parent. They can eat lettuce each day so I'm sure it wasn't that as the wise people on here say they are prey animals and can hide illness and pain so well. Try to focus on happier times and the love that she will have taken with her over the Rainbow Bridge

 

[Bill & Ted]

I am so sorry you lost Dusty, please don’t blame yourself. You sound like you did everything you could have done, giving her endless care and love. I would not have done anything any different. Sadly sometimes it’s not to be, I truly sorry for you

Popcorn high Dusty

 

[Wiebke]

My guinea pig, Dusty died in the early hours of Monday morning. She was barely 2 years old. I’m sorry this is long but I want to include as much info as possible.

She had a tooth root abscess on her lower incisor. We had noticed some weight loss (she was never a big piggy to begin with) and had her checked, and it was discovered she had a thickening of her tooth, which was monitored. Then she developed a very big abscess under her chin very quickly and it was decided she would have the incisor removed and a marsupialisation of the abscess. Her weight had dropped to 740g before her op but I managed to get her up to 830g before her surgery.

The surgery went well and she seemed to be recovering. For the first 3 days she was interested in food but was picking out mainly parsley and lettuce leaves from mixed salad, and I raised this as a concern at her post-op check because lettuce isn’t an ideal food to fixate on. I was still syringe feeding her and Simon wasn’t worried, he was pleased with her progress and her abscess drained nicely. She started eating more variety, including carrot which she had struggled with before the op, and maintained her weight around 800-830g.

Because she had a good appetite and was eating both hay and veggies, I stopped the supportive syringe feeds on 10th. She had been resisting them more and more, and I thought it would be better for her to be eating more on her own to wear her teeth.

On the 12th she didn’t seem as enthusiastic about dinner but I thought she just wasn’t happy with what was on offer - I hadn’t provided any mixed salad as I didn’t want her filling up on lettuce. With encouragement, she ate some parsley but was more interested in the hay.

On 13th, she looked a bit fluffed up at bedtime so I brought her in to monitor (she lived in an insulated shed). She was still on loxicom twice a day and Zithromax once a day. She didn’t want any dinner. I felt her tummy and it felt full but not rigid, and she didn’t seem to be in pain. She didn’t sound like a hot water bottle and I couldn’t hear anything unusual. She was pooping, although they were little. She was moving around and burrowing in the hay. I gave her some syringe food through the evening and I massaged her tummy with a toothbrush. Then around 2am she died - it was like she just went to sleep in her snuggy, it was so quick I wasn’t sure if she was really gone.

I’ve lost a piggy to bloat before and it was horrific. I’ve also had one who recovered from bloat. Both had been in very obvious discomfort, but I saw none of this in Dusty. Could it still have been bloat? Should I have carried on her syringe feeding? Was it the lettuce? I thought lettuce was ok a few times a week, so long as it wasn’t iceberg, but maybe it was too much for her tummy? Or too much when combined with parsley and greens?

I miss her so much.

BIG HUGS

Hi

No, it isn't your fault and you haven't missed anything. That is just how our human brain is wired to always seek the fault within ourselves

Even with the best of vets, not all ops come off. I lost my Nesta in the wake of a rotted incisor root removal. She was just never quite right after the op and needed off and on feeding support but continued to eat on her own as well. Then a month in, she had a little afternoon nap and never woke up from it. She just passed away peacefully and without warning. Her little body had quite simply reached the limit of what it cope with.

Milder bloating in an ill piggy can in my own experience sometimes be connected with sudden heart failure; it's by far not a surefire symptom that always applies. In this case, it could be a fluid build up in the body cavity as the heart can no longer pump.
There is very little you can do with acute heart failure. Racing to the vet means that with the extra stress she would have been at high risk of dying during the journey - which would have made an even more traumatic experience with a worse guilt loop. It's one of those catch 22 situations: you are damned if you do and damned if you don't; and you have no idea if your hunch is even right.

But it is not your fault and you couldn't have saved her by other means. It is just what it is.

Be as sad and upset as you need to in the wake of a sudden, unexpected loss. The shock and the loss coming together always mean a much bigger pile to work through all at once than in a slow passing where it is a continuous process. But try to be kind with yourself.
The amount of grieving is the same; you are just currently dealing with an announced early bulk delivery and are stressed out because you struggle to find enough space where to stash it all so you can get in and out of the house of your soul. Younger piggy losses are always much harder to accept. It can be that there was a genetic disposition playing into it but these are things we can never answer.

Try to be kind with yourself and seek help if you struggle or are stuck. The guilt loop is always worse after a sudden death and a young loss. You have done all the things an owner should do and have not caused it.
Guinea pigs are on the bottom line small animals with a much faster metabolism which can turn against them. In the lottery of cosmic bad lot, sometimes it is you who draws the short straw. You can never be in total control, nor should you expect yourself to be to.

 

[KK327]

This is so sad and a I am very sorry for your loss - it is our nature to blame ourselves even when we know really we have done the very best that we could - guilt on top of grief is very difficult and painful. You have done exactly the right thing, come to your guinea pig parent family for love, support and understanding. I am sure when you read through all the comments you will feel a little better than you don't need to blame yourself - you did a fine job for your beautiful Dusty who although taken too soon was loved and cared for during any moment of life xx

 

[Wheekallweek]

Absolutely not your fault, please don't think that. You cared so well for Dusty. Unfortunately these things sometimes just happen to our piggies
RIP Dusty, over the Rainbow Bridge

 

[MnJ]

I am sorry for your loss . Please don't blame yourself. I understand, if I was in your place I would feel the same and want answers. I hope the fact that she crossed the bridge peacefully, brings you some comfort.

RIP little girl

 

[Liane]

Thank you everyone for your kind reassurances and condolences I’ve been having lots of cuddles from my other piggies. I know in time it’ll get a little easier to bear but at the moment my heart is broken, it’s been a while since I have lost a young piggy so I think this is why it’s hitting me so hard.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you everyone for your kind reassurances and condolences I’ve been having lots of cuddles from my other piggies. I know in time it’ll get a little easier to bear but at the moment my heart is broken, it’s been a while since I have lost a young piggy so I think this is why it’s hitting me so hard.

They are always hardest to get over. Same goes for me. Give yourself time.

HUGS

 

[CTWC]

Morning don't forget we are all here to listen and support you. Grief is very personal there is no right or wrong. Dusty is watching over you and your other guineas