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What age do piggies live to?
- Thread starter Cavy2009
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No - sadly, illness is a bad killer and can strike at any age!
I have had piggies die at an early age due to health problems and despite doing everything I could. Many piggies today come from an overbred background, and that sadly has consequences.
Enjoy those piggies that are blessed enough to live to a ripe old age of four to five years plus, but simply treasure the time you are given with the others, knowing that you have done your best making their time with you as happy as possible. In the end, it is not as important how long a piggy lives but how well it has lived!
I have had piggies die at an early age due to health problems and despite doing everything I could. Many piggies today come from an overbred background, and that sadly has consequences.
Enjoy those piggies that are blessed enough to live to a ripe old age of four to five years plus, but simply treasure the time you are given with the others, knowing that you have done your best making their time with you as happy as possible. In the end, it is not as important how long a piggy lives but how well it has lived!
missy
Adult Guinea Pig
There are all kinds of reasons why some pigs live longer than others, most of which are unfortunately very much beyond our control.
The fact that you're here, trying to keeping learning about piggies and their needs, surely means that you're a wonderful owner who cares about the welfare of their piggies, trying to give them the best life possible.
I recently had my first piggy die (a couple of months before his 3rd birthday). I was absolutely devastated and asked myself the same question that you're asking now. I wondered what I'd done wrong and couldn't help feeling like I'd failed him as he'd not even reached, what I understand to be, the average life expectancy of a guinea pig.
The truth is, I had cared for this little pig to the best of my ability, based on knowledge and experience I had at that time. Sure, I now know that there were things I could've done differently, but who's to say that the outcome would've been any different if I'd done things differently? You just never know, so it's really not good to think along the lines of "what if...". Some things are just pre-determined and meant to be - we can't always prevent bad things from happening, even with access to the best medical care or all the will in the world. As long as we do our best, whatever that is, then who can argue with that?
Since I lost my beloved piggy, even in a very short space of time I've learned so much and have vowed to keep making changes, as and when I feel improvements can realistically be made, as I gain more experience and learn from everyone here. I want to make sure that I always do my best for my remaining piggy (and any future ones) but I must accept that even then, there are still some things that I can't change, and I just have to deal with those in the best way I can.
Like us humans, even with the very highest standards of care it's still possible for guinea pigs to get sick but as long as we do our best then that's what matters. For caring owners, losing a piggy will never be easy but please try not to be too hard on yourself. Console yourself in the knowledge that you did your best, under whatever circumstances, and that your piggy had the best life possible, for as long or as little time as it was. It's a sad fact that some unfortunate piggies never experience love or security so for your piggies to have found a caring owner such as you, is a special thing.
I really feel for you and hope you can come to terms with things and gain peace of mind, whatever happens x
The fact that you're here, trying to keeping learning about piggies and their needs, surely means that you're a wonderful owner who cares about the welfare of their piggies, trying to give them the best life possible.
I recently had my first piggy die (a couple of months before his 3rd birthday). I was absolutely devastated and asked myself the same question that you're asking now. I wondered what I'd done wrong and couldn't help feeling like I'd failed him as he'd not even reached, what I understand to be, the average life expectancy of a guinea pig.
The truth is, I had cared for this little pig to the best of my ability, based on knowledge and experience I had at that time. Sure, I now know that there were things I could've done differently, but who's to say that the outcome would've been any different if I'd done things differently? You just never know, so it's really not good to think along the lines of "what if...". Some things are just pre-determined and meant to be - we can't always prevent bad things from happening, even with access to the best medical care or all the will in the world. As long as we do our best, whatever that is, then who can argue with that?
Since I lost my beloved piggy, even in a very short space of time I've learned so much and have vowed to keep making changes, as and when I feel improvements can realistically be made, as I gain more experience and learn from everyone here. I want to make sure that I always do my best for my remaining piggy (and any future ones) but I must accept that even then, there are still some things that I can't change, and I just have to deal with those in the best way I can.
Like us humans, even with the very highest standards of care it's still possible for guinea pigs to get sick but as long as we do our best then that's what matters. For caring owners, losing a piggy will never be easy but please try not to be too hard on yourself. Console yourself in the knowledge that you did your best, under whatever circumstances, and that your piggy had the best life possible, for as long or as little time as it was. It's a sad fact that some unfortunate piggies never experience love or security so for your piggies to have found a caring owner such as you, is a special thing.
I really feel for you and hope you can come to terms with things and gain peace of mind, whatever happens x
Laura-CCC4
Senior Guinea Pig
Losing pigs at an early age doesn't make you a rubbish owner, it's usually just bad luck. If there is something you can learn from the early losses, then do - even the ones I've fought tooth and nail to save (within reason) I can see what I would do differently if I was in the situation again.
I've lost three pigs, one was a rescue with an unknown age but estimated to be around 6, and the other two - whose ages I did know accurately - died at 4 years 6 months, and 4 years 11 months.
I've lost three pigs, one was a rescue with an unknown age but estimated to be around 6, and the other two - whose ages I did know accurately - died at 4 years 6 months, and 4 years 11 months.
Ruth
Junior Guinea Pig
Ap told me if you get past four you have done well, anything after that is a bonus, there are the exceptiuons of course like the one who died in feb who was 12[yes really]
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