What could they have passed from?

[isabelbella]

Hi, this is a bit of a random question (not about my current guinea pigs so it isn't urgent). But I've been thinking recently about what my previous guinea pigs could have died from as the vets couldn't tell what it was without extensive xrays / blood tests / loads of procedures which I both couldn't afford and my guinea pigs were old anyway and they said even if they tried to help them, wouldn't last much longer anyway (one was 7 years old, and the other was 6 years old when they died). Both died from the same thing I think.

About a week before they died their whole bodies enlarged basically. It's difficult to explain but they just almost double in size and you could feel some kinda of tumour in them somewhere. They would both eventually stop eating and became a lot less active. They were both females if that means anything.

Also, not with Nova (6 year old), but with dizzy (7 year old) when she peed she would squeek as if it caused pain and her nipples got a bit crusty so I had to clean them off.
Nova passed away over night a few years ago now, and dizzy i got put to sleep at the vets as she was in a lot of pain and it just felt cruel to keep her alive when she was clearly suffering.

When each died I was quite a bit younger so didn't do loads of research myself (I wish I did, now I research everything about my piggies behaviour haha) but recently I've been thinking it sounded a little like ovarian cysts? Not too sure though as their WHOLE bodies just got massive. It wasn't liquid as the vet tested this. It was just a very bizzare thing and even weirder that they both had the same thing. I think they were sisters so could have been a genetic thing? I'm sure it couldn't have been an error on my part as I always made sure to give them the perfect amount / type of veg, only 1/8 cup of pellets a day each, plenty of hay and grass, plenty of space to run around so I'm not sure what could have caused it.

My two guinea pigs before these two girls (Lightening and Judas) both died differently. These were both boys and Judas died quite young (around 3-4) really suddenly and without much cause. I can't remember the details much as this was many years ago but he did have a weird yellow liquid out of his mouth after he had died. It happened overnight, were he was fine in the evening but had passed by the morning, no signs it was going to happen. Lightening was an old boy, he was around 8ish when he passed, from old age so he died quite peacefully.

Sorry for the random, almost morbid questions but I've just never known what it could have been which they died from and I guess here some people may have some ideas. This was all quite a while ago so i can't remember all the details that well but I hope this gave the general idea. I suppose if it does sound like a mistake on my part, then I can make sure I don't make the same mistakes with my two boys now. Thanks

 

[Mother Hubbard]

Hi there,
Sorry for your losses, it can be difficult to understand why they have passed, and ultimately without a vet diagnosis during illness it's difficult to know or have them conduct an autopsy. For me I find being acutely aware of any changes that take place, be it physically or behaviour will tell you if they are ill and that's if you are really observing them and having weekly weigh-ins too. I think it can be good to look back and review certain things but I don't think it's good to dwell on it either.

We could all speculate on your piggy deaths but as I say, we wouldn't really know - all guess work. I think having a working knowledge of the most common problems with piggies such as bloat, dental, cysts, etc are certainly worth it and helps to give you an indication of a problem before seeing a cavy savy vet of course.