What did I miss?

[Piggyfriends]

My wonderful 2 years old piggy friend died yesterday. I am very upset and wondering what I missed. 10 days ago she had one day when her breathing seemed heavy ad she was sensitive when I touched her tummy. It lasted for one day and than she was back to normal. She eat, drank and played as usual. Than 4 days before she died I noticed that she was very slim even though she eat and drank properly. I was told that when the piggies eat and drink it usually means there isn't a big problem. So I though I just monitor her to make sure she will not lose her appetite. I also checked her over to make sure she is not in pain.Than on Saturday afternoon she slowed down completely. Hardly moved but asked for food. She started eating happily but after 10 seconds she slowed down and stopped as if she run out of energy. Her breathing became clicking and she died a few hours later. Could that be pneumonia? How could she be eating, drinking, playing normally if she was so ill?

 

[Bill & Ted]

I’m so sorry for your loss. Piggies do try and hide their illness for as long as possible as they are prey animals and don’t want to show weakness. Unless a vet had seen her and given you a diagnosis then it is impossible to say really. Sending big hugs to you.
Sleep tight little lady x

 

[Piggyfriends]

Thank you! Unfortunately I didn't take her to a vet as I was told that the general rule is to watch out for change in eating, drinking or toilet habits. Non of these changed at all. I did not know that they can hide sicknesses.

 

[Wiebke]

My wonderful 2 years old piggy friend died yesterday. I am very upset and wondering what I missed. 10 days ago she had one day when her breathing seemed heavy ad she was sensitive when I touched her tummy. It lasted for one day and than she was back to normal. She eat, drank and played as usual. Than 4 days before she died I noticed that she was very slim even though she eat and drank properly. I was told that when the piggies eat and drink it usually means there isn't a big problem. So I though I just monitor her to make sure she will not lose her appetite. I also checked her over to make sure she is not in pain.Than on Saturday afternoon she slowed down completely. Hardly moved but asked for food. She started eating happily but after 10 seconds she slowed down and stopped as if she run out of energy. Her breathing became clicking and she died a few hours later. Could that be pneumonia? How could she be eating, drinking, playing normally if she was so ill?

Hi!

I am very sorry for your loss. Early signs of illness can be very subtle and easy to miss, especially when you are not experienced. They are prey animals and tend to hide any illness until is or nearly is too late. Guinea pigs can also go downhill with truly frightening speed or die suddenly out of the blue from a stroke or heart attack.

It is normal that you soul search and have strong feelings of guilt at this stage. Any loving pet owner has them, but they are generally much stronger when a death has happened suddenly or unexpectedly.

Please be aware for the future that controlling the food intake only by eye can be extremely deceptive. Hay is making over 80% of what a piggy eats in a day, but it very often the food group that is dropped first when it is not feeling well. This means that it can lose a lot of weight in a short time while you still think that it is OK. It doesn't necessarily mean that you can save all piggies (that depends onthe nature of what is causing the problem), but you have a bit more of a chance if it is a curable problem that you have caught just in time.
That is the reason why we strongly recommend to any new member to weigh their guinea pigs once weekly together with a little health check and to switch to weighing daily as soon as they notice anything that doesn't look quite right even if they cannot put their finger on it yet.
Early Signs Of Illness
The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight

If you find that you have made a misjudgment, then please do not beat yourself up badly about it. It doesn't mean that you are a bad owner; you have just come up against something you didn't know. Pet ownership (like parenting) is a life-long learning curve and some lessons come sadly at a higher price than others.
I have certainly learned quite a bit of my knowledge the hard way and have lost piggies of mine through not picking up soon enough on something or not knowing what was an emergency and what not.
Anyway, I can't go back and undo any mistakes, but I can pay forward to the future by not making it again and by helping as many others as possible of not making this particular mistake, either. And I am still bumping into other things the hard way and will continue to do, as we all do.

You are welcome to post a tribute in our Rainbow Bridge section to your beloved girl if you feel that it would help you. Go through your photos and look at all the lovely and special memories they evoke. If you love your girl, then you will have lots of them, and they will be with you always.
More tips for coping with the loss of a piggy are at the end of this guide here: Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

HUGS

 

[Piggyfriends]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate you post. I read the Looking after a bereaved Guinea pig post too. My other piggy is a Teddy and she is very upset. They grew up together and were very close. She doesn't seem to eat much at all, but asked for veg and treats. She is not drinking either. I tried to encourage her just buy moving the bottle right next to her and she had a few drops. I will try to offer cucumber to keep her hydrated a bit more. I try to pick her up as much as I can and she seems to like that. I also gave her a hot water bottle covered with soft fabric to comfort her. I looked up my local guinea pig rescue to find a new friend but they are closed due to a sickness. The breeder where I got them originally from has two baby piggies available and I could pick them up in approx 4 weeks. I can only hope she will be ok to wait that long. My Teddy is very shy so I think the little ones might be better for her. What do you think?

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate you post. I read the Looking after a bereaved Guinea pig post too. My other piggy is a Teddy and she is very upset. They grew up together and were very close. She doesn't seem to eat much at all, but asked for veg and treats. She is not drinking either. I tried to encourage her just buy moving the bottle right next to her and she had a few drops. I will try to offer cucumber to keep her hydrated a bit more. I try to pick her up as much as I can and she seems to like that. I also gave her a hot water bottle covered with soft fabric to comfort her. I looked up my local guinea pig rescue to find a new friend but they are closed due to a sickness. The breeder where I got them originally from has two baby piggies available and I could pick them up in approx 4 weeks. I can only hope she will be ok to wait that long. My Teddy is very shy so I think the little ones might be better for her. What do you think?

Just hang on in there. It is a very encouraging sign that your companion is still eating a little; this means that although she is upset and grieving, she is not acutely pining and will hopefully come through it. If you have any suspicions of illness, please have her vet checked promptly and please keep a closer eye on her weight in the coming days. There is likely to be a bit of a dip but it should not surpass 50g/2 oz.

Please don't worry about drinking; she'll do that on her own when she is feeling really thirsty. The more watery veg you feed, the less she will drink.

Use our piggy whispering tips to reassure her that she is a beloved member of your group; talking her language and giving her a feeling that she belongs and is loved and cherished can help her enormously right now. Respect that she needs to grieve herself. Being withdrawn for several days is a normal reaction.

Keep an eye open over the next weeks but try and see whether you can date your girl before you bring any newbies in. Otherwise I would keep any potential companion in a divided pen so the piggies can get to know each other and the newbie can settle down for at least a night or a few days (babies are desperate for company, but allow your teddy girl to get her bearings).
You can never tell who they piggy will be happy with. After coming closer to 100 bonding attempts my experience echoes that of many rescue people offering piggy dating and doing in-rescue pairing up with their own piggies. All you can do is try and have a plan B ready if i doesn't work out.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

All the best! I find losing younger piggies hardest to cope with, but trying to find a constructive way of dealing with the guilt issue does help. It is not about the falling, it is all about the getting up. Give yourself time to grieve. Regain your piggy by remembering all the good times, the love and care you have given. We can never control how long for and what from our piggies die, but if you have given your piggies many happy todays, then you have not failed because that is how they measure their life by.

 

[Piggyfriends]

Just hang on in there. It is a very encouraging sign that your companion is still eating a little; this means that although she is upset and grieving, she is not acutely pining and will hopefully come through it. If you have any suspicions of illness, please have her vet checked promptly and please keep a closer eye on her weight in the coming days. There is likely to be a bit of a dip but it should not surpass 50g/2 oz.

Please don't worry about drinking; she'll do that on her own when she is feeling really thirsty. The more watery veg you feed, the less she will drink.

Use our piggy whispering tips to reassure her that she is a beloved member of your group; talking her language and giving her a feeling that she belongs and is loved and cherished can help her enormously right now. Respect that she needs to grieve herself. Being withdrawn for several days is a normal reaction.

Keep an eye open over the next weeks but try and see whether you can date your girl before you bring any newbies in. Otherwise I would keep any potential companion in a divided pen so the piggies can get to know each other and the newbie can settle down for at least a night or a few days (babies are desperate for company, but allow your teddy girl to get her bearings).
You can never tell who they piggy will be happy with. After coming closer to 100 bonding attempts my experience echoes that of many rescue people offering piggy dating and doing in-rescue pairing up with their own piggies. All you can do is try and have a plan B ready if i doesn't work out.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

All the best! I find losing younger piggies hardest to cope with, but trying to find a constructive way of dealing with the guilt issue does help. It is not about the falling, it is all about the getting up. Give yourself time to grieve. Regain your piggy by remembering all the good times, the love and care you have given. We can never control how long for and what from our piggies die, but if you have given your piggies many happy todays, then you have not failed because that is how they measure their life by.

Thank you so much!

 

[Wiebke]

Here is the guinea pig whispering link: Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips

 

[PiggyPoo]

Sorry for your loss! I hope your other guinea pig will be ok xx

 

[Piggyfriends]

Thank you Everybody. My Teddy is coming around now, she is very talkative and started to drink today. Here she is.

 

[PiggyPoo]

Awww glad she is ok! She’s beautiful xx