Dying guinea pig, any idea why?

[Crystal.L]

Hey, my Buffalo just passed away. A few hours prior, he was wheeking and doing just fine. Fast forward a few hours and I went to feed him and he was laying on his side. I picked him up because I figured he must of fallen over and couldn’t get up. For context, he’s been getting on his hind legs to beg but sometimes fell over and his body was twisted in a way he couldn’t get up. I had to position him upright for him. I don’t know if that means something? But when I picked him up, he was incredibly lethargic and felt like he had nothing in his stomach. His leg twitched everytime I called out his name and reacted when I picked him up. I read that this was the “running” position? He passed on a few minutes later. Any idea on what could have caused this?

 

[fluffysal]

I'm sorry you lost your boy. Without an autopsy nobody can tell you why it happened unfortunately.
Irresponsible breeding has ensured that too many of our little furry friends have unseen genetic issues that leave them life limited. All we can do is give them happy todays while they are with us.

 

[Truffolo]

Very sad to hear your little one has passed. RIP Buffalo, rest easy at the bridge

 

[Merab]

So sorry for your loss.
Tragic as it is a guinea pig can seem fine one moment and soon after pass away.
They hide illness well and can also suffer unexpected strokes or heart attacks.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve

 

[DavRz]

Sorry for your loss, Rest in Peace sweet Buffalo

 

[Wiebke]

BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry about your loss and the timing. Sudden deaths are not at all uncommon, whether it is a heart attack, a stroke or sudden multiple organ failure (the body closing down naturally) but because we cannot brace for them, they leave us shaken and traumatised, trying to make sense of what is essentially unanswerable.

Only a post mortem examination may or may not give you an answer...

Please try to take comfort that as deaths go, this was a quick and comparatively gentle one and that any suffering was minimal. We can never choose when and from our piggies die but we can cherish that we have given our piggies what they really want from life: lots of happy todays in good care. You have done that and have given Buffalo more than he could have dreamed for. You have not failed him in any way.

I am moving this thread to our new End of Life and Bereavement Support section for more comfort and ongoing support for you in the coming days as you are trying to come to terms with such an unexpected loss at the worst of times.

 

[VickiA]

I’m so sorry for your sudden loss. The whys and what ifs can torment us if we let them but often there isn’t an obvious reason without an autopsy (post mortem). Go gently with yourself as you grieve.