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Getting downhearted

AliP

AliP

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Apr 22, 2018
Messages
104
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116
Points
275
Location
Lancashire UK
Hi, a year ago I had 7 healthy guinea pigs, I have always been a pig mummy and never had a bad run like the last few months. I feel like I am failing. Flora became ill last August and we battled and battled but lost her after many weeks of vets, meds and syringe feeding. She was only 4 and a half. Then earlier this year we lost her sister Nutmeg, also tired so hard to save her after she suddenly fell ill, we thought we were winning but she suddenly seemed to have stroke. At the same time Sugar became ill, I have never known a time like it. I am still syringe feeding Sugar, but seem to be losing the battle once more.
I have never seen age 5 as old for a guinea pig but rec I can’t get any past it.
what am I doing wrong?
 
I'm sorry you are having a run of bad health, I'm sure you arent doing anything wrong. Age in piggies as in humans is often mostly determined by genetics and therefore sisters or brothers may start failing at similar times, and 4 or 5 is still not a bad age by any means- sometimes the clock is just set like that and piggies leave sooner than you expect whatever you do... I know @Betsy sadly lost her boar brothers in a very short space of time perhaps she can share her experiences with you, and @Wiebke also has experience of losing a series of older piggies for quite unrelated reasons...
Be kind to yourself, you have done your best with vet care and syringe feeding but sometimes these things are just set to happen whatever you do and I'm sure your piggies had a happy life with you x
 
So sorry to hear of your losses. Sadly, sometimes even though we try our best, the call of the Rainbow Bridge is stronger. Please take care of yourself during this difficult time. :hug:
 
HUGS

You are not doing anything wrong; you just have a bad run. They do happen to all of us. I have had years, like in 2019 or 2020 where I lost several younger piggies in a row to health issues beyond my control and beyond what good care can achieve. It's just what I call 'cosmic bad karma' and it tends to happen in lumps, like London buses, in my own experience.

It is however very normal that you start questioning yourself if you have a bad run as we humans are wired to always seek the fault with us, first and foremost and irrespective of whether the problem is within our control or not.

Hang on in there; there will be happier times for you, too, eventually! It all evens out over a larger space of time. You are just at the bottom of the trough and find it very naturally very hard to see over rim.
 
PigglePuggle said:
I'm sorry you are having a run of bad health, I'm sure you arent doing anything wrong. Age in piggies as in humans is often mostly determined by genetics and therefore sisters or brothers may start failing at similar times, and 4 or 5 is still not a bad age by any means- sometimes the clock is just set like that and piggies leave sooner than you expect whatever you do... I know @Betsy sadly lost her boar brothers in a very short space of time perhaps she can share her experiences with you, and @Wiebke also has experience of losing a series of older piggies for quite unrelated reasons...
Be kind to yourself, you have done your best with vet care and syringe feeding but sometimes these things are just set to happen whatever you do and I'm sure your piggies had a happy life with you x
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I lost my cutey pie Dennis and my handsome silver fox Christian within 4 days of each other and it tore my heart out. Dennis surcombed to his horrendous URI that he'd been fighting for 3 months and Christian I found had passed over to the Rainbow Bridge overnight when I went to see my piggies in the morning. I still miss the soooooo much! Dennis as he was so laid back nothing would phase him and Christian for his cheekiness.
 
Betsy said:
I lost my cutey pie Dennis and my handsome silver fox Christian within 4 days of each other and it tore my heart out. Dennis surcombed to his horrendous URI that he'd been fighting for 3 months and Christian I found had passed over to the Rainbow Bridge overnight when I went to see my piggies in the morning. I still miss the soooooo much! Dennis as he was so laid back nothing would phase him and Christian for his cheekiness.
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We all miss your gorgeous boys @Betsy and you went through such an awful time, I just thought it might help the poster to hear of how siblings do just slip away together sometimes when their clock runs out- you did everything for them and then for quite unrelated reasons, their rainbow bridge times just came very close together x
 
I am so sorry to hear of your recent losses, please don’t blame yourself. As others have pointed out some pets like humans are just hardwired to go sooner than others. Whenever you feel the irrat sel blame creeping up just remember that you really DID give 100% to saving them, they they were loved and cared for and had a fantastic life with you. Have a hug 🤗 and remember the good days with them. For sure they were plentiful.
 
Sorry that you are having a run of sickness and loss.
I can’t add anything new to what has been said but want you to know that I hold you in my heart ♥️
 
My dearly missed sisters. Thanks for your understanding. I wonder if I can save Sugar yet? I said “no more” piggies after this bad run. But thanks for saying that it’s not my fault.
 

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I am so sorry to hear about your run of bad luck. I went through this a few years ago and felt I must be to blame. Lots of people including my vet told me it was nothing I was doing wrong just bad luck but it was a long time before I was convinced of that. Sending healing vibes to Sugar I really hope she can pull through.
 
Pawz said:
I am so sorry to hear of your recent losses, please don’t blame yourself. As others have pointed out some pets like humans are just hardwired to go sooner than others. Whenever you feel the irrat sel blame creeping up just remember that you really DID give 100% to saving them, they they were loved and cared for and had a fantastic life with you. Have a hug 🤗 and remember the good days with them. For sure they were plentiful.
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Nice to see you back @Pawz 😁
 
I’m so sorry you have had a run of sad losses. Please don’t blame yourself, you did everything you could have done. When I suddenly found my Bill one morning who’d died overnight it plagued me for quite some time that I had missed something and let him down but I know hearts of hearts I could not of foreseen it happen. Please be kind to yourself, you did everything you could have done for your Flora and Nutmeg and gave them a lovely life. Fingers crossed Sugar pulls through x
 
I’m so sorry you’ve been having a run of bad luck. Many of us have also experienced this, and it’s natural to question yourself and your care for the piggies. But please don’t let the negative thoughts torment you. Try to remember them at their most glorious best, and be assured that you did all you could to give them a happy and healthy life.
 
Betsy said:
I lost my cutey pie Dennis and my handsome silver fox Christian within 4 days of each other and it tore my heart out. Dennis surcombed to his horrendous URI that he'd been fighting for 3 months and Christian I found had passed over to the Rainbow Bridge overnight when I went to see my piggies in the morning. I still miss the soooooo much! Dennis as he was so laid back nothing would phase him and Christian for his cheekiness.
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I am so sorry, it’s hard x
 
Thanks I should make it a regular, I like having piggie loving friends ❤️Thanks for your support
 
Hi I have realised I think you may be mixing me up with someone else,
but Thanks for the warm welcome!
 
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