My 6 year old Truffle Passed Away this morning and his brother..

[Angela99]

Hello I’m in deep grief and shock as my sweet little boy passed away this morning. He was at vet on Friday for an eye infection which led to Gi stasis which he’s had before. I gave him all his meds I syringe fed him every hour plus syringe water I also massaged his little belly and he did poop, but his body shut down! He stopped peeing he became very heavy. I hugged him for hours til 12 30am then fell asleep but when I awoke at 6am he was the same but worse. I had to euthanize him at another vet bc his vet only saw cats and dogs today and they weren’t open yet.
I couldn’t bear watching him in slow pain to death! I prayed he’d pass in his own but no. I’m just so impossibly sad! I can’t bear it! The timing of it when no one could help in time. The rapid decline from happy wheeking playing to death! We were so bonded
His brother is only 7 months old because his original brother passed away in November…. I need to get him a mate I was thinking another baby…. 2 months old… is that too young for him? Or will that be ok? It’s not what I want to focus on but he needs a brother.

Any guidance would be helpful

 

[jayne]

Sorry for your loss ! Remember to put him in rainbow Bridge on here

 

[munchmonster]

I can't give you advice but I can send you hugs at this horrible time. You tried so hard for him and he would be comforted as you cuddled him. To have to help them over the bridge is devastating (I had to do the same thing last week and couldn't eat), but it is done out of love and care. Look after yourself and your other piggy as you grieve. x
Sleep well little one

 

[piggieminder]

I am so sorry. They such a big hole in our hearts when they leave us.

 

[piggl]

I am so sorry to hear this, it is so tough having to make that final decision. I can tell how loved truffle was and how lucky he was to have you.

Yes two months old will be fine, but it does all come down to whether their personalities match or not. All bonding's are to be done in a neutral area.

You may find these guides helpful for your questions -
Boars: Teenage, Bullying, Fighting, Fall-outs And What Next?
Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig
A Closer Look At Pairs (Boars - Sows - Mixed)

 

[Wiebke]

Hello I’m in deep grief and shock as my sweet little boy passed away this morning. He was at vet on Friday for an eye infection which led to Gi stasis which he’s had before. I gave him all his meds I syringe fed him every hour plus syringe water I also massaged his little belly and he did poop, but his body shut down! He stopped peeing he became very heavy. I hugged him for hours til 12 30am then fell asleep but when I awoke at 6am he was the same but worse. I had to euthanize him at another vet bc his vet only saw cats and dogs today and they weren’t open yet.
I couldn’t bear watching him in slow pain to death! I prayed he’d pass in his own but no. I’m just so impossibly sad! I can’t bear it! The timing of it when no one could help in time. The rapid decline from happy wheeking playing to death! We were so bonded
His brother is only 7 months old because his original brother passed away in November…. I need to get him a mate I was thinking another baby…. 2 months old… is that too young for him? Or will that be ok? It’s not what I want to focus on but he needs a brother.

Any guidance would be helpful

Hi

BIG HUGS

I am ever so sorry for your loss. Unfortunately, when there is a certain underlying frailness, the end can come very suddenly and dramatically. GI stasis and severe killing bloat often happens right out of the blue; the eye injury may have been rather a coincidence if it has been treated only topically and not with oral meds.
But I am so very sorry that you didn't have quick vet access but you have done your very best under the circumstances, and that is all you can ever do. I have been there myself a few times over the years having had piggies long before there was mandatory out-of-hours cover in the UK and I fully understand what it means feeling so totally helpless and heartbroken for not being able to ease or cut short any suffering at the sharp end - although you did that as soon as you could.

Please be kind with yourself in the coming days and do not blame yourself for what is not in your control. There is nothing you have done wrong; in fact you couldn't have done any more - take comfort and pride in that. Truffle could not have found a better piggy mommy. We can just never choose when and in what form the end comes.

You have given Truffle the happiest of lives, and that is what ultimately counts. He did suffer although GI stasis itself is not painful, but - and that is a actually a hidden blessing in all the sudden, unexpected deaths - he didn't suffer for very long compared to all the good times you have given him.
If you need any help in making sense of the strong but often unexpected range of emotions you will go through in the coming days and weeks, then you may fund our grieving guide helpful: A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

A baby boy is perfectly fine but please give Truffle's companion time to do his own grieving. As long as he keeps eating and drinking on his own, he should be allowed to. Piggies don't feel less deeply but those that grieve visibly usually come out sooner than we humans because the immediate survival depends on that. That is the right time to find a new friend. Next weekend to the next 4 weeks is an ideal window but if you have to wait for longer for a special piggy or for any boar to be neutered to live with sows, then that longer wait is ultimately worth it.
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics (includes chapters on baby and boar-boar bonding)

If you find yourself struggling badly with aspects of the natural dying process and feel somewhat traumatised by your experience, which is often a lot more physical than you'd expect, or with GI stasis symptoms, you may find the information in these guides here helpful to make sense and to put things into more of a perspective.
Otherwise, better stay off them for now as they could have the opposite effect:
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs
Digestive Disorders: Not Eating - Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement)

All the best, but please do not rush and give yourself and your little companion time. Be aware that not every baby necessarily appeals to every boar although another baby might.

 

[Roselina]

I’m sorry you had to help Truffle over to RB
He was living his best life ever with you and his brother
He is reunited with his other brother
Look after yourself as you grieve

 

[Angela99]

Hi

BIG HUGS

I am ever so sorry for your loss. Unfortunately, when there is a certain underlying frailness, the end can come very suddenly and dramatically. GI stasis and severe killing bloat often happens right out of the blue; the eye injury may have been rather a coincidence if it has been treated only topically and not with oral meds.
But I am so very sorry that you didn't have quick vet access but you have done your very best under the circumstances, and that is all you can ever do. I have been there myself a few times over the years having had piggies long before there was mandatory out-of-hours cover in the UK and I fully understand what it means feeling so totally helpless and heartbroken for not being able to ease or cut short any suffering at the sharp end.

Please be kind with yourself in the coming days and do not blame yourself for what is not in your control. There is nothing you have done wrong; in fact you couldn't have done any more - take comfort and pride in that.
You have given Truffle the happiest of lives, and that is what ultimately counts. He did suffer although GI stasis itself is not painful, but - and that is a actually a hidden blessing in all the sudden, unexpected deaths - he didn't suffer for very long compared to all the good times you have given him.
If you need any help in making sense of the strong but often unexpected range of emotions you will go through in the coming days and weeks, then you may fund our grieving guide helpful: A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

A baby boy is perfectly fine but please give Truffle's companion time to do his own grieving. As long as he keeps eating and drinking on his own, he should be allowed to. Piggies don't feel less deeply but those that grieve visibly usually come out sooner than we humans because the immediate survival depends on that. That is the right time to find a new friend. Next weekend to the next 4 weeks is an ideal window but if you have to wait for longer for a special piggy or for any boar to be neutered to live with sows, then that longer wait is ultimately worth it.
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics (includes chapters on baby and boar-boar bonding)

If you find yourself struggling with aspects of the natural dying process,, which is often a lot more physical than you'd expect, or with GI stasis symptoms, you may find the information in this guide here helpful to make sense and put things into perspective.
Otherwise, stay off them for now:
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs
Digestive Disorders: Not Eating - Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement)

All the best but please do not rush and give yourself and your little companion time. Be aware that not every baby necessarily appeals to every boar although another baby might.

Thank you I appreciate your support He had 5 surgeries in Feb March for abscess and then bladder surgery to remove a massive stone… it was a miracle he recovered so well and was overjoyed afterwards so I thought he’d be with me another year …. But the eye infection and stopped eating happened last Thursday and I guess his little body was tired.

No one can understand this heartbreak . He was my child

His brother is acting normal but confused and he is a baby still so you’re right I shouldn’t rush . I want to make sure I find a good match.

I’ll read through the links. Thank you again

 

[Angela99]

I’m sorry you had to help Truffle over to RB
He was living his best life ever with you and his brother
He is reunited with his other brother
Look after yourself as you grieve

Thank you

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you I appreciate your support He had 5 surgeries in Feb March for abscess and then bladder surgery to remove a massive stone… it was a miracle he recovered so well and was overjoyed afterwards so I thought he’d be with me another year …. But the eye infection and stopped eating happened last Thursday and I guess his little body was tired.

No one can understand this heartbreak . He was my child

His brother is acting normal but confused and he is a baby still so you’re right I shouldn’t rush . I want to make sure I find a good match.

I’ll read through the links. Thank you again

6 years is a very good age and a testament to your good care. Be sad but be proud that you have got Truffle with all his health issues as far as he could go. Because of their huge personalities we often forget that when the chips are down, piggies are only small animals with a much faster metabolism which often turns against them at the end.

The older and the frailer a piggy is, the quicker the end happens - when it finally comes - in my own experience with plenty of my own oldies; often it is down to a matter of hours. I try to see the quick journey to the Rainbow Bridge as a blessing for them: a few hours of unpleasantness against a normal life span or beyond is ultimately not a bad deal.

Drifting away in one's sleep is actually rare even though it is our common concept for the dying process. I am always happier when a piggy can leave on their own in their familiar surroundings with just the normal amount of physical symptoms that are inevitable but if I can give a piggy of mine the last and most loving gift of cutting any unnecessary suffering shorter then that is the next best option. You have done all that.

Truffle is now free of pain and he could leave carried by the wings of your love. Try to think of it this way.
It won't make the huge hole in your heart and in your daily life any smaller as you have to learn to live around it but it can hopefully put your mind a bit more at peace while you digest what has just happened.

 

[Angela99]

6 years is a very good age and a testament to your good care. Be sad but be proud that you have got Truffle with all his health issues as far as he could go. Because of their huge personalities we often forget that when the chips are down, piggies are only small animals with a much faster metabolism which often turns against them at the end.

The older and the frailer a piggy is, the quicker the end happens - when it finally comes - in my own experience with plenty of my own oldies; often it is down to a matter of hours. I try to see the quick journey to the Rainbow Bridge as a blessing for them: a few hours of unpleasantness against a normal life span or beyond is ultimately not a bad deal.

Drifting away in one's sleep is actually rare even though it is our common concept for the dying process. I am always happier when a piggy can leave on their own in their familiar surroundings with just the normal amount of physical symptoms that are inevitable but if I can give a piggy of mine the last and most loving gift of cutting any unnecessary suffering shorter then that is the next best option. You have done all that.

Truffle is now free of pain and he could leave carried by the wings of your love. Try to think of it this way.
It won't make the huge hole in your heart and in your daily life any smaller as you have to learn to live around it but it can hopefully put your mind a bit more at peace while you digest what has just happened.

Thank you exactly as you put it I wanted him to pass away in his sleep. Why a sweet little soul should suffer I thought makes no sense! And because we were stuck with the timing of getting to the vet it kills me that he had endure pain for 12 hours. I read the link on dying and I wish I knew earlier the signs because he literally could not take in water and body was limp and heavy.
I gave him a wonderful life … he was my best friend and yes he had huge personality! I read about some piggies living to to 8 or 11 years old and I thought of Truffle in this way . He always fought to live until last night… then I knew

Thank you because it helps when I understand the process. He was my first Guinea pig with his brother and they made a huge impact in my life

 

[Bradshaw Piggies]

So very sorry for your loss

sleep tight little one