My guinea pig died last thursday unexpectedly I do not know why.

[Scenery00]

My guinea pig died last wednesday at evening. He was around 4-6 years old. He didn't have a buddy since our other guinea pig passed away two years ago from cancer and we couldn't buy another but he was happy alone and we spended much time with him. However last thursday when I was cleaning his area and putted him on the floor he was fine sitting and eating a bit. Then I placed him back and noticed his stool it wasn't coming out or anything just unformed stool in his bum. I placed him back on the blanet and removed some of it but it kept appearing and he kinda like lost his balance and fell on the blanket and lied on his side. He wasn't making any noises unless I touched his back or his bum (which was normal reaction) But they weren't painful noises. He just kept moving and lying down on the blanket I placed him back in his area and he went to hide. He wasn't shaking or anything just losing his balance and moving weirdly before falling and lying and doing the same thing again for around 20 minutes. Until I went outside to do some things I couldn't call the vet since I am still quite young and my mum didn't find the need? Also due to our finances. I came back and saw him lying on his side not moving. He did let out few noises but they weren't painful just like communication noises. He was breathing very slowly, he took very deep 3 breaths and then died.
There was nothing wrong with him before, that day he was a bit more lazy and didn't eat his breakfast during that morning but he did eat some of his hay and was using the bathroom normally (maybe a little less but there was only a tiny difference))
I have been trying to understand what actually happended and I am blaming myself.

 

[Wiebke]

My guinea pig died last wednesday at evening. He was around 4-6 years old. He didn't have a buddy since our other guinea pig passed away two years ago from cancer and we couldn't buy another but he was happy alone and we spended much time with him. However last thursday when I was cleaning his area and putted him on the floor he was fine sitting and eating a bit. Then I placed him back and noticed his stool it wasn't coming out or anything just unformed stool in his bum. I placed him back on the blanet and removed some of it but it kept appearing and he kinda like lost his balance and fell on the blanket and lied on his side. He wasn't making any noises unless I touched his back or his bum (which was normal reaction) But they weren't painful noises. He just kept moving and lying down on the blanket I placed him back in his area and he went to hide. He wasn't shaking or anything just losing his balance and moving weirdly before falling and lying and doing the same thing again for around 20 minutes. Until I went outside to do some things I couldn't call the vet since I am still quite young and my mum didn't find the need? Also due to our finances. I came back and saw him lying on his side not moving. He did let out few noises but they weren't painful just like communication noises. He was breathing very slowly, he took very deep 3 breaths and then died.
There was nothing wrong with him before, that day he was a bit more lazy and didn't eat his breakfast during that morning but he did eat some of his hay and was using the bathroom normally (maybe a little less but there was only a tiny difference))
I have been trying to understand what actually happended and I am blaming myself.

Hi and welcome

BIG HUGS

I am so sorry. It is sadly a myth that death comes gently during the sleep. A natural death where the body closes down organ by organ (including the brain) is a lot more physical than you would expect. Your boy may have suffered a stroke/strokes or another neurological event that affected his balance and mobility in the process but he was likely already in the process of dying when you found him. Once the body is starting to close down, there is no way back.

When you have never been confronted with a natural death or death before, then it can be rather disconcerting and traumatising. Please try to take comfort that your boy would have no longer been really aware of what was happening to him.

The average life span of pet guinea pigs is about 5-6 years so please see it as the natural end to a normal life. You have given him your love and care, and that counts for a lot.

You may find the information in the two links below helpful for yourself to make sense of what has happened and to also understand the grieving process and the massive guilt loop at the onset. The fact that you are quite obviously suffering from strong feelings of failure and guilt tells me that you are a very caring and loving owner because those feelings are NOT an expression of that you have done anything wrong but they are in fact an expression of the depth of your love.

A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs (see the chapter on multiple organ failure)

Human Bereavement: Grieving, Processing and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children (this guide will hopefully help you make sense of your own unexpected feelings and also contains links to free pet bereavement platforms by the UK Blue Cross if you feel that talking it out with a trained and confidential volunteer would help you).

 

[Scenery00]

Hi and welcome

BIG HUGS

I am so sorry. It is sadly a myth that death comes gently during the sleep. A natural death where the body closes down organ by organ (including the brain) is a lot more physical than you would expect. Your boy may have suffered a stroke/strokes or another neurological event that affected his balance and mobility in the process but he was likely already in the process of dying when you found him. Once the body is starting to close down, there is no way back.

When you have never been confronted with a natural death or death before, then it can be rather disconcerting and traumatising. Please try to take comfort that your boy would have no longer been really aware of what was happening to him.

The average life span of pet guinea pigs is about 5-6 years so please see it as the natural end to a normal life. You have given him your love and care, and that counts for a lot.

You may find the information in the two links below helpful for yourself to make sense of what has happened and to also understand the grieving process and the massive guilt loop at the onset. The fact that you are quite obviously suffering from strong feelings of failure and guilt tells me that you are a very caring and loving owner because those feelings are NOT an expression of that you have done anything wrong but they are in fact an expression of the depth of your love.

A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs (see the chapter on multiple organ failure)

Human Bereavement: Grieving, Processing and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children (this guide will hopefully help you make sense of your own unexpected feelings and also contains links to free pet bereavement platforms by the UK Blue Cross if you feel that talking it out with a trained and confidential volunteer would help you).

Thank you very much, it quite helped me to calm down and understand what really happened. ❤

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you very much, it quite helped me to calm down and understand what really happened. ❤

I am glad that I have been able to help you a bit. Death has been sadly very much 'sanitised' and pushed behind closed doors. It has come at the price that we have lost a lot of everyday practical knowledge and grieving support in our current social structure and interaction - especially as the loss of a pet is very often our first experience with it. This can be rather traumatising because you feel so helpless and overwhelmed.

Please be gentle with yourself and give yourself the space to grieve but be assured that you haven't failed your boy. He would have likely passed away on the way to or at the vets had you rushed him there; that way he could pass away in his familiar surroundings. I have had several piggies of mine that were unable to stay upright in the later stages of the natural dying process myself if that helps you further.

There is free trained help out there for bereaved pet owners if you feel that talking would help you to bring you more peace of mind.
Pet bereavement and pet loss

All the best!

 

[weepweeps]

I’m so sorry your piggy has passed away. Please don’t blame yourself. It really does sound like it was his time to go and nothing you need to feel guilty about. He had a wonderful life with you. Now he’s back with his friend over the bridge eating the greenest grass. Take care

 

[VickiA]

I’m so sorry to hear that your Guinea pig passed away. It’s always so hard witnessing our loved ones passing away in front of us and it’s natural to wonder what you could or should have done differently. But please don’t blame yourself. It was his time and he is now reunited with his friend. Treasure the memories you have of him from when he was at his best and try not to focus on how he was at the end. Take care of yourself.

 

[Scenery00]

I’m so sorry your piggy has passed away. Please don’t blame yourself. It really does sound like it was his time to go and nothing you need to feel guilty about. He had a wonderful life with you. Now he’s back with his friend over the bridge eating the greenest grass. Take care

Thank you for such a sweet comment .

 

[Scenery00]

I’m so sorry to hear that your Guinea pig passed away. It’s always so hard witnessing our loved ones passing away in front of us and it’s natural to wonder what you could or should have done differently. But please don’t blame yourself. It was his time and he is now reunited with his friend. Treasure the memories you have of him from when he was at his best and try not to focus on how he was at the end. Take care of yourself.

Indeed it is, thank you very much ❤.

 

[Merab]

So sorry for your loss.
Holding you in my heart

 

[Scenery00]

So sorry for your loss.
Holding you in my heart

Thank you❤

 

[Bill & Ted]

I’m so sorry you lost your little piggie, I think we are always left with that awful doubt, but please don’t beat yourself up. You gave your little one a happy life filled with love and that’s what counts, take care

Popcorn high little man