Mysterious Death

[Fingers90]

Hi everyone,

Basically I'm a New Guinea pig owner but I found tonight that one of pigs had died. Literally a few hours ago she was fine, weeking at me whenever I walked in the room.

Sorry if this is a bit much info but I picked up and she was cold, but still loose, very floppy. The disturbing thing was that she was missing one toe and one of her back feet had 2 toes stripped to bone.

I can't find anything on the Internet to give me a clue to what it might be. I know it's not vicious fighting as they always got on and they were litter mates. No sounds came from their cage but I went in to see she was lying on her side and she was dead.

I read that there are some bacterial infections and other illnesses that can cause sudden death.

I was hoping someone could help me out? I'm quite devastated assume was so lovely.

I fed them everyday with wagg guinea pig food, fresh water, and gave them mostly curly kale every other day, or veg peelings. I cleaned their cage every week with animal friendly anti-bac spray and they always used wood shaving and hay.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[helen105281]

I'm so sorry, what a horrible shock for you. I was thinking a heart attack until you mentioned the toes. Is there any way a predator could have got in the cage?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone,

Basically I'm a New Guinea pig owner but I found tonight that one of pigs had died. Literally a few hours ago she was fine, weeking at me whenever I walked in the room.

Sorry if this is a bit much info but I picked up and she was cold, but still loose, very floppy. The disturbing thing was that she was missing one toe and one of her back feet had 2 toes stripped to bone.

I can't find anything on the Internet to give me a clue to what it might be. I know it's not vicious fighting as they always got on and they were litter mates. No sounds came from their cage but I went in to see she was lying on her side and she was dead.

I read that there are some bacterial infections and other illnesses that can cause sudden death.

I was hoping someone could help me out? I'm quite devastated assume was so lovely.

I fed them everyday with wagg guinea pig food, fresh water, and gave them mostly curly kale every other day, or veg peelings. I cleaned their cage every week with animal friendly anti-bac spray and they always used wood shaving and hay.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Hi and welcome!

I am very sorry for your upsetting experience! It sounds like your little girl had not all that long passed away before you found her. Sadly, guinea pigs can die from strokes, heart attacks or acute heart failure out of the blue at any age. There is nothing you can do; these piggies live with a time bomb in their body that can go off at any time. I have lost a couple of young and seemingly healthy piggies to sudden heart failure, too - despite rushing them to the vets asap, if that is any consolation for you.

It is most likely that the toe nibbling has been done by her companion in a desperate attempt to bring her back to life; it happens occasionally. Here are out tips on what you can do for her: Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

 

[Swissgreys]

I am so sorry for your sudden loss. It is such a difficult thing to discover.
We had a guinea pig who died suddenly a few years ago.
She was happy and healthy one minute, and the next morning she was dead. She was a rescue so we weren't sure of her age, but when I took her to the vets he checked her over and said it was probably a sudden heart attack, which can occur for no obvious reason and without prior warning.
We had her cremated, and her ashes are in my MIL's garden under a fuchsia bush.
I hope you and your remaining piggie are ok

 

[Poppy Davis]

I'm so sorry to hear that Hope your other piggie and you are ok

 

[Fingers90]

Thanks everybody for your replies, I was worried i had neglected them somehow. I feel sorry for my remaining piggie, going to be keeping an eye on her.

I have two cats but if anything they are scared of my pigs and the one that died (Luna) was very interested in the cats but no way the cats can get into the cage.

Would it be worth taking her body to the vet to check that it's not something that could harm Effie (remaining piggy)

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks everybody for your replies, I was worried i had neglected them somehow. I feel sorry for my remaining piggie, going to be keeping an eye on her.

I have two cats but if anything they are scared of my pigs and the one that died (Luna) was very interested in the cats but no way the cats can get into the cage.

Would it be worth taking her body to the vet to check that it's not something that could harm Effie (remaining piggy)

If you think that it would help you and Effie, please have her checked. It is very unlikely that it is something infectious, as that doesn't usually kill that quickly without any previous symptoms. But it may bring you peace of mind to know that Effie is perfectly healthy and to hear from a vet, too, that you have not failed your other girl and that there is nothing you have missed or could have done.

Please read the link I have given you in my last post; it has lots of tips about what you can do for Effie now and in the coming days. We know what a worrying time it is when you are confronted with a grieving piggy, so I have written a little guide to help you through this time.
Here it is again: Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig

In order to help you most effectively, we find it very helpful if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details as we have members and enquiries from all over the world. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you!

 

[Fingers90]

Yes I've read that now, and it's given some ideas on how to help her. I was gonna take her to the vet just incase to get her checked in case she's taking it badly, but I just checked her and she seems okay right now, a bit closer to me than usual. She usually attempts to nibble my fingers when she sniffs me but didn't try this time but nothing out of her ordinary. Thanks for all your help everyone

 

[Wiebke]

Yes I've read that now, and it's given some ideas on how to help her. I was gonna take her to the vet just incase to get her checked in case she's taking it badly, but I just checked her and she seems okay right now, a bit closer to me than usual. She usually attempts to nibble my fingers when she sniffs me but didn't try this time but nothing out of her ordinary. Thanks for all your help everyone

You are welcome to post a tribute to your poor little girl in our Rainbow Bridge section if and/or whenever it feels right for you. You are also welcome to ask any questions or support you need while you come to terms with what has happened and if you have any question/worries about Effie at any time.

 

[Freela]

I'm really sorry for your loss. Unfortunately even young pigs can die suddenly from cardiac problems or stroke without any real signs beforehand. I would think that the damage to the foot would have been done by a cagemate after the death trying to rouse her or figure out what was going on. It's normal for guinea pigs to investigate a friend who has passed on, and sometimes this can include biting/nibbling. ((HUGS)) and again, I'm so sorry! It really sounds like something unexpected that you couldn't have foreseen.

 

[ada]

I'm so sorry about this. My youngest baby Valentino had the same thing. Was completely fine making noise as usual and the next morning was laying down dead. I later learned they can just die out of heart failure. When my eldest passed, I put his brother next to him to say goodbye and he started nibbling on his ear, i'm guessing he was trying to figure out what was going on. I'm so sorry, sending you many hugs.