Piggie sudden death

[Hocktastic]

Hi everyone,

I’m just looking for some answers as my guinea pig named Basil died suddenly today. He was approximately 4.5 years old (we adopted him 1 year ago from a rescue).

He had been eating well, and even saw a vet nurse a few days ago for a nail clip who said he was in good condition, and didn’t mention anything of note.

I'm so upset and confused, and wondering if it’s anything I’ve done. Such as the stress of taking him for a nail clip (though he’s been before and I kept the aircon on all the way).

Does anyone know why he would suddenly just die after eating happily this morning?

thanks

 

[Spaghetti & Noodles]

I'm sorry you lost your boy so suddenly, I can't offer any answers but from reading I have done on the forum I understand piggies can hide illnesses being a prey species. Hopeful you can take comfort in knowing he had a great year with you after you got him from the rescue. Sorry for your loss x

 

[Viennese Furbabies]

I'm really sorry! Sometimes piggies die completely unexpected. It happened to me once a few years ago. Georgina was just 2.5 years old. Before I lost Georgina I always thought that there must have been signs that were missed, when I heard about a sudden death. But there were no signs in Georgina's case. Sometimes this just happens.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone,

I’m just looking for some answers as my guinea pig named Basil died suddenly today. He was approximately 4.5 years old (we adopted him 1 year ago from a rescue).

He had been eating well, and even saw a vet nurse a few days ago for a nail clip who said he was in good condition, and didn’t mention anything of note.

I'm so upset and confused, and wondering if it’s anything I’ve done. Such as the stress of taking him for a nail clip (though he’s been before and I kept the aircon on all the way).

Does anyone know why he would suddenly just die after eating happily this morning?

thanks

Hi and welcome

HUGS

I am very sorry. It is most definitely not something you have done. Guinea pigs can unfortunately die suddenly from a stroke or heart attack at any time of their lives. I have found a couple of my own piggies still with a mouthful of hay sticking out of their mouths in the morning; the heart attack simply happened that suddenly without any previous warning. A sudden or immediate death is not all that uncommon. There is nothing you can prevent or brace for.
Unless you want to have a post mortem examination at the vet's done, you will never know exactly what has happened, but hopefully it will be enough to know that it is in no way your fault.

Unfortunately, we humans are very much wired to always seek the failure within ourselves, first and foremost. Intensive soul-searching and strong feelings of failure or guilt are characteristic for the onset of the grieving process of any loving pet owner. It is usually worse after a totally unexpected death because you have both the shock and the pain of the loss to cope with at the same time.

Please be kind to yourself in the coming days and weeks as you go through the grieving process. You have to grieve as much as you have loved; they are the two sides of the same coin.
You may find our sensitive and practical grieving guide helpful to make more sense of all the often strong but very unexpected emotions and moods swings you go through; it also contains links to pet bereavement support places and further resources. Here is the link: Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children

If your boy has a companion, here is what you can do for them in the immediate aftermath as well as in the longer term: Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig

 

[Freela]

I'm really sorry... unfortunately, guinea pigs can pass suddenly or unexpectedly for no obvious reason. It certainly isn't your fault, or as a result of nail clipping or taking him in the car for nail clipping or anything else you've done wrong. We unexpectedly lost one of ours earlier this month... she was fine all day, eating, drinking, wandering around. She passed at night. Other than being of advanced age, there was nothing at all wrong that we could see. As prey animals, they are good at hiding illnesses, and often with pigs I've lost they have seemingly been fine up until less than a day, even a couple hours, before passing.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Sending you hugs, I’m so sorry and it’s certainly nothing you have done x
I had this happen to me, found my Bill in his forever sleep one morning, not a sign of any illness the night before, it’s such a shock, lots of us have had this experience, so sorry x

 

[Merab]

So sorry for your loss.
It can happen as guinea pigs don’t always show they are ill.
You are not alone in this experience.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve