Rabies?

[Bippy]

My guinea pig passed away the other night. He was a little over two years old and I thought he had been in seemingly good health (his recent vet checkup had went good, the only thing wrong was a hay-poke and we treated that), but two nights ago, the night he passed, he started to act weird. He hadn't drank as much through the day, but in the evening he had a freakout when I went to give him food and he had a weird gait and seemed to have a wobble in his step like he had issues balancing. When I reached in he got close to my arm and bit me- something that he had never done before, he was always really sweet. It was just moments after that he started to seize and then flopped on his side and just.... well died.
I don't know much about rabies, but I always heard that it could cause sudden issues in balance and aggression, and also sudden fear in animals too.
I know its probably a dumb question, but I've been beating myself up ever since it happened wondering if there was just something that serious that I had somehow missed, but also worrying since I got bit too

 

[Truffolo]

My guinea pig passed away the other night. He was a little over two years old and I thought he had been in seemingly good health (his recent vet checkup had went good, the only thing wrong was a hay-poke and we treated that), but two nights ago, the night he passed, he started to act weird. He hadn't drank as much through the day, but in the evening he had a freakout when I went to give him food and he had a weird gait and seemed to have a wobble in his step like he had issues balancing. When I reached in he got close to my arm and bit me- something that he had never done before, he was always really sweet. It was just moments after that he started to seize and then flopped on his side and just.... well died.
I don't know much about rabies, but I always heard that it could cause sudden issues in balance and aggression, and also sudden fear in animals too.
I know its probably a dumb question, but I've been beating myself up ever since it happened wondering if there was just something that serious that I had somehow missed, but also worrying since I got bit too

I'm sorry to hear you lost your little pet. Do you live in an area where there is wildlife that might get into your guinea pig cage or exercise run? It must have been a shock to lose him so suddenly, very sad.

 

[Bippy]

I'm sorry to hear you lost your little pet. Do you live in an area where there is wildlife that might get into your guinea pig cage or exercise run? It must have been a shock to lose him so suddenly, very sad.

Thank you, it was devastating to have lost him. My house is pretty secure and no wild animals have gotten in. Not even bats. I didn't let him outside either because there's a lot of large birds around here and I've always been afraid of them grabbing my pets so he never got to free roam my yard either

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m so sorry for your loss.

The chances are that this sadly was a neurological event.
Him biting you was more likely a reaction to your movement, his fear.

 

[Truffolo]

Yes, you took really good care of him, poor little piggy. I don't think it would be rabies. He might have bitten if he was in pain, but he passed quickly and there wasn't anything you could do.

 

[Bippy]

I’m so sorry for your loss.

The chances are that this sadly was a neurological event.
Him biting you was more likely a reaction to your movement, his fear.

out of everything that would make a lot more sense.
but thank you all for taking the time out to answer i really appreciate it

 

[Merab]

So sorry for your loss.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve

 

[Freela]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Without any contact with another sick animal that could be a disease vector, he wouldn't have had rabies. It's not something that can develop spontaneously, it requires contact with blood or saliva of another infected animal.

It sounds more like some sort of neurological event, like a stroke or seizure, where he bit out of reflex and disorientation.

((HUGS)) and be kind to yourself while you grieve. Sadly, sometimes these events happen even in seemingly healthy pigs and it's so hard without there being a clear-cut reason why.