Sensitive topic - burial after euthanasia

[miowmix]

I sadly lost one of my beloved guineas in the early hours of Monday morning, he needed to be helped over the bridge.

Having had guinea companions for quite a long time now, there are 5 already buried under a tree in the garden, 1 died naturally and the rest were pts. They are buried appx 2 ft down in an area about 2m x 0.5m, the soil where they are buried is clay type.

It's occurred to me that burying a guinea after it has been put to sleep may be harmful to creatures that live in the soil - or maybe at 2ft down it is OK? And how long the substance involved takes to break down. Especially having a few in the same area. Does anyone have any info / advice on this?

Sorry if it seems like a silly question, finding it hard to think straight about this at the moment. But the need to decide what to do is becoming quite urgent. The alternative is cremation, which will be the route taken if people think that these concerns are valid.

Thanks for any advice

 

[Wiebke]

I sadly lost one of my beloved guineas in the early hours of Monday morning, he needed to be helped over the bridge.

Having had guinea companions for quite a long time now, there are 5 already buried under a tree in the garden, 1 died naturally and the rest were pts. They are buried appx 2 ft down in an area about 2m x 0.5m, the soil where they are buried is clay type.

It's occurred to me that burying a guinea after it has been put to sleep may be harmful to creatures that live in the soil - or maybe at 2ft down it is OK? And how long the substance involved takes to break down. Especially having a few in the same area. Does anyone have any info / advice on this?

Sorry if it seems like a silly question, finding it hard to think straight about this at the moment. But the need to decide what to do is becoming quite urgent. The alternative is cremation, which will be the route taken if people think that these concerns are valid.

Thanks for any advice

Hi

BIG HUGS

I am ever sorry about your loss.

Burial after euthanasia is not harmful. The drug used for is it not like rat poison, if that is the picture in your mind? Rest assured that if it were, vets would have the obligation to ask as to your intentions and to point out any potential health risk to other pets of yours or garden wildlife. Pest control coming out to your garden over a rat problem will give you very specific instructions and they will have to return for check and removal of the poison within a few days. It is a very tightly regulated area.

I hope that this helps to allay your concerns?

 

[CTWC]

So very sorry for your loss and how considerate of you to be having these thoughts and just to clarify there are no silly questions. Take care of yourself

 

[piggieminder]

I am sorry to hear your sad news.
It wasn't a silly question it was interesting and not something I had thought of.

 

[VickiA]

I’m so sorry for your loss and what a considerate question. I’ve never been given any advice or cautions by my vets who know that I bury mine after they’ve had time with their companions (so that the companions can say goodbye). You could consider having a dedicated “burial pot” which would retain the remains in one place if that would reassure you.

 

[Merab]

So sorry for your loss.
How thoughtful of you to think of this.
It’s not something I ever considered and I have buried most of my guinea pigs wherever we were living.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve

 

[Wiebke]

PS: I have several large planters which I use for my guinea pigs (naturally deceased and euthanised). I try my best to protect them from fox predation with slats and plenty of solid paving bricks over the top and I use non-peat ericaceous compost to help speed up the process.

It is not a silly question at all - but then most 'silly' questions aren't. The drug used will lose use its power fairly quickly and won't kill when ingested (eaten). Your vet should be able to explain the particulars if you tell them that you have concerns.