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Strange Death

P

Paulaluvpiggy

New Born Pup
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North Port, Florida
My family adopted 2 adult males brothers that were given up to a local pet store. They are both very large definately full grown adult boars. We had them a couple weeks initially housed in the small cage we got them in. They started fighting drawing blood. Decided a new larger cage would help. They were pretty stinky had bad grease caked on and lot of guck on their bits so I decided new cage new home bath time. First one with Spencer went fine tried to escape tub a few times but in general no problems. Them Toby was next bath went fine didn't try to escape or anything. My kids had discovered the guinea was getting a bath so they were present hooting and carrying on with the youngest crying. I got Toby out. I noticed his hind legs moving awkwardly and then suddenly limp. Within one minute his entire body was limp! My husband came in looked at him and attempted CPR we called the girl from the petstore out neighbor. She confirmed he had passed. It's so crazy how he went fromKoop fine to gone. Could the stress from fighting his brother, getting a bath, and noise from the kids have given him a heart attack? We don't know their actual ages so I don't know if that could have been part of it...old age. Is it common for guineas to pass so quickly with no warning? I plan tonget the other to the vet in the next couple weeks just a wellness visit
 
Hi,
That all sounds very traumatising for you, I hope your doing okay after that,

I'm not an expert on this kind of thing but that definately sounds like he could have had a heart attack,
All that noise and the stress of a new environment could have scared him a lot
Or is it possible he inhaled water and drowned?
I'm very sorry for your loss by the way, that sounds very devastating to witness :/
 
Paulaluvpiggy said:
My family adopted 2 adult males brothers that were given up to a local pet store. They are both very large definately full grown adult boars. We had them a couple weeks initially housed in the small cage we got them in. They started fighting drawing blood. Decided a new larger cage would help. They were pretty stinky had bad grease caked on and lot of guck on their bits so I decided new cage new home bath time. First one with Spencer went fine tried to escape tub a few times but in general no problems. Them Toby was next bath went fine didn't try to escape or anything. My kids had discovered the guinea was getting a bath so they were present hooting and carrying on with the youngest crying. I got Toby out. I noticed his hind legs moving awkwardly and then suddenly limp. Within one minute his entire body was limp! My husband came in looked at him and attempted CPR we called the girl from the petstore out neighbor. She confirmed he had passed. It's so crazy how he went fromKoop fine to gone. Could the stress from fighting his brother, getting a bath, and noise from the kids have given him a heart attack? We don't know their actual ages so I don't know if that could have been part of it...old age. Is it common for guineas to pass so quickly with no warning? I plan tonget the other to the vet in the next couple weeks just a wellness visit
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome !

I am very sorry for your big shock! It sounds like sudden acute heart failure to me. It is likely that your boy already had an underlying heart problem and the stress of the bath may have triggered it. Guinea pigs can indeed die from fright and some seemingly perfectly healthy piggies live with a time bomb in their bodies that can go off any time. :(

Please keep especially any new piggies as quiet and calm as possible. If you have to bathe (mostly you can thankfully get away with just bum baths), then please make sure that your husband can keep the children away. Guinea pigs are prey animals; they are not born as natural breathing cuddly toys or ideal children's pets as which they are still mistakenly being recommended widely. New guinea pigs take time to settle into new surroundings and a new life. During this time they run with their prey animal instincts on full alert

Here are our tips on what you can do for the remaining boy: Looking After A Bereaved Guinea Pig
Please also take the time to read our new owners' guides. They contain a section with tips on how to settle in skittish guinea pigs, how their prey instincts work and how you can make friends with them in ways they instinctively understand (guinea pig whispering), including advice on how to lift and carry guinea pigs safely; tips and information on keeping family piggies as well as lots of other practical and detailed information - exactly the kind you want when you start out!
New Owners' Online Starter " Booklet" For Really Helpful Advice

Please do not make the mistake of just putting another boar with your remaining one. Bonding is not as easy as that!
 
Thank you so much for all the advice. I know guinea pigs are social creatures so we do plan to eventually get him a pal. However we will take him to meet potentials and see how they get along and even then when we introduce at home it will be a slow go separate cages at first. Definately plan to read up on it first!
 
Hello, I can't add to the above messages just wanted to say how sorry i am.
 
Paulaluvpiggy said:
Thank you so much for all the advice. I know guinea pigs are social creatures so we do plan to eventually get him a pal. However we will take him to meet potentials and see how they get along and even then when we introduce at home it will be a slow go separate cages at first. Definately plan to read up on it first!
Click to expand...

Hi just wanted to add that if your taking him to a rescue to speed date and find a friend, then when you bring them both home you shouldnt seperate them
They need to stay together once bonded :)
(Someone correct me if I'm wrong on that)

It's only if you buy another Pig that you should introduction them through the bars of the cage for a few days first after a quarentine in case the new pig is sick and passes the illness to your pig.
 
Paulaluvpiggy said:
Thank you so much for all the advice. I know guinea pigs are social creatures so we do plan to eventually get him a pal. However we will take him to meet potentials and see how they get along and even then when we introduce at home it will be a slow go separate cages at first. Definately plan to read up on it first!
Click to expand...

The new owners' booklet contains links for recommended rescues. There are a lot less in the US than in the UK, but you can see whether you can get to one of them.
We have got several guides that deal with bondings at the top of our Care section and are always happy to advise you.
 
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