An update. The second guinea just passed in my daughter’s arms. This is heartbreaking.
Hi and welcome
BIG HUGS
I am so very sorry. It is a very traumatic experience and leaves devastated and with the need to make sense of what has just happened. Piggies can die very suddenly but when two of them die so quickly after each other without showing illness then the cause is usually outside the body. And it definitely doesn't sound like it is down to lack of care or any infectious diseases - you would see symptoms first.
Have you recently turned on the heating and could monoxide levels be the cause? Since you are not mentioning any specific illness symptoms, my thinking is rather going towards an environmental or food poisoning angle; any youngsters would be more quickly affected than bigger piggies. The 'depression'/apathy you mention is consistent with vague monoxide poisoning symptoms. Guinea pigs are much smaller than humans and with a very small and sensitive respiratory tract, so they are affected much sooner than humans.
It is the only thing that comes to my mind. I can however only guess and without any post mortem examination delivering results (which is not always possible) you will sadly always remain guessing.
Please try to take consolation in that you and your daughter have given your piggies the good care and happy todays they would have wanted from their life, even if it was only for a short time. But it still counts and it still has made a difference in their lives.
You may find these links here helpful; they contain further links where you can find help for yourself and your daughter if you struggle.
I have lost two of my own (unrelated) piggies in the wake of a very humid heat spike this summer within less than 48 hours, so I can sympathise just how horrible it is and how it can shake you and your confidence to the core. Try to be kind with yourself. You haven't done anything obvious wrong.
For supporting your daughter:
- Helpful links and resources for parents
- How to find local pet bereavement support lines and charities
- Recommended children's books and video for different age groups
- How to best introduce a new cavy companion or pet?
- Full forum grieving guide (for parents and family)
This is Chapter 3 from our general grieving guide but it makes it hopefully easier for parents to find help in a hurry when they are reeling and struggling themselves.
Every child is different. I have tried to provide a...
For yourself:
1 The grieving process
- Loss and the start of the grieving process
- Grieving with a terminally ill guinea pig
- Going through the grieving process
2 Ways of coping
- Expressing and processing your feelings
- Regaining your guinea pig
- Burial and marking the passing
- Dealing with special days
3 How do I tell my children?
- Finding local support lines and charities...
PS: I am moving your thread to our new End of Life and Bereavement Support Corner for ongoing support. Our community is here for you for as long a you wish to.
Please bookmark your personal thread so you can always pick it up easily again. It helps both sides.
