When to move the body

[GuineaDobbin]

Hi folks, long time member and avid reader, but I think it may actually be my first time posting.

Sadly it's about death. I'd have expected to have enough experience by now but this is a new situation for me. For context at the start of the year we were a 9 pig household and have had pigs since 2019 (not counting childhood).

We had a tightly bonded pair of boars, Albert and Theodore. Utterly sweet with each other, never seen the like.

Theodore died two nights ago, once we got them home I laid him in state and let Albert have some time. I went to collect a Neighbour for him from Glynneath Guinea Pig Rescue.

I planned to lay Theodore to rest today, however Albert is still interacting with the body. Mostly sniffing, cleaning ears and climbing on him. I have also seen what looks to be a little light barbering and Albert is grooming himself excessively.

Do I need to give him another day? Most of our pigs seem to stop interacting with the deceased after a few hours or a day at most.

Many thanks.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi folks, long time member and avid reader, but I think it may actually be my first time posting.

Sadly it's about death. I'd have expected to have enough experience by now but this is a new situation for me. For context at the start of the year we were a 9 pig household and have had pigs since 2019 (not counting childhood).

We had a tightly bonded pair of boars, Albert and Theodore. Utterly sweet with each other, never seen the like.

Theodore died two nights ago, once we got them home I laid him in state and let Albert have some time. I went to collect a Neighbour for him from Glynneath Guinea Pig Rescue.

I planned to lay Theodore to rest today, however Albert is still interacting with the body. Mostly sniffing, cleaning ears and climbing on him. I have also seen what looks to be a little light barbering and Albert is grooming himself excessively.

Do I need to give him another day? Most of our pigs seem to stop interacting with the deceased after a few hours or a day at most.

Many thanks.

BIG HUGS

I am very sorry for your loss.

Unfortunately, for sanitary reasons you will need to remove the body today. Decomposition is underway now.

I would however recommend that you rub a soft rag, cosy etc. over the body and leave Albert with that to snuggle up with while Theodore's scent gradually fades away. You will have to check on how soiled the cosy is you currently have placed Theodore in and whether it is safe for Albert to spend several more days in until the scent has fully faded.

Albert seems to have issues with accepting the death and with potentially having a strong emotional dependency on Theodore. You will have to see how Albert copes on his own (or not). This is something that is very individual and that you have to play out as you go along; especially with piggies who clearly struggle with a loss.

Please switch from the usual once weekly weigh-in to weighing daily first thing in the morning in order to check the food intake and be able to step in if Albert is taking the loss of his close mate hard enough to impact on his survival instincts.

You are clearly all you can in order to support poor Albert; he couldn't have found a more caring home.

 

[Mon59]

Very sorry to hear about Theodore. My kindest wishes .

I have a very delicate question about passing away. Sad as it is .

I had one lovely pig that had to be put down by the Vet, and I think I signed a firm and she was creamated. So that was good closure.

I have two healthy girls, but the day will come, and I couldn’t stand dealing with it myself ! Neither of them are ending up in my garden ! I know it doesn’t matter to the poor little things….but it matters to me !

If they pass away at home ,will a Vet normally take them on the same basis, or is there some rule about not taking them ?

Sorry about the question, but somebody must know ! I don’t want to ring my Vet about it before it happens.

I hope the question does not upset anyone . Very sorry if it does .

 

[weepweeps]

I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope Albert is ok.

 

[Wiebke]

Very sorry to hear about Theodore. My kindest wishes .

I have a very delicate question about passing away. Sad as it is .

I had one lovely pig that had to be put down by the Vet, and I think I signed a firm and she was creamated. So that was good closure.

I have two healthy girls, but the day will come, and I couldn’t stand dealing with it myself ! Neither of them are ending up in my garden ! I know it doesn’t matter to the poor little things….but it matters to me !

If they pass away at home ,will a Vet normally take them on the same basis, or is there some rule about not taking them ?

Sorry about the question, but somebody must know ! I don’t want to ring my Vet about it before it happens.

I hope the question does not upset anyone . Very sorry if it does .

Hi

Vet clinics usually have contract with a pet cremation service. If you are a registered client of theirs, then they will usually take in the body of a piggy that has died at home.

They will also allow you to take the body of an euthanised piggy home to give the companions time to say goodbye and bring it back for cremation afterwards; especially in the case of an unexpected emergency pts (euthanasia).

I would however always recommend to always speak to the clinic first if you have special wishes or concerns.
This also goes for booked euthanasia re. bringing any companions with you or not and how the process can be adapted or arranged. Vets have generally become more sensitive and open in recent years but it varies very much from clinic to clinic.


PS: Can I please kindly ask you to start your very own thread for any questions of yours? We have a strict one case = one support thread rule in our very sensitive support corners. This in respect to the thread starting owner and their concerns over their own guinea pigs for who we are providing personalised ongoing support for as long as they need it.
Our forum is not part of social media and we have the freedom to provide tailored individual support over longer periods, unlike social media pile-ins.

You are at all times welcome to ask any questions you have on our forum and you are guaranteed to get a constructive answer. Starting your own thread for your own question will actually help others searching for information much more if you do this and will make it much easier to find.

Could you please start your own thread with an appropriate title for your question in this section and just a sentence of text so I can then copy your question and my answer from this thread across to have it posted under your name. Thank you.

 

[CTWC]

I am so sorry for your loss, poor Albert they must have been very close. As mentioned above make sure he has a couple of items with Theodore's scent to help him through this time and extra cuddles if he likes them of course

 

[Merab]

So sorry for your loss.
I can only echo what has already been said
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve.

 

[GuineaDobbin]

Thanks all for the thoughts and understanding. I have removed Theodore and dressed him for burial tomorrow.

Albert is not himself entirely, but he is eating and drinking on his own. I have regularly been scooping him for cuddles today and he tucked into the cucumber I offered with gusto, which was heartening. He is also interacting with his new neighbour nicely.

Unfortunately this is our third pig this year, and several near-run things so I'm feeling the hit. Just got to feel the feelings though

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks all for the thoughts and understanding. I have removed Theodore and dressed him for burial tomorrow.

Albert is not himself entirely, but he is eating and drinking on his own. I have regularly been scooping him for cuddles today and he tucked into the cucumber I offered with gusto, which was heartening. He is also interacting with his new neighbour nicely.

Unfortunately this is our third pig this year, and several near-run things so I'm feeling the hit. Just got to feel the feelings though

The fact that Albert is eating and is interacting with his neighboar is very encouraging. He is grieving but he is not giving up. This gives you a bit more breathing space.

Multiple deaths in fairly quick succession are tough when every new death brings everything back up again because you haven't had time to process it fully.

Be kind with yourself and give yourself time to not be OK. Repeatedly ripping open the skin over your soul is like walking wounded; only that it is invisible.

And no, it is not because you are doing anything wrong. It is just that these things happen in clumps and never nicely spaced out, as I know only too well myself.

 

[GuineaDobbin]

Thank-you, you have been so kind and encouraging.

Albert is starting to gain a litte weight back, his poos are nearly normal again and i have seen him interacting with his new Neighboar (I love that). It's been quite heartwarming to see the two talking and lying next to each other so much.



Back into the fray as a different pig has decided it's their turn to be hand fed! *sigh*

 

[Wiebke]

Thank-you, you have been so kind and encouraging.

Albert is starting to gain a litte weight back, his poos are nearly normal again and i have seen him interacting with his new Neighboar (I love that). It's been quite heartwarming to see the two talking and lying next to each other so much.

View attachment 259676

Back into the fray as a different pig has decided it's their turn to be hand fed! *sigh*

I am glad to hear that Albert is getting a lot better again but sorry about next health scare. Sometimes it is truly nonstop.