My guinea pig died and I have questions pls help

[ginney]

I apologize if this is long and thank you in advance. I need somewhere to vent and maybe get some help understanding a few things.

Questions:
- Is it normal for eyes to be open when they pass?
- He had some poop stuck to his butt as if he was in the process of pooping when he died? (it was like mushy wet poop [possibly diarrhea] not his regular poops) He didn’t have diarrhea when he was alive or anywhere in his cage. Is that normal and what could have caused that?
- Is there any possibility that he wasn’t actually dead but in some paralysis/shock state and just couldn’t move? If so could I have did something for him?
(The reason I ask is because we took him to the vet that night and they were going to put him in the freezer until he got picked up the following morning by the cremation people. This was around closing time so a vet didn’t check him while there. We said our final goodbyes and someone came out to take him from us. I’m afraid that he might have still been alive and since he wasn’t moving they wouldn’t have known)

We got Ginney (Dec. 2018) He was 3 months.

Dec. 11 2021: We lost our Ginney 😢💔 (he was 3 yrs)
It was a Saturday afternoon and Ginney wasn’t acting any different. He didn’t give us a reason to suspect that it could be his last days... We decided to go get groceries some time around 3ish. When we left he was drinking water and eating hay. We came back around late 4ish and my husband went to go check on him. He called me over and told me that he didn’t look too good because he was just laying there on his side (there were times that he would do that and give us a scare but he would just be sleeping). I called his name but he didn’t move. I gently shook the cage a little bit and nothing... that’s when we knew he was gone. When we picked him up he wasn’t cold nor stiff but he was limp. We wrapped him up and I tried to keep him warm in hopes that maybe he would wake up or start moving. We checked for a heart beat as best as we could (because honestly we weren’t sure exactly where) and we didn’t feel anything. I also checked his tummy but I didn’t see nor feel it moving.

His eating habit was off for days prior to this and was losing some weight... some days he would eat okay, other days he would eat just a few bites and wouldn’t want anymore. I thought maybe he just wasn’t in the mood for whatever I was giving him or just wasn’t hungry in that moment. He would drink water fine though.

I’m hurt and I feel so guilty. Like what if I just didn’t leave that day, maybe he would still be here. I feel horrible that I wasn’t there when it happened and he was alone... I wish I would’ve did more with/for him.

You will always hold a special place in my heart.
I Love You and Miss You So Much Ginney ~ Rest In Peace <3

[3piggles]

First, hello, and welcome to Wheekers. I am so sorry for your loss. You have my deepest condolences

Before I answer your questions, I want you to know anything it might have been other than actually dying would still have resulted in Ginney dying or being put to sleep by a vet. The main thing that can mimic death is a major stroke. Stroke or death, they can expel urine and feces. It's the muscles reacting to what's happening, and not necessarily a sign of illness you could have treated. As for his not eating as much, that's not always a sign of a major problem, unless it continues for a long time(week) and he loses a lot of weight. If he generally slows down, eats less, loses weight, etc., it could be a sign of a major illness, but if he had a stroke, taking him to the vet probably wouldn't have helped. If anything, the vet would have suggested you end it there, and that would have been another difficult call.

My Morty had a stroke, and lost the use of his hind end. I knew the end was close. It was New Year's weekend, so no vets open. I kept him warm, clean, and loved. He passed just about 12:30 a.m. after ringing in the new year with us. He wasn't in any pain, but he wasn't moving much, or eating much. He just loved being cuddled, so that's what I did. I'd say you did the best by Ginney at the end, especially not knowing what was wrong. You held him, and let him know he was loved.

The biggest problem with being a pet parent is trying to second guess ourselves on things we could/should have done better. If we really could have done those things, we would have. Whether we were too upset to think straight, there were no vets open, or whatever the situation, we did the best we could at the time. We have to accept that. You didn't let Ginney down. You watched him, cared for him, and did all you could to help him through his end.

I hope I've answered your questions enough to give you some peace of mind. Huge hugs!

[ginney]

Dec 14, 2021 20:18:01 GMT 3piggles said:

First, hello, and welcome to Wheekers. I am so sorry for your loss. You have my deepest condolences

Before I answer your questions, I want you to know anything it might have been other than actually dying would still have resulted in Ginney dying or being put to sleep by a vet. The main thing that can mimic death is a major stroke. Stroke or death, they can expel urine and feces. It's the muscles reacting to what's happening, and not necessarily a sign of illness you could have treated. As for his not eating as much, that's not always a sign of a major problem, unless it continues for a long time(week) and he loses a lot of weight. If he generally slows down, eats less, loses weight, etc., it could be a sign of a major illness, but if he had a stroke, taking him to the vet probably wouldn't have helped. If anything, the vet would have suggested you end it there, and that would have been another difficult call.

My Morty had a stroke, and lost the use of his hind end. I knew the end was close. It was New Year's weekend, so no vets open. I kept him warm, clean, and loved. He passed just about 12:30 a.m. after ringing in the new year with us. He wasn't in any pain, but he wasn't moving much, or eating much. He just loved being cuddled, so that's what I did. I'd say you did the best by Ginney at the end, especially not knowing what was wrong. You held him, and let him know he was loved.

The biggest problem with being a pet parent is trying to second guess ourselves on things we could/should have done better. If we really could have done those things, we would have. Whether we were too upset to think straight, there were no vets open, or whatever the situation, we did the best we could at the time. We have to accept that. You didn't let Ginney down. You watched him, cared for him, and did all you could to help him through his end.

I hope I've answered your questions enough to give you some peace of mind. Huge hugs!

Thank you for taking the time to read and answer my questions. You have given me some peace of mind and made me feel a little better. Thank you for your kind words. I really appreciate it.

[3piggles]

You are very welcome <3

[bazookagoof]

I hope I'm not too late in replying, but you shouldn't feel guilty at all. There wasn't anything you could have done that would have changed anything. I've had a few of my guys die despite my care, and it feels awful. (I currently have one guy who's recovering, but isn't out of the woods yet so I'm worried daily about him.)

I lost one of my guys right after Christmas of last year and it was heartbreaking. He was fine the night before, and in the morning he was on his side, fading slowly. Never showed a sign of illness. 

Another one died after a week or two of slowing down. I had to make a decision about having him euthanized, but he passed away the day before it was supposed to happen. I spent that day home from work and cared for him; it was all I could do.

You're going to feel sad, and that's okay. Let yourself have a good cry if you need to, (I've done it myself) it's better to let it out of your system. 

He probably had a great life with you, and that's what mattered. 

[rustypete]

I’m sorry for your loss.

Unfortunately some guinea pigs pass unexpectedly. Those things may of just been normal or not normal but it was most likely his time. Before I got Rusty and Pete who
I have currently before my previous guinea pigs Oreo and Cookie back when I was in school passed away at around 3 months and year. We did book a vet appointment due to Oreo drinking a lot more (noticed it that Thursday) that Saturday but unfortunately Oreo passed on the following Friday. Cookie we don’t know why he passed away especially as he lived a bit longer. As for your question if his eyes were open he my of passed away during his sleep period.

But no matter how long he lived I’m sure he enjoyed his life and is enjoying his live in heaven.

[3piggles]

It's never easy to lose a fur kid, or any loved one, but whatever the situation, pet parents have to understand what they gave those animals when the animals were alive. Animals aren't really complicated. They want love, food, what and if possible, comfort. To have known those things, even for a few months, is what the animal leaves this world with. If there is a rainbow bridge, I truly believe our fur kids are over there telling everyone about us, and greeting those who cross the bridge after they do.

[rustypete]

Dec 22, 2021 12:33:48 GMT 3piggles said:

It's never easy to lose a fur kid, or any loved one, but whatever the situation, pet parents have to understand what they gave those animals when the animals were alive. Animals aren't really complicated. They want love, food, what and if possible, comfort. To have known those things, even for a few months, is what the animal leaves this world with. If there is a rainbow bridge, I truly believe our fur kids are over there telling everyone about us, and greeting those who cross the bridge after they do.

Exactly it’s unfortunate that we humans outlive most animals, except tortoises and parrots and jellyfish) but at least they will always leave that behind and be in our hearts