I Haven't been on for a while. Just wanted to inform you all of a loss... - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**CavyLove** · #1 06-20-08, 03:36 pm

Hey everyone... this is CavyLove.

I have not been online for a while. But today has been a horrible day and I needed to share it with someone.

Behind me is an empty guinea pig cage. It's a 2x4 C&C with two and a half levels, and brand new shavings in it that will never be pooped on.

Today kind of came as a surprise. I woke up, feeling particularly good, and went to work on a chore list, cleaning things here and there around teh house.

"Clean the guinea pig cage" was next on my list. I pulled Coobear and Weebo out of their cage and held them close as they tried to wiggle themselves from my hands. I knew it was hot outside, (about 97 degrees) so I decided to set up their pen in the carport in the shade. I placed them in their pen, scattered some fresh hay, and hooked up their water bottles to the side of the pen. Then I used their spray bottle to douse their coats with some water to keep them cool. I watched them as they frolicked around for a few minutes, shaking drops from their coats and enjoying the hay and being outside. Then I moved back in the house and began cleaning their cage.

15 minutes, and two bags of piggy poopy litter later, I went back outside to collect my piggies and put them in their fresh clean cage.

Both of them were laying down side by side. One dead. The other near death. I instantly began crying as I felt Coobear to see if he was really dead. He was. I pulled him close to me and hugged him while I cried hard and loud. After convincing myself there was nothing I could do for him, I set him down and picked up my Weebo. I ran into the house with him. Not understanding what I'd done wrong. He wasn't warm, so it couldn't have been heat stroke. His little squeaks were all that told me he was still alive. I set him in a box with some shavings and got straight into my jeep to go to the vet.

I pulled into the parking lot of my vet's office, opened the box to check on him, and he was gone. I just sat there and balled, hugging him for the last time. Someone came out of the vet's office and asked me if I needed help. I told them it was too late and that I'd be leaving. The lady saw the lifeless piggy in my arms and offered her sympathies as I bawled. But I just shook my head and buried my face in my piggy's fur.

Now I'm at home. Shocked as to what could have possibly gone wrong. There's a box out on the carport with two lifeless piggies in it and I can't seem to collect myself enough to bury them.. I don't understand. In all my years of raising pigs, I've never seen anything like this. I know an animal didn't get to them because our property is fenced in except for the driveway and they had no marks on them. I don't think heat stroke is possible in the course only fifteen minutes in the shade. They had water, they had hay, they had shade, and I even sprayed them with their spray bottles to keep them cool. I called the vet and she said the only thing she could think of was that they were stung by something poisonous and it would have had to be more than once. I went outside and checked their pen for scorpions or snakes and found nothing. So I just don't know.

They were outside yesterday for almost a half hour and they were fine.

I'm so heartbroken, I don't even feel up to finishing my chores...

Anyway... I just wanted to let you all know... I know a couple of you enjoyed reading about coobear and Weebo from time to time. But.. they're gone. And I miss them already...

**CavyLove** · #2 06-20-08, 03:44 pm

R.I.P. Coobear & Weebo.

I love you...

**PixieStix** · #3 06-20-08, 04:40 pm

I'm so sorry for your losses. They were gorgeous.

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #4 06-20-08, 04:59 pm

I'm sorry.

**twenty909** · #5 06-20-08, 05:44 pm

I'm so sorry for your loss and that you are in such pain. My thoughts are with you.

**Ziggy&Herald** · #6 06-20-08, 06:22 pm

Oh, I'm so sorry.

**DIGGYDI** · #7 06-20-08, 09:21 pm

I'm so sorry for the loss of your friends. I can tell you really loved them.

**Ly&Pigs** · #8 06-20-08, 10:34 pm

I am sorry for your loss.

I bet they had heat strokes. Even in the shade it was too hot for them outside. Heat strokes can strike too quickly. Any temperatures over 80F can cause heatstroke or heat stress.

**lilcavy** · #9 06-21-08, 12:28 am

I can't even thing of how horrible you must feel. I am sorry of your loss

my heart is with you.

**auburnmare5** · #10 06-21-08, 06:15 pm

I am so sorry for your loss.

They are gorgeous gps. They will be greatly missed. You will definetly be kept in my thoughts.
They had a nice life and were obviously very well cared for and loved.

**Sammy and Peanut** · #11 06-22-08, 04:16 pm

I am so sorry about Weebo and Coobear. They were gorgeous pigs. I bet they are calling for you up in heaven, wheeking to their heart's desire, and popcorning is the grass. They are across Rainbow Bridge now, which means they are in a better place. You will meet them again in Eternity.

**i-love-nev** · #12 06-23-08, 04:23 am

I am so sorry, I am sitting here with tears in my eyes, but they loved you so much and you made they're life amazing!

"Don't Grieve Too Long"
Don't grieve too long for now I'm free. I'm following the path God set for me
I ran to Him when I heard His call, I wheeked and left it all.
I could not stay another day, To wheek, to love, to romp or play
Games left unplayed must stay that way. I found such peace it made my day.
My parting has left you with a void, So fill it with your remembered joy
A friendship shared, your laugh, a kiss; Oh, yes, these things I too shall miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow, I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow
My life's been full, you've given so much - Your time, your love and gentle touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all to brief, Don't lengthen it now with undue grief
Lift up your heart and share with me. God wanted me now, He set me free.
- Author//

**twenty909** · #13 06-23-08, 07:12 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by i-love-nev

I am so sorry, I am sitting here with tears in my eyes, but they loved you so much and you made they're life amazing!

"Don't Grieve Too Long"
Don't grieve too long for now I'm free. I'm following the path God set for me
I ran to Him when I heard His call, I wheeked and left it all.
I could not stay another day, To wheek, to love, to romp or play
Games left unplayed must stay that way. I found such peace it made my day.
My parting has left you with a void, So fill it with your remembered joy
A friendship shared, your laugh, a kiss; Oh, yes, these things I too shall miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow, I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow
My life's been full, you've given so much - Your time, your love and gentle touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all to brief, Don't lengthen it now with undue grief
Lift up your heart and share with me. God wanted me now, He set me free.
- Author//

What a beautiful quote. Thank you for sharing it.

**mbator** · #14 07-16-08, 09:46 pm

I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my Copper today, he was only about 16 months old had a breathing problem but it was not URI so I don't know what it was, the vet thought maybe cancer. I cleaned cages today too and put mine outside for a while. In shade, hay and so forth, I live in Northern AZ but it gets hot upper 90's and highter but today it was around 97 but probably 80 in the shade where the others were so I am lucky after reading your ordeal, I am really sorry, I can only imagine your pain, I am saddened today as well.

**wheeek** · #15 07-28-08, 07:10 am

I am so sorry.

Did you spray your yard with anything?

**Myspoiltpiggies** · #16 07-29-08, 05:05 am

I am so sorry for the loss of your two beautiful piggies.

It does sound like Heatstroke.

**Maisiepaisie** · #17 08-02-08, 05:15 pm

I'm so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you xx

**saurabh354** · #18 08-08-08, 05:52 am

Oh so sorry for your losses. Two at a time. They are so cute. My heart aches so much buddy.

I know how much it hurts as I already suffered from it. In this world nothing is bigger than love. God will take care of their souls.

**DIGGYDI** · #19 09-01-08, 08:26 pm

I am sorry for your loss of your two companions.

**CavyLove** · #20 10-16-08, 08:22 pm

Thank you all for your sympathies. Time has healed me better than I thought possible. Its been a few "wheeks" now, and I'm feeling back to normal. Although I do think about Coobear and Weebo a lot. I've put their old cage back to new use and have begun a new home-ferret rescue in addition to my in-home cavy rescue. A young ferret named stewie who was rescued from a cardboard box on the side of the road now lives in Coobear and Weebo's old cage. I brought both of those pigs to the vet before I buried them because I HAD to know what happened. Turns out the heat did not kill them. A baby rattlesnake that wedged its way into their pen (still not sure how) did. The vet found traces of rattlesnake venom in their blood and assumed it was a small one because it did not eat my pigs. I now take extra care when putting my guinea pigs outside and have altered their outdoor pen to make it rattlesnake proof (Its' already bird proof).

Thank you all for your support. I'm not giving up on homeless piggies because of this ordeal. I'll simply continue to make a difference as you all are for your piggies.