My beloved Snowy died - I have no reason why - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**gymverb** · #1 12-12-08, 10:18 pm

Hi, I am a new piggy owner, and I went upstairs to check on my pigs to find my favorite pig Snowy, laying dead. I am sobbing right now. He has 2 other playmates, his mom and his sister.I got them for free from a lady who couldn't take care of them anymore. I've had them for 2 months. I feed them unlimited Oxbow hay, brand new, 2 fresh water bottles, fleece as there bottom, and there kitchen area is CareFresh, freshly changed.

He was acting fine 2 hours ago, and I come home and find hime laying dead. He is 2 years old.

Please help me, I am sobbing, I have grown so close to theese little goobers, and I can already notice the other pigs are sad too.

**Paula** · #2 12-12-08, 10:31 pm

What do you know about the pigs' histories? Are you certain he was 2 years old? Quite unfortunately, guinea pigs hide their illnesses for a long time because that is how they survive in the wild.

Unless you are able to get more history on them, a necropsy might be the only way to know for sure what happened.

I'm sorry for your little pig.

**gymverb** · #3 12-12-08, 10:33 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by paula.m.moore

What do you know about the pigs' histories? Are you certain he was 2 years old? Quite unfortunately, guinea pigs hide their illnesses for a long time because that is how they survive in the wild.

Unless you are able to get more history on them, a necropsy might be the only way to know for sure what happened.

I'm sorry for your little pig.

Yes, the former owner said he was, and she owned the mom that gave birth to hime. Thank you. It just hurts so bad, I've grown so close to them.

**theresaj** · #4 12-12-08, 10:36 pm

gym -

My sympathies for the loss of your little one, Snowy. Do get him necropsied and get some answers though! Most of all, try not to blame yourself. <3

**gymverb** · #5 12-12-08, 10:38 pm

Thank you. I don't mean to sound stupid, but what is a necropsy? I'm trying, I mean I've done so much researching on them. When I first got them I almost got rid of them, but now I can't bear to be apart, and I was just getting to know Snowy.

**theresaj** · #6 12-12-08, 10:41 pm

A necropsy is an animal autopsy.

**gymverb** · #7 12-12-08, 10:44 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by theresaj

A necropsy is an animal autopsy.

Ok, thank you. I don't know if I will be able too, but I will try.

**Silverbeat** · #8 12-12-08, 10:53 pm

When my dear Benner [my rabbit] died last month, a vet friend offered to do a free necropsy because it was a learning experience. Benner, too, died after showing no signs of illness. The cause of his death was extremely unpreventable. He has a bacteria in his stomach that got into his bloodstream and somehow caused a fusion of tissue around his heart and lungs. He died instantly, he had been infected less than 72 hours at most.

I'm sorry about Snowy, but what I'm trying to say is that a.) Necropsies are a learning experience for the pet owner and the vet, and if you know a vet, he or she will probably offer to do one for a very low price. And b.) it was probably something that you could never have seen coming.
You only had her for two months, she may have been ill much longer than that, and you couldn't have known what "normal" was for her enough to notice a change. I know that this doesn't sound like much of a comfort--if it does turn out that it was something you couldn't have seen coming--but it will be someday.

Once again I am so, so sorry for your loss. I know what you're going through right now and if you need someone to talk to you can feel free to email me. My email is skyXwards [at] yahoo [dot] com.

**gymverb** · #9 12-12-08, 10:59 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by thief

When my dear Benner [my rabbit] died last month, a vet friend offered to do a free necropsy because it was a learning experience. Benner, too, died after showing no signs of illness. The cause of his death was extremely unpreventable. He has a bacteria in his stomach that got into his bloodstream and somehow caused a fusion of tissue around his heart and lungs. He died instantly, he had been infected less than 72 hours at most.

I'm sorry about Snowy, but what I'm trying to say is that a.) Necropsies are a learning experience for the pet owner and the vet, and if you know a vet, he or she will probably offer to do one for a very low price. And b.) it was probably something that you could never have seen coming.
You only had her for two months, she may have been ill much longer than that, and you couldn't have known what "normal" was for her enough to notice a change. I know that this doesn't sound like much of a comfort--if it does turn out that it was something you couldn't have seen coming--but it will be someday.

Once again I am so, so sorry for your loss. I know what you're going through right now and if you need someone to talk to you can feel free to email me. My email is skyXwards [at] yahoo [dot] com.

Thank you so much. I ask my mom if we have any vets around here that will do that, I think at this point Snowy is going to be buried in the backyard though. I did notice his poops were shaped sorta strange, they were almost triangluer. I mean, I clipped his nails yesterday. He was so loud too, as soon as you would walk in the room he would squeal so loud, wanting you to pet him! Thanks again. =)