Fred0071
Member
Cavy Gazer
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2019
- Posts
- 4
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2019
- Messages
- 4
Hi there,
I am unfortunately grieving the loss of a Guinea Pig and I was hoping all of you expereinced owners can help me to understand what could have happened.
As a bit of backstory, I have 3 rescue cats and had 2 rescue Guinea pigs. This past January a coworked was very upset because the humane society and local rescues were over capacity and could not accept any more guinea pigs. Her grandparents had dementia and unfortunately needed to give away their guinea pigs as they were going into a home. The guinea pigs were very neglected when I received them. Their claws were grown out and they had only been fed pellets for the first 2.5 years of their life and kept in a dark basement woth a blanket over their cage. Their cage had 10 layers of soiled fleece blankets and was way too small.
I bought them a huge new double cage and began feeding them unlimited oxbow Timothy hay, 1/8 cup oxbow pellets per guinea pig and usually alternated between kale or dark lettuce with the occasional carrots peppers cuc and berries for a total of 1.5 cups per day. They both hated any vitamin c supplments and I tried drops and biscuits.
Fast forward to Saturday night and my female guinea pig mulder was being very quiet. She was eating but not moving very much. I check on her through the night and she seemed okay. The next night she wasn't as excited about her food but was still eating if I handed it to her and I thought hmm okay I should make an appointment with the vet. The next appointment was Tuesday morning. On Monday morning she was very lethargic and only ate 1 piece of lettuce. She was still pooping and peeing at this point but we rushed her to the emergency vet because she kept falling to her right side and losing her balance.
Her temperature was 3 degrees below normal. They placed her in an incubator and she warmed up. They send us home with critical care food and pain meds. This emergency did not have xray machines and could not do bloodwork on the guinea pig but we had the vet appointment the next morning.
She wouldnt move when she came home and just kept almost falling forward but catching her self. So almost like miny hicccups forward. I figured this was because she was dopey from the medication and let her lay on top of me under a small blanket to keep her warm. As the night went on she wouldnt pee or poop and she refused to swallow the critical care formula. It would just fall out of her mouth. As did the water we tried to give her. About hours after we brought her home she started running around in circles and darting and finally fell on her back. We rushed her back to the emergency vet and they put her on oxygen and an iv. We got a call 3 hours later that she had passed away. They said her belly was slightly distended and that she seemed completely out of it.
I cried for hours and I really truly blame myself. I have no idea what happened or if it was my fault. We spent over 800$ at the emergency vet. I really want any advice as I have another Guinea Pig that was bonded with her and there is such conflicting information out there. Are they allowed to chew on Cardboard and have snap peas? What should I be feeding them differently or has this happened to anyone else out there? Do guinea pigs die unexpectedly despite having proper care?
My living Guinea Pig Scully is doing well but I want her live a long life.
I feel so guilty and sad. It was traumatic and I feel like this is my fault. Please advise. Shoud she have been rushed to the vet Saturday night when she seemed less energetic. I would give anything to bring her back
I am unfortunately grieving the loss of a Guinea Pig and I was hoping all of you expereinced owners can help me to understand what could have happened.
As a bit of backstory, I have 3 rescue cats and had 2 rescue Guinea pigs. This past January a coworked was very upset because the humane society and local rescues were over capacity and could not accept any more guinea pigs. Her grandparents had dementia and unfortunately needed to give away their guinea pigs as they were going into a home. The guinea pigs were very neglected when I received them. Their claws were grown out and they had only been fed pellets for the first 2.5 years of their life and kept in a dark basement woth a blanket over their cage. Their cage had 10 layers of soiled fleece blankets and was way too small.
I bought them a huge new double cage and began feeding them unlimited oxbow Timothy hay, 1/8 cup oxbow pellets per guinea pig and usually alternated between kale or dark lettuce with the occasional carrots peppers cuc and berries for a total of 1.5 cups per day. They both hated any vitamin c supplments and I tried drops and biscuits.
Fast forward to Saturday night and my female guinea pig mulder was being very quiet. She was eating but not moving very much. I check on her through the night and she seemed okay. The next night she wasn't as excited about her food but was still eating if I handed it to her and I thought hmm okay I should make an appointment with the vet. The next appointment was Tuesday morning. On Monday morning she was very lethargic and only ate 1 piece of lettuce. She was still pooping and peeing at this point but we rushed her to the emergency vet because she kept falling to her right side and losing her balance.
Her temperature was 3 degrees below normal. They placed her in an incubator and she warmed up. They send us home with critical care food and pain meds. This emergency did not have xray machines and could not do bloodwork on the guinea pig but we had the vet appointment the next morning.
She wouldnt move when she came home and just kept almost falling forward but catching her self. So almost like miny hicccups forward. I figured this was because she was dopey from the medication and let her lay on top of me under a small blanket to keep her warm. As the night went on she wouldnt pee or poop and she refused to swallow the critical care formula. It would just fall out of her mouth. As did the water we tried to give her. About hours after we brought her home she started running around in circles and darting and finally fell on her back. We rushed her back to the emergency vet and they put her on oxygen and an iv. We got a call 3 hours later that she had passed away. They said her belly was slightly distended and that she seemed completely out of it.
I cried for hours and I really truly blame myself. I have no idea what happened or if it was my fault. We spent over 800$ at the emergency vet. I really want any advice as I have another Guinea Pig that was bonded with her and there is such conflicting information out there. Are they allowed to chew on Cardboard and have snap peas? What should I be feeding them differently or has this happened to anyone else out there? Do guinea pigs die unexpectedly despite having proper care?
My living Guinea Pig Scully is doing well but I want her live a long life.
I feel so guilty and sad. It was traumatic and I feel like this is my fault. Please advise. Shoud she have been rushed to the vet Saturday night when she seemed less energetic. I would give anything to bring her back
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