Sick Guinea Pig suffered and died from a 10hr long seizure. Please provide some insight.

[Chun Ho]

My guinea pig male (Hercules) was 5 1/2 years old. he was very healthy and runs around, eats and does everything a normal pig does. He gets really excited when he sees someone and would squeak to get our attention and follow us around. He is so affectionate he will purr when we pet him. On friday july 26, 2013 9am he was perfectly fine and very active. 3 hours later around 12noon he started twitching and couldn't stand up on his own. we took him to the vet and without performing any exams at all the vet told us "theres nothing they can do and that he's going to die" within the 10 hrs he developed a mass on his rectum and one on his abdominal and white watery substance was coming out of his eyes and nose. He kept twitching uncontrollably for 10 hours until he gasped his last breath of air and passed away at 9:14pm friday night. it looks like he was in lots of pain. what could have happened with him? the 2 days prior to his death he was eating, drinking and everything was normal except he wasn't pooping as much. i took him to St marks Vet clinic in NYC and they weren't very helpful when it came to telling me whats wrong. but they were very happy to take my 98$ for the 2 minute visit and was even more delighted to offer to have him euthanized for an extra 70$. Im trying to find someone on here who has dealt with a similar situation or someone who can offer me some insight. I am very sadden by this tragedy and cannot afford an autopsy let alone a cremation. What hurts me the most is that i have no freaking idea what went to terribly wrong.

 

[Hhbean]

I am so sorry for your loss, he was adorable. I'm sorry I can't give you any insight as to why he passed away.

 

[bpatters]

I'm sorry the vet was so unhelpful. It sounds like he had some sort of fast-moving problem, and that nothing really could have been done except earlier euthanasia to prevent his suffering. I'm sorry you lost him.

 

[Chun Ho]

can you offer some advice. i don't know how to cope with something this devasting. this is the first and only death i have experienced in my family. its so hard to talk about it because everyone i tried to ask seems to avoid the topic. why would God give him to us such happiness and suddenly give him such a tragic death.

 

[mufasa]

I can't offer any insight, but you have my sympathy. The only thing I can suggest is finding a truly cavy savvy vet in advance because many vets, even those who claim to treat exotics, don't really have a lot of experience. I had a guinea pig, Borat, who stopped eating, and my usual vet is pretty competent with piggies but misdiagnosed it for a few weeks as teeth problems until she finally referred me to an expert who discovered it was a congenital jaw defect. It sounds like a specialist would have been your only hope. I'm very, very sorry for your loss.

 

[Artista]

Sorry for your loss. You tried to help him and it did sound like it came on suddenly. Any death is painful and sometimes cannot be understood. I've experienced perfectly healthy people just die in their sleep. Sometimes the reason was unknown as everything showed up ok. All you can do is cherish the time you had with him. There's nothing else you could have done. Unfortunately, it was just his time to go. I believe that we will see our loved ones again on the other side some day. That helps me deal with my losses. Time heals. Take the time to grieve and honor him in your thoughts and heart and be strong. He would want you to go on and be strong. Maybe some day you will decide to get another guinea pig. If you do, I agree that you need to find a vet who knows exotics. Mine sees dogs and cats, but sees a lot of pigs, turtles, reptiles, birds, bunnies, etc as well.

Take care, and yes, he was very adorable. I keep photos of my pets on my end table as a tribute to them.

 

[aspecht]

Did he eat anything out of the ordinary? I'm sorry for your loss, but I'm also wondering a couple things. Firstly, is that a picture of your pig? If so, how often did you trim its toe nails? His nails are extremely overgrown in that picture. Secondly, is it possible that he could have eaten something poisonous? It sounds like a seizure and often those can be brought on by eating something that is toxic. As for grieving, it takes time. Just remind yourself that you tried to help him. You did the best you could.

 

[bonkerzmommy13]

I'm very sorry for your loss. I really do wish I could, or someone else could share some information with you. You will be in my prayers tonight. I hope you figure this out and may your sweet friend have a great time in Heaven.

 

[Chun Ho]

Everything he ate was normal, we dont have anything toxic around the house that he could have gotten to. i do notice some of the rubber from the side of his water bottle missing with his teeth marks around it but i'm not sure when he ate this. i have a water bottle with 2 rubber rings around it so it wouldn't move around when he drinks water this is how the water bottle was designed when i bought it years ago. As for his nails my mom trims them every 2 months or whenever she bathes him depending on whichever one came first. Its just hard because all my memorizes are fresh. i would come home open the door and hear him squeaking waiting for me to pick him up. he gets all excited when he see people no matter who they are. he follows us around on the floor (carpet). i just wish i could have done more.

 

[Artista]

You did all you can and he knows it. Sometimes you can't do anything for the ones you love. All you can do is give them a good life and know that when he passes, he had a good life. I wish no one had to die but that's the life cycle. Give it time. Time heals. Maybe do something you normally wouldn't do in his name, like volunteer helping animals or something. Some people find it therapeutic to volunteer helping save others, it makes you feel good. I hope you find your way and know that you did what you could and that's all that counts.

 

[triann1]

He was so cute; I am so sorry for your loss. A few things that have helped me: writing a letter to him, visiting pet loss websites which have articles on grief and guilt as well as forums, also some sort of memorial like a scrapbook, a memorial website (some are free), doing something in his name. I hope this helps. It will take time.

 

[Paula]

Firstly, is that a picture of your pig? If so, how often did you trim its toe nails?

While I agree and think that it's best to identify issues and help an owner/potential owner correct them, I can't for the life of me understand what overgrown toenails might have to do with the situation described? Death by toenails that are too long isn't anything I'm familiar with, so frankly, I couldn't see a reason to bring it up when a person is here trying to find answers and support for a tragic situation s/he doesn't understand. The time to scold isn't usually in the throes of grief.

@Chun Ho - if it isn't possible he got into something he shouldn't have, my next guess would be an inner ear/brain issue. I had a pig who had been generally fine, eating, active, everything normal, and one day he'd just collapsed and seemed to have had a seizure. It was early in the morning and the emergency vet here has never been competent, so I gave him a subcue, handfed, kept him warm, etc. He couldn't stand on his own and when he tried he'd flop - it was the saddest and most disturbing thing I'd really ever seen because I had no understanding of what was happening or why. I thought he'd had a stroke and when I called the vet that morning to get him in I told them I'd probably need to have him euthanized. I dropped him off at my exotic vet, filled out euthanasia paperwork, and was shocked when my vet called me hours later and said my Harvey had a severe inner ear infection and that's why he couldn't stand on his own, but that he thought he might improve with fluids and some baytril. To my dismay, he did. He lived for several more months until similar symptoms returned after some initial improvement and we couldn't figure out what was wrong until a necropsy revealed he had a brain tumor.

That would be my guess, but please understand that pigs are prey animals and they hide symptoms too well, and often you don't even realize there's a problem until it's such a severe problem that little can be done. If you were weighing your pig, was his weight steady or was it dropping? Sometimes weight loss can be the only symptom and they seem completely fine otherwise, until they're just not.

I'm sorry you lost your little guy.

 

[Sunny]

While I agree and think that it's best to identify issues and help an owner/potential owner correct them, I can't for the life of me understand what overgrown toenails might have to do with the situation described? Death by toenails that are too long isn't anything I'm familiar with, so frankly, I couldn't see a reason to bring it up when a person is here trying to find answers and support for a tragic situation s/he doesn't understand. The time to scold isn't usually in the throes of grief.

I was about to say this, so thanks for doing it for me.

OP, I am very sorry for your loss. You did your best, and that's what matters. Keep your chin up.

 

[Artista]

I was about to say this, so thanks for doing it for me.

OP, I am very sorry for your loss. You did your best, and that's what matters. Keep your chin up.

Paula, you wrote what I was thinking. Why on earth would you bring up something like long nails in such a thread?? I'm sure some of us have from time to time let nails go for a bit before tending to them.

 

[aspecht]

While I agree and think that it's best to identify issues and help an owner/potential owner correct them, I can't for the life of me understand what overgrown toenails might have to do with the situation described? Death by toenails that are too long isn't anything I'm familiar with, so frankly, I couldn't see a reason to bring it up when a person is here trying to find answers and support for a tragic situation s/he doesn't understand. The time to scold isn't usually in the throes of grief. .

I never said the toenails killed him. I was asking a question. I also answered his questions, suggesting that the seizures may have been brought on by something he'd ingested, as the OP was asking what could have caused this to happen. I did send my thoughts as well.

 

[UchihaMickey]

Im so sorry for your loss.. ... Time heals, sending good thought your way

 

[YourSoJelly]

Ok, no need to spring on everyone. Yes, the piggy has long nails, no he didn't die from it. For future reference (unless that was just a random long nailed cavy picture) I suggest trimming their nails on a weekly-biweekly schedule, but it depends on the piggies nail growth.

However, I am SO sorry for your loss. I know the pain that losing an animal can cause. Just think, he is now in a better place, looking at you from the rainbow bridge. I cannot give you any insight as to what happened, other than it may have been a poison(already mentioned). Bless you for coming on here to find out what was wrong. I do hope you find the reason. Best wishes, and keep your chin up.

 

[Chun Ho]

thank you guys for all your support!

@Paula. All my vet did was weigh him and check his heartbeat and said "he's an old sick animal with an irregular heartbeat" she did not offer anything else but to euthanize him. i felt that she made no effort at all to try to save him. Would she have been able to determine if it was an ear infection by looking into his ears with the scope?? your absolutely correct about weight being the only sign of sickness sometimes. i do realize he was losing weight but i didnt take it into consideration because he was eating and drinking regularly. i wish i could go back in time and save him! because he didnt die right away and it took him seizing for 10 hours during and after the vets visit i felt like it wasnt his time to go. i wish this vet would have actaully cared about him and offered the baytril. as a vet she should have gave me that option when i asked her what can we do for him. instead she said you can spend $400 to get x rays and blood work and she was sure he was doing to die during the process.

 

[Kim37040]

So sorry for your loss.
I have never shared this because it is still very painful for me to think about and deal with but the last day of my sweet Charlie's life he began to have trouble walking. It was like his little body was off balanced.
He had been back and forth to the vet and I had taken him to the vet that morning when I saw the newly developed mobility issue.

Losing a pet is hard under any circumstance but seeing a little body go through things you don't understand and can't stop from happening can break your heart.

I am sure you gave your piggy an amazing life. So many are not fortunate enough to have a long live full of love and adoration.
It gets to the point when those memories are the ones that come to your mind instead of the images of the final hours.

 

[Paula]

thank you guys for all your support!

@Paula. All my vet did was weigh him and check his heartbeat and said "he's an old sick animal with an irregular heartbeat" she did not offer anything else but to euthanize him. i felt that she made no effort at all to try to save him. Would she have been able to determine if it was an ear infection by looking into his ears with the scope?? your absolutely correct about weightbeing the only sign of sickness sometimes. i do realize he was losing weight but i didnt take it into consideration because he was eating and drinking regularly. i wish i could go back in time and save him! because he didnt die right away and it took him seizing for 10 hours during and after the vets visit i felt like it wasnt his time to go. i wish this vet would have actaully cared about him and offered the baytril. as a vet she should have gave me that option when i asked her what can we do for him. instead she said you can spend $400 to get x rays and blood work and she was sure he was doing to die during the process.

He may have. It's important to understand that further stress to an animal that's fragile to begin with (xrays and bloodwork are very stressful, xrays require brief anaesthesia sometimes and that's a risk in and of itself) can be more detrimental than they can be helpful. And in all actuality, her statement that he's an old sick animal likely to die wasn't really unrealistic or wrong - though the message was not delivered very kindly. A good vet will tell you when it's best to euthanize if it's the kindest and most humane option.

My vet based his diagnosis on years of experience and guesswork - sometimes that's what it comes down to with these animals, unfortunately.

Also unfortunately, a pig will usually eat and drink and give all appearances that everything is a-ok, until they just can't anymore. A pig steadily dropping weight is a sick pig but often doesn't seem like it otherwise.

I'd look around and find a vet with better experience and more kind bedside manner if you choose to get another pig. Again, I'm sorry you went through this traumatic ordeal.