Lou died, I feel aweful

[Maxisno1]

Hello,

My guinea pig, Lou, died yesterday. I took him to the vet yesterday when he was breathing fast and couldn't really move. He looked so weak. The vet said he had bronchitis and gave him an injection, after that she gave us a list of things to do. When we got back home I put him in a little box with a towel over it. There was a steaming pot of water in the box too. She said this would help him breath. After about 15 minutes we took out of the box and he didn't look any better at all.

He was on sitting on his side. I felt so bad for him. After that we had a go at feeding him, as the vet said he hasn't been eating and his stomach was empty. We put the apple juice (no sugar) into the tube and put it into his mouth. At first he didn't swallow it but then we put his head back so he would, at this point it was a matter of life and death. After everything he had been through we put him back into his cage so he could rest, I checked up on him half an hour later and he was laying on his side once again, breathing badly. At this point there wasn't alot else we could do, until It was time to feed him again in an hour. I checked back up on him half an hour later, getting ready to feed him again. I went to him in his cage and he wasn't breathing. I gave him a tap and yes, he was dead.

I cried and cried because he was my only Guinea pig. Later we buried him etc.

I didn't get very much sleep yesterday, as I felt very guilty. You may be wondering why, well, because I didn't play with him the day before I took him to the vet! The day before that I did and his eyes were closed a little but I thought he was just tired. The next day I was really busy and was cought up with alot of things, but I knew he had enough food and water and hay, because I filled that all up the day before. This is a one-off thing, I normally play with him everyday but I was so busy!

The state he was in yesterday made me cry and cry. I have never seen anything like it. I feel so bad today because if he was like that the day I didn't play with him then It would be just aweful, with no one around to help you, suffering. Yes, suffering. This is the thing I hate most about it. I don't know what he was like that day. He could have been the same as he was the before, with those tired looking eyes, but somehow I doubt it. If he was in the state he was in yesterday then It breaks my heart. I feel like I have murdered my Guinea pig. If I took him to the vet on that day I didn't play with him then perhaps he would still be alive today.

He was only 6 months old, and a month before that he had mange mites.

Thank you for reading all of that, I just feel so horrible right now.

[GuineaPinny]

I'm so sorry for your loss. It sounds like you are really taking it terribly and blaming yourself--I see this so often as an instinct in good pet owners, while negligent pet owners are apathetic at a loss.

I am not an expert, but I don't know that your vet gave you proper advice. It sounds like your guinea pig was in a very serious condition. It would impossible to know whether he could have been helped, as there was no necroscopy performed. But the suggestions your vet made sound highly unusual, from the little bit I know.

I'm so sorry for your loss, again, I hope you will be able to find something that will help you through this time. Easing the guilt would be a good start, if possible.

[papiggieluverz]

I am so very sorry for your loss.

[Foggycreek]

I'm so sorry.

It does sound like perhaps you need a new vet. Did he give you antibiotics to give your pig?

Guinea pigs mask their symptoms when they are sick. One of the best ways to tell if you have a sick guinea pig is to weigh them weekly. Guinea Lynx :: Weigh Weekly!
If they don't feel good, they don't eat, and so lose weight.

If you decide to get another guinea pig, I recommend reading the Care Guide at Guinea Lynx :: A Medical and Care Guide for Your Guinea Pig .

Again, I'm sorry for your loss. Perhaps you could adopt a pair of rescued guinea pigs in his honor?

[Mutty]

I am so sorry that your little Lou died. I went through a similar experience with my first little guinea pig called Teddybear, It is awful to loose a little soul. I felt that it was my falt too and that I should have known how to make him better but my vet gave me the wrong advise also and he died the same way that your Lou died.

When I look back now I think that maybe Teddybear had molar trouble but was treated for something else by the vet. That was over a year ago and I made sure that when I brought my next little piggie home that he would have an experienced vet.

My little Beanie also got sick but I learned my mistakes and found this forum and GuineaLynx and also found an exotic vet and he fixed up Beanie when he was very ill. So the way I look at it now is that Teddybear didn't die in vain. He helped to save Beanie's life. I still miss Teddy terribly and wish he was still alive but his memory is still with us.

Maybe you could adopt two little guinea pigs to help you with your grieving. and if you do make sure that you do weigh them regularly as it is very important and that is how I realised that Beanie was ill as he lost weight even though I thought that he was eating. Sometimes they pretend to eat when they are sick and you don't realise.

I actually weigh my piggies EVERY day, because they can loose weight very fast when they are ill, and I am very paranoid now.

I hope that you are able to adopt some more piggies you wont regret it.

Again I am sorry for you and Lou.

[kavipatro]

I just lost mine on Sunday, I feel your pain! It's hard to lose a such a lovable pet.

[missolivia]

I am so sorry for your loss =[ You did all that you could though and did the best thing by getting him help. It isn't your fault.

[teddy+tigger]

I'm sorry, its really sad when guineas die. I don't think you should blame yourself though.

[sunflower44]

I went through the same thing with my guinea billy. he died on new years day. I had a hard time dealing with his passing he was are 1st guinea pig. I am sorry for your loss.

[forestchildxx]

Hi, just now getting into the post here, I am sorry for your loss. As others said, you should not blame yourself. I recently lost my only piggy Shadow at 7 years, he had a good long life. But anyway, he was my little baby. I felt there was more I could have been doing for Shadow as well, the vet said to use a syringe to feed and now I am not so sure that was the right thing to do as I heard guineas can choke on syringes. I felt bad too because I felt, oh my god, did I kill my baby???!!! I don't think I did, but there is still some doubt even though I was trying my best to help him recover. I still don't have my 2 new guinea pigs yet hopefully soon, I will have them. As others said, you can adopt new piggies to care for and know that your beloved guinea pig is playing on the clouds right now most likely with my Shadow and other passed pigs. I am sure he is having the time of his afterlife. I hope that makes you feel better.