naomi

Hi all, I posted a few weeks ago about our guinea pig, two year-old
Wiggles who sadly died. Her sister Nubbin was lonely, so we got her a
new roomie, a grey/white baby (she was six weeks when we got her) whom
we named Weeble. Nubbin was always the submissive guinea pig, her
sister would always get to the food first and generally boss Nubbin
about. After a week or so of Nubbin trying her best to dominate
Weeble, she became submissive again and was being pushed around by the
baby. I felt really sorry for poor Nubbin! Over the weekend, Nubbin
started to show signs of illness. She didn't seem herself, was
spending most of her time in her house. We paid her lots of attention
and gave her lots of cuddles, but then she stopped eating/drinking,
pooping and she had a runny nose/sneezes and a slight crusting in her
eyes (which I wiped). We took her to the vet yesterday who said her
bowels were backed up, so she gave her some antibiotics and some
Science Recovery (liquid feed) to try to get her bowels moving again.
We gave her the meds and managed to get a large syringe full of the
Recovery stuff down her last night and again this morning (she seemed
to like it), she actually seemed like she'd perked up overnight. Then
a while ago I went to get her out to hold her and keep her warm (it's
chilly today) and she'd sadly passed away :-( I was really taken aback
and obviously upset, as she seemed to be getting a bit better...

.... I guess I wanted to ask if it's possible that Nubbin simply pined
after her sister and "gave up" so to speak, as she didn't seem to form
any particular bond with Weeble... or if there's something about the
environment we keep our piggies in that's making them ill (even though
the two piggies seemingly died of different things). We're going to
get another house mate for Weeble later, as we don't want her to be on
her own, but if there's something we're doing wrong with our piggies,
we need to know so we don't lose any more!

We had Wiggles and Nubbin for over two years with no problems (except
Wiggles always had droopy/sometimes watery eyes, but the vet couldn't
find anything wrong with them), so why all of a sudden have they both
died?

We've started putting a blanket over their cage as the weather has
turned cold and we thought it'd help keep away draughts, we give them
lots of attention/ daily veg (though not too much), fresh water...
They're cleaned out regularly... The only thing I can think of is the
cold and it's made them poorly, but why haven't they been affected by
it for the last two years? Is it because we've moved house this year
and their cage is in a different position?

If anyone has any ideas, let me know, I can't bear to lose any more!!!

Thanks all,
(sorry for the rather lengthy post),
Naomi

After my 16 year old golden retriever died almost 4 years ago, within
48 hours one of my guinea pigs suffered GI immotility (their bowel
shuts down like Nubbins did). I nursed her through 10 weeks until she
passed away. My dog used to visit the pigs every morning when she
woke up, touching noses with every one of them, then she was gone. The
guinea pig must have missed her terribly, as did I.

It is very common for guinea pigs to pine away and mourn after a cage
mate - and even die.

tracie

I had once had 4 girls in two separate cages and when one of the girls died
the other stopped eating and wouldn't come out of her hidey house. I had to
put her in with the other two girls until I could build a pen big enough for
them all to go in together.

My poor Minky had seen 3 of her cagemates die but she came through it well
everytime.

Tracie

ted

Hi Naomi
I was really sad to hear your story about little Nubbin. Unfortunately
these creatures do get poorly and can go downhill very quickly. You
musn't think that it's any reflection on the way you have looked after
them. One thing did spring to mind when I read your story however and
your vet should have been more aware of this: When rodents become ill
for whatever reason and stop eating, their guts stop moving, and
whereas in some cases prompt syringe feeding with solids can restart
the guts, metaclopramide should have been administered aswell to
ensure that the guts DID move. Bacterial toxins build up in a blocked
gut and this can often lead to death if not treated quickly enough.
Pleae don't think that any of that was your fault. You are obviously
someone who cares so much for these little creatures, and should carry
on caring for them. I suggest you get another little piggy as a
companion for Weeble. You said that Nubbin may have had a cold, so
don't blame yourself for putting in a new mate. I'm sure Nubbin
enjoyed having Weeble to take her mind off not being well.
Heather

incs

"Naomi" <nomesgriffin@yahoo.co.uk> schreef in bericht
news:1193136327.570447.83610@k35g2000prh.googlegro ups.com...

Oh dear.. seems like Nubbin really missed her friend Wiggles. It happens, it
has nothing to do with your care. These girls had a real bond, as you
noticed by Nubbin's behaviour when Wiggles went 'missing', as I think she
experienced it. When Weeble joined her after a few days she finally
understood Wiggles wasn't coming back. And she decided to fillow her. It is
quite possible for a piggy to just give up, they somehow make their body
stop working and there is nothing you or any vet can do.. any rescue would
just be temporary as the piggy just doesn't want to go on.

When one of my older girls, Brandy, had a permanent urine rash and I had to
bathe and clean her private parts every day, she decided she didn't want
that sort of life. I bathed her for three weeks, she hated it but allowed
it, trusting me to do whatever would be good for her. Of course, I comforted
her every time and always gave her a nice treat after we were done. When she
noticed the bathing and cleaning didn't help to make the rash go away she
somehow understood the unpleasant daily procedure would continue for the
rest of her life. And she decided she didn't want that, period. One night
she gave up, looking poorly in the morning, was cuddled a lot (I knew what
she was up to, I felt it and saw it..) and as I had her on my lap that
afternoon, she died in my arms. I knew that would happen. It was okay, it
was her own decision. There was nothing I could do but respect that.
Another example: I had one very old piggy, her back legs getting stiff as
she grew older, one day she couldn't move those back legs anymore. Vet said
she was just old, nothing can be done. She used her front legs to get around
the cage for three days, decided it was not the way she wanted to live,
looked poorly in the morning, I took her on my lap, within 30 minutes she
died on my lap.

So please, don't feel guilty. Just be glad those piggies can decide their
own time to go, I have no idea how they do it, but I saw it a lot of times.

One thing though, but I'm pretty sure you've covered this: the position of
the cage. Not draughty, no central heating, no direct sunlight, no open
windows etc. nearby? Reading how much you care for your piggies I'm certain
you've paid attention to this, but my post would not be complete if I didn't
mention it.

Please, find Weeble a cagemate soon. And hope those two get a bond as strong
as Wiggles and Nubbin had.

Incs & the CavyClan:
Sebas, Cleo, Chicco, Amy, Kassan, Hazel, Cassie, Lady, Lizzy & Daisy.