Hi, let me preface this by saying that I don't think I've ever posted here. Since my boyfriend and I adopted our pigs I've kind-of just lurked and scrolled and scrolled a handful of guinea pig forums in order to make sure I'm doing the right things and that everyone is happy. I had one guinea pig before but I only had him when I was a kid and admittedly he didn't live an incredibly long time while I had him because he already was super old. But now, everyone was doing fine up until recently and everyone seemed to be happy.
I have three sows and two nights ago one of them passed away while we were both at work. That one was Clementine. Clementine had always been sickly (she had respiratory issues diagnosed by her previous owner's vet and coughed occasionally while eating but never choked beyond what she could cough up and still, despite her challenges, would still beg for tomatoes and her other favorites on her hind legs) but was otherwise seemingly very happy. She was very affectionate and people-oriented yet still enjoyed her cagemates more than anything.
Before we were given her, she was initially purchased from a pet store with one of our other pigs, Lucy. They were cagemates then and up until the end. They both, as expected, were really timid at first when we got them but Clementine was always so adventurous. Lucy was much smaller at first and during floor time would act super wary of anything and just follow Clementine around. Eventually they both became really confident, growing into their own personalities. Lucy got much bigger and decided she was the one in charge, Clementine didn't seem to object.
Last month I was surprised with a baby, a really young sow that my BF picked up for my birthday. Everyone got along super well. Lucy would mount the baby but there were no fights, just the normal bonding stuff. During this time, Clementine had no adverse reactions surrounding the new baby (cage was big enough, anyways) and chose to let her sleep in the same house as her, which Lucy had to accept and adapt to because she always slept in the houses with Clem (or out in the open with Clem). Two days ago, we came home from work, I had picked up some peppers and tomatoes so everyone would be happy and went to feed them when I noticed Clem's butt sticking out of her big house.
I thought she was just laying down or eating so I nudged her after she didn't respond to the food. I nudged her again before picking up the house and found her on her side, still fresh, right behind a puke-y? piece of cauliflower that had bites taken out of it. Her eyes were closed but all I can think is that she had a coughing fit as a result of eating too fast/too big of a bite and no one was here to help her get it up. Lucy prior to me lifting the house wasn't interested in the food and just stood by the house that Clementine was in. I had no idea what had happened.
It was so unexpected. Awful but maybe a little more likely in Clem's case with her breathing issues (she would pant sometimes and when she cried to beg for food it sounded a little breathy), I still couldn't have expected it. I figured that since she was 2 and a half, despite her medical issues, that she would've lived much longer and that if something were to happen, we would've been here.
But, Clem got around fine despite coughing every so often and still loved to play with her original sister and cuddle with the new baby. She was fine and running around that morning, and while I know it could've been something else and she could've been hiding it, where she was and how she was positioned made me think she choked or was choking and coughing and had a heart attack. Right before I let them both see her again,
Lucy walked up to her after sniffing and making sad noises. She peed right by her head, any idea what that could mean?? I guess what I'm concerned about now is how the other two will behave now. Clem got along really well with both of them and now Lucy seems like she's more apt to chase the new baby around. They eat together out in the open but when they're not eating, Lucy hides away in the house that Clem died in (makes sense though since Clem was her cagemate since they were both a few weeks old). Lucy will stand by the door to the house and wait to be petted sometimes but overall she's incredibly sad.
I don't know how I can help improve their moods besides waiting until Clem's scent fades and extra attention and food but Lucy is acting so upset so I'm willing to do anything suggested if it might help. Our baby pig seems to be mostly fine, she was really shaken up day-of but now just seems to hide in the house when Lucy gets close to her because Lucy has started to chase her around much more, no biting or fighting though, just chasing, mounting, and walking low and slow towards her, scaring her a lot.
I just hope that Lucy and our baby pig can work towards being happier with each other now that it's just them. There is no middle pig anymore and now baby is right under Lucy in our hierarchy so I hope that doesn't make things any more difficult, there's never any challenges to Lucy's role or authority besides crying when Lucy scares her so I can only hope things continue fine. Clementine is in the process of being cremated right now,
I just can only wonder how much Lucy will remember her once her scent fades and the cage is deep cleaned. I hope she's able to perk up quickly, but I also really hope that she doesn't outright forget Clementine (I'm not sure how their memories work). I guess I'm just glad that she has some type of companionship right now, even if it's a loud baby pig that she has to mother and nudge away from her favorite snacks.
Advice/comments/concerns would be appreciated. This is my first time overseeing a mourning period like this with them and I just want to make sure that I'm doing what I need to do. Thank you.
ISO Advice -- What to Do After the Death of a Pig?
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Lynx
- Resist!!!
First, let me say I am very sorry you lost Clementine. She sounds like she was a great little guinea pig.
I don't know what the peeing might signify.
It is normal to have the remaining pigs change their relationship to each other. You might want to shake up the cage a bit (I think of a "fleece forest" hanging down to run through, hide in, and break up the visuals for the cage). If you have a small stuffed animal you could put in there, it might add a new dimension and perhaps even some comfort? for the time being.
I don't know what the peeing might signify.
It is normal to have the remaining pigs change their relationship to each other. You might want to shake up the cage a bit (I think of a "fleece forest" hanging down to run through, hide in, and break up the visuals for the cage). If you have a small stuffed animal you could put in there, it might add a new dimension and perhaps even some comfort? for the time being.
I have a unique perspective on the loss of a guinea pig, as I've lost 19 of them since 2019. I've always kept up to a dozen of them at any given time until my age and disabilities caught up with me, which is why that number is so high. Let me start off by saying that im terribly sorry for your loss.
My first loss was Scruffy and it hit me like a ton of bricks. My guinea pigs helped me cope with a major life change. I retired from the military after being around it for my whole life of 51 years at the time. Turns out I make a lousy civilian. I'm down to just 5 now and feeding them, taking care of them and holding them still helps me cope to this day. I can't imagine not having them. Each loss hit me differently, but just as hard as Scruffy.
My advice is to do whatever helps you deal with the loss. Nothing you do is silly or over the top if it helps ease your sorrow and helps you move forward from the loss. Everyone deals with the grief differently and in their own way. Some folks put up benches with their name plates on them. Some plant wildflowers, and some don't do anything like that. I have 2 walls with shelves full of urns with ashes in them and pictures above each with a haiku that I wrote for each one.
One other consideration is whether or not you choose to get another guinea pig or not. To each their own. There’s no shame in not having guinea pigs after loosing one, and you must not feel like you're trying to "replace" the lost one. The most important thing is to take care of yourself physically mentally and emotionally and do what you feel is necessary to grieve. You're still needed for your family and remaining pets. All my best to you and yours.
My first loss was Scruffy and it hit me like a ton of bricks. My guinea pigs helped me cope with a major life change. I retired from the military after being around it for my whole life of 51 years at the time. Turns out I make a lousy civilian. I'm down to just 5 now and feeding them, taking care of them and holding them still helps me cope to this day. I can't imagine not having them. Each loss hit me differently, but just as hard as Scruffy.
My advice is to do whatever helps you deal with the loss. Nothing you do is silly or over the top if it helps ease your sorrow and helps you move forward from the loss. Everyone deals with the grief differently and in their own way. Some folks put up benches with their name plates on them. Some plant wildflowers, and some don't do anything like that. I have 2 walls with shelves full of urns with ashes in them and pictures above each with a haiku that I wrote for each one.
One other consideration is whether or not you choose to get another guinea pig or not. To each their own. There’s no shame in not having guinea pigs after loosing one, and you must not feel like you're trying to "replace" the lost one. The most important thing is to take care of yourself physically mentally and emotionally and do what you feel is necessary to grieve. You're still needed for your family and remaining pets. All my best to you and yours.
I'm in the same position of having lost a pig recently from what was a three-piggie herd. In fact, I've been in this situation twice in the last two years.
On a positive note, at least you still have two piggies remaining. They still have each other for company. That's hugely important.
The cage will be quieter for a while for the simple fact that you've lost 1/3 of the herd. And your two remaining piggies will be discombobulated by the change in the herd pecking order. But guinea pigs are survival-focused and they will adjust, perhaps faster than their humans adjust.
The question for you going forward is whether you want to add a third piggie back into the mix. It took a while for us to find a candidate that bonded with the first two. Guinea pig social dynamics can be unpredictable. If you have a local rescue I'd recommend reaching out to them for help and potentially bonding a suitable piggie.
On a positive note, at least you still have two piggies remaining. They still have each other for company. That's hugely important.
The cage will be quieter for a while for the simple fact that you've lost 1/3 of the herd. And your two remaining piggies will be discombobulated by the change in the herd pecking order. But guinea pigs are survival-focused and they will adjust, perhaps faster than their humans adjust.
The question for you going forward is whether you want to add a third piggie back into the mix. It took a while for us to find a candidate that bonded with the first two. Guinea pig social dynamics can be unpredictable. If you have a local rescue I'd recommend reaching out to them for help and potentially bonding a suitable piggie.
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