What guinea pigs die from at home: signs and causes of sudden death

Guinea pigs delight their owners with their responsive nature and touching affection all their lives. Unfortunately, funny pets do not live very long by human standards, about 5-8 years. Why do guinea pigs die at home? The cause of early death of animals can be:

• care errors;
• neglected infectious and non-communicable diseases;
• fluffy pets at the age of 9-10 years old die of old age.

Before you start trusting animals, it is recommended to study the norms of feeding and keeping unpretentious rodents, the banal treat of an animal with prohibited foods or careless handling can kill a pet.

What Can a Guinea Pig Die From?

Very rarely, cute rodents live to their advanced age, which in guinea pigs is 9-10 years. In older animals, natural aging of the body occurs, as a result of which the animal dies from chronic pathologies. Most often, the death of guinea pigs occurs at the age of 5-6 years, the causes of death of fluffy pets at home are:

• oncological diseases;
• old age;
• congenital malformations;
• injuries from falling from a great height and fights with relatives;
• infectious diseases: enteritis, pseudotuberculosis;
• salmonellosis, parasites, fungal infections;
• non-communicable diseases: bloating, diarrhea, and pneumonia;
• violation of conditions of detention;
• toxicosis in late pregnancy;
• pathological pregnancy and childbirth;
• eye and dental pathologies;
• heatstroke;
• stress from fear or longing;
• operations;
• poisoning;
• entry of a foreign body into the respiratory tract;
• stroke.

By the age of 5, most individuals show signs of aging: pathologies of the eyes and joints, the formation of tumors of a benign and malignant nature, furry animals lose the ability to actively move and feed on their own.

With a comfortable content and timely treatment of diseases, some guinea pigs remain energetic and cheerful until death, live up to the age of 10 years and, falling asleep with their eyes open, calmly die in their sleep.

How do guinea pigs die?

Healthy guinea pigs are distinguished by their cheerfulness, active reaction to treats, the shiny eyes of fluffy pets are wide open, the friendly animal is always ready to play with its beloved owner. You can understand that a guinea pig is dying by the characteristic signs of death:

• the eyes are dull, there is clouding of the cornea;
• violation of coordination of movement, the guinea pig is lame, it is difficult to move around the cage, often falls on its side;
• there is a complete or partial refusal of food, water and favorite treats;
• the pet often sits in a hunched position, lies on its side or back;
• breathing is frequent, superficial, heavy, sometimes with wheezing;
• the animal is oppressed, does not respond to the owner, tries to hide in the far corner of the cage;
• involuntary urination and bowel movements may occur, the genitals are contaminated;
• guinea pig sleeps often and for a long time;
• there is fragility and hair loss, the formation of alopecia;
• numerous large neoplasms form under the skin;
• there is a thickening of the joints of the limbs and fingers.

How to help a dying guinea pig

Unfortunately, it is impossible to cure an elderly pet of old age; in the last days of a beloved friend’s life, it is recommended to create decent conditions for the animal:

• feed an elderly animal with soft cereals, juicy fruits, cereals, puree food;
• make sure that a weak animal can independently get to the drinker and feeder, you can feed and water the guinea pig from an insulin syringe without a needle;
• it is recommended to remove floors, stairs, houses from the cage, hang a soft hammock as low as possible and plant an elderly animal in it;
• after meals and twice a day, it is necessary to wash the muzzle and genitals of a fluffy pet with a damp swab dipped in warm boiled water;
• place your favorite soft toy in the cage;
• try to often pick up a beloved rodent, speak affectionate words and stroke the animal, the old guinea pig needs human love and care more than ever.

If a young guinea pig dies, a veterinarian should be called to the house immediately. Providing first aid before the arrival of a specialist can save the life of a pet with the following pathologies.

Foreign body entry into the respiratory tract

It manifests itself with characteristic symptoms:

• guinea pig suffocates;
• gasps for air;
• there is an urge to vomit;
• oppression.

In such a situation, it is necessary to abruptly lower the pet upside down or independently along the esophagus to try to push the stuck piece, after removing the attack, you can drink the fluffy animal with water from an insulin syringe or treat it with a piece of solid vegetable.

Allergy

Anaphylactic shock is manifested by swelling of the larynx, in which the guinea pig falls on its side and suffocates. First aid is to drink a double dosage of liquid antihistamines for children.

Bloating

With swelling of the stomach or intestines, the oppressed pet refuses to eat, lies on its side, the stomach is greatly enlarged. To save the guinea pig, it is necessary to give liquid carminatives and massage the abdomen.

Heatstroke

An increase in the air temperature in the room above +22, dry hot air can cause the death of a beloved animal. Overheating of the body of a guinea pig is manifested:

• severe lethargy;
• salivation;
• refusal of food;
• loss of coordination;
• an increase in body temperature.

Emergency assistance consists in wetting the head, ears and limbs with water, subcutaneous injections of Prednisolone and Sulfacamphocaine at a dosage of 0,1 ml.

Intoxication

Animal poisoning is evidenced by:

• urge to vomit;
• diarrhea mixed with blood;
• salivation;
• loss of coordination convulsions;
• oppression.

The pet needs urgent gastric lavage with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, followed by drinking a decoction of oak bark or rice.

Pneumonia

Respiratory pathology is manifested by depression, refusal to feed, coughing, wheezing and whistling, difficulty breathing. To alleviate the attack, before the arrival of the veterinarian, it is necessary to give injections of Prednisolone and Eufillin to your beloved pet, to provide fresh air to the room.

If the guinea pig refuses to eat, becomes lethargic and inactive, it is urgent to show the pet to the veterinarian.

A timely appeal to a specialist and the appointment of effective treatment can prolong the life of your beloved animal.

How to euthanize a guinea pig at home

In conditions that are incompatible with life, it is sometimes more reasonable to carry out the procedure for euthanizing guinea pigs by a specialist at home or in a veterinary clinic. It is highly not recommended to euthanize an animal by barbaric methods on your own, this is no longer a humane step aimed at ridding your beloved pet of torment, but a cynical murder of a fluffy rodent.

The indications for euthanasia are:

• weakness of the animal;
• incurable pathologies and injuries in which the guinea pig cannot fully live;
• severe pain and neurological disorders.

An animal should be diagnosed by a qualified veterinarian.

Humane euthanasia of guinea pigs is based on the use of drugs that disable pain sensitivity. Thanks to this, the death of a fluffy pet is absolutely painless in a dream. The owner needs to find out which veterinary services provide the service of euthanizing animals, and how much it costs to euthanize a guinea pig.

It is most convenient to carry out the euthanasia procedure at home so as not to expose an elderly or terminally ill pet to the additional stress of transporting to a veterinary clinic. Specialists are most often ready to go home at any time convenient for the owner.

The cost of euthanasia in a clinic or at home is about 1 rubles.

To put the guinea pig to sleep, the specialist uses light anesthesia, after which you can say goodbye to your beloved friend. The second injection is a drug that disables the activity of the heart or respiratory organs. The veterinarian, 5 minutes after the procedure, ascertains the fact of the clinical death of the pet and offers clinic services for cremation of the animal’s body. The owner can bury the corpse of the pet on their own.

What to do if a guinea pig dies

If the guinea pig lies on its back or on its side with open eyes, does not respond to the owner and external stimuli, then the beloved pet has died. A dead guinea pig is a very difficult and sad sight for all family members. Especially for young children, who need to explain in advance why pets die, and try to keep in the memory of the household the bright memories of a furry friend. If other animals or guinea pigs were kept in the apartment, it is necessary to let them sniff the body of the deceased animal. Pets will accept the death of a friend and not yearn for him.

How to bury a guinea pig

The burial of the bodies of domestic animals within the boundaries of settlements, in the territory of parks and squares is strictly prohibited in order to avoid infection of the soil and groundwater. The owner of a dead guinea pig can independently and with family members carry out the procedure for burying the body of a fluffy rodent outside the city by placing the corpse in an impromptu coffin.

Veterinary clinics are engaged in the cremation of the bodies of pets, the fact of the procedure is confirmed by a disk with a video recording of the service provided. This option is considered safe and can be carried out at any time of the year, unlike burial in the ground.

How to Cope with the Loss of a Guinea Pig

An affectionate pet during its short life becomes a beloved friend of the whole family or a real outlet for a lonely person, so it is quite difficult to survive the death of a guinea pig not only for children, but also for adults.

After the death of a funny animal, you should not reproach yourself and the doctors, look for the causes of death, this animal cannot be returned. It is necessary to reassure the children that their little friend lived a worthy happy life. It is possible for the whole family:

• make a photo album with moments from the life of an affectionate pet;
• hang a photo portrait of an animal on the wall;
• plant a tree or perennial flowers in memory of the guinea pig.

It is advisable to often remember with a kind word the funny tricks of a family pet, tell friends stories from the life of a baby. Until the pain of loss subsides, tears dry at the memory of a small animal, you should not start a new animal.

It is very important to love and pamper friendly guinea pigs, try to often stroke wonderful babies on the forehead and behind the ears, treat them with treats and speak affectionate words. Funny rodents selflessly love their owners all their lives and forever remain a bright spot in human memory.