RIP, Noah

[pacificpikachu]

I woke up this morning and started taking care of the pets this morning, and as I approached the guinea pig cage I could tell something was wrong.

I found Noah, the white guinea pig, dead, eyes still open (but glazed over), stretched out. She seemed perfectly healthy last night, which makes me even more concerned. I suspect she may have died like her mother did--of something going wrong in her intestines. When I talked to my aunt (who is a vet) as her mother Winry was dying suddenly about a year ago, she said there wasn't a lot you could do. :( Sheska (her aunt) and Hawkeye (her sister) seem completely and totally fine. I'll be keeping an eye on them just in case, though.

Anyway, rest in peace, Noah. I wish I could have done something to save you.

Comments

[astralvulpes.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry to hear that..

Sometimes, it just seems like there really isn't a whole lot you can do for small animals. I've had things like this happen to me before, too. *hugs*

[pacificpikachu.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It's always sad losing a pet, especially unexpectedly and one you've known since the day they were born. :/

But I definitely agree--small animals tend to die without much warning, and even if they do give you warning it's often too late. They're fragile and difficult to treat. I am thankful that she had a happy life for the few years she lived, though.

[astralvulpes.livejournal.com]

That is the important thing, definitely.

It's hard not to blame yourself though, sometimes - I felt this way when one of my chinchillas died suddenly. I just had that kind of 'deer caught in headlights,' of 'what did I do wrong?'

[pacificpikachu.livejournal.com]

Yes--even though I suspect it wasn't my fault at all, I still can't help but wonder, is their diet okay? Are they getting enough exercise? Should I clean the cage more than I do? And so on.

I think it was just one of those things that just happens, though. :/ It's possible there was a genetic predisposition to it as well. Like I said, her mother died unexpectedly like this too.