sad month
This month has been a tough one for us when it comes to pets.... actually, it seems since I moved into this house it has been a bad couple of months for pets...but anyway.. December alone has been especially tough. Sweet Pea died in October, our iguana went missing in November, and in December our guinea pigs have been dying off like flies. We had adult guinea pigs, Cuddles, Paige, Piper, and Tru, as well as a litter of babies from Paige and a litter of babies from Piper. All of Paige's babies made it to new homes before pnuemonia hit the pigs. Piper had four babies though, and 3 did not make it. Then the adults began dying, despite all our efforts to save them. First Tru a couple days ago, then both Paige and Piper died last night. Piper's one surviving baby looks like he might make it, and Cuddles, the oldest of the bunch at about 6 years old, never got sick. My point to posting all of this is because we believe their immune systems were weakened because the food had lost vitamin potency. Many vitamins have a short shelf life, and buying pet food in bulk means it will sit around longer, losing nutritional value by the day. We gave them vitamin supplements in their water as well, and although the expiry date on the bottle says 2007, vitamin c, the most vital vitamin for guinea pigs (both guinea pigs and humans needs abundant supplies of vitamin c like no other mammals) only has a six month shelf life at most. So, I will never buy pet food in bulk again. It was a hard lesson for all of us. A mistake I will not make again. |
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| So sorry for your many many losses, WillowSprite. I wouldn't blame yourself or your food for all of this, a lot could do with the move and that stress or a combination of things. We can never know why things like this happen. Perhaps the dogs broguht something in, too.
Just know that you're loved by your family and remaining pets, and by a whole bunch o people here at the forum. |
| IM so sorry Willow.those little pigs are so darn cute arent they?Thank you so much for posting such a sad story,but you might have just prevented Samanthas bunny dying due to the same thing.I have never thought about self life of food w/ vitamins,for we usually buy her bunny food in bulk,like you we put vitamins in the water and food. Again im so sorry you ahve dealt w/ so much sadness in your family,but also I give you a HUGE Thank you hun,for posting this...... ~smooch~ I hope you feel better soon... |
| I'm so sorry! This is a horrible time of year to lose a person or a pet! My prayers go out to you! |
| Stacey, I am so sorry for your losses. How heartbreaking, especially since I know what a great mom you are to your furry and non furry kids.
Are you sure that it was the food? My sister had a guinea pig that she was feeding Hamster food too...we were babysitting the guinea pig last Christmas and I went to the pet store to get new food as the food she gave me had peanuts in it and I have a daughter with peanut allergies. Well at the store, I talked to one of the clerks and I realized that they had been feeding the WRONG food and the guinea pig had been eating the wrong food for 2 years! The clerk said the Hamster food had no vitamin c in it. So this guy was getting no vitamin C, I have no idea how he survived. When I switched the food he loved it and I also gave him fresh veggies that the store suggested. He was quite happy here. When my sister got home, he would not eat the veggies that he had become used to at my house, and they put him back on the hamster food because it was cheaper. He is still thriving, albeit not at my sister's house anymore. |
| I don't think it was the food that killed them, but I think they got pneumonia, and wouldn't have had weakened immune systems if the food had been fresher. It only takes 2 weeks of not getting enough vitamin c to kill a guinea pig so I'm shocked to hear it lived that long on hamster food!
We also feed some fresh fruit or veggie every day, but not too much as that can give them diarreah too. So far it looks like Cuddles, and the little baby are ok. Hopefully they'll stay that way. |
| Willowsprite,
My deepest sympathy in the loss of your guinnea pigs. The loss of a pet is so difficult - but I think it is extremely trying when it is during the Holiday. It's such a busy time of year and typically a time to celebrate - so we often don't give ourselves time to mourn. Please don't blame yourself - you obviously take wonderful care of your animals. Sometimes there's only so much we can do. My thoughts and prayers are with your entire family! Take care.... Kristen, Presley and Sydney |
| Thank you everyone..... |
My sister had a lot of hamsters that all seemed to die at the same time (long story as to how she got them - but the quick version is a hamster we bought as a present for my uncle gave birth before we presented him with her and my sister kept most of the babies!  ).
With each one's passing, my sister planted a small tree where they were buried in our yard. Several years later, those trees are still there - and remind me of those hamsters! I planted a Dog Wood tree in memory of Oliver (my OES that passed in 1999) and once the Spring thaw, I'll plant another one in memory of Brittney. It's a nice way of paying tribute to a life and everytime you see the plant/tree you will think of them!  Sometimes, I even talk to Oliver's Tree! 
Kristen |
| That's a wonderful memorial Kristen..... |
| Hi Willowsprite,
I so sorry about your losses of your little pets. No matter what the size or type of creature we are fortunate to share our home with - all are important and their death is hard to take. Each time it must have been so difficult for you and I'm very sorry about your loss. Thinking of you Marianne |
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