Anyone want to help me with post mortem for beginners on the chuffing guinea pig we are 'looking after' (oh soooo well)

[newlifenewname]

Day before family of ds's friend is going away we are casually asked if we'd mind looking after the two guinea pigs with "no personality" (as they were described to me) for a week. Although dog sitting and owner of two rabbits and 3 chickens I say yes and father turns up next afternoon with hutch and two fat guinea pigs.

Turns out that their nails are so long they have begun to curl in a spiral so I suggest that I'll take them for a few extra days and take them to a lady I know who does this very cheaply and donates proceeds to charity. So, I phone her today and book them in for tomorrow. Just been out to feed them their tea (not like they really need it they are like a couple of heifers) and change their water and find that the big fat brown one is lying rigour mortis in the bed compartment.

He has a big (huge) lump of crap hanging out of his bum hole and it is equivalent to a human having a football size lump of poo hanging from their backside. Is this normal when you die or is COD (Hi cod, never thought of you like that before ) likely to be constipation?

I feel I need a suitable explanation for owners who will probably be secretly glad that there is now one less personality-free guinea pig to care for.

Poor little thing.

Wtf do I have to have this happen to me?

[NutterlyUts]

Ask their vet?

[MatNanPlus]

can you text the family.

I know that bodily functions can 'let go' TOD.

To be honest don't see wha tmore you can do but photograph the poor critter.


The only other thing is the family may reply asking you to take it to the vets for a formal PM.

[Slubberdegullion]

I am very very sorry for your loss.

however, PMSL.

sorry again.

COD could be anything, bowel motion often occurs in the immediate period following demise. Poor thing to be so constipated.

Best to think that it was having a lovely dreamy dream about [insert guinea pig fantasy] and had a massive heart attack.

[MatNanPlus]

they sound neglected, we used to do our gp's with nail clippers.

[Slubberdegullion]

( also lol at cheap clipping lady donating guinea pig toe nails to charity)

[newlifenewname]

God! I'd like to get a post mortem and waft it under nose of owner as explanation of my desire to find a nicer home for them.

My rabbit died when I was little and the neighbours were looking after it for us. They must have felt sh*t because I know I do.

Dread dread telling owners.

[Slubberdegullion]

tbh newlife if they let the toe nails get in such a state and they refer to them as no personality GP's then it doesn't sound like they'll be dreadfully upset at the news.

[newlifenewname]

I know but how do you handle this when owners are possibly slightly oblivious to neglect? You see, when I said "er, I'm not sure if you realised but your guinea pigs' toenails are rather long" they said "oh yeah, the fat brown one's are worst aren't they?" No comment regarding getting it sorted at all.

[newlifenewname]

I wanted to take them in as soon as I saw them...put them on a diet and give them a nice run in our garden and some vegetables and the benefit of knowing the difference between hay and straw ! But, I can't - I don't have time to clean more animlas out I really don't

[mummyhill]

Watch the other one, I had two one died and the other wine pined for it and wasted away. Although if it is that fat I don't suppose it will hurt for it lose a little weight. If the owners let their nails get in such a state they obviousley don't care about the poor critters and deserve to be shot.

[MatNanPlus]

love the suggestion RubyRioja re the freezer.

It really doesn't sound like they are 'cared for' or loved.

[LIZS]

Perhaps the strain of passing that brought on a heart attck poor gp

[LadyVictoriaOfCake]

poor GP

mine need their nails clipping but are NOWHERE near the state that you have described.

did they have hay to munch? and lots of vit c, or just standard dry food?

[newlifenewname]

Took the guinea pigs to guinea expert today. She said it was constipation that seems to have killed the brown one and she said the other one was overweight and claws ridiculous.

So...he is all trimmed, dieting and, er..........................home with me and his new baby friend 'Banana'! Oopsie!

[LadyVictoriaOfCake]

lol. you got your own one then

[MatNanPlus]

Oh newlifenewname can we have photo's please and how old is 'banana' a unique gp name may i say and what is the lucky rescuee being named??

[mummyhill]

Well done for getting the gp sorted and finding it a friend. It's sad hat the other one died because they didn't feed the poor animals properly. What are you going to tell the owners?

[newlifenewname]

I've told the owners who were concerned their son might be upset but they then reported that "he doesn't seem to be". They offered me a tenner for my trouble which I refused and asked me if I'd given it greens while they were away (like it's my fault in the space of a few days ) and I said I had, blah, blah, and told them he was probably in pain from nails AND constipation which is very sad. Suggested rehoming remaining GP and they were pretty keen so here we are.

I'll take photos of Banana later. He is only a few weeks old and when we were there we saw another baby GP being born

[mummyhill]

Why do this kind of people take on pets if they are not prepared to take care of them properly? Glad the GP is being rehomed, I don't think it would of had a very happy or long life if it had gone back to them.