My guinea pig died unexpectedly - hard not to blame myself

[oreo2020]

Had 2 guinea pigs, sisters, 5 years old.
One was tiny and lost some fur lately (diagnosed with ovary cysts) but otherwise happy. The other was sturdy, looked healthy and ate for two!

All of a sudden noticed the sturdy one cannot move this morning and breathing heavily and felt kind of lumpy all over. Called vet & got appointment for 2 hours later. Tried giving water with syringe - she took none. 10 mins later, she was gone

I am trying to look back - yesterday I thought the smell of the cage was a bit heavy (pee stink) but as I just cleaned it a couple of days back I thought that's a bit strange, but ok I will clean as soon as I can.

Other than that she was always the happy one, eating, moving about - although I cannot identify if she was well yesterday- the days blurred into one.

Anything I could have done? Anything I missed? Is that a normal passing after 5 years? No change in diet or circumstances... just hard not to blame myself that perhaps I didn't spot something on time.

Oh bless you OP

I grew up with guinea pigs; we always had at least two or three from when I was tiny until I left home, and in my experience once they take a turn for worse there’s usually not much that can be done for them.

If you can, take some comfort from the fact she obviously didn’t suffer for long, and from the sounds of it had a long and contented life (by piggie standards). You’re a good and conscientious owner.

Aww it's so hard. I understand my cat died suddenly at home and I was really worried I'd done something I went back over everything I'd done. These things just happen sometimes especially with little animals. At least you were there comforting her. It's not your fault.

Sending love

Don't blame yourself piggies are notoriously good at hiding being ill. We've had them for years and twice woke up to one just gone in the night after appearing fine when we went to bed. I hope your other piggie is ok.

Thank you for kind words. The little sister didn't really notice - she is happily eating away.

You called the vet as soon as you saw something was wrong - there was nothing else you could have done. It was obviously her time and it sounds as though it came quickly and peacefully for her.

Oh I'm sorry. This happened to us a couple of weeks ago. Our boy seemed fine, lively and happy, then just refused to eat one day, puffed himself up into a ball and passed away that night. We are still very sad, as is his piggie friend. Sending lots of love.

I'm sorry that you lost your much loved piggy . As others have said - the little loves give you barely any notice that they are about to go over the rainbow bridge. I had 3 gps and 2 of them died very quickly and unexpectedly. I'm quite sure I never did anything wrong in my care if them. They are notorius for it.

Oh I'm sorry. They do tend to go downhill very quickly & often by the time we notice something's wrong it's too late. Don't blame yourself, you made her an appointment at the vets & fully intended to do all right things. There really was nothing else you could have done.
We lost our last one a few months ago, she went from absolutely fine to being off her food. The vet found a tumour where I hadn't been able to feel anything. She was put down as they very often don't survive surgery & she was 6 which is really getting on for a piggy.
It sounds like your girl had a lovely life, you sound like a lovely owner.

Guinea pigs are prey animals and they hide if they're unwell until they can't possibly hide it by which point they're often too far gone to save. I doubt you could have done anything and blaming yourself isn't going to change anything except for making you feel shit about yourself when you should be keeping those happy memories associated with your piggie.

Last year we had a rescue piggy for 3 weeks before she died .

I blamed myself for a while but I've come to realise that when she was at the stage where she could be cured, she wasn't showing symptoms. By the time we realised she was simply beyond help.

Don't blame yourself x