How long did your guinea pig live for?

[Proudcarer6829]

And did they die suddenly? Or did they become ill first. We have one who's 7 years old and I know my teenage son will be absolutely devastated when she goes but I think I need to prepare him.

7 years is good going for a guinea pig. Mine are 6 and still going strong. I remind my DC every once in a while that we're lucky to still have them and how great it is that they have lived for so long.

I've had many guinea pigs and the oldest age any ever achieved was almost 9 and he was a proper old man by the end, frail and bony, but quality of life still there. They usually pass away pretty suddenly not often a protracted illness situation. Maybe read a few books that include the death of a pet and just add little comments like we'll miss guinea when he goes, let's make sure we appreciate him while we can, shall we go and give him a carrot. And just drip the idea in gently. I think when you lose something you love, it is always painful but best if it wasn't a total shock and you have no regrets.

6 and 6 and a half. 7 is good.
Rodents generally are great and then go downhill really quickly and are very good at hiding illness and pain. Be very aware of small changes.
All if mine were fine and then went downhill quickly, one developed paralysis (vet suspected tumor) one went off food and died in her sleep, one looked a little bit like she'd gained weight (was retained fluid) and then started not sleeping in her usual spot which is when I took her to the vet. She had some kind of blockage and vet advised euthenasia. All in the space of a few days.

We had 2 who were 8. Came home & one was dead & the other one was really unwell & died later that night.

The first one had grass in its mouth. Vet thinks they had a fright 😞

There's a phrase with guinea-pigs "Well-to-Dead" which sums them up , they can hide their illnesses really well and many times they'll just "go"

Only one of the pigs DD and I had was a piglet (and sadly he died young , about 18 months) the rest were adults when we got them.
Some died within hours of seeing the Vet ( Guinea-Pig Specialist )
I know with the young boar he was going to die and I wondered if we were mistaken saying we'd take him home ? But if it had been compleyely not in his interest I;m sure the Vet would've said "No we need to euthanise him, now"

Age wise , probably 5 yo (ish) difficult to be sure .
But they were pretty good right up to the last leg.
One of my sows sat apart from her cagemates , they were in their hutch , she sat on the floorspace - they were in an enclosed shed . That was the first subtle sign .

We had one die with food in his mouth , like mid chew .

And Evil Edna , who free ranged in the dining room when I was a kid . She walked across the floor and just died in the middle . My Dad found her , lieing on her side , on the carpet !

I do think the fancier breeds aren't as hardy as a good solid tubby Smooth , but I guess a lot depends on their breeding stock

It is tough on your DC when their pet dies and unfortunately with guineas there's often not a ot you can do , but accept you sometimes have to make the difficult decision.
(Then get the a-hole comments like £40 to put it to sleep ! It only cost you £10)