My first and oldest guinea pig died yesterday. <: ( His name was Pong-Pong. It’s chinese for “fluffy”. I’ve had him for about 4 years. He was the most resilient of the guinea pigs I’ve had, who didn’t survive for long. He’s kind of an anti-social piggie who doesn’t like to be touched and is kind of neurotic…but that’s what make him unique! He had this sole swatch of white hair that grew out long and draped over his face, kind of like Elvis. He always made wheeking sounds when he wanted food. His favorites were apples and kale.

Lately, he became even more grumpy and noisy, and his once beautiful hair became course and was falling out. Yesterday, I found him on his side, flailing his legs around. I thought he was having a seizure, and it might have started out as one, but he just couldn’t get back up even when I propped him up. He would just fall back over on his side and freak out, scurrying his little legs and screeching in fear. I hand-fed him his water bottle and he eagerly drank it as if he hadn’t in a long time, but he couldn’t just lay there and drink, he insisted on frantically moving his legs and arching his back while he drank. I couldn’t make him stop trying to get back up. He was such a trooper. I knew there was nothing I could do so I picked him up in a blanket while he protested in pain and drove him to urgent animal care <: (. I could hear Pong-Pong screeching because the doctor picked him up to examine him. He doesn’t like to be touched! The doctor said that he was in pretty bad shape and so I had to let him go. I didn’t want to be there while the doctor gave him his shot. I hope you slept peacefully, Pong-Pong.