This article may have outdated information.
The HappyCavy webcams and Guinea Pig Treat Machine went offline on April 8, 2024.
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Dot the guinea pig enjoys the outdoors
THIS IS PART #3 IN A 3 PART SERIES:
PART 1: Dot’s Sudden Guinea Pig Health Crisis
PART 2: Dot Has Crossed the Rainbow Bridge
PART 3: Obituary Tribute to Dot the Guinea Pig
It’s amazing how one, small guinea pig could make such a difference in thousands of people’s lives, but, in her short life, Dot, of the HappyCavy Forever Herd, did just that.
Dot, who passed away July 30, 2014, was adopted by The Humans in July 2013. Her initial introduction to The Herd did not go well. Though repeatedly introduced to the other members – Hammy, Feebee, and Buttercup – in a controlled setting, the encounters were strained, and everyone had a difficult time getting along. Perhaps it was just that Dot was a guinea pig who preferred solitude over socialization. We’ll never know for sure, but The Humans decided to build her a separate space right next to the main cage where she could still see and hear and smell the others, and peace was restored.
The HappyCavy Herd is unique in that the pigs’ lives, from initial wakeup to lights out, is picked up by Webcams and broadcast live over the Internet, at www.HappyCavy.com, for anyone and everyone to see. With her new, separate space, the Humans installed two new Webcams – Webcam #3 followed Dot in her main living space, and Webcam #4 tracked her up in the loft.
Tuning in to the pigs becomes addicting. Thousands of people flock to the site each day to watch The Herd eat, play, and go about their daily routines. Many of these people don’t have guinea pigs of their own and so live vicariously through these four individuals. They become a comfortable part of our day, and we find ourselves “just checking in” on them throughout the day, and day after day, to be reassured that all is well.
Dot cozies up to the camera
Unfortunately, one thing the public can’t do is hold and cuddle the guinea pigs, but The Humans devised the next best thing – a treat feeder. People could now pay a small fee (most of which goes to rescue organizations) to push a button and and watch the pigs eat a small amount of pellets dispensed by the online treat machine. (Update April 2024: The treat feeder and webcams are now offline.) It forged a new connection that made our experience with them all the more precious. Dot’s treat bowl, however, was not weighted down, and she delighted in moving it away from the dispenser, so that the treats scattered randomly in the cage; you could almost see the smile on her face as she “outwitted” us again and again. And when The Humans added Velcro to the bottom to make the bowl stick? Well, Dot still found a way to move it around, looking innocent the entire time.
And towards the end of her life, Dot began to “purr” as Buttercup came near her cage, signaling that perhaps she was developing a happy connection towards the others after all.
Dot’s illness was short and relatively painless. The Humans rushed her to the vet at the first sign of trouble, but it was still too late to save her.
But we remember Dot and the fond times we had of seeing her live the life of a pampered pig. Even though she’s now passed over the Rainbow Bridge, she still has a place in all our hearts and our memories. Rest in peace, sweet girl, and know you will be missed.
More About Dot’s Condition
The Humans check their pigs daily for health problems, and they first noticed Dot’s health condition the day before she passed away. According to the vet’s examination, the most likely cause was acute lymphoma/leukemia. Dot’s quickly deteriorating motor skills also supports this conclusion.
The HappyCavy vet concluded that since Dot was only three years old, she was able to hide her cancer symptoms until the lymphoma entered her blood stream, at which point she could no longer eat or move, and she quickly passed away. The necroscopy showed that her liver was discolored, she had a 2.5cm tumor in her spleen, there was a small lymph node tumor under her chin, and there was the beginning of the growth of small tumors throughout her body.
Dot’s blood results also indicated a high white blood count and large amount of “unclassified white blood cells” – most likely cancer cells.
Check Your Guinea Pig for Signs of Illness
You can help keep your guinea pig healthy by taking the following steps:
- Palpate your guinea pig daily by feeling its body for unusual growths or signs of pain.
- Schedule regular, yearly check-ups for young guinea pigs (under 3 years) and six month check-ups for guinea pigs 4 and older.
- Weigh your guinea pig weekly to ensure proper weight gain
- Be on the look-out for common signs of illness, such as refusal to eat, refusal to drink water, cloudy or bloody urine, labored breathing, and other common signs.
And if you have any questions, consult your veterinarian for advice.
My last cavy Twilight also died of lymphoma as well. She was the best!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/wildsheepchase/129228299
Aww, thank you for sharing. Bitsy the guinea pig was our last cavy who also died of lymphoma. It’s a terrible disease 🙁
I visit your site often it is a great site. I wanted to give you my condolences on Dot, she will be missed. i often view the cams. We have 2 guineas ourselves. We are soon going to make a big cage like yours. I’m not very knowledgeable about that, but from your pictures and direction, it will hopefully come to be. 🙂
There was so much going on during this ordeal, I had missed this. Thank you for your kind words, Crystal. Best of luck on your big cage 🙂
Oh wow! I was looking through the site not too long before she passed and just came back today. I’m sorry you lost her and am sure she crossed over knowing she was very loved! I got my piggy, Teddy (an Abyssinian/Hairless cross. Mostly Abyssinian.) a few months ago and often came here to get help and see what I needed and such. I would be heart broken if I lost her and shes the first and only piggy I have had so I can only imagine how you must have felt. My the rest of the heard have long and wonderful lives.
Thank you for your well wishes, Maggie. They are so appreciated. Give your Teddy a happy nose bump from all of us here 🙂
Im just now joining the Happy Cavy group and Im sure its been sometime since Dot has passed. You have my blessings and prayers for her and her family. My daughter just passed away on Sept 18, 2014 at the age of 37. Now I know that was just around the corner but anyones passing hurts imensly, and you do miss them terribly especially our “hairy babies”. I know she is probably happy and free of pain and smiling at those who loved her. Rest in peace Dot be free now.
Thank you, Taina. And we are so sorry for the loss of your daughter. Hugs from Internet from all of us here <3
What kind of price can i expect from a check up at the vets for my 3year old pig. He lost his friend a couple of months ago but i dont know how he would react to a new piggie in his run?
So sad about the loss of Dot, I know she will be missed by lots 🙁
Hi, Sadie. Thank you for your condolences. It’s isn’t very clear, but this question is more appropriately directed to Ask HappyCavy. Please submit your inquiry there, and provide any details you can (current health condition of cavy, if sick what symptoms are you seeing, or “just a price check”). Thank you!
I have just happened upon your site as I was searching for a place to find info on Guinea Pigs. My daughter rescued 2 Guinea Pigs while she lived here with her 3 children. She then moved out and had to leave the cavies here as well as her cat. I was at a complete loss as how to care for them…dogs are the only animal I have knowledge of how to raise…there were so many things I was finding out along the way…we even considered finding a new home where the owners had knowledge of their care, but decided to take on the challenge…( maybe not the right choice). About 3 mos later my husband put Timothy hay and pellets in for the 2 of them, and woke to leave for work(abt2am)… And found Earnie had passed on. We had noticed no signs that he was ill, with maybe an exception that Bert(the remaining cavy). was gaining weight faster than Ernie. I was there to watch them eat and Earnie always ate as soon as the food was put out! bottom line is I don’t know what happened and we didn’t even know enough to take him to the vet since he had already passed on… and my husband buried him while I sat and sobbed(didn’t realize how art arched I had become). Now I’m at a complete loss as what to do…do we we leave him alone or get a cage mate for him..he seemed quite down at first, but seems to be coming around now…making noises…coming out of his igloo, and is eating and drinking…but could be drinking more. Any help would be appreciated…sorry so long just difficult to explain…ty ahead of time…
Hi, Gail. First, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. It is never easy to lose a fuzzy friend, especially when it’s sudden and not expected.
Whether you add a friend for the remaining guinea pig is up to you. But certainly they do like company! If you do decide to get a second one, here is some great information that may help. Best of luck to you, and we wish you the best in the future! 🙂
so sorry about Dot. 🙁 I miss my old guinea pigs who crossed rainbow bridge a while back now, Cookie and Peanut who somehow got out of their cage and ran away, and Trealo, my miracle little cavy who lived till and old age of 8. He will always hold a special place in my heart <3