Guinea pigs are very sweet and pleasant pets, that’s why we, the owners, love them very much and it’s really hard for us when they die.
When the guinea pigs die we have to bury because they will start to smell very unpleasant.
How long It takes for a dead guinea pig to start to smell?
When guinea pigs die, it will take 2-3 days before they start to smell bad. But it can happen that when the guinea pig dies, it starts to smell even earlier, that is, even after 24 hours, which depends on where and how you keep it when it dies.
In today’s article, you will find out when dead guinea pigs start to smell and similar related questions.
How long It takes for a dead guinea pig to start to smell?
Guinea pigs will begin to emit an unpleasant smell no later than 3 days after their death. However, it depends on how quickly his body starts to break down.
The temperature of the room where you keep the dead body of hamsters affects the time it takes for their dead body to decompose.
If the guinea pig dies during the summer period then due to the higher temperature the decomposition process will start faster and it may start to smell after 24 hours.
In the winter period, due to the lower temperatures, bad smell can start even after 2-3 days after the death of the guinea pig.
In any case, when your pet dies, no matter how sad it is, you should react quickly and think about what you will do with his dead body, whether you will bury him or cremate him.
How to reduce the unpleasant smell of a dead guinea pig?
Sometimes when a guinea pig dies you may need more time to think about what to do, whether to bury or cremate it.
During that period, if 2-3 days pass and you still haven’t decided what to do, the guinea pig will start emitting an unpleasant smell.
To reduce the unpleasant smell from the body of a dead guinea pig, you can use some of the following ingredients:
- baking soda
- lemon juice
- dishwashing soap
These ingredients in combination or alone can help reduce the unpleasant odor by cleaning the dead guinea pig’s body and the bad smell will decrease.
But this is only a temporary solution because the process of decomposition and spread of the unpleasant smell cannot be completely prevented.
Another way to prevent a dead guinea pig from smelling is to put it in an airtight box and put it in the freezer, at least until you decide what to do with the dead body.
Does humidity affect the smell of a dead guinea pig?
The humidity of the air in the room affects the smell of the dead guinea pig.
If the air humidity is higher then the bacteria will develop faster and the unpleasant smell from the dead guinea pig will start faster.
If the air humidity is lower it will slow down the decomposition process of the dead guinea pig’s body and it will take longer for it to start smelling bad.
But in any case, the unpleasant smell will start to be felt even in dry humidity, but at a slower pace.
How long should I leave my dead guinea pig in the cage?
When a guinea pig dies, you should remove its body within 1 or 2 hours at the latest.
Especially if you have multiple guinea pigs in the same cage it is not recommended to leave the dead guinea pig with them for a long time.
Then when you take out the dead guinea pig you have to decide whether to bury it or cremate it, in any case you have to react quickly.
How do you dispose of a dead guinea pig?
When the sad moment comes and the guinea pig dies, you have to think about what you will do with its body.
There are several ways to dispose of the dead body:
- funeral
- cremation
- trash can
So let’s read together about all these ways and how to properly dispose of the dead body of a guinea pig.
Burial of a dead guinea pig
When guinea pigs die, you can bury them either in your backyard or at a local pet cemetery.
If you have a yard on your property, you can bury the guinea pig’s body, but first you’ll need to check if it’s allowed under the law in your state.
You can bury it by wrapping it in a cloth and placing it in a tin box and sealing it tightly.
Burying the body of a dead guinea pig in your backyard will not cost you as much as burying it in a pet cemetery.
If you have already decided to bury him in a local pet cemetery, you will need to buy a plot and this method of burial can be a more expensive option.
Read more: Do Guinea Pigs Pretend To Be Dead? Let’s Discover
Cremation of the dead body of guinea pigs
Cremation of the dead body of the guinea pig is another option to get rid of them, but this option is also the most expensive.
However, many owners opt for cremation of their pet’s body because cremation is an easy way to dispose of the dead body.
When the cremation is over, the guinea pig’s ashes will be placed in an urn and you can do whatever you want with them.
Some guinea pig owners choose to keep it in their home, while others put it in their garden or simply sprinkle it in a certain place.
Read more: How To Get Rid of A Dead Guinea Pig? Let’s Find Out
Throwing the body of a dead guinea pig into a trash can
You can throw the guinea pig’s body in the trash, but first you will need to find out if this is allowed in your country.
Small pets like guinea pigs are usually allowed to get rid of the dead body in this way, but check first if it is allowed.
If allowed, then wrap the guinea pig in a towel and put it in a garbage bag and close it tightly, then you can throw the body in a trash can.
This is the easiest way to dispose of the dead body of the guinea pigs, although it is a bit sad to say goodbye to your pet in this way.
FAQs
How long after a guinea pig dies does it go stiff?
When a guinea pig dies, rigor mortis occurs immediately, that is, after 10 minutes or at the latest three hours after death. The stiffness of the guinea pig’s body depends on the temperature in the room where its body will be.
Why did my guinea pig die overnight?
When guinea pigs die overnight without any previous problems, the most common cause is a heart attack or stroke. Stress and changes in temperature in its environment cause it to die suddenly without warning.
How long do guinea pigs live after one dies?
It depends on each guinea pig, it is individual, some will more easily cope with the death of their friend, while some may die of regret in a few weeks or months. In order to prevent the death of another guinea pig, you should take care of him as much as possible. to get over his grief for his friend.
Conclusion
When the guinea pigs die, in 2-3 days they will start to smell very unpleasant due to the decomposition of their body.
Sometimes the bad smell will start to be felt within 24 hours especially if the guinea pig died in the summer period.
After the death of the guinea pig, you need to quickly decide what you will do with their body, whether you will bury or cremate it, or throw it in a trash can.
In any case, a sad moment for all guinea pig owners is when they have to get rid of their pet’s body, but unfortunately you have to be ready no matter how difficult it will be.
Read more: How to Check if a Guinea Pig is Dead? (Find Out Now)
