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Abdominal mass

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Lady Kelly

Lady Kelly

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Poor Buddy it's one thing after another for him. Shortly before I went on holiday he was at the vets with a suspected UTI. The vet could feel a small lump in his abdomen which disappeared when Buddy pee'd on his table so we assumed it was a full bladder. After a course of antibiotics and a check up at the vets just days before I went on holiday he was doing much better and had gained weight again.

Now the boy has been no different to his normal self, still eating, pooping, being nosey and generally coming over to chat to you when you come in the room. Last night I got him out for some lap time and was shocked as all of a sudden he felt so skinny and there was a huge hard lump in his abdomen. I was on the phone to the vets as soon as they opened this morning and he's been in for an appointment. He has lost weight over the last week and the lump is almost the size of a golf ball... out of nowhere! It seriously wasn't there during last lap time the Sunday before Xmas :{

So now we have to go back to the vets tomorrow for him to have an ultrasound and x-ray. The vets don't put piggies under GA for it which made me feel a touch better as he didn't do well after the GA from neutering. I'm just hoping... well praying really... that its something the vet can deal with. I've only had Buddy in my life for just over a year but he's certainly a very special boy with a hilarious personality :...
 
aww poor buddy, he really has it hard doesnt he. Fingers and paws crossed here thats its nothing nasty hon x
 
Oh no Kelly, fingers crossed it is nothing sinister. Lots of love to Buddy and you. X x
 
I hope very much whatever it is it will be easily treatable and Buddy will come through it all right as rain.
 
piggyfan said:
How did you get on at the vets?
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The scans gave no further info other than the mass has tissue and either fluid or gas in it. Could be enlarged bladder, could be something else. I have an appointment in a short while to discuss options as it would appear the only thing they can do now is open him up for a look. He didn't take GA well when he was neutered so I want honesty from the vet of likely outcome before I put him through that
 
Lady Kelly said:
The scans gave no further info other than the mass has tissue and either fluid or gas in it. Could be enlarged bladder, could be something else. I have an appointment in a short while to discuss options as it would appear the only thing they can do now is open him up for a look. He didn't take GA well when he was neutered so I want honesty from the vet of likely outcome before I put him through that
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Simon Maddock has access once a month to a CT scanner. Maybe that would be worth considering. xx
 
Really sorry to read this, Lots of love to you and Buddy x x
 
Basically we have agreed after looking at the ultrasounds and the X-rays that the best action is to refer him to another local vet for a scan and a second exotics opinion as Paula is a small animals specialist and very up on her guinea pigs but realises that the operation would be so invasive and he didn't take the GA from neutering well at all. I think after this next scan I am going to need to make a very difficult decision
 
Lady Kelly said:
Basically we have agreed after looking at the ultrasounds and the X-rays that the best action is to refer him to another local vet for a scan and a second exotics opinion as Paula is a small animals specialist and very up on her guinea pigs but realises that the operation would be so invasive and he didn't take the GA from neutering well at all. I think after this next scan I am going to need to make a very difficult decision
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Oh dear, I hope this comes out well. Hugs to you and Buddy.
 
Just an update, my vet took my file home as she couldn't get hold of the specialist yesterday. She phoned today saying the referral was done so I left work early, picked up Buddy's x-rays and off we went to Chine House. They are amazing there and have kept Buddy in overnight as the plan is to operate tomorrow. Hoping it is an abscess which is easy to remove but if not... and if the prognosis is not good I will get a call during surgery to make a difficult decision. So please keep your fingers crossed and send my little Bud positive vibes tonight and tomorrow. I am already feeling sick with worry :(
 
All my thoughts are with you. You must be so worried. Pm me any time you need to talk.x
 
Will be thinking of you and Buddy today x
 
Well what a day, I had the worst nights sleep ever and have been feeling nauseous from the worry. But all is well, Buddy did well during the op and they actually found two abscesses... one being just smaller than a tennis ball ?/ how on earth he managed to conceal that for so long is anyone's guess! He had a much much smaller one which was unfortunately attached to his bowel so he has had a bit of his bowel removed too. The vet was pleased as they got all the infected tissue out, he kept his breathing and heart rate stable throughout, and they did swabs to check for bacteria in case he needs antibiotics to stop a fresh abscess starting. Basically he has a very, very good chance of survival as long as he comes round and starts eating phew!

Thank you to everyone for your amazing support, on here, my friends, my boyfriend, my work colleagues and my family have been asking after Buddy constantly and its touching.

I just can't stress enough the importance of thorough health checks on a regular basis for your piggies. Buddy only lost weight this past week, whether thats because the abscess was taking over at the same rate as weight loss I have no idea. He seemed fine in himself, weeing and pooing normally. Eating and drinking normally. Its only the past week that I have noticed him eating slightly less and hiding away a bit (he rarely hides away normally). As soon as I found the lump he was at the vets the next day and within the space of a week he has had tests, a referral to a specialist and an operation. I'm just glad I did get to him in time as any longer and he may have been too weak to get through it (saying that I do know he isn't out of the woods yet). If you notice anything different about your piggy that concerns you in any way then take them to the vet please, I would hate for anyone else to have to go through this.
 
Thanks for the update Kelly, wishing Buddy a speedy recovery. Lots of love to you both from us and the girls x
 
Thank you for all your support, unfortunately it was too much for Buddy and he stopped breathing this evening. They tried to resuscitate him but it was his time to go. RIP Bud
 
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