Are Ovarian Cysts Common?

[Dilly's Piggies]

I either have the worst luck in the world or ovarian cysts are extremely common! I have 9 female piggies, one has already been spayed and diagnosed with ovarian cysts 4 months ago, now her sister is showing the same symptoms and is going to be spayed next friday, I also have two other sows showing symptoms (one is the mother to the two sisters, so 3 are related), I knew they were common but I didn't think they were this common.

I want to know if something can 'trigger' ovarian cysts, as it seems awful to have FOUR of my beautiful babies get them. It's like a domino effect, I got one sorted out, then another gets it, and so on, within months of each other.

Two of my sows showing symptoms of ovarian cysts also have bladder problems that have been diagnosed as interstitial cystitis, I originally thought their hormonal behaviour was from pain due to flare ups, but now both sows have enlarged, crusty nipples, their 'lady parts' are constantly swollen and open, they are causing lots of problems within the herd for months now and are constantly in season. One sow does not have bladder problems so I think she is straight ovarian cysts like her sister was, this is the sow being spayed next friday.

Can ovarian cysts and bladder issues be linked? I'd really like to learn more about what could be going on with my piggies before I jump to spaying, of course one is already booked in as she is losing weight and I'm very concerned about her wellbeing, but now I'm considering having the other two spayed also, their weights are both stable for now. All 3 sows have had ultrasounds and xrays which revealed nothing, however very obvious and classic symptoms are still present.

I just want to do what's best for them and make their problems go away... They are all still young (1.4y, 1y11m & 2.4y) so would hopefully be good candidates for surgery, it's just a scary and costly decision, I don't want to jump to it if something else could be the problem...

Any help is hugely appreciated

 

[Mother Hubbard]

Out of my area to be honest, but hopefully someone else can assist you with this question, I would agree it's concerning to have that many with issues.

 

[Guineapigfeet]

Can't offer any advice I'm afraid as none of my sows have had ovanian cysts, but if three of the four affected are related, could there be a genetic component maybe?

 

[rome_italy]

do you think their diet is rich of sugars? or even flours? read the label of the pellets you are using and try to see if somwhere it is written flour/wheat/oat/molassa/starch.
In women (but studies were made on female guinea pigs!) is now official the prove that ovarian cysts are a metabolic disorder due to a wrong balance glycemia/insuline. Women are treated with Metformin which is used with diabetes. But I refused this drug with my daughter who also was diagnosed with ovarian cysts, started with her a strict diet gluten/cereals free and now her cysts and other symptoms have disappeared.
Of course there a different cysts, too. But sows develop hormonal cysts...
I have two young sows and they are following a strict diet (of course they don't care because they simply don't know certain foods...), I don't know of course if it will work (and if they are genetically prone to ovarian cysts, because of course everything goes wrong when the body is wrongly predisposed... anyway a wrong gene can do much alone if the ambient does not help it...).
When I had a talk with my vet showing the latest researches about cysts in women he was astonished and did not know anything... But he admitted that the research is very interesting and piggies should be live very far from high glycemic foods which are the main cause of inner inflammations, arthritis and other troubles.
Therefore no cereals, no starch, very few grainfree pellets (or no pellets at all), no fruits, few vegs. Lots of fresh grass and hay. This is what I am doing, but I don't know if it will work for preventing future hormonal troubles.
And I repeat what my oncologists say (I was diagnosed with melanoma and my mother died for melanoma): genetic component alone does NOT cause any melanoma and any cancer.

 

[pig in the city]

I either have the worst luck in the world or ovarian cysts are extremely common! I have 9 female piggies, one has already been spayed and diagnosed with ovarian cysts 4 months ago, now her sister is showing the same symptoms and is going to be spayed next friday, I also have two other sows showing symptoms (one is the mother to the two sisters, so 3 are related), I knew they were common but I didn't think they were this common.

I want to know if something can 'trigger' ovarian cysts, as it seems awful to have FOUR of my beautiful babies get them. It's like a domino effect, I got one sorted out, then another gets it, and so on, within months of each other.

Two of my sows showing symptoms of ovarian cysts also have bladder problems that have been diagnosed as interstitial cystitis, I originally thought their hormonal behaviour was from pain due to flare ups, but now both sows have enlarged, crusty nipples, their 'lady parts' are constantly swollen and open, they are causing lots of problems within the herd for months now and are constantly in season. One sow does not have bladder problems so I think she is straight ovarian cysts like her sister was, this is the sow being spayed next friday.

Can ovarian cysts and bladder issues be linked? I'd really like to learn more about what could be going on with my piggies before I jump to spaying, of course one is already booked in as she is losing weight and I'm very concerned about her wellbeing, but now I'm considering having the other two spayed also, their weights are both stable for now. All 3 sows have had ultrasounds and xrays which revealed nothing, however very obvious and classic symptoms are still present.

I just want to do what's best for them and make their problems go away... They are all still young (1.4y, 1y11m & 2.4y) so would hopefully be good candidates for surgery, it's just a scary and costly decision, I don't want to jump to it if something else could be the problem...

Any help is hugely appreciated

They are extremely common. Basically nature intended piggies to be pregnant all the time and their life span to be short.
Instead we have piggies who ovulate regularly and don't get pregnant. This causes cysts to form eventually. As piggies tend to live longer in captivity they will all eventually have a tendency to form cysts. Some sows just get small ones that come and go, others get big cysts. Some have associated symptoms (bladder symptoms and uterine bleeding or cancer included).
The cysts are a symptom of hormone imbalance. Removing the ovaries (keyhole surgery to do this is very safe) cures the problem. If there are associated uterine problems a full spay may be required.
Hormone injections can have some success but not all respond and the problem recurs usually, but its an option in pigs unfit for surgery. I have had older girls undergo keyhole surgery with much success.
I obviously don't recommend you get your pigs pregnant to prevent cysts, but they are apparently less common in sows that have had pregnancies, although do still occur (l had a sow who had had 2 pregnancies and she ended up with them).

 

[VickiA]

With @pig in the city 's excellent response. They are common in sows. Laparoscopic spay is minimally invasive and offers a complete cure if cysts are problematic.

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

They are extremely common. Basically nature intended piggies to be pregnant all the time and their life span to be short.
Instead we have piggies who ovulate regularly and don't get pregnant. This causes cysts to form eventually. As piggies tend to live longer in captivity they will all eventually have a tendency to form cysts. Some sows just get small ones that come and go, others get big cysts. Some have associated symptoms (bladder symptoms and uterine bleeding or cancer included).
The cysts are a symptom of hormone imbalance. Removing the ovaries (keyhole surgery to do this is very safe) cures the problem. If there are associated uterine problems a full spay may be required.
Hormone injections can have some success but not all respond and the problem recurs usually, but its an option in pigs unfit for surgery. I have had older girls undergo keyhole surgery with much success.
I obviously don't recommend you get your pigs pregnant to prevent cysts, but they are apparently less common in sows that have had pregnancies, although do still occur (l had a sow who had had 2 pregnancies and she ended up with them).

Very interesting response there thank you for that, key hole surgery sounds interesting and may be an option for my two older sows (1.11y and 2.3y), one of these sows is the mother to my two younger piggies that both have ovarian cysts too, so being pregnant didn't prevent hers in this case, I didn't breed her but I rescued her pregnant, her two little bubs must've gotten the wrong gene from her for it as they are very young to have them.

Does Simon do keyhole surgery? Harriet has already had a full spay from him and she is doing fantastic now, every symptom has gone and she's very happy with life, I want my other 3 sows to have this opportunity instead of being miserable, frustrated and hormonal all the time. Lottie is having a full spay next friday, hopefully she comes through fine, I am terrified of her going through this but Simon is also doing her surgery so I trust him that he will take care of her. Can you recommend a vet for the keyhole surgery?

 

[pig in the city]

Very interesting response there thank you for that, key hole surgery sounds interesting and may be an option for my two older sows (1.11y and 2.3y), one of these sows is the mother to my two younger piggies that both have ovarian cysts too, so being pregnant didn't prevent hers in this case, I didn't breed her but I rescued her pregnant, her two little bubs must've gotten the wrong gene from her for it as they are very young to have them.

Does Simon do keyhole surgery? Harriet has already had a full spay from him and she is doing fantastic now, every symptom has gone and she's very happy with life, I want my other 3 sows to have this opportunity instead of being miserable, frustrated and hormonal all the time. Lottie is having a full spay next friday, hopefully she comes through fine, I am terrified of her going through this but Simon is also doing her surgery so I trust him that he will take care of her. Can you recommend a vet for the keyhole surgery?

Hi, l don't know about Simon but l am sure he can advise you. I use Ellie Whitehead at Alfreton park veterinary hospital in Derbyshire.
I hope they all do well