Bladder tumour

[wind1]

One of my guinea girls was diagnosed with a bladder tumour yesterday. She is just over 5 years old and has lost some weight recently (current weight 750g) and squeeks when she wees. Other than that she is eating well and appears happy in herself. The vet recommended giving her metacam which he said works well with bladder tumours in dogs, also he has put her on baytril to help if there is any secondary infection. I am also giving her a pro-biotic. I have moved her with her hutch mate from the shed into my utility room so she is a bit warmer and I can keep a closer eye on her. Every time I open the door into the room she is up at the bars asking for food so she is getting lots of treats. Just wondered if anyone has any experience of treating bladder tumours with metacam?

 

[Wiggie]

Hi, sorry I cant answer your question. I want to send my best wishes to you. I was intersted to know how was she diagnosed? My Piggy just had a hystectomy for the treatment of cancer. She lost a tumour from her womb. When my piggy lost her tumour (it fell out of her bottom over hours and there was quite alot of blood) we did not know where it came from. We had to rule out bladder. She had xrays, us (ultrasound) and then a histopathology report. We only found out it was her womb due to the test of the lump, it came back it was likely from the womb. I was told if her cancer grew it could press on her bladder. My vet gave me the impression it was hard to see the bladder on the us. Does your piggy have blood stained urine?
If I was in your positon I would give metacam to help pain and it would make sense to give batryil incase there is secondary infection. I would also use a snuggle safe. Just make sure you are happy with diagnosis. Even though my piggy has had surgery, we cannot gaurentee she will be ok and the vet could not confirm if she would live along time or short time operated on or not.
Good luck. x

 

[Midge&Panda]

So very sorry to read this, just over 3 yrs ago I was in the same position as you with my beloved girl Sherbet. She had persistant uti's with no sucess with any ab treatments and the usual pain relief of metacam. The vet prescribed vetagesic which didnt help, it just made her 'spaced' out. So as a last resort she was spayed and when under the ga the vet had a look at her bladder, there was a growth attached to it but it was impossible to remove. They stitched her up and I brought her home. She continued to squeek when weeing even with continued pain relief and after a week at home I made the decision to take her back to be pts. All through this there was no change in her behaviour, she was still first up at the bars for treats and made no indication as to the discomfort she was in - only when peeing. I'm sorry I couldn't write something happier. Sending love and hugs to you and your girl xx

 

[Deb H]

One of mine, Barbra had a bladder tumor and was treated with metacam for a while and when that stopped being effective she had a different painkiller that an exotics vet recommended, i forget the name sorry. Sadly that didn't help for very long so she was pts. Wish i could be more positive but i think all you will be able to do is make her comfortable for as long as you can. Good luck

 

[wind1]

Thankyou for your replies. I am not expecting a miracle and am only wanting to keep her as comfortable as possible for whatever time she has left. Deb H - did the metacam stop Barbra from showing discomfort when she weed? How did you know when it stopped being effective?

 

[Deb H]

Thankyou for your replies. I am not expecting a miracle and am only wanting to keep her as comfortable as possible for whatever time she has left. Deb H - did the metacam stop Barbura from showing discomfort when she weed? How did you know when it stopped being effective?

The metacam didn't stop the discomfort completely but was less often when she weed. When she started showing more discomfort we switched medication and that helped for a while and we only made the decision to pts when she was showing discomfort every time she weed. I will try and find out what the other meds were

 

[Deb H]

I think the other medication was tramadol but not completely sure, might be worth running past the vet if the metacam doesn't help