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Buffy has lumps!

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louiser

louiser

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Buffy has been losing weight over the past week and noticed she was struggling with eating the past couple of days I took her to the vets and they had a look at her back teeth, they seemed a bit sharp, the vet also noticed she had a lump in her tummy.

So she was booked in today to go under a general and have her teeth filed down also so the vet could have a better check of the lump. Well the vet has just called and her teeth was not so bad but she has two lumps, the vet thinks its ovarian tumors. So as she was still under the general I had to make a decision there and then on the phone, god its really tough.

I had a choice of bringing her round and care for her until she passes or open her up and see whats what and probably need to be spayed, so I said as she is still under the general do whatever needs to be done. So I have everything crossed at the moment. The vet did say she is quite poorly and might not pull through the operation.

Any healing vibes would be most appreciated! I can't believe how quick they deteriorate, she was fine at the beginning of the week. 8...8...

Thanks

Lou xx
 
Oh, you poor girl! Just the news you wanted to hear least. And now the agony of waiting... and it is agony!

I'll be keeping all of my fingers crossed for you and sending Buffy my best vibes! Whatever happens, you are doing your very best to give Buffy a chance.
 
Not again!
We hear of this so often. There is NO need for a general anaesthetic to either look at, or trim, any teeth. An ovarian lump is usually a cyst which can be left well alone.
Any operation under a GA carries a risk but I often wonder if the real risk is not from the GA itself, but from........ you can fill in the rest for yourself.......!
I hope your pig survives.
 
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alcesterpigs said:
Not again!
We hear of this so often. There is NO nedd for a general anaesthetic to either look at, or trim, any teeth. An ovarian lump is usually a cyst which can be left well alone.
Any operation under a GA carries a risk but I often wonder if the real risk is not from the GA itself, but from........ you can fill in the rest for yourself.......!
I hope your pig survives.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the encouraging words!
 
Good, just realised I had made a spelling mistake, too early in the day for me!
 
i know GA is not recommended but Boris has been under twice now and he is fine.i didnt like the idea but the vet said it was needed goodluck I'm sure Buffy will be fine best wishes to both of youxx>>>xx>>>xxxxxxxxxx
 
Just rung the vets and she has just come round from the GA. The vet said they were cysts and one was very big. So hopefully she should be OK now. They are going to syringe feed her in a bit but they said she might have to stay in overnight depending on how she recovers.

Its a shame I didn't have more time to investigate the problem or I would have said about the hormone injections (as i have seen on other threads on here) but it was a bit of a rush decision I had to make on the phone! Obviously I'm not an expert and I expect my vet to be!

Does any have any good advice for me to help her recover? I have plenty of Supreme Recovery and Bio-Lapis (sp?) and of course tons of TLC!

Thanks

Lou
 
Ovarian cysts can get to quite a large size and not bother the pig. Often they will spontaneously rupture or else burst as you feel them, rather like bursting bubble-wrap! Treatment can vary from leave well alone, hormone therapy, needle drainage or, as a last resort, surgical removal.
 
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Hello. Just to say it took Carmina ages to put on weight properly after a spaying op so keep an eye on the weight. (6 weeks before she started to put the weight back)

Also, I separated Carmina from the others, with a wire divider so they could all see/sniff/talk to each other through it. This really helped when I put her back in with the other three, about 1 week after the op, as there were no problems (once she'd put Columbine back into her place!) I also put the hay in Carmina's bit so that the other three had to pull it through to them, they were still eating well of course. This actually encouraged Carmina to come out and eat with them, so I recommend doing that - the wire divider from other piggies and the hay on the ill piggie's side of the wire.

I did place Carmina on cotton, changed every day, so that weeping and bleeding from stitches was really obvious. This helped, she tore a stitch she could reach and pulled on another - but you can't tell them not to fiddle can you! At least I knew about it straight away and got her sorted out at the vets asap.

Lastly, Carmina was very sluggish and quiet to begin with, very happy to stay in a small place for days and days. She really wasn't bothered about running around, I think it hurt too much. She adored cuddles, settling down onto my chest for regular after dinner 40 minute cuddles. Actually she tended to just go to sleep for most of the time, but from her relaxed state and chuckling I could tell cuddles were doing her good. So I would recommend not making her move around and giving her absolutely masses of very sleepy cuddles!

Hope this helps, this is just what happened with my girl. Just to say, the spaying happened in just the way you described, she went in - GA - huge lumps - spaying decision on the phone. Just like yours. And now she is fine, very well and happy in herself.

Sarah x
 
I think it's incredibly unhelpful (not to mention terrifying) to tell people that their vet is doing the wrong thing whilst the animal is actually having the operation. This is exactly what happened to me too a few weeks ago. I know everyone means well on this forum, and it is also frustrating to hear about certain vet practices, but please do respect the actual situation at hand and the timing.

Sending vibes to Buffy. x
 
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Sarah from Chucklebunnies said:
Hello. Just to say it took Carmina ages to put on weight properly after a spaying op so keep an eye on the weight. (6 weeks before she started to put the weight back)

Also, I separated Carmina from the others, with a wire divider so they could all see/sniff/talk to each other through it. This really helped when I put her back in with the other three, about 1 week after the op, as there were no problems (once she'd put Columbine back into her place!) I also put the hay in Carmina's bit so that the other three had to pull it through to them, they were still eating well of course. This actually encouraged Carmina to come out and eat with them, so I recommend doing that - the wire divider from other piggies and the hay on the ill piggie's side of the wire.

I did place Carmina on cotton, changed every day, so that weeping and bleeding from stitches was really obvious. This helped, she tore a stitch she could reach and pulled on another - but you can't tell them not to fiddle can you! At least I knew about it straight away and got her sorted out at the vets asap.

Lastly, Carmina was very sluggish and quiet to begin with, very happy to stay in a small place for days and days. She really wasn't bothered about running around, I think it hurt too much. She adored cuddles, settling down onto my chest for regular after dinner 40 minute cuddles. Actually she tended to just go to sleep for most of the time, but from her relaxed state and chuckling I could tell cuddles were doing her good. So I would recommend not making her move around and giving her absolutely masses of very sleepy cuddles!

Hope this helps, this is just what happened with my girl. Just to say, the spaying happened in just the way you described, she went in - GA - huge lumps - spaying decision on the phone. Just like yours. And now she is fine, very well and happy in herself.

Sarah x
Click to expand...

Thanks Sarah, that is really helpful, I weighed her this morning before she went and I'll weigh her when she comes home so I can monitor it closely.
 
I've had the same experience as Sarah, as my Holly is still struggling to maintain her weight after her spay a few weeks ago. She eats well though, so eventually I might just have to accept that she is naturally skinny, but I am trying to keep feeding her up. :)
 
When you get Buffy back, just let her be and let her sleep it off as much as she wants to, but make her as comfy as possible with some hay close by and somewhere where she feels protected.

Don't worry too much if her poo is funny for a few days, as her belly is churned up from the op, she'll be on antibiotics and hasn't been eating regularly. Can you ask you vet for a low dose of painkiller for the first couple of days to make her a bit more comfy? Some vets don't think it necessary or helpful.

I am glad that Buffy has made it through the op and will hopefully recover completely. All the best to you both! And keep us posted!

I'm still vibing!
 
Do ask for painkillers, a spay is pretty invasive surgery and it's common for piggies to be reluctant to eat following surgery - simply because the vets don't think that they will be in pain!

Hope she recovers quickly with you at home.
 
both of my girls had lumps on there bellies they were put under GA and one of them was a tumour the other one was just a lump this was 2/3 years ago but they were fine. good luck sending loads of healing vibes and squeaks!
 
Thanks everyone, well quick update.

I collected Buffy last night and have been syringe feeding and keeping her warm with a hot water bottle, I have been up most the night with her too. She does seem quite perky but not moving around much. She managed to eat 1/2 a slice of cucumber and a tiny bit of lettuce this morning which is great, especially as she doesn't like the recovery mix!

I've just got back from taking her to the vets this moring for a check up and the vet has given her another painkiller jab which lasts 24hrs of Metacam and a jab for helping her tummy of Metoclopramide because she hasn't poo'd yet.

Also the vet has given me baytril to give orally for the next few days.

Bless her, she is such a little fighter.
 
come on Buffy xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>
OH love we're keeping all paws crossed xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Keep her warm and comfortable and offer lots of little tid bits that she loves, use the CC or whatever you have as a supplementary, do try to get her eating on her own tho :)

GOOOOOOOOOOOO BUFFY xxxxxxxxxxx
 
Good to have her back and starting to perk up!

Give her lots of what Glynis has recommended - bed rest, light meals and tlc, and hopefully she'll start to feel a lot better when her belly settles in a couple of days. You'll notice!

All the best to you two!
 
Sounds like Buffy is doing well. I really hope you get some poo soon. The only thing I could get Holly to in any way tuck into after her spay was grass picked from the garden. :)
 
How is she this evening? Hope she's done a nice pile of poops for you!
 
She is much better this morning, a bit more alert and munching on cucumber and lettuce by herself. Yes she started pooing last night, a bit loose but better than nothing. I managed to get the day off work yesterday so I could nurse her but I had to go back to work today. My hubby is going to pop back home at lunch time to give her another dose of recovery forumla and check she is OK.

But I am sitting here worrying, wish I could ring home and see has she is! lol I need to get them trained to answer the phone! :))
 
So glad to hear Buffy is doing well. I'm loving the idea of a phone answering piggy there and how the conversation might go - wheek wheeky wheek! :))
 
You can't help worrying!

However Buffy looks like she is recovering slowly, but surely. Like with humans after an operation, it takes time, but she will get there! Piggy wounds heal pretty quickly; I'm always amazed at how quickly.

I'll keep sending vibes to Buffy!
 
Update

Buffy had been doing well, eating a little bit on her own and I'm still syringe feeding her but this morning she now has diarrhea :( so she is booked in to see the vets later today.
 
Oh dear!

Poor Buffy! what a worry for you.

I'm sending you both vibes.

Perhaps you can mash up some poo from the other piggies and mix it with a bit of water. That will give her all the "good bacteria" to start up the guts again.
 
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