Facial Tumours - Need Treatment Advice, Please

[Cavy.girl]

Scooby is my 6 and a half year old boy and sadly has some facial tumours, one under his jaw and one under his eye. He's had them looked into and they aren't abscesses like I first thought, they are solid masses. Unfortunately they're gradually growing in size and now they seem to be bothering him. The one under his eye especially concerns me, as it's pushing his eye closed and it looks like he's starting to scratch at it as if it annoys him or hurts.

I can't find a vet who thinks it's a good idea to remove them (they say removing won't help and one is too close to his eye to remove safely?) This doesn't sit well with me, surely there are worse, more intricate surgeries vets are capable of doing? I wish he could have them removed, although part of me is worried about him having surgery when he's now an oldie.

In the past Scooby was given metacam to try and reduce them. I don't remember what the dose was, does anyone know what I should be giving him to help with any inflammation and pain?

Has anyone else had experience of tumours like this? I just want him to enjoy his twilight years. He loves life otherwise. Thanks

 

[Wiebke]

I am tagging some members for you @furryfriends (TEAS) and @Abi_nurse .

Personally, I think that where the tumour is located is really pushing it even for the most experienced operating vets in view of his rather advanced age. You will have to weigh up very carefully if the operating risk and the potential for further complications are really worth putting your boy through it in any case.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

One of my petsitting clients had a guinea pig with a similar type of tumour on his face. It was removed by Simon Maddock, but he told her that it could regrow and if so, he didn't feel it would be appropriate to remove a second time. Charlie lived for a further 18 months before it recurred. Charlie was close to 6 when he had the op.

It may be worth speaking with a guinea pig savvy vet about the options, but even after that, you may still decide that it is best to leave alone.

 

[Cavy.girl]

I am tagging some members for you @furryfriends (TEAS) and @Abi_nurse .

Personally, I think that where the tumour is located is really pushing it even for the most experienced operating vets in view of his rather advanced age. You will have to weigh up very carefully if the operating risk and the potential for further complications are really worth putting your boy through it in any case.

Thanks Wiebke. It definitely doesn't go in his favour that he's an old guy now, and I wouldn't want to rock the boat.

 

[Cavy.girl]

One of my petsitting clients had a guinea pig with a similar type of tumour on his face. It was removed by Simon Maddock, but he told her that it could regrow and if so, he didn't feel it would be appropriate to remove a second time. Charlie lived for a further 18 months before it recurred. Charlie was close to 6 when he had the op.

It may be worth speaking with a guinea pig savvy vet about the options, but even after that, you may still decide that it is best to leave alone.

Thanks Furryfriends. One of the vets we took Scooby to was Dominika at Jacqui Pattersons in Stockton. I think she's really good, so I admit I felt kinda lost when she said she wouldn't be happy operating. I'm in North Yorkshire and I don't really know who are considered guinea pig savvy vets around here. I don't know if I'm just pointlessly bothering Scooby by taking him around vets when the answer will be the same.

I would like to at least try the metacam again - is it 0.2ml twice a day?

 

[gizzy]

l had a pig caled Polly, that had a large portion of her face removed dew to an absses, and she had to be syringe fed as it infection had twisted her jaw . but she lived a happy life for seveal years afterwads ,

there may still be some pics of Polly on Guinea Linx, as linx ask if she could use them

you could always go to my vets, John Dindale is the vet who did the opp




andale vets

 

[Abi_nurse]

Have you had the mass sampled to see exactly what it is? This way you will be able to get a good idea of exactly what your dealing with. I see no reason why it cannot be 'debulked' but actually being able to remove the whole mass is very difficult and unlikely I'm afraid. Mainly due to the fact of how many important structures lay on the face and how invasive this may be (is it involving bone or the eye or the ear canals etc) If you can find out exactly what it is (ie type of tumour) you will then be able to get a good outlook on if it is locally invasive or likely to have spread to the rest of the body and you will be able to make a better decision about this. Personally if it is any aggressive form of cancer then I'm afraid I wouldn't put your little one through surgery when there is little you can do.

Thinking of you.

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