Feeling blue :(

MartiDavi

MartiDavi

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Aug 18, 2018
Messages
139
Reaction score
393
Points
315
Location
Birmingham, UK
Hello folks,
Hope you are all well.
A month ago we adopted a new little girl, Cecilia, because our Lenticchia was left alone again.
Two weeks ago we brought her to the vet for a lump on her neck. The vet said it was a three part abscess and we started antibiotics/metacam as suggested. I brought her back yesterday for the follow uo appointment thinking she was doing really well and the new vet (Manor Vets) said that he doesn't think it's an abscess but a lymphoma. No need to say I was in shock. I was absolutely not prepared to deal with this news. I took my piggies home and went over inside my head what tge vet told me. Am I crazy to hope he made a mistake? He asked me to bring Cecilia back on Monday for blood test, ultrasound, biopsy and possibly a body scan. He claims that the only cure to gain up to 6 month would be weekly injections at the clinic which would not stress the guineapig. What am I thinking now is, why is he suggesting all this test if he is sure she has a deadly illness that can be slowed down by a only one kind of protocol? (weekly injection). I asked a friend of mine who has some background as a vet nurse and she told me to ask a second opinion. What do
 
MartiDavi said:
Hello folks,
Hope you are all well.
A month ago we adopted a new little girl, Cecilia, because our Lenticchia was left alone again.
Two weeks ago we brought her to the vet for a lump on her neck. The vet said it was a three part abscess and we started antibiotics/metacam as suggested. I brought her back yesterday for the follow uo appointment thinking she was doing really well and the new vet (Manor Vets) said that he doesn't think it's an abscess but a lymphoma. No need to say I was in shock. I was absolutely not prepared to deal with this news. I took my piggies home and went over inside my head what tge vet told me. Am I crazy to hope he made a mistake? He asked me to bring Cecilia back on Monday for blood test, ultrasound, biopsy and possibly a body scan. He claims that the only cure to gain up to 6 month would be weekly injections at the clinic which would not stress the guineapig. What am I thinking now is, why is he suggesting all this test if he is sure she has a deadly illness that can be slowed down by a only one kind of protocol? (weekly injection). I asked a friend of mine who has some background as a vet nurse and she told me to ask a second opinion. What do
Click to expand...
I don't know how to advise you. But I have had an old boar with this. 2 lumps in the neck area, hanging lumps, rock hard to touch 😩. I didn't go down the treatment road, he was 7 and I didn't want to stress him out.
 
I am sorry to read this.
I am going to tag one of our other health advisors in on this for advice (and to move to health section as it is a specifically monitored section) as I don’t have experience of this.
@Wiebke
 
Lymphoma is actually cancer of the blood, and one of the indicators can be swollen lymph nodes - maybe this is what your vet meant?.

Not all guinea pigs present the same way, but multiple swollen lymph-nodes and dramatic weight loss are fairly common indicators.
The next step would be to biopsy one of the lumps, which on it's own should confirm the cancer diagnosis.
The otehr tests suggested would be to rule out different diseases, but if your vet feels sure it is lymphoma then I personally would start with the biopsy and take it from there.

Once you have a firm diagnosis then you can consider the treatment options, all of which will prolong life but not cure the cancer. :hug:
Sorry you are going through this.
 
Swissgreys said:
Lymphoma is actually cancer of the blood, and one of the indicators can be swollen lymph nodes - maybe this is what your vet meant?.

Not all guinea pigs present the same way, but multiple swollen lymph-nodes and dramatic weight loss are fairly common indicators.
The next step would be to biopsy one of the lumps, which on it's own should confirm the cancer diagnosis.
The otehr tests suggested would be to rule out different diseases, but if your vet feels sure it is lymphoma then I personally would start with the biopsy and take it from there.

Once you have a firm diagnosis then you can consider the treatment options, all of which will prolong life but not cure the cancer. :hug:
Sorry you are going through this.
Click to expand...
This exactly how it went step by step for me and my boar when he had lymphoma
 
Aw, so sorry to hear this, poor little Celia x
The only way to confirm this sounds like a biopsy, at least then you would know exactly what you a dealing with and make an informed choice x
 
Hi!

I am so very sorry for the bad news and rotten time you are having right now!

It is always at your discretion as to how much expensive testing you want to do. You are also welcome to seek a second opinion.

If there is any doubt about the lymphoma and a treatable issue would be a possibility, then testing would be the way forward.
Personally, I would not go for further tests if there was no doubt about the lymphoma because that money may make a real difference for another piggy of mine. If you want to confirm the lymphoma, then the biopsy is the one to do that.
 
Thank you all for understanding. It's just so heartbreaking... Little Cecilia is still full of energy and she seems such a cute piggie. I will go and see the second vet on Tuesday, just in case, and see if maybe he can have a look at the lump. Than if he can feel more lumps too we'll see what we can do for this beautiful little girl and start preparing things. I just don't wanna believe that Lenticchia and us have to go through this again so soon. It's so painful I can actually feel it in my chest :(
 
If it helps any, I once had a piggie with cancer, and with us keeping a close eye on him and apart from a few blips, he lasted another year and a half, bringing him up to around 5 when he died. That year and a half he had a great time and was spoiled rotten, and in the end lived a normal lifespan (although at the shorter end of normal). I hope very much that this is something that you can manage, at least for a while.
 
Nassala said:
If it helps any, I once had a piggie with cancer, and with us keeping a close eye on him and apart from a few blips, he lasted another year and a half, bringing him up to around 5 when he died. That year and a half he had a great time and was spoiled rotten, and in the end lived a normal lifespan (although at the shorter end of normal). I hope very much that this is something that you can manage, at least for a while.
Click to expand...
My boar lasted 6 weeks with lymphona and this was a non aggressive type. My vet said 2 months tops and it fell in between. Sucks, I hate to put a downer on things. I think he could have lived to 8 But this crap got him. Never even had to see a vet until he was late 6 with arthiritis. Died at 7, I rushed to the vet when he collapsed on his side, and he passed half way there
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
My boar lasted 6 weeks with lymphona and this was a non aggressive type. My vet said 2 months tops and it fell in between. Sucks, I hate to put a downer on things. I think he could have lived to and 8 But this crap got him. Never even had to see a vet until he was late 6 with arthiritis. Died at 7
Click to expand...
I suppose you have to be realistic, we were incredibly lucky. I suppose the point is to enjoy the time you have.
 
Nassala said:
I suppose you have to be realistic, we were incredibly lucky. I suppose the point is to enjoy the time you have.
Click to expand...
Yep, that's why I didn't go with anything to hold it off any longer, I wouldn't want to if I had cancer.( I don't think) Just painkiller and that's it. Animals are lucky, they have the option to be PTS, we don't. Not here anyway
 
Cecilia is just 18 months old. I can't think of it.

Thank you all for your comments tho, I can feel your thoughts.
 
Sorry for the rough time you're having and the bad news.
For myself, I would get a second opinion before going for tests that might be invasive/inconclusive/expensive. That's what I've done with my Winifred, who is having surgery at the Cat and Rabbit clinic on Tuesday; my usual vet thought her mammary lump is probably a tumour, but thought there wasn't anything that could be done for it. I took her to Simon Maddock, who thinks it is worth removing the lump, so that's what we're doing.
Lots of strengthening vibes for Cecilia! x
 
I’m so sorry to hear you’re having such a tough time. I’d definitely go with a second opinion before opting for any expensive and invasive tests. Hugs to you all x
 
Hello guys,
Sad news. We saw another vet today and did some test and unfortunately Cecilia has lymphoma. We will start a steroid treatment as per tomorrow and try to give her the best life ever until her times come (around xmas according to the vet).
If you guys have any recommendations on how to best spoil a dying piggie, please let us know.
Also, We were about to adopt anothe little boy so maybe this time Lenticchia won't have to go through anotger loss on her own.

Thank you all again!
 
MartiDavi said:
Hello guys,
Sad news. We saw another vet today and did some test and unfortunately Cecilia has lymphoma. We will start a steroid treatment as per tomorrow and try to give her the best life ever until her times come (around xmas according to the vet).
If you guys have any recommendations on how to best spoil a dying piggie, please let us know.
Also, We were about to adopt anothe little boy so maybe this time Lenticchia won't have to go through anotger loss on her own.

Thank you all again!
Click to expand...

I am very sorry for the bad news!

Below are some enrichment tips. Don't throw lots of expensive treats and toys at Cecilia but make her daily routine fun. Guinea pigs live in the today - the more quality time you give her, the happier you make what life she has got. You can pack a life time's worth of love into just minutes, as I know from my dad's terminal cancer

There is nothing material that replaces the love and attention from her piggy friends and you that weaves through all the little things of her daily life!

Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

PS: Take plenty of videos and pictures to create some precious memories for yourselves. Some of my most special piggies haven't had long with me, but time is never the most important thing; it is the meaning you fill it with. Caring for a terminal piggy is very bitter-sweet; but you have the most precious gift of knowing that time is limited and to not waste it. Don't count down; re-set the clock at zero and see every day more as a precious gift. Treat each day as if it was the last, so whenever the last day come - whether that is sooner or later than expected, there is nothing you have to feel bad about.
Living with a terminal piggy means that you do a lot of the grieving along the way if you accept the diagnosis; it is a different dynamic. You don't grieve any less overall, but you can for once eliminate the issue of guilt and just have the sheer pain of the loss to cope whenever Cecilia's time has come.
 
Last edited:
Wiebke said:
I am very sorry for the bad news!

Here are some enrichment tips. Don't throw lots of expensive treats at Cecilia but make her daily routine fun. Guinea pigs live in the today - the more quality time you give her, the happier you make what life she has got. You can pack a life time's worth of love into just minutes, as I know from my dad's terminal cancer, but there is nothing that replaces the love and attention from her piggies friends and you that weaves through all the little things of her daily life! Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs

Take plenty of videos and pictures to create some precious memories for yourselves. Some of my most special piggies haven't had long with me, but time is never the most important thing; it is the meaning you fill it with.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for this, it means a lot.
I have to agree with you and both Davide and I want to make sure Cecilia loves every single minute of her piggie life with us. You can tell she is super sweet, I already had plans for the four of us but fate wanted to be cruel. I want to be stronger this time tho and as you said, focusing on building precious memories while spending time with this gorgeous piggie. Luckily nor her or Lenticchia know what's going on, they both love the extra special attention.

Looking forward to see you ar the guinea pig meet up!
 
Sorry no advice for you as I have no experience of your heartbreaking situation :no:
Please just make the most of the time you have left with her. She probably doesn't know she's ill, so she'll make the most of all the TLC you can give her.
Treat her with copious cuddles, and nice hays stuffed in cut loo rolls or in paper bags (handles cut), I expect she'll appreciate those more than expensive commercial treats.
Big hug for you both. :hug: Xx
 
Heartbreaking news so sorry for you and Cecilia. Make the best memories you can with the time you have left together ❤️
 
Sorry to hear the news but you have the gift of time to make memories for yourselves and to fill Cecilia’s life with love.
It will help when Cecilia’s time comes
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top