• PLEASE NOTE - the TEAS facebook page has been hacked, take extreme care when visiting the page, for further information visit here
  • Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Sows: Health issues of the reproductive tract

Status
Not open for further replies.

Wiebke

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Mar 10, 2009
Messages
88,044
Reaction score
77,484
Points
3,466
Location
Coventry UK
Health issues of the reproductive tract

Here is a list of health problems that are related to the reproductive tract that you should be aware of as a sow owner.
Please be aware that any necessary operations or hormone treatments can run into the hundreds of pounds and dollars and that you save up for any vet cost right from the start as part of the regular feeding and maintenance cost on a monthly or weekly basis.

Ovarian cysts

If one of the sows is suddenly behaving aggressively or like she is in season all the time, please have her vet checked for a ovarian cysts/hormonal problems. Physical symptoms are crusty nipples or balding sides to the belly and well as the formation of large, usually soft lumps inside the body.

Please be aware that the majority of cysts don't produce any physical or behavioural symptoms but that they can still grow to a huge size.
It is also worth keeping in mind that not all ovarian cysts are hormonal. It is often the smaller cysts that cause the aggressive behaviour. In fact, the majority of ovarian cysts, which are increasingly present in many older sows, do not present with any symptoms at all and often go unnoticed.


Preventative spaying of young sows
Preventative spaying is an option if you have access to a good operating vet, especially one that is well practised in guinea pig spays.
However, spaying is still a major invasive procedure and comes generally at a higher risk than a boar neutering operation.
You will have to weigh up the pros and cons carefully between operation fatalities/complications, high cost and the fact that the majority of sows may likely not require an emergency spaying operation later in life. At the moment, the pros and cons are rather in the balance.

Hormone injections or implants
There are now increasingly hormone treatments (chorulon injections for the UK or hormone implants, which are more commonly used in the US) available as an alternative to a full spaying operation provided the cysts are hormone based (not all ovarian cysts are).

Spaying operation
For non-hormonal cysts or very large cysts, spaying is still the best option, especially where ovarian cancer is suspected.

Non-invasive draining of fluid-filled cysts
For very frail and/or older sows with large cysts we recommend considering draining as a valid alternative to a spaying operation as it doesn't require full or any anaesthesia. The result is not permanent, but will last for a number of months and can be repeated at need.
It is also a much cheaper option if you can't afford the other expensive treatments/operations for large soft fluid filled cysts but it will not affect any disruptive hormonal behaviour or any do anything for any hard, cancerous ovarian cysts.
Guinea Lynx :: Ovarian Tumors
Moody guinea pigs: Depression, Bullying, Aggression, Stress, Fear and Antisocial Behaviour


Other problems connected with the reproductive system

Bleeding from the anus

If you see bleeding from the anus (often in small drops or patches and often as a one-off event, please have our sow's reproductive system checked by a piggy savvy vet. It can be the first sign that something more serious is wrong with the womb or a cyst. Sows do NOT bleed when they are in season!
You may also have a sow checked if you find a large gelatinous/rubbery mass in a sow cage; this can also be an indication of something not right in the reproductive system.

Very wet from bodily fluid under the belly
It your guinea pig is suddenly very wet around the genitals, belly and legs even on absorbent bedding and if there is a somewhat stale smell, then please see a vet promptly and remember to ask them to not only check the urinary tract for cystitis, but also for infection of the womb lining (early stages of pyometra) or for the womb being enlarged, fluid filled or containing potentially cancerous lumps.
Sudden increased peeing (when the urine is like water) can also be a symptom of kindey problems or much more rarely diabetes. It is important to keep the reproductive tract angle in mind; it may need a scan or x-ray for any diagnosis.

Swelling/hotness around the genitalia - LIFE AND DEATH EMERGENCY
If you have a new mother or any sow not in season whose genitalia are suddenly noticeably swollen (and not just sticking out more from loss of weight - although that is also reason for a prompt vet trip!), then see a vet within 24 hours as soon as you can. It is a symptom of pyometra, which can be easily healed in the early stages but is fatal if too far advanced. Even sows in good care can occasionally get it if their womb is going wrong.

If there are small red raised dots or white dots in that area in summer, please race your piggy to vets or out-of-hours vets at any time of the day or night for as a matter of life and death - this is fly strike and one of the most awful things a piggy can die from! What you see is flesh eating maggots.
A piggy (or other pet) can be saved if the maggots are removed in time, otherwise it will die horribly and will need to be euthanised as the kindest thing you can do. Please note that flesh-laying flies can occasionally make their way indoors and affect especially the frail and elderly that struggle to keep their genitalia clean.
More information on fly strike and what to do: Fly Strike

Lump/swelling under a nipple
Sow and boars both can develop a mammary tumour, which can be benign or malign. A vet visit and diagnosis is a must because any mammary tumour needs to be removed in an operation.
Guinea Lynx :: Mammary Tumor
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top