Specialist Huge Hematoma

[Rachelawitt]

Hi there!

My beautiful 2.5 year old little lady pig, Sawyer, has a lump the size of a golf ball (7.5 cm by 9.5 cm) on her side by her front leg.

I first noticed it on February 2nd, but because I had been on holidays I’m really not sure when it first showed up.

On February 3rd we went to the vet who said it didn’t feel like it was attached to anything and doesn’t seem to be causing her extra pain. The test results came back that there are only blood cells so the vet said it’s likely a hematoma or, worst case scenario it’s a tumour bleeding out. She said that it should start to decrease in size in 7 days if a hematoma.

We are now at the 3.5 week mark and it hasn’t decreased at all. However, it also hasn’t increased. We have another vet appointment this week, but I just really don’t get it.

I can’t sleep or function because it’s not getting smaller. I have read extensively on dog and cat hematomas and it seems some vets say it can take months to reabsorb. How long should it be taking to get rid of my poor pig’s hematoma?

Also, if it was a tumour bleeding out, wouldn’t she stop being her normal bubbly, happy self?! Eating and drinking is still normal and she’s just as mobile as she has been.

I just don’t know how long I sit by and say it’ll be fine... as the vet said that surgery/draining isn’t an option due to how large it is and how much of her blood volume is in it, what do I do? How often do I pay for a vet to tell me there’s nothing I can do?

What is a normal hematoma timeline for one that is this big, and what are my trigger points that it has turned for the worse?

Any guidance is so appreciated.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome

I am linking in some medically more experienced members than me.

@Jaycey @helen105281 @furryfriends (TEAS) @Freela

 

[Betsy]

Hope you can get him seen and sorted soon.

 

[cavylover2002]

to the forum.
Hope everything works out okay and someone experienced on here can help you with this important medical problem

 

[DM030819]

I don't have any personal experience of hematoma but I've dealt with a few mystery lumps in my time.

From researching it seems that they can take quite a long time, like months to heal. So it could definitely be a hematoma and it will just need time to heal.

For me in the past a trigger to get the pig back to the vet would be any growth or change in shape or if it starts to leak. It's a really good sign that it's not grown!

If you're like me and need something a bit more concrete to work with you could try getting her xrayed or scanned. It may show a bit more on what it really is.

Is your vet experienced with pigs? If they're not then it may be something else or it may be operable if a more experienced vet is found.

 

[Freela]

I can understand your worry! I haven't dealt with hematomas personally. I do know it can take them time to reabsorb. I'm not sure if drainage would be harmful from a blood-volume perspective, as this blood is already not circulating and is not part of the blood volume in the piggie's circulatory system (unless something is still bleeding into it, which seems unlikely if it isn't growing.) You may want the vet to explain his or her logic there if you have to go back. In the meantime, I think watching and waiting is reasonable if your pig is eating and behaving normally and the hematoma is not growing. I would try taking pictures on a regular basis too to keep track of any small changes, and also if you have to go back to the vet you will have a visual record to show him or her over time. Good luck, please keep us posted!

 

[piggles 7000]

I cant give any advice but hope Sawyer can be helped as soon as possible.x

 

[pig in the city]

I had a piggy with a haematoma after a neutering procedure. It was very large and took about 2 weeks to reabsorb.
What puzzles me is why your piggy would get a haematoma in the first place.
I suspect it's just a bleed into a benign cyst rather than a tumour. If it's not troubling your piggy then l would wait and see a little longer. Let nature sort it out.