Intro and Advice

[snugglesmom]

Hi all,

I own 3 lovely pigs, Snuggles, Squeker, and Snickers. Snuggles is our neutered male and is 6 years old. He has always been in great health. His eyesight is going, but he doesn't mind and he is still the king of his castle.

Sunday, the mammory tumor he has had for quite some time started to leak bloody fluid. I took him to the Guinea Pig/Rabbit vet Monday. Upon examination, she found a swollen lymph gland under his jaw. He had surgery on Tuesday to remove the tumor and aspirate the lymph node to see if it was just an infection or whatever.

Snuggles came home Wednesday and after a day of rest alone, we put him back in the cage with the girls. That 6 year old was so happy he "popcorned"!

The vet called last night and said the pathologist said the sample had 5 of 7 characteristics needed to determine cancer, plus an infection. She said the next step would be to xray Snuggles and see if it has gone into his chest. If it is in his chest, there is no hope. If it has not spread, she thinks she can operate to remove the tumor and he should live for another 1-2 or even 3 years since he is so spry.

Your thoughts.. I have already spent 600.00 dollars this week on him. It will cost another 85 for the xray plus another 300.00 for sugery. I want him to have a good life. Do you think I should move forward with treating the cancer or let him go since he is 6 already? How do you balance the cost with the life span? Or do you? I already buried Slipper this summer and cant stand the thought of burying my little guy. The name is so appropriate...Snuggling is what he likes to do.

I don't have to decide until Monday. Please be honest.

 

[nutmeg]

Hi, and welcome to the forum. Snuggles sounds like a wonderful pig. Sorry I am not experienced enough to offer health/illness advice, but there are others here who will respond for sure. Wishing you and Snuggles the best of luck. Hope everything works out well. xxxxxx

 

[Pebble]

Grommie is 6 years old. He lost his cage mate Fleure a month ago...she was going to be put to sleep by the vet three months ago because she had inoperable kidney stones.... but because I found out about kidney stones/medication etc..she had an extra two months very happy [pain free life) And we all got our chance to say goodbye gracefully. The cost was about £300. It was worth it - for her, Grommie and me.

The decision is entirely yours....question your vet carefuly....and you will know what the best course of acton is.

hugs for you...I woiuldn;t wish this type of decision on anyone! But i' sure whatever you decide it [*]will[/*] be the right one.

xx

 

[Little Piggles]

hello and welcome to the forum p

I, too, am not experianced enough to offer advice on your situation, but I send my best wishes and hugs whatever you choose to do

 

[Modwyn]

Firstly hi and welcome hun.

I'm sorry you are having to deal with the situation with your wee Snuggles, I'm sure others will and have given you advice about his medical situation, all I can say is you know Snuggles the best, get all the information you can off your vet and it will help you make the right decision for the wee chap.

 

[alcesterpigs]

I have had a few elderly pigs with mammary gland tumours. The tumours were left alone and the pigs died of old age. All that I did was to drain the fluid every few days, it would shoot from the nipple like fluid from a syringe!
The majority of mammary gland tumours are not malignant.
You ask for an honest answer, mine is, do nothing at all.
If he is not in pain then leave well alone. He may not survive the operation.

 

[snugglesmom]

Thanks for the kind thoughts and encouragement. I have a lot to think about. I was lying on the couch watching TV for awhile tonight (hard to do with three kids!) and had Snuggles with me. Boy does he love to snuggle!

If he were 2 or 3, I don't think I would hesitate about the surgery, but with him just turning 6 age is a definite factor in the decision. He is still very healthy, but reality is that he is old for a pig.

Keep encouraging me. I need it. There aren't as many gp fans in the states as their is overseas. In fact, I am the only one I know . Two of my pigs are/were rescues. Slipper, who passed this summer, was with us for two years. She was found in an abandoned home. Luckily some noisy neighbors went over to see if the previous owners left anything behind. She was half starved and in bad shape when she was found. Squeaker was abandoned as a baby. She fit inside a toilet paper tube when I got her. Snuggles took to her instantly and would come running if she squeaked for him. He did everything but nurse her...but she tried

 

[Lisajazz]

AWWW those guineas sound so cute and i think you have been given some great advice there.

Don't forget we have a photo board here and would love to see some photos of your lovely pigs.

 

[Wiebke]

If Snuggles is not in pain or major discomfort because of his tumor, I would leave alone; operations at that age are risky and the chances that he will not wake up or not recover are higher.

Have a honest word with your vet about Snuggles' quality of life. If you do not go for an operation, however, you may be faced with having Snuggles pts at some point if his mammary tumor is malign and Snuggles is in constant discomfort.

Sadly, in situations like these, there are no easy options and you are doing well at thinking things carefully through to decide which way is the best for both Snuggles and you.

 

[Farquhar]

I would tend to agree that if snuggles isnt in pain then to leave alone. I have a similar situation with my boy Mimsi. Mimsi has suffered from intermittent bleeding when passing urine. An x-ray earlier in the year showed a bladder stone which is embedded in the bladder wall. As Mimsi is nearly six I had to make the decison of putting him through intricate bladder surgery or leaving him as he is. I chose to leave him. As Mimsis quality of life isnt affected then I didnt want to risk an operation that he may not recover from. Good luck with whatever you decide..