Large lump removal

[J0nesC13]

Hello,

Before I start, this lump has been removed already, and has been sent off to the lab for testing. I’m just looking to see if anyone else has had experience with this before.

Izzie had her surgery yesterday to remove the lump, as it was bothering her. 2 attempts at a needle biopsy before came back inconclusive.
Vet said the lump was very strange, and she hadn’t seen anything quite like it before. It didn’t really seem to have a beginning or an end, and some bits were hard. Some bits were softer, and she said some bits were like a clear jelly?
She believes she has removed it all though, so that’s good. We should find out the lab results next week but I’m just wondering if this sounds familiar to anyone else.

Thanks all,
A forever worried piggy mum x

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

I hope Izzie is making a good recovery from the surgery, I'm not surprised that such a big lump was bothering her.

Back in 2019 one of my sows had a mammary lump removed and I had it tested too. The results said it was steatitis or granuloma. I don't know if those are different names for the same thing or not, but the main thing was that they were not cancerous. It could be that Izzie's is similar. ( Her lump was quite discrete though, unlike Izzie's it was straightforward to see where it ended.)

Sending Izzie lots of healing vibes

 

[Roselina]

I also hope lovely Izzie is recovering well
She must be happier without it getting in the way !
I don’t have experience of this but I just wanted to offer my support - it’s a stressful time when our piggies are ill or have surgery
Take care and try not to worry - your Vet sounds very good !

 

[J0nesC13]

Thanks all, she seems to be doing ok. But this evening I have noticed that she seems to be straining to poop, and her poop is very soft. She’s on antibiotics (for a separate issue) and metcam so it could be to do with it that. When I got her out to give her meds, her poop was like this. X

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

Yes antibiotics especially Baytril can upset the digestion. Do you have any probiotics for her, eg Fibreplex or Pro-C?
If not you can give "poop-soup" to help, it mimics the usual behaviour of sick guinea pigs. This guide contains a link to the information about probiotics and poop soup How-to-improvise-feeding-support-in-an-emergency

 

[J0nesC13]

Yes antibiotics especially Baytril can upset the digestion. Do you have any probiotics for her, eg Fibreplex or Pro-C?
If not you can give "poop-soup" to help, it mimics the usual behaviour of sick guinea pigs. This guide contains a link to the information about probiotics and poop soup https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/how-to-improvise-feeding-support-in-an-emergency.209208/

I was about to order some probiotics but my husband seems to think I should wait until her check up on Tuesday, but I think that’s wrong. I’ve attached a picture of the ones I was going to order.
Thank you for the link, I shall have a read now.

This forum is so helpful, I really appreciate it x

 

[Piggies&buns]

It is a good idea to give probiotics. We recommend that a piggy on antibiotics is given them. You don’t need to wait until she has had a check up to help support her gut.

I personally prefer Fibreplex but pro c is fine to use.

Make sure you are weighing her daily during her recovery so you can ensure she is eating enough hay

 

[J0nesC13]

It is a good idea to give probiotics. We recommend that a piggy on antibiotics is given them. You don’t need to wait until she has had a check up to help support her gut.

I personally prefer Fibreplex but pro c is fine to use.

Make sure you are weighing her daily during her recovery so you can ensure she is eating enough

Thank you, I thought I was right in what I was thinking. I have ordered some. Thank you so much.

 

[J0nesC13]

Morning everyone. Sad update. Izzie has passed away in the night. I’m not really sure what to do now. I feel awful.

 

[Roselina]

Morning everyone. Sad update. Izzie has passed away in the night. I’m not really sure what to do now. I feel awful.

Oh I’m so sad to read this - dear Izzie - you did the best you could for her
She couldn’t live with that lump in the position it was
Its such a shock for you as having got rid of that lump we all expected her to recover
Sometimes our piggies just have to go ( to Rainbow bridge) and go in their own way
Take care of you and your family as you grieve …. In time you will remember Izzie in happier days

 

[Wiebke]

Morning everyone. Sad update. Izzie has passed away in the night. I’m not really sure what to do now. I feel awful.

BIG HUGS

I am ever so sorry. Please do not blame yourself. You haven't done anything wrong and have clearly done your best but there has been obviously something going on beyond yours or your vet's control.

You (and your vet) can only ever do your/their best but there is never a guarantee of a good outcome.

Please be kind with yourself in the coming days. If you would like more understanding and friendly support, you are welcome to offer a thread in our new End of Life & Bereavement section where we offer community support for you with all the practical little and larger questions and decisions as well supporting you in your grieving process, which is usually not what you expect and which can lead you into some very weird places; especially with sudden or traumatic deaths. Especially as the Blue Cross pet bereavement services (UK only) won't be accessible over the bank holiday.
End of Life and Bereavement Support Corner

 

[J0nesC13]

Thank you so much everyone. I’ll have a look at the support corner soon, I’m still in shock at the moment.
I’ve wrapped her in her favourite blanket and put her in a box in the freezer for now, until we decided where to bury her. That was the worst feeling having to do that.

I really appreciate all of your support thank you so much

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much everyone. I’ll have a look at the support corner soon, I’m still in shock at the moment.
I’ve wrapped her in her favourite blanket and put her in a box in the freezer for now, until we decided where to bury her. That was the worst feeling having to do that.

I really appreciate all of your support thank you so much

HUGS

I bury my piggies as well, so I do understand. Dealing with the body is just so final. The burial is for me the low point because it is so final. I always bury mine with a little bouquet from the garden with seasonal blooms that suit their personality.

I bury mine in large dedicated piggy planters. If you are living in rented accommodation perhaps you may want to consider a sizable planter into which you can then place a rose bush, perennial or smaller shrub?

Give yourself time and a bit of rest, as much as you can, and don't put yourself under too much stress. You will find the right place and the right way when you let your heart speak.

 

[J0nesC13]

HUGS

I bury my piggies as well, so I do understand. Dealing with the body is just so final. The burial is for me the low point because it is so final. I always bury mine with a little bouquet from the garden with seasonal blooms that suit their personality.

I bury mine in large dedicated piggy planters. If you are living in rented accommodation perhaps you may want to consider a sizable planter into which you can then place a rose bush, perennial or smaller shrub?

Give yourself time and a bit of rest, as much as you can, and don't put yourself under too much stress. You will find the right place and the right way when you let your heart speak.

We are in rented, yes. I have spoken to my parents this morning, and they’ve said I can bury her at theirs as we don’t have a garden anyway. So when I’m ready, we’re going to go and pick out a nice pot for her.

Thank you so much

 

[Roselina]

This is where I buried my sweet Bobby - the tree was there and I added the daffodil bulbs and the aluim lillies just appeared
He is under the stone hedgehog which I already had
It is a comfort to me

 

[Wiebke]

I bury my piggies with a little bouquet of what is around in the garden at the time but that ideally symbolises the piggy's personality if I have the choice. It is my own little personal send-off ritual.

Just as an idea of how you can personalise what you bury your piggy with as long as it is ideally compostable (including any boxes and what goes in them with your beloved one) as well as how you would like to mark the grave. Take your time - it has to feel right for you.

 

[J0nesC13]

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1892275821/?ref=share_ios_native_control

We’ve ordered this to transfer her into (I am dreading that bit), it’s biodegradable. I’ve seen some nice plant pots on the b&q website as well. Do you think she would be ok in something like this?

 

[Wiebke]

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1892275821/?ref=share_ios_native_control

We’ve ordered this to transfer her into (I am dreading that bit), it’s biodegradable. I’ve seen some nice plant pots on the b&q website as well. Do you think she would be ok in something like this? View attachment 269695

Yes, it is a lot nicer than the plant pots I have buried some of my piggies in, to be honest - but having had to bury over 80 of them over the course of half a century, going back to my childhood piggies. You can keep it around your own house or garden and take it with you whenever you have to move if you wish (in which case I would recommend to line the container on the inside so it lasts longer) or dig a very deep hole in your parent's garden - it however a bit too solid for that purpose. It is large enough to hold several piggies. In this case, I would either recommend a cover or seasonal shallow bedding.
For a quicker decomposition process, use ericaceous compost but choose plants that can cope with acid soil.

If you have foxes, you may want to put a bit of chicken wire in at the top with just a hole for the plant and then cover it with a very thin layer of compost to prevent them from digging around. I protect my large planters with decking offcuts and a heavy load of leftover bricks. That is the downside of having a wildlife-friendly garden...

This is my first planter, planted over with shallow rooting ground cover. Once it has really sunk down, I am going to clear it out (sprinkling the soil around my borders) and have it ready for another round...


This is the pot where Pioden and Gethin are still resting in; the skimmia is providing a bit of evergreen for my porch display (this was before I could get hub to buy a large new planter)


This is the big planter currently in use with some gaps to allow rain to get in in order to aid the decomposing process. I had to add more bricks once the foxes managed to find a way in...


I hope that this helps you with your own plans. Sleep over it and then go with what feels right for you.

 

[weepweeps]

Morning everyone. Sad update. Izzie has passed away in the night. I’m not really sure what to do now. I feel awful.

I’m so very sorry. Popcorn high over the bridge Izzie.

 

[Merab]

So sorry that you lost Izzy.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve.
Holding you in my heart

 

[J0nesC13]

Thank you all so much for your kind words. My husband is taking it very hard, bless him, him and Izzie were besties.
After all that with the plants, we have decided to have her cremated instead. I know it’s not actually them any more after they’re gone, but I just wanted to be able to bring her home rather than being all on her own in my Mums garden. The vets have also said they’re going to try and get some paw prints done, and some of her fur. Although, apologies if this sounds morbid/graphic at all, I’m not sure how that works when she’s been in my freezer for a few days.

We’re going to get a canvas done of each of our piggies (George is still with us) to go either side of our wedding pictures. And I’m going to get some corner shelves to keep her on, with a nice little plant, perhaps some crystals and some fairy lights. I listened to you all, and that’s what feels right to me. Thank you all so much for your support. Xx

Also added a pic of Izzie, posing with her blackberries x