Cibach
Junior Guinea Pig
A couple of weeks ago I took Latte to the vet because we had found a small, round lump on her tummy, near to her left nipple. The vet examined her carefully and decided that it was suspicious enough to warrant removing it as soon as possible. So she was admitted last Wednesday (Nov. 2nd) and had the lump removed, she had the piggy equivalent of a mastectomy. I was very worried about her because I have heard so many tales of small mammals having a hard time with anaesthetic but the vet was very reassuring, and whilst he couldn't give me an absolute guarantee, his record was exemplary and I agreed to go ahead with it, She sailed through it all with very little effect and her quite large scar (about 1 inch long) is healing nicely.
During the day that she was out of the pen the other 3 girls that she lives with didn't quite know what to do with themselves. Latte is definitely the boss and it was as if they needed her to order their day. They spent most of the day in the hay trays looking at each other and waiting for each other to do something and then following along. This surprised me as they are a fairly independent bunch and I hadn't realised just how much influence the "Boss" had.
I collected her from the clinic and the vet told me that she was marvellous. Within 15 mins of waking up she was eating and drinking and then weeing and pooing, and had been taking a keen interest in what had been going on. The comment was that she was very "Handleable" so I think she had had lots of cuddles during her stay!
When we returned I just popped her back in the pen without any fuss and Cappuccino and Ethel came straight over to greet her. Annie was asleep under a stick bridge and didn't realise that she was back. Latte hopped into one of the hay trays and started to tuck in. Something must have woken Annie and she stuck her head out of the bridge and began to chirp like a little bird. I've heard her do that before but have never known why. Latte began to come over and when Annie saw that it was her she ran to her and washed her face.
I found the reunion very touching. It confirmed to me what a bonded group they really are even if they don't spend all their time in each other's pockets, so to speak.
That evening Latte was, understandably, rather tired and slept a lot on her heating pad, but one of the others was always in close attendance, and when I came down the next morning, they were all asleep under the bridge.
Now everything is back to normal and Latte jumps up and down off the ramp to the top deck when it is raised for cleaning. She seems to enjoy having her wound bathed, as long as the water is warm!
I chose not to have the lump analysed as it would have cost half as much as the surgery and not altered her care in any way, but the vet cut into it after he had removed it, and said that it was definitely a tumour. So we are on the lookout for any recurrence.
Latte is 3 years old now and a big, healthy piggy, so I have no real worries for her. I'm glad we had it removed when it was small enough to be able to get it all.
During the day that she was out of the pen the other 3 girls that she lives with didn't quite know what to do with themselves. Latte is definitely the boss and it was as if they needed her to order their day. They spent most of the day in the hay trays looking at each other and waiting for each other to do something and then following along. This surprised me as they are a fairly independent bunch and I hadn't realised just how much influence the "Boss" had.
I collected her from the clinic and the vet told me that she was marvellous. Within 15 mins of waking up she was eating and drinking and then weeing and pooing, and had been taking a keen interest in what had been going on. The comment was that she was very "Handleable" so I think she had had lots of cuddles during her stay!
When we returned I just popped her back in the pen without any fuss and Cappuccino and Ethel came straight over to greet her. Annie was asleep under a stick bridge and didn't realise that she was back. Latte hopped into one of the hay trays and started to tuck in. Something must have woken Annie and she stuck her head out of the bridge and began to chirp like a little bird. I've heard her do that before but have never known why. Latte began to come over and when Annie saw that it was her she ran to her and washed her face.
I found the reunion very touching. It confirmed to me what a bonded group they really are even if they don't spend all their time in each other's pockets, so to speak.
That evening Latte was, understandably, rather tired and slept a lot on her heating pad, but one of the others was always in close attendance, and when I came down the next morning, they were all asleep under the bridge.
Now everything is back to normal and Latte jumps up and down off the ramp to the top deck when it is raised for cleaning. She seems to enjoy having her wound bathed, as long as the water is warm!
I chose not to have the lump analysed as it would have cost half as much as the surgery and not altered her care in any way, but the vet cut into it after he had removed it, and said that it was definitely a tumour. So we are on the lookout for any recurrence.
Latte is 3 years old now and a big, healthy piggy, so I have no real worries for her. I'm glad we had it removed when it was small enough to be able to get it all.
