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LENNY - Very Large Tumor

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LennyPig

LennyPig

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Hello all,

Well following my trip to the vets with Lenny, he has today had an xray (unsedated!).

MY PREVIOUS THREAD IS HERE FOR INFO (if required)

This xray has sadly confirmed that he has a very large tumor growing round his hip joint / femur bone.

At this point we are unsure of what type of tumor and whether it is malignant, but we do know that it was a very very fast growing one which doesn't look good.

He is booked in for next Wednesday for an operation to remove his back left leg and to perform a biopsy at the same time.

To be honest the thought of him on 3 legs is not my biggest fear as I think he'd cope very well but I'm concerned about him having a GA, mainly because I've lost a pig in the last few months due to GA complications.

The vet does think there is realistically no other choice. He will need a biopsy either way and a GA is needed for this anyway.

I dunno what I'm asking to be honest, would just appreciate advice and feedback on my story so far x

Thanks,

Sam
x
 
Hi Sam,

How awful, I must say my pig Milo has had 2 GA's and bounced back hopefully your boy will be the same.

I'll be thinking about both you and Lenny.

x
 
There are lots of well wishes and hopes for a good outcome coming your way - losing a pig to GA complications is not common so fingers crossed for a smooth surgery and post op free of complications!

Suzy x
 
So sorry Lenny is so poorly and needs a GA. Hope he does okay. :laluot_29:
Can't really offer any advice as we've got a slightly different situation: Yoshi has a large tumour on his front leg/armpit but the vet doesn't think it's malignant and says as long as it's not bothering him is best left alone as a GA is too risky on such portly piggie. I do hope Lenny pulls through okay. (((((hugs)))))
 
Oh Sam I'm so sorry the news wasn't better. I don't have any experience of 3 legged piggies but we did have a 3 legged hammy (only 1 rear leg) who lived a very active and long life - you wouldn't have known he was minus a leg bless him.

I hope Lenny's surgery goes well and that you get some positive results from the biopsy. You are doing everything you possibly can to give your little guy the best chance of recovery and he has a fabulous piggy slave to come home to. Sending hugs at such a difficult time.
 
In addition, any advice about caring for a three legged pig would be appreciated.
 
Didn't somebody with a three legged guinea pig post the other day or am I remembering wrong? Have you done a search? x
 
And thank you everyone for the kind words already sent my way... it is very much appreciated at this time.

He has actually had 2 GAs already when he was very young (few months old)... firstly to neuter him and then a week later to operate on a large hernia that happened due to the neutering. He did actually bounce back from both of these ops perfectly fine, but being 3 years old now, I'm just concerned I guess.

Tis going to be a VERY expensive job when all done, but I don't care, I just want him to be OK. :(
 
thinking of you and Lenny and wishing him all the best and hugs to you x
 
I'm sorry to hear about Lenny but if it's a very fast growing tumour then isn't it more likely to be malignant? I would have a biopsy done first otherwise Lenny may be going through surgery that will only give him a couple more months at the most. I would be concerned that the cancer may have already metastasised elsewhere in his body. I really hope that's not the case.
 
Sorry to hear about Lenny. Hope his operation goes well and he makes a good recovery.

I also think there was a 3 legged thread on here the other day ... and I think someone posted a link to a you tube video where some kind of assistance kit was made for the piggy,

Keep us posted
xx

PS I found this thread

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=78272&highlight=leg

although its not the one I was thinking about ..... or possibly imagined....
 
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cavykisser said:
I'm sorry to hear about Lenny but if it's a very fast growing tumour then isn't it more likely to be malignant? I would have a biopsy done first otherwise Lenny may be going through surgery that will only give him a couple more months at the most. I would be concerned that the cancer may have already metastasised elsewhere in his body. I really hope that's not the case.
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Yes, you are right, it IS more likely to be malignant and it is more likely to have spread but given that they have to put him under a GA to perform the biopsy and that the leg does need to come off either way (simply to give him quality of life and remove the biggest cause of his pain for whatever time he has) then it seems stupid to put him through TWO GAs.
 
Well personally I would have him put to sleep rather than put him through a very serious operation which no doubt will be painful and may only grant him a few weeks/months of life before he finally succumbs to cancer. If it is malignant then it has probably already spread to other parts of his body and I would be very concerned about his quality of life postoperatively. If the biopsy comes back and it is a malignant tumour would you have him put to sleep or let him carry on in pain until he dies? Sorry to be so blunt and I know it's very upsetting, but I think it's selfish to put a pig through such major surgery when the prognosis is so poor given the clinical observations to date.
 
LennyPig said:
Yes, you are right, it IS more likely to be malignant and it is more likely to have spread but given that they have to put him under a GA to perform the biopsy and that the leg does need to come off either way (simply to give him quality of life and remove the biggest cause of his pain for whatever time he has) then it seems stupid to put him through TWO GAs.
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You and your vet are in the best position to judge Lenny's quality of life. Lots of hugs and best wishes to you and little Lenny.
 
Sorry to hear this and hope he makes it okay through the op.

It's not quite the same but I had a three legged hamster who was absolutely fine - no issues at all.
 
((HUGS))- I hope the op goes well and the biopsy gives you good news! Please keep us posted- I'll be thinking of Lenny!
 
cavykisser said:
Well personally I would have him put to sleep rather than put him through a very serious operation which no doubt will be painful and may only grant him a few weeks/months of life before he finally succumbs to cancer. If it is malignant then it has probably already spread to other parts of his body and I would be very concerned about his quality of life postoperatively. If the biopsy comes back and it is a malignant tumour would you have him put to sleep or let him carry on in pain until he dies? Sorry to be so blunt and I know it's very upsetting, but I think it's selfish to put a pig through such major surgery when the prognosis is so poor given the clinical observations to date.
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If I thought for even one minute that putting him through this operation would be futile and would not benefit HIM, I would not be doing it.

Hardly selfish, given I am willing to spend a hell of a lot of money here to look after him and do what is best for him.

Although an extremely hard decision, I would not be afraid of having him PTS IF I thought this was the best option for him but it is not the right decision at this time given that he is otherwise in good health and an active piggy AND that we do not know what the prognosis is at this time. (after all my vet and I ARE the ones who have actually met him and who are familiar with him, something which you can not say).

That is the last thing I have to say to you.
 
Thanks everyone for your lovely messages and words of advice. x
 
Well I really hope for the pig's sake that the tumour is benign otherwise he will have gone through all that for nothing. And by the way, I don't mean selfish in terms of pounds spent on treatment either!

That's all I have to say on the matter too.
 
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cavykisser said:
Well I really hope for the pig's sake that the tumour is benign otherwise he will have gone through all that for nothing. And by the way, I don't mean selfish in terms of pounds spent on treatment either!

That's all I have to say on the matter too.
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... and your credentials to back this up are what exactly?
 
Lennypig,

We ALL wish that Lenny was a fit and well pig, BUT if you put his story on a forum, you WILL get people who disagree with what you decide - its just one of those things. Everyone is passionate about their animals, but we all have different views on things.

On a personal note, given the info that has been put on this thread, i have to say that i agree with what has been said by cavykisser, BUT you are right, we can't see Lenny and none of us are vets, but asking for someones credentials seems a bit petty IMHO.

Why don't we all agree to disagree on this one and wish Lenny well.

Alison
 
I don't have a clue of how you must be feeling :(
All I can do is wish you and Lenny the best of luck and I will say a little prayer for Lenny too.

Loads and loads of love towards Lenny and hopefully everything will turn out fine. Everything happens for a reason and in the end death is inevitable, but I hope Lenny has many more years to come.

Best of luck and do keep us informed of what is happening x
 
My dog Rose had a large lump on her neck(cancerous), we paid almost £1000 to have it removed. She was then given only 2 months to live as it was the most aggressive form of cancer you can get. She fought very hard and proved the vet wrong, she lived happily for another 15 months. The cancer unfortunately spread to her mouth towards the end and she could no longer eat.
Before that though she seemed to be happy living her life to the full. We let her go a couple of days after christmas 3 years ago, a hard but neccesary decision.
There is always hope and to give up before trying anything is not something I would do. To think we could have pts before Rose even had the op breaks my heart, when she still had so much life in her. Of course not all animals are the same but I wanted to share my own experience and say follow your heart, do what you think is right, our beloved pets are stronger than we think x
 
LennyPig said:
... and your credentials to back this up are what exactly?
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As I said in my last post I will not enter into further discussion with you regarding this matter. I stand by my original observations.
 
Wishing you both all the best - Hope all goes well - and yes,there was someone posting on here the other day asking for suggestions for a name for a 3 legged piggy - and her hubby wanted to call him tripod - xx
 
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