Lump on older lady pig

[foxy2279]

Need some advice. Bit of a back story.
I noticed a lump on my approximately ( most likely older) 6 and a half year old sow Trixie on Sunday. It's on her side just in front of her leg. Took her to the vets had a x-ray and they attempted to get a sample of the fluid from the lump but Trixie got very stressed so they bought her back to me as they were worried.
Sadly they can't tell what it is from the small sample they got but it's not a fatty lump the vet thinks most likely to be a tumor of some sort. The x-ray confirms it is coming from deep inside her abdomen somewhere.
I've been offered for her to be gassed down ( which the vet even said is likely to stress her) so they can get a better sample. This fills me with fear as I lost Trixie's sister Tallulah three years ago doing the same thing.
Trixie is well in herself eating, drinking, pooing, playing as normal.
I'm not sure which way to go. As it's not effecting her to not do the biopsy or to do it and run the risk of losing her ( it's a huge fear of mine due to what happened with her sister).

Need some advise please from people outside the situation due to my fears about the gas down x

 

[Wiebke]

Need some advice. Bit of a back story.
I noticed a lump on my approximately ( most likely older) 6 and a half year old sow Trixie on Sunday. It's on her side just in front of her leg. Took her to the vets had a x-ray and they attempted to get a sample of the fluid from the lump but Trixie got very stressed so they bought her back to me as they were worried.
Sadly they can't tell what it is from the small sample they got but it's not a fatty lump the vet thinks most likely to be a tumor of some sort. The x-ray confirms it is coming from deep inside her abdomen somewhere.
I've been offered for her to be gassed down ( which the vet even said is likely to stress her) so they can get a better sample. This fills me with fear as I lost Trixie's sister Tallulah three years ago doing the same thing.
Trixie is well in herself eating, drinking, pooing, playing as normal.
I'm not sure which way to go. As it's not effecting her to not do the biopsy or to do it and run the risk of losing her ( it's a huge fear of mine due to what happened with her sister).

Need some advise please from people outside the situation due to my fears about the gas down x

Hi!

Deep sitting lumps in older piggies are never the news you want to hear.

Unfortunately this means that you have to make the decision to either let Trixie live our her life as she is, for as long as she has got good quality of life and the will to live, and then pts when the time has come to spare her any suffering, or you can decide to opt for more testing and an operation if that is the way to go and there is a good a chance of her making a full recovery and being able to live on well for a goodly while.
Either decision has their pros and cons, so there is no right or wrong which way you decide - as long as you make that decision with Trixie's wellbeing and not your fears of loss upmost in mind.

You are always welcome to have an open chat with your vet about what your options, the consquences of your choices and the prospects and guarantees of success are, so you can make as informed a decision as possible. Any good vet is willing to give you the facts if you ask them for it; the ultimate decision is always yours; in a situation like this, you also have time to think it over if you wish to and not have to make that decision there an then.

6 years is slap-bang in the middle of the average life-span for guinea pigs, so she is a very good age. Unfortunately, it is in the nature of pets that they live shorter lives, which includes saying goodbye and having to make end of life decisions like that. They are never easy, nor is the time when you come face to face with not just the abstract, but suddenly rather real potential of loss in a beloved one, be that a pet or a human.

Take a deep breath and concentrate on what is important for Trixie, first and foremost. The knowledge that you have done right by her - whatever you do - is going to make coping easier later on.

HUGS

 

[Claire W]

I had a 6+ year old piggy last year who sadly had a cancerous tumour just above her leg she had a fine needle biopsy taken but thankfully my vet was able to do it without sedation.

I had a good and honest chat with my vet who I trust very much and after that discussion, we made the decision to just let Emma enjoy whatever time she had left with her two friends.

Emma lived for a further 8 months with no problems until she died of something unrelated.

But you need to weigh up the pros and the cons. But for us, the pros of not operating outweighed the con. Hugs, it’s a tough decision and sadly, only one you can make.

 

[Muscy Mel]

I had a similar situtation with one of my ferrets. She was a sweet old girl, but during an ultrasound it was discovered that she had a big mass on her liver, most likely cancerous. She was so old, and already frail that we decided to let her live until she was suffering, then i had to make that hard decision She lived for about 3/4 months after the diagnosis, but i honestly don't think she would have made it any longer if she'd have had an operation. The op would have been so risky and stressful due to the location so i didn't want to put her through it at her age, if she was younger, then yes. I hope you manage to find a solution that works for you both. Thinking of you both! xx

 

[foxy2279]

Thank you everyone.
I've spoken to my vet who is savvy with guineas ( originally I saw a different one in the practice but still good) and asked for his honest opinion on treatment. He went through all the options with me pros, cons and we discussed moving forward. He's on holiday now for a couple of weeks so has told me to take my time to think about it and discuss with my hubby. Trixie is well in herself there's no big rush.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you everyone.
I've spoken to my vet who is savvy with guineas ( originally I saw a different one in the practice but still good) and asked for his honest opinion on treatment. He went through all the options with me pros, cons and we discussed moving forward. He's on holiday now for a couple of weeks so has told me to take my time to think about it and discuss with my hubby. Trixie is well in herself there's no big rush.

Take your time to mull it over and then go with what in your heart of hearts is right for Trixie and what you feel you can live best with in the long term.

None of us like the 'between a rock and a hard place' decisions where there is no obvious and safe solution anymore.
I have gone either way repeatedly over the years, depending on the piggy and the individual situation. Sometimes, the better answer was that giving a piggy a realistic chance at a goodly time longer (even if it may not come off and indeed has not always come off) and sometimes allowing a piggy to have as many happy days as there were left has felt right. Neither way is easier on your emotions.

The important thing is that you can live with your decision once the chips are down and your head and heart have come back together so you can retain that precious loving memory of the many happy years together.

You have my full sympathy!