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Lymphoma

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Harli

Harli

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Hi

My guinea pig Jasmine was diagnosed with lymphoma tonight. The vet suggested steroid treatment evey two weeks as a palliative treatment. I have read on several websites that this treatment is pretty ineffective and most GPs die within 6 weeks with or without the steroids. Does anyone have any experience of this? I don't want to put Jasmine through the injections if there is no point. At the moment she is pretty much normal (eating, drinking, squeaking and singing) just lumpy.

Thanks

Harli
 
oh no, I'm so sorry. I have no experience sorry, but I'm bumping this up for you.

Good luck with your piggy x
 
Oh lord - I'm so sorry to read that Jasmine is poorly :Ayociexp118:
Hope someone with experience can offer you some good advice - personally, I could not refuse the treatment for any of mine unless they were suffering or as you said, a poor prognosis :...
Sending gentle hugs to your girl...so unfair they have to go through such illnesses x>>
 
I just wanted to say how sorry I am to hear such news. How awful for you and Jasmine. My thoughts are with you.
 
Hi Harli

Hugs! I really do sympathise. Many of my herd were diganosed with possible genetically transmitted lymphoma two years ago. After many tests/PM's etc it would appear that my herd have leukamia which is slightly different from lymphoma but the same prognosis.

I have spent many hours discussing with my very good exotics vets possible treatments for both lymphoma and leukaemia


It's all about quality of life - for both of you.


You might like to read "Big Boys" thread on guinea lynx - their vet used steroids and asparaginase and put the lymphoma into remission.

http://www.guinealynx.info/records/viewtopic.php?t=123


It's a very difficult decision I know and there are issue with using steroids - they were prescibed for my leukaemia piggies and they suppress the immune system to there IS a real risk of infection. Here is willow's thread.......he was put on steroids......

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=69493

I think at the end of the day there is no right or wrong decision - you have to decide what works best for you in terms of the level of intensive care you can give your piggie vs her quality of life....and how far the disease has already progressed. Is she still normal weight or is she losing rapidly? That *** help guide your decision.

I'm happy to have a chat with you over the phone - as this is not an easy decision to make so if you want my phone number please PM me.

So sorry you have had this sad news.

x
 
Thanks

Thanks for all the support, it is very much appreciated. At the moment Jasmine is a very happy little piggie. She hasn't lost any weight and is possibly a little over weight to be honest (the vet commented on how plump she was). She is eating well, running round with her sister, squeaking madly for her veggies etc. You really wouldn't know she was ill. She had her first steroid injection yesterday and I have to take her back to the vet in 2 weeks to see if there has been any improvement. It might be my imagination, and hoping, but the lump at the side of her neck seemed smaller today. I read the link about the chemo and will print it out for my vet. I have to say my vet is excellent and has always been really good with my piggies. Jasmine is two and a half and is white and brown, we got her to keep Daisee company as her sister had died suddenly. Daisee is three and a half and is grey and white. She isn't really a "cuddly" pig but Jasmine is. Jasmine ansd Daisee both "sing" which the the most amazing thing, I know they both do it because I have actually witnessed them (they don't sing at the same time). I managed to record Daisee singing on my phone but it is a bit faint. I have kept guines pigs for several years and this is my second with lymphoma. The first time no treatment was offered but that was a while ago. I have other pets too, 2 cats, 2 Syrian hamsters, a chinese hamster and 3 mice.
 
Hi Harli, So sorry to hear your sad news. I would be the same as others on here and probably get the vet to give her treatment as well.

She sounds a very happy piggy and it sounds as if you give her a lovely home and life. All you can really do is continue to give her lots of love and make her life happy and lovely while you have her.

Lots of love and thinking of you xx
 
Hi

I have agreed to the steroid treatment. The vet said he will be able to tell after two weeks if it is working and if it is, and he was fairly confident it would work, then we keep it up until it stops working. I am hoping that as Jasmine is young and plump that might help. I forgot to mention she lives indoors so I can keep a close eye on her. At the moment she is happily eating brocollli and toying with a sweetcorn cob, she gets tomato later as that is her favourite.
 
Jasmine update

Jasmine seems to be doing OK. She watched the football with me wrapped in a nice warm blanket, she likes a cuddle bless her. She is eating and drinking and playing in her hay as normal. I bought her some fancy herbal hay but she seems to prefer the regular stuff. I tried her with strawberries but she just trod them into the hay so I guess she doesn't like them much. She bullied her sister into letting her sleep in the little hut (Daisee normally claims that for her naps).

What sort of things should I watch out for? She hasn't lost weight, she is eating and drinking normally. She seems as active as ever. I know she is ill but she sure hides it well (I know that piggies do though).
 
Advice please

Hi

I need a bit of advice please. Jasmine has started peeing on her leg, always the same leg and not every day. She isn't drinking any more than normal or peeing more than normal, the pee is normal GP pee colour and smell and there is no blood in the pee. So, I am wondering if she is just peeing on her leg whilst laid down because she can't be bothered to get up or is this part of the lymphoma thing. She is a bit fat but she runs about as normal (no problems with mobility, all legs working fine) and the pee covered leg doesn't seem to bother her at all although I have seen her washing it herself a few times. I have been washing the leg but she has never been keen on being bathed and protests strongly. Other than this problem she is eating normally and acting normally. In fact right now she is happily munching herbal hay and warbling at Daisee whilst no doubt cursing the evil human who lovingly washed her little pee covered leg.

Thanks
 
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