Specialist Mammary Tumour On Arthur

[Fluffball]

As I had previously suspected, Arthur has been diagnosed as having a mammary tumour. The vet was unsure as to whether it is benign or malignant. This is the first diagnosis we've had for a poorly pig, and I wanted to check that the op usually costs around £300 and £95 to get him checked after the op, for anyone who has had a pig who has made it through. If anyone has any tips for how to keep his spirits up over this time, that would also be great.
Also, if anyone has any recommendations as to where we could get our other six pigs insured, that would be fab.

 

[helen105281]

Those costs seem a little steep to me but all vets vary in their charges and if it is an exotics vet then they do tend to charge more. I am tagging @Pebble and @Abi_nurse who may know more. I have no experience of this type of op in my own pigs but hopefully someone will be along who does.

As far as I know Exotics Direct are the only company in the UK who insure guinea pigs.

 

[katew]

So sorry to hear about Arthur.

About two years ago one of our girls was diagnosed with the same and we were quoted about £250.

Fingers crossed for Arthur. Hope all goes well.

 

[Pebble]

I guess we firstly have to go back to "how did the vet make the diagnosis?". Have they performed a needle aspirate to determine this is "a significant" lump that requires removal as opposed to a fatty lump?

If they have, then the costs quoted may also included for a diagnostic of the lump removed to ascertain if it is benign or malignant. (Worth asking your vet to clarify this as could explain the slightly higher price you have been quoted to other members)

I'm afraid that many mammary tumours are malignant - so the success of the operation may depend upon firstly how soon this has been "caught" and secondly on how deeply the tumour is set within this body and it;s proxmity to other organs.

The good news is that from what you have described - this is a very early case...and it could still be benign but you need histology tests to confirm that..

Start weighing him daily both pre and post op as this will help you to ascertain if he is taking in enough food to keep his guts going. Be prepared to have to syringe feed and get gut stimulants from your vet for the first few days post op until he recovers eating his normal quanittes, and also ensure that he is discharged with appropriate daily pain relief (metacam).

Think about putting him in a small "hospital" cage on towels or fleece post-op so you can monitor his output and keep his wound clean

Just a few suggestions - please don;t hesitate to keep asking questions on your htread

Keeping all fingers and paws crosed here for Arthur
x

 

[Abi_nurse]

As for price I would say £200-300 is fine for the op, but the £95 check up fee is not really on as most vets will do this for free. That £95 could be spent on finding out exactly what the lump is.

Exotics direct are the only insurance who insure piggies that I know of.

As for keeping spirits up, please try your best not to be concerned. Yes, all aneasthesia carries a risk but I think the danger of aneasthesia is really overdone. If he is otherwise well then he should cope with the GA better than you think.

Good luck.

x

 

[Fluffball]

I guess we firstly have to go back to "how did the vet make the diagnosis?". Have they performed a needle aspirate to determine this is "a significant" lump that requires removal as opposed to a fatty lump?

If they have, then the costs quoted may also included for a diagnostic of the lump removed to ascertain if it is benign or malignant. (Worth asking your vet to clarify this as could explain the slightly higher price you have been quoted to other members)

I'm afraid that many mammary tumours are malignant - so the success of the operation may depend upon firstly how soon this has been "caught" and secondly on how deeply the tumour is set within this body and it;s proxmity to other organs.

The good news is that from what you have described - this is a very early case...and it could still be benign but you need histology tests to confirm that..

Start weighing him daily both pre and post op as this will help you to ascertain if he is taking in enough food to keep his guts going. Be prepared to have to syringe feed and get gut stimulants from your vet for the first few days post op until he recovers eating his normal quanittes, and also ensure that he is discharged with appropriate daily pain relief (metacam).

Think about putting him in a small "hospital" cage on towels or fleece post-op so you can monitor his output and keep his wound clean

Just a few suggestions - please don;t hesitate to keep asking questions on your htread

Keeping all fingers and paws crosed here for Arthur
x

Thankyou for the advice- the vet felt around the lump and then as he gently squeezed it, murky looking blood started to come out, which caused him to be fairly certain that it's a tumour- oddly Arthur remained really calm whilst all of this was happening and didn't whimper at all. After weighing him, he found the poor chaps lost some weight too. Checked with my vet today, and he said the £95 was to diagnose what the lump was and whether it has completely gone- overall he said that there's a 50% chance that the op would keep Arthur alive for a bit longer, and that he wasn't sure, based purely on feeling the lump, at how long Arthur would otherwise have left to live without having the op.