• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Miss Pearl Buttons and her glands

Status
Not open for further replies.
A

Augustus

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Sep 22, 2008
Messages
53
Reaction score
1
Points
150
Location
Leyton
On Christmas Eve, as I was slipping Candypig and Pearl Buttons into their cage, I felt a lump on Pearl's back leg. Changing grip to have a closer look, there was also a lump in her throat - that one worried me because it was very deep, not just under the skin, like fatty lumps. And you have to have these now, Pearl? 6pm Christmas Eve after the vet has shut? Well, provided they don't grow too fast, they can wait.

So, on the Tuesday, in the piddling rain, off to the vet we go. He has a feel and a hmmmm-hm. Well now Pearl has 6 lumps. 2 in her throat, 2 behind her front legs, and 2 by her back legs. So these are not just ordinary lumps. These are guinea pig glands coming up like marbles.

Pearl was whisked off to have blood samples taken and so on. She had course of Baytril for her (just in case it's an infection) and the results were due to come back on New Years Eve.

I rang the vets on Monday. No results.

I rang the vets on Tuesday. No results.

I rang the vets Wednesday. Results. The vet was operating, so she rang later - she rang my mum, not me (they're registered under my mum's address). Anyway, she told my mum that the samples they sent were too thick and could I take Pearl back in so they could take more samples. This is free, gratis and for nothing, so I think that's vet-ese for "the lab has lost the samples, please don't get annoyed at us." So I have to take her back in on Saturday. The senior vet will be a bit surprised to see us (he's on holiday at the mo).

Today, her glands are still up and she's rather quiet. She's eating (when she can get round Candypig to actually get at the carrots). Apart from that, she does seem to be losing weight and she is much easier to catch - i usually get a handful of air when trying to catch her and she's an expert at being backed into poo corner, so if I do get her, it's minging. She's eating, but they do, don't they, right up to the end. I am a little worried about her.

Anyone have any experience of this sort of thing?

Samantha
 
no advice for you but wish you the best of luck in finding out what is wrong with her! have you tried talking to a rodentologist? thinking of you and your piggy!
 
Sorry I'm no help but I'm sure others with a lot more experience will be along soon.

Sending possitive vibes your way I hope you can get to the bottom of this soon.
 
if your really worried you could try vedra at the cambridge cavy trust she helped me over the phone and may have just saved my guineas life after his tummy stopped working she was great even though she never saw him and even has I'm not a cambridge trust member..
 
It sounds like a condition known as "Generalised lymphadenopathy", which means many/all of the lymph nodes are enlarged. It can be a difficult condition to treat. It may respond to antibiotics and/or steroids.
The prognosis is sometimes not very good.
 
Last edited:
It sounds like a condition known as "Generalised lymphadenopathy", which means many/all of the lymph nodes are enlarged.

A visit to Google will tell you more, too much to type!
 
Last edited:
"It sounds like a condition known as "Generalised lymphadenopathy", which means many/all of the lymph nodes are enlarged. It can be a difficult condition to treat. It may respond to antibiotics and/or steroids.
The prognosis is sometimes not very good."
 
AP - Which antibiotic would be preferable for a pig with suspected generalised lymphadenopathy? Baytril/Septrin, or something a little stronger?

Augustus, I wish you all the best with your piggie. I'm afraid I'm lost myself this time, so no useful advice here, but I do hope you are able to get a diagnosis and treatment plan soon.
 
sorry to hijack the thread with lots of questions? but is it contagious to other piggies?
 
The causes of the condition are not limited to bacterial infections. Viral infections can be implicated, so can auto-immune conditions. Neoplasia, ie "cancer" can cause problems.
It is very much a case of trying anything/everything as a treatment. I have only seen a few cases, all of which proved fatal.
Maybe treatment has advanced in recent years to give a better outlook.
It could be worth getting a biopsy of one of the nodes in an attempt to determine the cause and the best possible treatment.
 
The best antibiotic to use would be dependent upon the bacterium that is causing the infection - (that is assuming it is due to a bacterial infection rather than viral or malignant in origin). Hopefully the results should be through soon and the vet will know the cause and therefore the best treatment.

Only baytril is licensed as an antibiotic for guinea pigs although some vets are prepared to use other antibiotics (septrin/tetracycline/azithromycin etc) if baytril doesn;t work.

[*]If[/*] it is a bacterium (or virus) then it could be contagious to other pigs.

If Miss Pearl is not eating as much it is worthwhile giving critical care/supreme recovery to ensure she gets adequate food to keep her strength up (and weigh her every day). It's also important to ensure she gets adequate fluids so using a syringe to give water may also help.

Hope the vet has some answers for you soon
x
 
Quick update

I'm afraid Pearl Buttons crossed the Bridge this morning. It was obvious this morning when I went to clean out Pearl and Candy that Pearl was very ill. She couldn’t move much and had wedged herself upright in the corner. She didn't try to run away when I scratched behind her ears. The Vet had a look at Pearl and we looked at each other and just shook our heads. The tests haven't come back yet, but he was pretty sure that it was cancer, because the Baytril didn't touch it at all. I think that if I hadn't taken her to the vet she would not be there when I got home, but I couldn't bear the thought of her suffering like that.

I shall bury her in Mum & Dad's garden with some parsley and red chard to see her on her way.

And now I have to see what I can do for Candypig.

Samantha
 
I'm so sorry to hear this, RIP Miss Pearl Buttons, you were very much loved.
 
Samantha, I'm so sorry I didn't see this thread until now. I'm devastated to know you've lost your Pearly girl, and send my love and sympathy.

Is there any chance that Candy might be able to share with Basil and his wife?
 
my condolences
it is a lovely thought to bury her with parsley and chard.
hugs to you all
Becca
 
I am very sorry to hear this! RIP darling piggy.
I hope Candypig will be fine!?
 
I'm very sorry to hear your sad news. It's never easy, but from the symptoms you describe I think your vet has given you the right advice. You did everything you could.

Hugs for you and Candy.

Sleep well little Miss Pearl.

x
 
Sue G said:
Samantha, I'm so sorry I didn't see this thread until now. I'm devastated to know you've lost your Pearly girl, and send my love and sympathy.

Is there any chance that Candy might be able to share with Basil and his wife?
Click to expand...


I'm not keen on putting Candy in with Basil and Topaz. Topaz is very demure with Basil, but with other sows, she has what I call a 'strong front paw' which means she's not terribly tolerant of other women being near her man and tends to get a bit bolshy about it. Candy is comparatively elderly, at about 3 1/2, so it could get a bit out of hand. I'd have to get a new bigger cage and still face the possibility that I'd have to split them up. Oh and I'd need a bigger indoor cage too, for this sort of weather.

I think what I need to find is either an elderly neutered boar or sow or possibly a baby piggie.

Thanks everyone for your support.

Samantha
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top