• 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

My Poor Little Harriet

Status
Not open for further replies.

Dilly's Piggies

Teenage Guinea Pig
Joined
Jan 27, 2016
Messages
834
Reaction score
656
Points
525
Location
Lincolnshire UK
For the past 8 weeks now Harriet has been causing so many problems with her 3 herdmates, chasing, mounting, rumbling, acting extremely hormonal, but this is not her fault and I feel really sorry for her, I think she may have ovarian cysts given her symptoms and this new symptom I noticed today. Her nipples have been extremely large this whole time but recently I've noticed crusts forming around the nipple too, from what I've read this is really typical of OC but when I took her to the vet 2 weeks ago they weren't concerned for her at all. I have to take her back on the 22nd for a recheck as she is gradually losing weight too, she was 1000g 4 weeks ago and is now 910g. I'm so worried about her, I just hope whatever happens that she will be okay, she has only just turned 1 year old :(

DSC08750.webp
DSC08752.webp
 
My Fuzzy had that and my local vets said it was just sebum (they don't see that many pigs) even though she was causing chaos in the herd. Took her to Simon Maddock in Northampton who straight away confirmed that she had microscopic ovarian cysts that were causing her to be permanently in season. She was spayed the next day. Our local vets had done an ultrasound but nothing showed up as the cysts were so small. It is usually the tiny ones that cause the hormonal behaviour.
 
My Fuzzy had that and my local vets said it was just sebum (they don't see that many pigs) even though she was causing chaos in the herd. Took her to Simon Maddock in Northampton who straight away confirmed that she had microscopic ovarian cysts that were causing her to be permanently in season. She was spayed the next day. Our local vets had done an ultrasound but nothing showed up as the cysts were so small. It is usually the tiny ones that cause the hormonal behaviour.
My current vet is your normal cat and dog clinic, I took her in and the vet I saw couldn't be less interested in helping Harriet at all, there are vets that I like there but this one that saw her I really do not like, I was really disappointed in that visit as even before this crust formed she was showing really obvious signs of hormonal issues. Even though Harriet has dropped 90g in weight the vet says she's still a healthy weight and not in any danger and does not think she has cysts at all, I get the sense that particular vet didn't want to do anything until Harriet is obviously very sick and in a lot of pain before helping her which really bugged me and broke my heart. I hope when I take her in again and show them the new developments that they will do something, if not I'm definitely taking the journey to an experienced vet like Simon or Sarah Pellet, I'm sure they would be happy to help her :(
 
My current vet is your normal cat and dog clinic, I took her in and the vet I saw couldn't be less interested in helping Harriet at all, there are vets that I like there but this one that saw her I really do not like, I was really disappointed in that visit as even before this crust formed she was showing really obvious signs of hormonal issues. Even though Harriet has dropped 90g in weight the vet says she's still a healthy weight and not in any danger and does not think she has cysts at all, I get the sense that particular vet didn't want to do anything until Harriet is obviously very sick and in a lot of pain before helping her which really bugged me and broke my heart. I hope when I take her in again and show them the new developments that they will do something, if not I'm definitely taking the journey to an experienced vet like Simon or Sarah Pellet, I'm sure they would be happy to help her :(

I definitely recommend the trip to Simon as he deals with these kind of issues regularly. He recently spayed my Maud too. I have heard good things about Sarah aswell.
 
I definitely recommend the trip to Simon as he deals with these kind of issues regularly. He recently spayed my Maud too. I have heard good things about Sarah aswell.
I've had 2 piggies go through surgery at my regular clinic in the past and neither of them survived the anaesthetic, I've had Harriet since birth and she is far too precious to me to risk them performing any surgery on her, I will definitely fork out the money and travel to have the best vet do such a risky surgery on my little baby! :(
 
I am so sorry you are going through all of this - thank goodness your girl has a strong advocate in you.
To be honest I would probably try and make an appointment to see a specialist somewhere else, as you will undoubtedly get to the root of the problem much faster with an experienced vet who is interested in guinea pigs.
Our local vet is great for obvious stuff (hay pokes and fungal infections), but for anything more complicated I would always travel further to a more experienced guinea pig vet.
 
I'm sorry the vet isn't being more helpful- it may be worth a longer trip to a more cavy-savvy vet because I do think you are quite right to be concerned about ovarian cysts with behavior disturbances and crusty nipples!
 
Hope you get this sorted. Still a trek for you but I can 100% recommend Craig at Chine house vets/hospital in Leicestershire- he's an exotic specialist and great with pigs apparently. Not had to take mine thankfully but last year he saved our dogs life when she fell seriously ill with a horrendous bladder problem that was seemingly best to put her down. Craig stepped up and researched her rare case, consulted with experts and operated. Got her from colostomy bag to weeing naturally in 6 months.
Not piggy related I know but any vet that goes all the way against all odds is well worth recommending.
 
I am so sorry that Harriet has these problems.
I would certainly recommend having her seen by a cavy savvy vet. As it isn't an emergency you can take your time and plan to seek a more experienced vet if you wish.
I have had 3 of my girls spayed successfully at my vets (who are exotics specialists). 2 had laparoscopic surgery and one a full spay. 2 of them were over 4 at the time of surgery (so higher risk) and sailed through without a problem. In the right hands piggies can do well and recover from this type of surgery.
 
I've had 2 piggies go through surgery at my regular clinic in the past and neither of them survived the anaesthetic, I've had Harriet since birth and she is far too precious to me to risk them performing any surgery on her, I will definitely fork out the money and travel to have the best vet do such a risky surgery on my little baby! :(
considering that your local clinic does not work for free and cannot even offer the right competence, I would spend the same money adding also a trip somethere else. But at least you would come back home satisfied of the treatment.
 
I have had 5 spayed sows - 2 spayed by Simon Maddock 5 1/2 years ago and my 6 1/2 year old is still going strong now - my youngest who is just under a year was spayed at 4 1/2 months so she could go in with my intact young boar - spayed by Rachel Mowbray at vale vets in Dursley (who like simon can spay in her sleep - even spays her own guinea pigs) and alsospayed my 7 1/2 year old when she was 5 years old and her sister the week before ( both decided to develop ovarian cysts within a week of each other ) - get a cavy savvy vet who is used to spaying and you will be fine xx
 
I have emailed Simon as I trust you guys that he will do his very best to look after my Harriet and she will have a much better chance at getting through this and come home to me with him. I was quoted £110 for a second opinion consult plus a spay surgery which is double what my vet charges but all I see with this is that I'm paying double the money for quadruple the care! I am going to book her an appointment to see Simon today which will likely be for next week, it's a 2 hour journey there and back but I think he is worth it, Harriet is definitely worth it! She is young and fit so the odds are on her side, I just want her to come home with me after the surgery and be okay <3
 
Simon is definitely worth the travel. I used to use Chine House but feel I get a much better service at Cat and Rabbit. I'm off there shortly with two of mine. It's about 1 hour journey each way on the accident prone M1. But it's totally worth it.
 
I have everything crossed for Harriet. She will be in the best hands.
 
I am sure you are in very good hands... I was reading online the website of this famous doctor Maddock, often mentioned by my vet (my rescue says one of the best in Italy) and consulted for advices also from italian vets.
I invite you to read Maddock's advices about prevention and diet; I copy here only some of his lines:

If your guinea-pig passes urine with blood in it or squeaks when passing urine, a urinary tract infection (cystitis) is most likely.
(...)
Feeding timothy hay, fresh grass, greens low in calcium and restricting or removing commercial foods (pellets or muesli) from the diet can help prevent recurrence. It is also important to encourage fluid intake, reduce obesity and treat cystitis promptly.
(...)
A comprehensive review of guinea-pig husbandry can found at www.guinealynx.info/. This website provides information about everything you need to successfully look after guinea-pigs.
A correct diet is essential for guinea-pigs. Guinea-pigs require a low calorie, high fibre, abrasive diet similar to the grass-based diet they would eat in the wild.

  • Access to grass and/or hay at all times
  • Fresh green leafy vegetables, cucumber, peppers, chopped celery and herbs should be offered daily
  • A small amount of dry food such as extruded pellets, muesli-style mix or rolled oats could be offered daily. This food is less abrasive and higher calorie than the natural diet and should be strictly rationed.
  • Free access to water should be provided at all times.
Guinea-pigs have a requirement for Vitamin C in their diet as they cannot make Vitamin C for themselves. Fresh vegetables and fresh grass and dry foods will provide Vitamin C and Vitamin C can also be supplemented via the water or sprinkled onto the food if the levels in the diet are thought to be low.
--------------------------
I have no doubt your Harriet will come back home without any problem.:luv:
Vets here consider this Maddock as a God...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top