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Ovarian Cyst in my pig-unsure of what to do, please help.

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HannahEllen

HannahEllen

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I have just recently fund out that my 21/2 year old sow, Stella, has an ovarian cyst. The vet only diagnosed this by feeling her abdomen(no blood work or x-rays done) and he believes it to only be on her right side. I first suspected this because her nipples were enlarged and sort of crusty (which the vet said was keratin growth caused by the excess estrogen which in turn was caused by the cyst) She appears to be in no pain or discomfort and has not lost any hair or weight. She has always been somewhat aggressive with attitude but I've noticed her mounting her cage mate often and I only noticed the change in her nipples recently. The cyst feels about the diameter of 1.5 inches. I know the risks involved in spaying and the vet I saw has only ever done 4 in his life, and i'm not comfortable with that risk of surgery, especially since he told me at this point the cyst is benign. I do not know what to do though. Can it be left alone or could it eventually kill her or make her sick? Or should she be spayed? Or are hormone injections even an option and if so would it be difficult to find a vet who could do them or is it common? I have found a more experienced vet in spaying about 45mins away from me but they want to do radio-graphs/x-rays and blood work possibly before they decided on any surgery(which i understand completely) but even still, there is a risk for my Stella if she were to be spayed. Plus, I am a student who also works so it is difficult to travel and find time, of course if it came down to it I would. I just need some advice please.
 
Hi HannahEllen,

Welcome to the Forum.

Sorry to hear about Stella. I'm afraid I don't have any experience of this myself and can't really help but I have definitely heard of ovarian cysts in guinea pigs being treated with hormone injections. I'm sure other people can advise further though.

As you're based in the US, I just wanted to add that the Guinea Lynx forum might also be a good place to ask for advice, especially if you want to know about things which might differ between the UK and US. (Some treatments are known by different names) We do have non-UK members here though and all are very welcome! :)

Fingers crossed for you and little Stella x
 
I had two sows with ovarian cysts, both were treated successfully with hormone injections, I think a month or so apart, about 3 injections in total & they never had any problems after that :)
 
Do you happen to know if hormone injections are quite common? Would anyone agree that hormone injections should be tried first and surgery a last resort? (i've heard differing views regarding this). Do hormone injections cause a guinea pigs behavior/personality to change?
 
HannahEllen said:
Do you happen to know if hormone injections are quite common? Would anyone agree that hormone injections should be tried first and surgery a last resort? (i've heard differing views regarding this). Do hormone injections cause a guinea pigs behavior/personality to change?
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No their personality didn't change one bit. In fact I never had any problems with those piggies, no sign of hormonal issues affecting behaviour, just hair loss on their sides etc. The rodentologist I took them to gave them injections as she could feel them, they didn't need any scans or x-rays doing. Injections are fairly common I think as the first line of treatment. :)
 
Thank you very much for your information! I have called the vet that saw Stella and am waiting for a call back to see if hormonal injections are a possibility. I am concerned that they may not be though because there are not ANY highly experienced cavy vets in my area so I may still end up travelling the 45 minutes just to have a more experienced vet give me her input. I just wish that vet didn't have to possibly do blood work and x-rays
 
HannahEllen said:
Thank you very much for your information! I have called the vet that saw Stella and am waiting for a call back to see if hormonal injections are a possibility. I am concerned that they may not be though because there are not ANY highly experienced cavy vets in my area so I may still end up travelling the 45 minutes just to have a more experienced vet give me her input. I just wish that vet didn't have to possibly do blood work and x-rays
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If you are looking at x-rays & bloods being done, I would definitely do the traveling to a more piggie experienced vet. They should know without x-rays & scans whether it is cysts & also know about the hormone injections. Good luck! :)
 
Yes the vet I have just recently gone to just felt her and believed it to be a cyst. I told this to the vet out of town and I think they said x-rays and blood work may only be a possibility if they think it could be something other than a cyst (tumor, mass, etc...). I'm also worried about the travel. Stella is very easy going and brave, any tips on a 45 min car ride?
 
HannahEllen said:
Yes the vet I have just recently gone to just felt her and believed it to be a cyst. I told this to the vet out of town and I think they said x-rays and blood work may only be a possibility if they think it could be something other than a cyst (tumor, mass, etc...). I'm also worried about the travel. Stella is very easy going and brave, any tips on a 45 min car ride?
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Well the hormone option would be less invasive (although they squeal like they are being murdered when injected lol!) & if it didn't work, then you could go down the x-ray etc route.... does she have any hair loss on her sides at all or any other symptoms?

Re car rides, mine were fine, they have a secure box like a cat carrier with a blanket inside, a few bits of cucumber if they are not having any dental stuff done, maybe drape a cloth over the cage if they are in darkness they will feel more secure.

Oh & if she has a friend take them both :)
 
No she doesn't have any hair loss at all. The only symptom was he enlarged crusted nipples. She has always been sort of sassy and dominant but lately I've noticed her mounting her cage mate daily, so now I'm wondering if that's possibly further out of character for her. I think my first step is to take her to the vet experienced with cavies and see what she recommends from there on, whether it be hormonal injections or a spay.
 
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