louise_stocker
Teenage Guinea Pig
Hi All
I lost my beautiful Gwen a few months ago - she had become anorexic and was eventually diagnosed with ovarian cysts. These were removed and although she came round okay, she didn't begin eating again, became weaker and weaker until we lost her. Strangely though she didn't have any 'signs' of ovarian cysts so we decided it probably hadn't been these that had caused the anorexia in the first place.
Anyway, a few months on and my 2.5 year old Peggy is showing all the classic signs (hair loss on the sides, thinning on the back, enlarged crusty nipples and slightly more stroppy with her cage mates). However her appetite, weight and general well-being are normal. Took her to the vets yesterday and although it was only through 'touch' she believed she does have ovarian cysts and they are very large - much larger than Gwen's were. Obviously we'll try an ultrasound as well to better confirm this. Our vet spoke about spaying and I spoke about hormone therapies. Although she hadn't used hormone therapies before she's off today to speak to all her exotic-pet friends. I must just say although my vet isn't an exotic or guinea pig specialist she is so willing to learn and cares about these creatures more than any vet I've ever come across.
Anyway, I am waiting to speak to her in a few days but am very worried about putting Peggy through an op. I am torn between letting her have the op while she's 'healthy' or waiting until she's going downhill when her chances of surviving the op are obviously worse. I will of course explore the hormone therapy with the vet but I have a few questions:
1. can ovarian cysts burst and if so, is it fatal? Since finding she had them, I can't relax at all even though I know pigs can live their whole lives with them, I'm scared of picking her up in case I burst them.
2. can ovarian cysts turn into cancer?
3. have I done anything to cause this? I only ever keep 3 sows at a time and to have 2 girls with ovarian cysts within a few months of each other is making me really paranoid.
4. does anyone know what the actual chances of a healthy piggie dying under anaesthetic are? So far, I've put 2 pigs and 1 budgie through operations and all have survived the actual op. Am I pushing my luck or are survival rates pretty high?
5. after searching this forum yesterday I found a thread about hormone implants although it hadn't been updated in a while. I wondered if anyone else had tried these and if they worked?
6. do the crusty nipples hurt her and if so, what cream is suitable to use to soothe them - bearing in mind she can reach this area with her mouth.
Thanks so much, Love Louise & Peggy (+ Daisy-May & Baby Mabel) x
I lost my beautiful Gwen a few months ago - she had become anorexic and was eventually diagnosed with ovarian cysts. These were removed and although she came round okay, she didn't begin eating again, became weaker and weaker until we lost her. Strangely though she didn't have any 'signs' of ovarian cysts so we decided it probably hadn't been these that had caused the anorexia in the first place.
Anyway, a few months on and my 2.5 year old Peggy is showing all the classic signs (hair loss on the sides, thinning on the back, enlarged crusty nipples and slightly more stroppy with her cage mates). However her appetite, weight and general well-being are normal. Took her to the vets yesterday and although it was only through 'touch' she believed she does have ovarian cysts and they are very large - much larger than Gwen's were. Obviously we'll try an ultrasound as well to better confirm this. Our vet spoke about spaying and I spoke about hormone therapies. Although she hadn't used hormone therapies before she's off today to speak to all her exotic-pet friends. I must just say although my vet isn't an exotic or guinea pig specialist she is so willing to learn and cares about these creatures more than any vet I've ever come across.
Anyway, I am waiting to speak to her in a few days but am very worried about putting Peggy through an op. I am torn between letting her have the op while she's 'healthy' or waiting until she's going downhill when her chances of surviving the op are obviously worse. I will of course explore the hormone therapy with the vet but I have a few questions:
1. can ovarian cysts burst and if so, is it fatal? Since finding she had them, I can't relax at all even though I know pigs can live their whole lives with them, I'm scared of picking her up in case I burst them.
2. can ovarian cysts turn into cancer?
3. have I done anything to cause this? I only ever keep 3 sows at a time and to have 2 girls with ovarian cysts within a few months of each other is making me really paranoid.
4. does anyone know what the actual chances of a healthy piggie dying under anaesthetic are? So far, I've put 2 pigs and 1 budgie through operations and all have survived the actual op. Am I pushing my luck or are survival rates pretty high?
5. after searching this forum yesterday I found a thread about hormone implants although it hadn't been updated in a while. I wondered if anyone else had tried these and if they worked?
6. do the crusty nipples hurt her and if so, what cream is suitable to use to soothe them - bearing in mind she can reach this area with her mouth.
Thanks so much, Love Louise & Peggy (+ Daisy-May & Baby Mabel) x
