Ovarian cysts – looking for experiences/advice please

[Julezfm39]

Hi everyone, I’d really appreciate some advice from anyone who has dealt with ovarian cysts in a sow.

My piggy Nevaeh (2 years old) was first seen about 5 weeks ago when the vet suspected ovarian cysts because of bilateral hair loss around her flanks. She was seen again almost 3 weeks ago by a small animal vet specialist (in the same practice) and the ultrasound confirmed 2 cysts, 2cm x 1cm in size. He has recommended surgery (full spaying) as the best option. He has done a c-section on sows before but not a spay, so he said he’d send me the details of an exotic animal specialist (he’s been on holiday and hasn’t done so yet). I’m just trying to figure out the best way forward. I trust my vet as he’s very skilled and caring but I’m really scared about surgery.

Nevaeh weighs around 890g (I’m weighing her daily), is eating hay and drinking normally and is generally behaving like herself, though she’s not eaten as much of her greens today.

If you’ve been through this, how quickly did you need to make a decision once the cysts were diagnosed, and how did your piggy recover from treatment or surgery?
Thank you so much

 

[Claire W]

I’ve never had a sow of mine spayed but if Nevaeh isn’t showing significant signs of being unwell, there’s no rush to have her spayed.

It’s a big operation that requires skill so I’d rather wait for the vet who is more experienced rather than going with the vet who’s never carried out the surgery. But there’s plenty of members who have had sows spayed successfully and will be able to offer further advice.

Good luck x

 

[Julezfm39]

Thank you for your advice! I’m going to chase my vet tomorrow for that specialist recommendation / referral. Nevaeh is munching on her usual lettuce tonight and she’s her normal self so I’ll keep monitoring her closely x

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone, I’d really appreciate some advice from anyone who has dealt with ovarian cysts in a sow.

My piggy Nevaeh (2 years old) was first seen about 5 weeks ago when the vet suspected ovarian cysts because of bilateral hair loss around her flanks. She was seen again almost 3 weeks ago by a small animal vet specialist (in the same practice) and the ultrasound confirmed 2 cysts, 2cm x 1cm in size. He has recommended surgery (full spaying) as the best option. He has done a c-section on sows before but not a spay, so he said he’d send me the details of an exotic animal specialist (he’s been on holiday and hasn’t done so yet). I’m just trying to figure out the best way forward. I trust my vet as he’s very skilled and caring but I’m really scared about surgery.

Nevaeh weighs around 890g (I’m weighing her daily), is eating hay and drinking normally and is generally behaving like herself, though she’s not eaten as much of her greens today.

If you’ve been through this, how quickly did you need to make a decision once the cysts were diagnosed, and how did your piggy recover from treatment or surgery?
Thank you so much

Hi

Unless you are dealing with a fast growing ovarian cyst, ongoing considerable weight loss or disruptive 'non-stop seasons' behaviour that puts a real strain on a group or a pair, you generally have a few weeks to make up your mind and enquire with the vet you have been referred to.

There are two different ways to operate ovarian cysts. The less invasive is the removal of ovaries via two small cuts from the back (ovariectomy = cutting out of the ovaries) or the removal of the whole reproductive tract including the womb (full spay, usually from the front).

It very much depends on the situation and your vet's personal preference since the duration of the operation can play a role in how the GA is tolerated as well as the operation cost.

I have lost one 4 years old sow in a botched op at my local old-fashioned general vets 16 years ago (they had missed a second large cyst in the pre-op and also gassing in the gut caused by the cysts so the weight loss from the operation meant that Fflur couldn't be woken up). With much better diagnostics and experience with GA in guinea pigs that is a mistake that is quite simply no longer happening these days.

Against that I have five successful full spays of sows aged 4-5 years (two of them which lived to 8 years) with an experienced spaying vet. One of the sows needed an emergency spay because a grossly enlarge, potentially cancerous fluid-fill womb just half a year after an emergency bladder stone op in a sow who was just over 700g but sailed through without any weight loss at all and lived a normal lifespan for another to 5 years of age despite needing regular bladder flushes.

It is a more major operation but it can be life saving, especially if you are facing a likely risk of potentially cancerous or very fast growing cysts.

Sow Problems 'Down Below' (Ovarian Cysts, Super-seasons, Womb Infection, Pregnancy & Mammary Tumours)

 

[Julezfm39]

Thank you, that’s really great advice and reassuring to know that this type of surgery has a much higher success rate nowadays. I’m very sorry about your sow, though, who passed away 16 years ago .
Nevaeh is her usual self but I’m checking her a lot. I think I’m just so terrified of anything going wrong after the devastating losses I suffered with my 3 boys a year ago after that stay with a boarder - hard to believe it’s been a year .
I’ll push the vet to give me the details I’ve asked for while doing my own research into exotic vets in the area

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you, that’s really great advice and reassuring to know that this type of surgery has a much higher success rate nowadays. I’m very sorry about your sow, though, who passed away 16 years ago .
Nevaeh is her usual self but I’m checking her a lot. I think I’m just so terrified of anything going wrong after the devastating losses I suffered with my 3 boys a year ago after that stay with a boarder - hard to believe it’s been a year .
I’ll push the vet to give me the details I’ve asked for while doing my own research into exotic vets in the area

HUGS

What you went through would shake anybody right to the core as it is everybody's worst nightmare.

We are still here for you for practical and moral support. It's perfectly normal to have the jitters after a major upset. We all have them to some degree and you are entitled to have the big ones. I just wish that you didn't have to go through all of this.

 

[Julezfm39]

HUGS

What you went through would shake anybody right to the core as it is everybody's worst nightmare.

We are still here for you for practical and moral support. It's perfectly normal to have the jitters after a major upset. We all have them to some degree and you are entitled to have the big ones. I just wish that you didn't have to go through all of this.

Thank you so much.. it was a horrendous time and a year later I’m still not at peace with it. This forum was such a strong support to me as I was struggling through it. I just can’t bear another loss, hence why I’m so afraid to let Nevaeh go through an operation