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Ovarian Cysts?

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lailajayne3

lailajayne3

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Hi everyone,

Betsy has just turned three and I'm beginning to think she has ovarian cysts :(

I started to suspect it about a month ago when I was weighing her and giving her a check all over and noticed she had crusty nipples. I put some Vaseline and aloe vera gel (from gorgeous guineas) incase they were just dry. It did clear them up but after a couple of weeks they are crusty again :(.

I have been keeping an eye on her hair and she seems to have the start of a bit of hair loss (very recently, not much at all). And she has been a lot more hormonal and I've definitely noticed her being a bit more dominant to her sister. My main worry is when I was cutting her nails tonight, I felt a little lump under her skin just above her nipple, under her leg.

We are going to phone the vets tomorrow and see if we can take her in to have a check.

I just wanted to ask any of you who have been through ovarian cysts, how you got on? or if anyone has any advice about treatment? If a piggy has ovarian cysts can they still have a pretty normal life? are they painful?

Sorry if these questions have been asked already, just want to start learning about them in the event she does have them and make sure little Betsy isn't in pain :( xx
 
lailajayne3 said:
Hi everyone,

Betsy has just turned three and I'm beginning to think she has ovarian cysts :(

I started to suspect it about a month ago when I was weighing her and giving her a check all over and noticed she had crusty nipples. I put some Vaseline and aloe vera gel (from gorgeous guineas) incase they were just dry. It did clear them up but after a couple of weeks they are crusty again :(.

I have been keeping an eye on her hair and she seems to have the start of a bit of hair loss (very recently, not much at all). And she has been a lot more hormonal and I've definitely noticed her being a bit more dominant to her sister. My main worry is when I was cutting her nails tonight, I felt a little lump under her skin just above her nipple, under her leg.

We are going to phone the vets tomorrow and see if we can take her in to have a check.

I just wanted to ask any of you who have been through ovarian cysts, how you got on? or if anyone has any advice about treatment? If a piggy has ovarian cysts can they still have a pretty normal life? are they painful?

Sorry if these questions have been asked already, just want to start learning about them in the event she does have them and make sure little Betsy isn't in pain :( xx
Click to expand...

Ovarian cysts are pretty common in older sows. The majority doesn't cause any problems and can be left.

Treatment is necessary for those cysts that cause the classic hormonal symptoms like crusty nipples, hair loss on the sides of the belly and aggressive behaviour when a sow is nonstop in season. You also need treatment when there is bleeding from the womb, as that is a sign that there could be issues with either the womb or cysts, usual not hormonal ones. The really big cysts in older sows are usually not hormonal and don't cause any of the typical symptoms that you associate with cysts. Some vets prefer to drain them even if that is only a temporary measure if a sow is too old/frail for an operation (5 years plus) and hormone therapy doesn't apply.

Depending on the nature of the ovarian cysts, you can look at hormone therapy (like cherulon), which is usually pretty successful with hormonally caused cysts. If cysts and issues are caused by other problems, a spaying operation may be preferable.

If possible, see a good piggy savvy vet when you suspect ovarian cysts.
In your case, it sounds like you may want to enquire about chorulon injections, which are much less invasive and troublesome compared to a full spaying op, which is a major operation.
 
Thank you so much Wiebke for your reply, I really appreciate it. hopefully we can book in the vets tomorrow and see what is going on. That's interesting about chorulon injections, never heard of them but I will definitely write them down and ask about them at the vets. If she does happen to have ovarian cysts I think I would like to try and avoid a spay as like you said, its such a big operation for such a little animal... not to mention the worry for me! Will keep you updated x
 
Anyone With Experience Of Cysts ?

have a look at this thread there is some useful information on it. Also some more links to other ovarian cyst threads.

My Ellie had the injections at 6yrs as too old for a spay & did really well with them, then again 12months later as the lump/cyst grew back.
her thread is also on here.

Ellie- Ovarian Cyst,maybe Stones, Suggestions Please.

she didn't have any textbook signs of cysts, but she kept getting UTI's & heavy bleeding, she had a conscious ultrasound scan & the cyst was found, then after my suggestion of the injections she went back for 2x injections approx. 7-10 days apart after the vials had been ordered in (actually a cattle hormone) .

I would ask about painkillers (usually loxicom/metacam) for a while as apparently ovarian cysts can be painful, especially if small or growing.
anything else I can help with just ask :)
 
I have had 5 female pigs and all spayed successfully - two were over 4 1/2 when they were done (due to ovarian cysts) and my youngest piglet was spayed a couple of months ago at just under 4 months - she was spayed for preventative health reasons as it's quite common for older sows to get them and so that I didnt have to wait for Humphrey to get to 6 months before I could have him nuetered and then do the 6 week wait period ( as he was only 4 weeks old when I got him at the same time as my 3 month sow) - so if you have to have a spay with a really savvy piggy vet who has spayed sows before everything should be fine and there is no more risk than with a normal operation.
 
Thank you for your replies, this forum is sooo helpful and ill definitely have a good read later when we are back from the vets. Betsy is booked in for 12:20 so hopefully we can see what is going on, Thanks again xx

Here's a pic of Betsy this morning :wub: x

Betsy 0.webp
 
Thank you!

We went to the vets and she agreed with me that she has definitely got a lump, but she thinks that one is just a fatty lump. However we have been referred to the another vet at the practice (who has seen many piggies with ovarian cysts, scanned them, spayed them etc) and Betsy is going to have a scan in the next week or so with her to see if she does have ovarian cysts as the vet said she can feel something.

She was also tested for mites as the vet said she has a bit of dry skin on her back and a crusty ear, but thankfully that came back clear.

We asked about hormone injections If Betsy does have ovarian cysts and the vet said that that is something we could definitely look into, or of course spaying.

The vet didn't seem to think it was urgent, and the fact Betsy is still eating and lively is promising :)
 
As you are lucky enough to have a piggy savvy vet who has done lots of spays and like my vet could feel the cysts before even ultrasounding, it may well be worth discussing with her if she thinks that it is best going for a straight spay rather than trying the hormone injections - as my vet (who keeps her own piggies and routinely spays all her own girls ) says in her experience in the majority of cases the hormone injections only work for a short time and the piggy invariably ends up needing a spay in the long run (obviously hormone injections would be advisable in a very very old piggy or one with underlying health issues elsewhere) - good luck.
 
Just thought I'd give an update.
Betsy had a scan today and it's good news :yahoo: the vet said that she couldn't see anything worrying and we should just keep an eye on her. I am sooo happy.

It wasn't nice leaving little Betsy there, but I am so proud of her as she didn't have to be sedated to have the scan done (the vet said they always try without before and if they are too wriggly, they give a light sedation). The vet did say that she had a good look at her kidneys and if she had ovarian cysts you would be able to see a sack? But nothing showed up?

Betsy was definitely happy to be home and has a little shaved tummy. Thanks so much for all your replies, they have been so helpful. I am so pleased, I think she just must enjoy winding her sister up :D x
 
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