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Ovarian Cysts

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FriendlyFox

Hi! Does anyone have any experience with ovarian cysts? My 4yr old has large cysts. The vet said they could do an ultrasound and then possibly drain them but they might come back. The only cure is to have her spayed which I don't really want to do given the risks. I opted to leave her alone for now but am not sure if that's a good decision. (She is well and eating well), Has anyone else had a piggy with ovarian cysts and decided not to treat? What will happen if they burst? Thanks!
 
Hi

The Cysts will need to be drained, otherwise they can get so big as to obstruct the internal organs and possibly crush the intestines.

Draining and a course of Hormone treatment will be a good long term option, even if it has to be done again every few years.

Its a much better option than the alternative which is a Hysterectomy under full GA.

Draining the Cysts can be done with no Anaesthetics at all.

Paul & Jeanette
 
have you ever had a case of crushed intestines, it sounds nasty, what books do you guys get your info from
 
Unless they are causing the pig a problem there may be no need to do anything. I have had a pig for years with ovarian cysts and she has been fine with no treatment.
 
We had an elderly female who had already had major abdominal surgery for another reason who we didn't want to have a hysterectomy a few years ago.

My vet got hold of some HCG hormone and gave her some injections which shrank the cysts right down and they did not return.

HCG is the pregnancy hormone and as far as I remember it wasn't cheap as we had to pay for a full dose for a cow I think (not entirely sure about this - my memory is not what it was). It is an accepted treatment that your vet should be able to look up and get the doses.

We treated as she had developed bald patches either side of her spine on her back which I believe are due to the excess hormones. Poor piggy had spent a while being bathed and treated for mites before we worked out what was going on.

Disclaimer: Paula is not a vet and has no claims to be. Always ask diplomatically for something that your vet hasn't suggested! rolleyes

Paula
 
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The correct dosage for H.C.G. is 0.2ml by Sub Cut injection at the sholder and it should be repeated again after 4 weeks.

Paul & Jeanette
 
While we are on the topic of the HCG vaccination - I wonder if this has any known ill effects?
My Peggy was extremely hormonal and has had two injections late last year four weeks apart, really helped her behaviour, she is a different pig in that department.
However, I never thought to ask what or if there are any potential problems associated with the injections.
 
That is something to ask a vet about. All medications will have risks to be balanced against the potential benefits.

Paula
 
Hi , so can you buy the hormone treatment and treat the pig yourself. ? What do you mean by "sub cut" in the shoulder.Can anyone do it ? Or only if you have been on a course?
 
Sub cut - meaning subcutaneous - an injection under the skin.

As to whether you should inject a pig yourself unless you have been trained to do so by a proffessional/someone competant I would not. My vets have been kind enough to instruct me on giving injections as one of the rescue piggies here needed daily injections of antibiotics and I feel confident doing so having received proper instruction.

As for buying the hormone treatment it depends if you can get a reliable source of medication without prescription which mostly is unlikely. Most drugs such as these are prescription only and any bought without prescription may not be from a reliable source and could contain anything the only reliable place to obtain specialist medications (other than wormers etc) is thru a vet imho.

My advice would be visit your local vet/rodentologist/cct and discuss it as an option of treatment if you have a pig with ovarian cysts
 
Polly said:
Hi , so can you buy the hormone treatment and treat the pig yourself. ? What do you mean by "sub cut" in the shoulder.Can anyone do it ? Or only if you have been on a course?
Click to expand...

No - you need a qualified vet to diagnose correctly, weigh up the pros and cons of treatment and work out the dose. Ask yourself what the response might be if you wanted to self diagnose and treat a child with hormones that you'd bought on the internet.

Yes some of the rescues to give antibiotic injections - I've done so myself in a very sick animal that needed daily injections over a weekend. But only after a diagnosis and prescription from a vet.

Paula
 
Yes I thought it meant that, but newcomers may have thought that the animal needed to be cut with a scalpel. Its not good to use abbreviated terms without any explanation on what is essentially an amateurs forum,so thanks to those that explained. I'm happy to do injections if needed, but anything really "heavy" I have always gone to Vedra, or the late great Peter Gurney.My speciality is abcesses !- Not everyones thing but I think I'm quite good at draining them and I don't particularly mind the smell.
 
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