Ovarian Cysts

[Pippa9701]

I'm after a bit of advice, one of my older sows on a recent trip to the vets for an unrelated matter was diagnosed with ovarian cysts.

I was given a couple of options - speying or injections. I'm not sure what to do as she is 4 years old but healthy in herself and don't know if she'd be ok with the operation

The injections may not work and she'd then have to have them drained. She hates injections and they will cause her more stress and she'll have to have anaesthetic for further treatment.

 

[Midge&Panda]

Lily my old girl had ovarian cysts when she was about 3 1/2 yrs she had injections to start with but she was finally speyed, she had a reaction to the anesthitic and had to spend a night in hospital but after the op she was like a new piggie. As with all ops there is a risk whether piggie is young or old. Its something you should consider before taking that final step. I had to because at the end there was no other option. Sorry I cant be of more help, at the end of the day you know your piggie better than anybody only you can make that choice for your girl. xx

 

[sport_billy]

Hey Pippa,

We are going through the same issue at the moment with Putt our 5yr old

She was diagnosed with an Ovarian cyst the size of a marble on her left ovary. After thinking about it we are opting for hormone treatment to shrink the cyst as opposed to surgery - the vet advised that spaying is risky surgery for a 5yr old pig. Putt is showing no signs of discomfort with the cyst and is happy within herself.

It's a tricky decision to make and worth reading up on the options available. It is worth asking your vet how many spay's they have performed and the survival rates of the Piggies several weeks later. From what I have read hormone injections have been successful in shrinking cysts and while it is a delaying tactic, I won't want to put 'Putt' an otherwise healthy pig through a invasive op with the risk of losing her and all the pain associated with it.

At the end of the day, you know your piggie and I'm sure will make the correct decision, it's so hard knowing what to do.
x

 

[Tani]

Sorry to ask, but how do you tell if they have cysts and are there any symptoms?
xx

 

[sport_billy]

A ultrasound is the best diagnosis, I believe.

Symptoms can include losing fur at the sides and enlarged nipples. This link at Guinea Lynx http://www.guinealynx.info/ovarian_cysts.html can be worth looking at.

Putt's was diagnosed while we were looking for something else... She displayed no other symptoms

 

[Tani]

Ah ok.

I am hopefully getting an x-ray for mine as she seems to have symptoms of stones. However, she is always quite bloated and I am thinking that maybe a scan would also be beneficial at the same time as not sure the x-ray would show anything that wasn't solid.

 

[sport_billy]

We thought Putt might have stones so thats why we had a Xray and Ultrasound done. I'm glad we got both scans as the ultrasound revealed the cyst.

 

[Tani]

Will definately request both then. Thanks!

 

[Pippa9701]

We originally thought she had mites as some of her cage mates got them but with the amount of hair she has lost on both sides and her stomach the vet noticed the symptoms. She's still bright eyed and always first to the front for her veggies but she is losing weight now and soon she'll be bald if it carries on at this rate.

The vets have done a few guinea spays and try to avoid them if they can as they are very fiddly operations but are competent enough to do it if I decide it's what we want. I've had 3 or 4 of my guinea pigs under anaesthetic and they have all been fine but it always worries me when they have to go in. My rabbit is often in for dentals and he always has anaesthetics

I think I'll ask the head vet when I go tonight with some of my other guinea's.

Thanks for your help