• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Ovarian Cysts

Status
Not open for further replies.
C

ChocksterNo1

Joined
Apr 14, 2011
Messages
17
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Hi

We took our guinea pig "Fudge" up to the vet today and were told that she has ovarian cysts.

We noticed that she had lost weight in the 2-3 weeks, and the last week she has become more sexually agressive.

In the last 2-3 days we noticed hair loss on one side and checked to find hair around her belly too.

Our vet has recommneded that we do nothing, as their own record on surgery is poor, he advised that other vets will charge £100 for a check up and around £500 to do an op.

He told us about another option such as hormone injections, but had spoken with company involved who usually tried on cats/dogs and found they usually made cysts worse.

I've read other comments on here from other users saying it would probably be best to leave the cysts alone? Can Guinea pigs live with cysts?

Fudge is almost 3 yrs old (August will be her birthday).

Really worried about her weight and hair loss.

any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Chock
 
Hi Chock and Fudge welcome to the forum :)
Sorry to hear about Fudge :(
I've not experienced this before as i'm a mum of two little girls but they're only two years of age.........
but there's many of our piggie people on here who've had this happen......i'm hoping they come on and can help you :)

http://www.guinealynx.info/ovarian_cysts.html

have a read of this link too.........

wishing little Fudge all the very best xoxoxoxo
 
My first piggie, Maguai, had a case of Ovarian Cysts and a severe and very rare deformity of her fallopian tubes, which was discovered during an operation to remove bladder stones. During the operation they felt they may as well do a hysterectomy, because it was so rare very little research was done on her condition and samples would be useful, and the safest options for her.

£500 is, in my opinion, EXTORTIONATE. I beleive Maguais operation costed us around £200 with all the consultations, checks, treatment and aftercare. £100 alone for a checkup is out of order in my eyes.

I would try another vet.

As a note. My vet said the Cysts were probably not really going to bother her, and they originally said to not worry too much. Only on opening her up did they notice the deformity and decided to remove everything, which I beleive is probably a bigger operation. The fact this cost a GREAT deal less that what your vets quoted is mad.

I hope this helps :)

-Carma
 
Last edited:
Our older pig Putt has an ovarian cyst. Our vet believes the best course of action at the moment is nothing with the option of hormone injections to shrink the cyst at a later date.

She is absolutly fine and shows no sign of issues with it and we would have had no idea about it if we hadnt been looking at a possible bladder stone problem.

Her sister also had an ovarian cyst and lived with it for about two years with out having treatment. She the had to be pts for a completly different issue.

I would recommend trying a different vet as this one seems to have some outdated ideas. Spaying is not the first course of treatment usally.

The prices you have been quoted seem extreme.
 
Last edited:
Hi There,

Sorry I didn't take note of were you are based? Perhaps we can recommend a Cavy Savy vet?

My Bette had a cyst but we didn't do anything as it was not bothering her, as your girl is already showing signs I would advise seeing another vet, as it is probably best to consider either spaying or hormone injections.

My girls are both spayed but this must be carried out by a Cavy Savy vet my girls were spayed by Simon Maddox at the Rabbit and Cat Clinic(think that's the name of the practice) Northampton.

Simon spays routinely for Rugby Guinea and Rabbit Welfare so is very experienced.

Good Luck!
 
hi

thanks for all the advice, we're based in Livingston, West Lothian.

Fudge is still acting the same and still actively eats (but I guess I'm shcoked at how quickly the changes have appeared in her and worried if we do nothing, will she just stay the same, apart form balding and weight loss or get worse)?

the operation seems risky, if we can do something which involves no surgery, this would be best and leave surgery as a last option (if her condition worsens)

I've see some posts talking about draining the cysts every so often.

just worried we choose the wrong option.

so the options i can see are:

1) do nothing
2) hormone injections
3) draining
4) operation to remove

Our vet is usually good and honest by saying they had poor record of ops on guinea pigs, i.e. no pigs have survived ops.

he recommened 2 other vets (one in Edinburgh, one in Falkirk), the Edinburgh one has more experience as its the Royal Uinveristy of Edinburgh (dicks) vets, but still their record was poor as well plus their costs are high.

her sister "Smudge" appears fine and we have a little boar in a different cage called "Harvey".

Thanks for advice.

Chock
 
ChocksterNo1 said:
Hi

We took our guinea pig "Fudge" up to the vet today and were told that she has ovarian cysts.

We noticed that she had lost weight in the 2-3 weeks, and the last week she has become more sexually agressive.

In the last 2-3 days we noticed hair loss on one side and checked to find hair around her belly too.

Our vet has recommneded that we do nothing, as their own record on surgery is poor, he advised that other vets will charge £100 for a check up and around £500 to do an op.

He told us about another option such as hormone injections, but had spoken with company involved who usually tried on cats/dogs and found they usually made cysts worse.

I've read other comments on here from other users saying it would probably be best to leave the cysts alone? Can Guinea pigs live with cysts?

Fudge is almost 3 yrs old (August will be her birthday).

Really worried about her weight and hair loss.

any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Chock
Click to expand...

Something about that seems very iffy to me! I had a sow with ovarian cysts (it was only discovered due to the hair-loss she had; she was being eaten alive by mites because her body was too busy fighting the cysts and infection she had.

They just spayed her; full hysterectomy to help her. Cost £70 with aftercare AND cream to help her skin heal.

I'd get another opinion from a different vet...
 
I payed £37 for having fopur year old Fflur spayed (i.e. her ovaries removed) a year ago, as any neutering operations were offered cheape; sadly she didn't wake up from her op due to her big and still fast growing cysts being much bigger than assumed, especially the second one which was discovered only after she was under. I would still expect to pay only £100-200 for an op including check up and any follow up treatment/consultation.

I would however recommend to research other possibilities first. Perhaps you can get in contact with rescues in your area and ask them which vet they use/recommend? http://www.guineapigrehome.org.uk/gp/centres.asp#Scotland
 
I am rubbish with directions but I'm in Glasgow, I use a vet in Falkirk Apex Vets, I see Glen he's a fabulous vet I'm sure he has experience doing spays and he mentioned to me about the hormone injection.

He's an excellent Vet. Worth a visit if you can get there.
 
Apex Vets in Denny, nr Falkirk are amazing vets and have had loads of experience with piggies. I would suggest giving them a call and talking to them. Glen Hodgson is the vet I and a couple of others (from Glasgow) go to see. Here is the link to their website.

http://www.apexvets.com/
 
sandra turpin said:
Apex Vets in Denny, nr Falkirk are amazing vets and have had loads of experience with piggies. I would suggest giving them a call and talking to them. Glen Hodgson is the vet I and a couple of others (from Glasgow) go to see. Here is the link to their website.

http://www.apexvets.com/
Click to expand...

Sandra we posted at the same time :)), On my mobile so couldn't put the link!
 
Hi thanks

Falkirk isn't that far to go, will give apex vets a phone to see if we could get 2nd opinion.

My wife told me to remember putting this info in for Fudge too, she has constant problems with urinary infection tract, so not sure if this would hinder any surgery/recovery problems.

Thanks for all the advice and links.

Chock
 
That's great news! Make sure and ask for Glen.

As for the UTI, a girl on another forum is having her pig spayed today and I also know she has issues with Uti's I'm not sure if there is a link or not between Cysts and UTI's.

I'd get her booked in for a 2nd opinion Asap. Let us know how you get on :).
 
ChocksterNo1 said:
hi

thanks for all the advice, we're based in Livingston, West Lothian.

Fudge is still acting the same and still actively eats (but I guess I'm shcoked at how quickly the changes have appeared in her and worried if we do nothing, will she just stay the same, apart form balding and weight loss or get worse)?

the operation seems risky, if we can do something which involves no surgery, this would be best and leave surgery as a last option (if her condition worsens)

I've see some posts talking about draining the cysts every so often.

just worried we choose the wrong option.

so the options i can see are:

1) do nothing
2) hormone injections
3) draining
4) operation to remove

Our vet is usually good and honest by saying they had poor record of ops on guinea pigs, i.e. no pigs have survived ops.

he recommened 2 other vets (one in Edinburgh, one in Falkirk), the Edinburgh one has more experience as its the Royal Uinveristy of Edinburgh (dicks) vets, but still their record was poor as well plus their costs are high.

her sister "Smudge" appears fine and we have a little boar in a different cage called "Harvey".

Thanks for advice.

Chock
Click to expand...

This wasn't the Pets at Home vets in Livingston by any chance, was it? Either way with £500 they are having an absolute laugh. Who told you that the Royal (Dick) Vet school had a poor record? They do a vast amount of research and training into guinea pig ailments (they did a big study on heart pigs a few years back) and they have some of the most qualified and experienced vets in the whole of the country there. Wendi at Thistle Cavies even takes on vet students from there for work experience at the rescue so even some of the student vets there will be savvy. I also thought it was cheaper, too, seeing as it's a teaching hospital.

I would definitely try the hormone injections as an options and potentially draining but given that the vet has given you dreadful advice and wants to charge a RIDICULOUS amount I wouldn't be trusting them to be the ones to do it.

I can also give you contact details for our vet in Stirling if you get desperate.
 
I had a sow treated successfully with hcg a few years back. It wasn't terribly cheap as we had to pay for a cow dose, but her stomach reduced and the hair regrew. Obviously one success doesn't mean that much, but It would be something I would try again before surgery.

Paula
 
I would definitely get another opinion for a small animal vet. Assuming I'm converting the pounds to dollars properly, that sounds like a huge amount, and anyone who says the majority of their pigs don't survive the operation are doing something wrong- not that there isn't risk to operations, but they shouldn't be losing ALL of them if they are doing it right!
 
daftscotslass said:
This wasn't the Pets at Home vets in Livingston by any chance, was it? Either way with £500 they are having an absolute laugh. Who told you that the Royal (Dick) Vet school had a poor record? They do a vast amount of research and training into guinea pig ailments (they did a big study on heart pigs a few years back) and they have some of the most qualified and experienced vets in the whole of the country there. Wendi at Thistle Cavies even takes on vet students from there for work experience at the rescue so even some of the student vets there will be savvy. I also thought it was cheaper, too, seeing as it's a teaching hospital.

I would definitely try the hormone injections as an options and potentially draining but given that the vet has given you dreadful advice and wants to charge a RIDICULOUS amount I wouldn't be trusting them to be the ones to do it.

I can also give you contact details for our vet in Stirling if you get desperate.
Click to expand...

Considering the last bill for our HORSE (considerably larger than even the biggest of guinea pigs, or even a capybara) was £800 and this was for an emergency out of hours call out, three plus hours there, adrenaline injections, gut motivation injection, colic investigation (shoving a tube up her nose, poor pony), meds, follow up visit, two more follow up visits, blood tests, and first lot of cushings meds...your vet is, pardon the phrase, extracting the urine!

My Whiskey had hormone jabs when she had issues last year, she only needed one jab and has been fine since. Noodles has since been found to have large cysts and my vet, who is VERY cavy savvy and trained with Peter Guerny for several years, has recommended the jabs as the first course of action before we consider operation.

They can be effective but it depends on the progress of the cysts
 
This might be a contraversial post but ....I have had 4 sows spayed over the last 4 years for various reasons..(and am glad I did) .....and 6 boars neutered..(and wish I hadn;t....only two remain)

There are a lot of warnings posted on this forum about getting sows spayed..and yes...there are significant risks.

BUT ...whilst getting boars neutered seems pretty acceptable. ...Personally I have found from experience that neutering boars caused by far the most complications and actually has led me to think twice about EVER neutering a boar again...they get abcesses and adhesions which causes gut stasis and all kinds of long term problems

It's about the competence of your vets...if they have a good record of spaying then it is worth considering it as an option because it;s not just about ovarian cysts...it's about other endometrial complications including tumours that could happen in the future.

So in my mind, spaying should be reasonably considered as an option in the sows best interest...providing your vets are competent

BUT..............£500 is exhorbitant!

HTH
x
 
ChocksterNo1 said:
he advised that other vets will charge £100 for a check up and around £500 to do an op.
Click to expand...

I have just read the first post again, only to notice that the £500 quote was not actually what they said it would cost, but what they said other vets would charge... Which in my opinion is VERY wrong of them! As clearly that was a VERY big lie indeed!

I would go back and have words for that... You don't say stuff like that when you clearly are misleading people!

-Carma
 
My wife is taking wee fudge to Apex vets in Falkirk for a 2nd opinion and hopefully more options.

over the weekend, we can see more fur has started to fall out and she has statred lying on one side, however she is still eating well.

thanks for advice, will let you know how she gets on.

Chock
 
ChocksterNo1 said:
My wife is taking wee fudge to Apex vets in Falkirk for a 2nd opinion and hopefully more options.

over the weekend, we can see more fur has started to fall out and she has statred lying on one side, however she is still eating well.

thanks for advice, will let you know how she gets on.

Chock
Click to expand...

Wishing little Fudge all the very very best, wheeeky healing loves from my girls and I xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Yes please update :) everyone wishes you all well :)
 
My wife just got back from the vets. This vet seemed very knowledgeable about guinea pigs and gave a thorough examination.

Fudge has small cysts on her left hand side, which they will try and treat with a hormone injection (scheduled for sat).

He was more concerned with a urine infection and the urine sample found she had a lot of blood in the sample, he gave her an ultrasound to see if it was caused by stones. He said there was no stones, however there was a dark mass which he wasn't sure what it was, but said he was 90% sure it is being caused by infection (10% that it could be cancerous).

We got some antibiotics for both Fudge & Smudge (as Smudge has a urine infection too) and some eyedrops for Fudge too.

all in all it came to £105, but still to pay around £30 on sat for injection, but feelign much more positive now.

thx for advice and the link to the vets website.

Chock
 
Over the years I have had three sows with ovarian cysts. My vet (sadly in Berkshire so not near you) has given them all hormone injections (an initial one and then another 11 days later) and all have been absolutely fine after and the cysts have not returned so far.....

One was showing terrible symptons, very sexually aggressive to the point she was making herself pant with exhaustion (I had to separate her in the end which stressed her out even more), lost hair and very unhappy very quickly but she was sorted with these injections.

Good luck in finding the right solution for your girl and of course the right vet!
 
ChocksterNo1 said:
My wife just got back from the vets. This vet seemed very knowledgeable about guinea pigs and gave a thorough examination.

Fudge has small cysts on her left hand side, which they will try and treat with a hormone injection (scheduled for sat).

He was more concerned with a urine infection and the urine sample found she had a lot of blood in the sample, he gave her an ultrasound to see if it was caused by stones. He said there was no stones, however there was a dark mass which he wasn't sure what it was, but said he was 90% sure it is being caused by infection (10% that it could be cancerous).

We got some antibiotics for both Fudge & Smudge (as Smudge has a urine infection too) and some eyedrops for Fudge too.

all in all it came to £105, but still to pay around £30 on sat for injection, but feelign much more positive now.

thx for advice and the link to the vets website.

Chock
Click to expand...

Oh dear no wonder Fudge was feeling so poorly :( and little Smudge too :(
Good luck with them both, healing wheeeeks from the girls and I xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
Good News

We took Fudge back to the vet for her 2nd hormone injection and also a check to see how she was progressing.

Her UTI has gone.
Her cysts appear smaller.
She has put on 60 grams of weight.
Her sexual aggressiveness has greatly reduced.

Glenn the vet says he is very pleased with her progress, he said she has the optimum results shown for responding to the injection.

We have to observe over the next 4-6 weeks to see if any changes have occured. He said we may have to give more injections if cysts grow again.

It's such a relief, I would definatley recommend anyone with pets to visit these vets if you have a problem.

Thanks

Chock
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top