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Possible tumour removal on guinea pig?

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myermaid

myermaid

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So last month one of my guinea pigs died, and since then I've been paranoid about my other guinea pig, which turned out to be a good thing as otherwise I would never have taken her to the vet. While there we found out that Dandelion had a tumour that was maybe a little smaller than a grape, and that it was most likely she had cancer. She was put on some steroids (prednicare/prednisolone) and is currently being weaned off of them, as they were really only a temporary measure to begin with and the vet said she was concerned about her being on steroids for a long period of time. We have been offered surgery to remove the tumour (which is apparently 'on the very back of her right mammory gland') but the vet was also concerned about the GA risk, as my guinea pig is just over six years old, meaning there is an even higher risk. I'd love to hear if you had any experiences with anything even slightly related, or even just your opinions on whether the surgery would be a good thing. Dandelion may only live another 1-3 months without surgery before having to be pts, but then again she could not survive the surgery. I don't know if I should leave her to live the rest of her life (although I don't think I could bear having her pts), or if she should have the surgery and end it either way. Thank you so much for helping me.
 
Hello, Sorry to hear your news about Dandelion. . One of our girls had a tumour removed from in her neck and recovered really well, but she was only 3 years old and in good health otherwise. It sounds like Dandelions tumour is in a more riskier place. I am hoping someone with some experience of this will be along shortly to help advise and share their experiences, but if not keep checking back on and off over the next day.

It is a very difficult choice to be made and one only you and your vet can decide upon. Without the Operation unfortunately things will get worse and with the operation there is the risk of complications combined with the fact she is a elderly piggie. I am so sorry you are being faced with this dilemma. Unfortunately it is an awful choice between leaving her be and spending the time you have left together or the operation she may not come through but also could prolong her life if successful.

If you choose not to operate then you will need to discuss pain relief and be prepared for when things go downhill as the tumour may affect other organs depending on where it is. If she is in otherwise good health then an operation to remove the tumour could give you more time, if she isn't then you may be putting her body under extra stress.
Whatever decision you make, you will make the correct choice because you love her, there is no easy answer and no definite right or wrong in this situation.

Lots of love to Dandelion
 
Thank you so much for your reply. We're going back to the vet's next week so hopefully we'll have more information to go on
 
I am very sorry; it always very hard hard to weigh up the risks and pros and cons in situations like that. There is no right or wrong decision as long as you think it through. It is even harder, as you have already lost one of your piggies! Apart from that, I agree fully with what sport billy has said.

If you would like a second opinion, here is our list of recommended piggy savvy vets; is one of them within your reach?
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=204458758673513849635.0004e111354a528da0dbb&msa=0

Here is more information on mammary tumours: http://www.guinealynx.info/tumor_mammary.html
 
Thank you for the links! We originally went to a private vet but he was actually quite cruel about giving us the news, and suggested we simply had her put down, but it turns out that PDSA seem to know what they're doing and have given us more information and options. Fingers crossed that on Friday it's good news.
 
myermaid said:
Thank you for the links! We originally went to a private vet but he was actually quite cruel about giving us the news, and suggested we simply had her put down, but it turns out that PDSA seem to know what they're doing and have given us more information and options. Fingers crossed that on Friday it's good news.
Click to expand...

Sorry about the first vet :-( Glad the PDSA were helpful and good luck x
 
The vet said that the best she could give us was that Dandelion had a 50/50 chance of surviving. In the end I decided against it, and am carrying on with the steroids. The lump already seems to be getting bigger, and even some small scratches that I'm afraid could turn into ulcers. Wondering if I should go ahead with the surgery...
 
HUGS!

It is always a toss up. You are damned if you do and damned if you don't. There is no right or wrong while you balance the chances against the risks and the potential suffering. Any of your decisions will be based on your love for Dandelion. But it is a very lonely decision because only you can make it - and it will be nevitably a decision where you will never know half the facts you need.

I have decided either way with various piggies, and I have lost piggies in operations. It never gets any easier and there is never just one "right way". All you can do is care for Dandelion as best as you can and follow your heart.
 
Thank you for your help! Going back to vets and will probably have the surgery, it seems to be getting far too big to be comfortable. Fingers crossed and all that ;)
 
I wish you well in your decisions. My three year old piggy had womb cancer the tumour fell out of her. We decided to operate although she appeared fit and well at the time. We decided to give her the best chance of a longer life nearly ten months on and 4 years old she is fit and well. She does get a runny bum at times, I guess her bowels are not quite the same. She was strong and we decided that would give her the best odds with surgery. She had a biopsy recently for a lump and it was a benign cyst. I wanted it cut off but the vet advised if we biopsy first it would inform us correctly wether to have surgery. So surgery was not needed.
I trusted my vet completely to do their best. I hope you can make the best decision. I remember being very stressed trying to decide what is right and on reflection we made the right choice. My piggy has five friends one she bonded with this year she comes up to me and climbs up I am so pleased to still have her. It is never easy. Good luck.
 
I'm so glad I posted this as everything I'd heard before was incredibly negative. Finally found a place where I can be told of the risks but also have some positive things to go on, so thank you so much. I think it's best I have another talk with the vet :)
 
I have a 2 year old who is lumpy! I found a lump and took her to an exotic specialist vet, where he found two more. As she had to go under anaesthetic anyway for a sample to be taken, I decided she may as well have them removed. Fortunately, they weren't cancerous, but was told she will always get new lumps developing. I then didn't want to keep putting her through ops unless necessary, so I consulted my rodentologist and piggy friends. They said unless the lumps were so huge that they were dragging on the ground and at risk of infection, to leave them alone.
I can't believe that some vets would suggest euthanasia!
 
Just come back from vets now. It was a new vet but luckily she was really nice, but she did warn me that if they were going to operate I am going to have to decide before next Monday, otherwise it will quickly become inoperable. I never thought it would be this hard to decide to be honest :( Also, she thought some antibiotics would help with the swelling slightly, so we have some Enrofloxacin (also know as Baytril I think?). I've heard some really positive and some really negative opinions on this drug, has anyone had any experience with it? She's had some now so I guess we'll see in the morning :) Thank you again for your help!
 
I wish you all the best for making your decision. Listen to your heart!

Here is more information on baytril. Some piggies can have negative reactions like soft poos or loss of appetite. We recommend to give a probiotic 1-2 hours after the baytril.
http://www.guinealynx.info/antibiotics.html#baytril
 
I had heard of giving probiotics, but the vet didn't say anything to us. Maybe it's because it's only a very small dosage? In the morning I will check how she's doing and if I notice anything abnormal I will go looking for some supplements or something. Thank you :)
 
Baytril is often the first line AB for piggies and I have always found it well tolerated. Just keep an eye on poo's and if needed give probiotic at a different time to the AB.

Lots of love to your piggie
 
Dandelion has been taking the antibiotics for a few days and while everything else seems fine she doesn't seem to be eating much fresh food (although she is still eating her mixed dry food). I'm hoping that she is just adjusting to the antibiotics, and am keeping an eye on her weight. I may find a probiotic to give if the problem continues :)
 
Love to Dandelion x

Do you have another healthy piggie you could get poo soup from?
 
No she is my only piggie. There were two but unfortunately her sister died a couple of months ago :( I've decided to take her off the Baytril, as she will back away and bite me whenever I attempt to put the syringe near her (we don't have this problem when she has her Prednisolone), she now refuses to eat any fresh fruit or vegetables (though thankfully she is still eating some hay and dry food), and I have started to see patches of blood on her floor. I don't want to put the poor thing through all that just for some medicine that doesn't seem to have had any positive reaction :( I'm hoping now she's off it she will soon start eating normally again :)
 
Well we've been back to the vets (it was yet another vet there, but she seemed okay too). She said that there really was no point as the lump seemed very attached, and as well as the anaesthetic risk, she could also bleed out easily. So I guess it's not going ahead. I'm not sure how I feel about it but I guess I should be relieved. Although since we've been back she's been acting oddly. She'll sort of turn around in circles, a few times every couple of minutes, in sort of an agitated way, and she'll start biting at her feet. Does anyone know if this means anything? Haha I'm just very paranoid I guess :P
 
Hello! Sorry to keep pestering you all (I'm just worried I guess). The tumour is fine as it's not growing particularly quickly, but dandelions managed to get herself into a state again. It seems like she's been biting at the area around her bum and it's looking quite sore and uncomfortable. Like the fur is either missing or matted with dried blood. I honestly don't know what she's done to herself. Does anyone have any idea what it is or why she's doing it? Or if there's any way to make it less uncomfortable?
 
Sorry to hear Dandelions not well, how is she today?

Sometimes when piggies get stressed or bored they start 'barbering' (chewing the hair off) their own or someone else's hair, especially apparently with long haired piggies.
one of mine did it to her ill sister when she had a tumour, it could be a hormonal thing too.

If she has been on antibiotics it may be upsetting her stomach still, causing soft poops that get stuck in her hair causing it to matt together, but i wouldnt think it should look like dried blood. She may have a blockage of pellets shes trying to free up if she keeps biting her bum.
Is it any good trying to post a picture? this may help someone identify the problem.

Think i would then give her a wash off/ wipe over of the bum area to make sure it stays clean & gently tease out any matted areas of hair, as this may be pulling on her skin causing pain/irritation.

i would also give her some probiotics of some form if you can just to give her a helping hand, they wont do her any harm.

Is it any good taking her back to the vets & requesting to see the one that seemed to know what they were on about?

Fingers & paws crossed for you though, its so stressful when they are unwell.

xx
 
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