Sad days for Dylan

[Pigalig]

Hi all
A few weeks ago my boy Dylan had to visit a rodentologist and vets for a dental due to loss of appetite, which he perked up from afterwards. However he went back down to 800g, and not eating unless persuaded again. The rodentologist found a lump in his left side, which is clearly the most likely reason for him not eating, but now I am left with a dilemma:
He's only two, but he's so underweight and the lump doesn't feel like a simple cyst, his chances of surviving a labotomy aren't good. If he gets his weight up, there is a better chance he will make it, but obviously the lump may still be too bad to take out cleanly. Do I just keep syrynge feeding him until the inevitable happens, or do I risk the op?

What would you guys do?
Thanks, he's such a funny little pig

 

[doglovinpiggylover]

bumping this up for you.

I'm so sorry i cant offer any advice, but i hope dylan makes it x

 

[Sue G]

This is in the pregnancy section which is perhaps why it's not getting many replies - could a Mod please move it to the appropriate place. Thanks.

 

[Guinea pig slave]

Oh how sad, poor baby
Don't know much about this type of thing but a cyst is normally palpable and quite soft to the touch. One of my older girls has a cyst on her back and have been advised to leave well alone unless it gets any larger :...
Is it his weight that is the issue with surgery and anaesthetic ?
Really hope he can have the treatment he needs, he's still so very young
Sending Dylan lots of healing vibes from us all here :laluot_29:

 

[Caviesgalore (EPGPR)]

This is in the pregnancy section which is perhaps why it's not getting many replies - could a Mod please move it to the appropriate place. Thanks.

I'll pop a note on the mods board

 

[Pigalig]

Thanks, it seems to be in the right section now, don't know how that happened :S
Little Dylan is still only eating a little for himself and being topped up with syrynge food after three weeks. I'm thinking of heading to the vets, but he's still too underweight to go under in my opinion, and even if the op is a success, other problems tend to occur afterwards :-/ any other opinions would be much appreciated x

 

[Abi_nurse]

I would get the lump sampled before considering an op.I would get a needle aspirate of it first to go for analysis and that way you know exactly what your dealing with. Before jumping into anything without knowing exactly what your dealing with.

x.

 

[Pebble]

I would get the lump sampled before considering an op.I would get a needle aspirate of it first to go for analysis and that way you know exactly what your dealing with. Before jumping into anything without knowing exactly what your dealing with.

x.

^^^Spot on.

You do need to go and see a vet now even though he is underweight esepcially given he hasn;t perked up. My vet always takes a needle aspirate and checks it under the microscope first before making any decision on whether to recommend surgery or not. I have quite a few lumpy guineas - who have harmless fatty lumps so we made the decision not to operate to remove them.

The vet might find another reason as to why he isn't eating that is not lump related and a blood test might be recommended to check liver and kidney function. I see you;re in Sussex - can you get him to my vets Seers Croft in Horsham to see either Melissa or Rob? (They are not cheap but they are very good with underweight and ill piggies). They are the only exotics vets I have found in Sussex who I trust with piggie GA's and certain invasive procedures including taking blood and sampling lumps. They have a 100% success rate with my piggies over the last three years which includes over 30 GA's and more than 10 blood samplings (including very ill and heart piggies).

HTH
x