Something On Nipples - Ovarian Cysts?

[CarnivalPiggy]

Hi! Very worried today as noticed Min has a white thing on top of each nipple, and is kinda dry. Not sure if this is normal as I don't usually look. Sorry for the horrible pic, I'll try and get a new one out. She's acting completely normal, drinking and eating fine. She's actually at her normal weight - roughly 1000 or 1000g

 

[CarnivalPiggy]

 

[Wiebke]

View attachment 52182

Hi! Crusts on top of sows nipples point towards an ovarian cyst that is having a bit of a growth spurt. You have noticed it very early on.

Please see a preferably piggy savvy vet whenever it is convenient for you if you want to have her checked out. I would recommend to have her seen in any case if the crusts get bigger and/or if her behaviour is becoming more hormonal (being constantly in season) or if she is starting to lose weight.

 

[CarnivalPiggy]

Thank you! I was looking on guinealynx and other sites and noticed the nipples looked familiar. They don't appear to have any crust along the side and is just dry save for the white thing so I'm somewhat relieved. I'm going to see about getting her booked into a vet, but I'm unsure what to do as the closest recd one is Taverham but local is preferable right now

I'm worried about how the process will be done, though. For example, I've seen people saying spaying in the best option but also seen needles being used. I'm very worried about the possibility of spaying her as it feels like I'm giving her a death sentence.

Also, weird thing is she's been struggling at nine hundred ish for a few days but went back to a thousand ish one or two days ago. @Wiebke

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you! I was looking on guinealynx and other sites and noticed the nipples looked familiar. They don't appear to have any crust and is just dry save for the white thing so I'm somewhat relieved. I'm going to see about getting her booked into a vet, but I'm unsure what to do as the closest recd one is Taverham but local is preferable right now

I'm worried about how the process will be done, though. For example, I've seen people saying spaying in the best option but also seen needles being used. I'm very worried about the possibility of spaying her as it feels like I'm giving her a death sentence.

Also, weird thing is she's been struggling at nine hundred ish for a few days but went back to a thousand ish one or two days ago. @Wiebke

There are three ways of dealing with ovarian cysts. You can treat with hormone injections (chorulon; it may take two rounds of treatment and there can be some side effects in some piggies, but it avoids an operation) or some vets drain them (which means that they will refill eventually, but there are no side effects and it can be done with minimal anaesthesia). Both these methods are a lot less invasive than a full spaying operation.

Large ovarian cysts often do not cause much in the way of symptoms; the ones that do are often small, active ones.

 

[CarnivalPiggy]

Thank you! I think I might ask about the hormone injections. Can I ask what side effects it might cause though? @Wiebke

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you! I think I might ask about the hormone injections. Can I ask what side effects it might cause though? @Wiebke

It can vary. None of mine have had hormone therapy, so I don't have personal experience. Other members have used hormone therapy and may be able to tell you about their experiences.

 

[helen105281]

My Terk had the injections but for an ovarian tumour not cysts. They kept her tumour from growing for about a year though. It was a few years ago but as far as I recall she had no side effects. I will tag another member who has used them @GPTV

 

[Adelle]

My sow had them at 4.5 years old with no ill effects x

 

[GPTV]

Hi there my Ellie had reoccurring uti's &heavy bleeding especially when she pooped.
She was around 6 years old.
She had none of the textbook symptoms of ovarian cysts- stroppy/hormonal, crusty nipples, hair thinning especially on their sides, etc. Just the uti's&bleeding.

The vet wanted to investigate further as she didnt want to just dish out antibiotics when they weren't clearing it up.

Ellie had a conscious ultrasound that showed a walnut sized lump ovarian cyst. The vet said a spay. Or draining was the only options but due to her age she didnt want to operate as the risk was too high& she would use anaesthetic for both options.

I suggested the hormone injections as I had found out mostly from here that that was another choice to consider.
The vet agreed to try the chorulon injections after phoning the manufacturers whilst I was there to find out more &dosages etc.

The injections are actually cattle hormones, Ellie had hers- 2 injections 7-10days apart. The bleeding stopped within days, the lump decreased in size,her general mood seemed more relaxed &her coat went all shiney&silky. The injections lasted about 12months &she had another round of 2 injections as the lump had come back &she seemed quiet &not her usual self. Apparently cysts are very painful especially when they are small or growing. So your guinea may show signs of pain, lack of appetite, subdued, biting at hair/barbering.
Ellie had metacam for a painkiller for a short while after her injections.
I lost Ellie around 2yrs later to multiple health issues &I think she only had one bleed after her injections.

Ellie had no bad side effects but with some sows the injections simply just dont work. I can't remember seeing any other negative side effects from other members on here.

Get your cavy savvy vet to investigate &feel free to ask if I can provide any more info.

Speedy recover to your little lady. Xx

 

[*kate*]

My Tilly had no symptoms either, the first sign was she wasn't eating much. She was found to have 2 large cysts, 1 on each side.

She was spayed, aged 41/2, and made a quick and full recovery.

 

[CarnivalPiggy]

Thank you for all your helpful replies! A question for anyone - would it be ok to wait until Saturday to take her? I want to take her to Taverham as it's the one I've been using for a bit. I'm just afraid any vet I'll see will automatically go or after a bit of dawdling, "put her down, it's the kindest thing to do as guinea pigs aren't big and don't take to operation." or try to extend problems for money. Etc. It's a fear I've had for ages as many vets seem to take the quick route to pts.

She was spayed, aged 41/2, and made a quick and full recovery.

Thanks! Can I ask how it was and who you saw for it? I'd spay her to hopefully be somewhat done with it but I don't think there's a vet I'd trust to see a gpig sow spay through.

Hi there my Ellie had reoccurring uti's &heavy bleeding especially when she pooped.
She was around 6 years old.
She had none of the textbook symptoms of ovarian cysts- stroppy/hormonal, crusty nipples, hair thinning especially on their sides, etc. Just the uti's&bleeding.

The vet wanted to investigate further as she didnt want to just dish out antibiotics when they weren't clearing it up.

Ellie had a conscious ultrasound that showed a walnut sized lump ovarian cyst. The vet said a spay. Or draining was the only options but due to her age she didnt want to operate as the risk was too high& she would use anaesthetic for both options.

I suggested the hormone injections as I had found out mostly from here that that was another choice to consider.
The vet agreed to try the chorulon injections after phoning the manufacturers whilst I was there to find out more &dosages etc.

The injections are actually cattle hormones, Ellie had hers- 2 injections 7-10days apart. The bleeding stopped within days, the lump decreased in size,her general mood seemed more relaxed &her coat went all shiney&silky. The injections lasted about 12months &she had another round of 2 injections as the lump had come back &she seemed quiet &not her usual self. Apparently cysts are very painful especially when they are small or growing. So your guinea may show signs of pain, lack of appetite, subdued, biting at hair/barbering.
Ellie had metacam for a painkiller for a short while after her injections.
I lost Ellie around 2yrs later to multiple health issues &I think she only had one bleed after her injections.

Ellie had no bad side effects but with some sows the injections simply just dont work. I can't remember seeing any other negative side effects from other members on here.

Get your cavy savvy vet to investigate &feel free to ask if I can provide any more info.

Speedy recover to your little lady. Xx

Thanks for your reply and RIP Ellie

A question or two if that's ok I didn't know they bleed after the injections, is that a thing I missed? Also, hope you don't mind me asking, but did the cyst and/or injections for it have anything to do with the later health issues?

 

[Tinkoz]

My 5+ year old peaches had 2 cysts last year 4.25cm & 6.2cm our vet did not give her much of a chance going through the operation to spay due to her age and she has damaged lungs as well but we phoned the cat & rabbit place down in Hampshire who do this kind of operation all the time & has a very very good reputation, she had both cysts removed & they were really good she had no problems and it gave her a new lease of life, now over a year later she is loving life and is happier than ever,
What ever path you chose to go down for your piggie will be the right decision for you and her if you try the injection & they don't work for her you have other options,
Please let us know how you get on X

 

[*kate*]

I was very nervous having her spayed but my Vet is very good with small animals

She came home the same night on painkillers. She seemed to have a little trouble maintaining her temperature so I sat with her on my lap for a while to warm her up and then put a snugglesafe under her bed. She was very quiet and drowsy but ate a little.

The next morning she was right as rain, eating, weeing and pooping. I had separated her from Hettie but put them back together on the second day as they are both quiet piggies.

She had disolvable internal stitches and the wound was also glued and healed very quickly.

 

[GPTV]

Thank you for all your helpful replies! A question for anyone - would it be ok to wait until Saturday to take her? I want to take her to Taverham as it's the one I've been using for a bit. I'm just afraid any vet I'll see will automatically go or after a bit of dawdling, "put her down, it's the kindest thing to do as guinea pigs aren't big and don't take to operation." or try to extend problems for money. Etc. It's a fear I've had for ages as many vets seem to take the quick route to pts.


Thanks! Can I ask how it was and who you saw for it? I'd spay her to hopefully be somewhat done with it but I don't think there's a vet I'd trust to see a gpig sow spay through.



Thanks for your reply and RIP Ellie

A question or two if that's ok I didn't know they bleed after the injections, is that a thing I missed? Also, hope you don't mind me asking, but did the cyst and/or injections for it have anything to do with the later health issues?

Aw thankyou

No its ok it wasn't the injections that made her bleed it was the bleeding from the uti's, sometimes it was really heavy bleeding, concentrated/neat bleeding opposed to watered down in urine bleeding (similar to when u cut/scratch yourself). She had 1 bleed when pooping 1 or 2 days after the injection&never had any others.

Also her general condition seemed to improve within a week.

I lost Ellie at the ripe old age of 8yrs &she had a heart condition that was untreated (despite my requests) for too long. My vet wouldn't trial heart meds for her at first, I seen a different vet by chance at the same practice &he could hear she had a heart murmur. One of the valves wasn't working properly. She was trialled on meds then but I think it was just too little too late &the first vet thought she had age related diabetes too(I'm not convinced on that bit though).

She was a happy, sweet little munchkin though &loved life up until the end.
So I dont think the cyst was a major factor or the treatment.

Edit... If u can sort her some painkillers/metacam before Saturday it would be preferable. Even if she doesn't get to see the vet until Saturday at least she won't be in pain &succumb to the pain related problems that can so easily spiral out of control
Especially as the vet mentioned she was in pain.

Healing vibes little one
Xx
.
Xx