Sow Behaving Differently - Hooting When Eating

[Dilly's Piggies]

My girl Aspen has been behaving differently for the past 3 weeks ish, I started noticing she was being very bossy towards the other 4 sows, chasing and mounting, I assumed she was just in season or feeling particularly dominant in the beginning.

Now she's not behaving dominant, but she is getting picked on by the others, when it comes to food they will nip and chase her off, and they're pushing her away from sleeping spots. Aspen is my biggest sow, weighing in at 1320g, she has always been big, however not overweight, I've been weighing her regularly and she is not losing weight or gaining for that matter. Aspen was always your dream cuddly pig, but she changed 3 weeks ago, now she's very highly strung and hyperactive, when I take her out she doesn't sit still, is constantly squeaking to get back to the cage and has also begun squealing when I pick her up, this isn't like her at all.

2 weeks ago she began to 'hoot', making snuffly noises whilst eating, this was when I had hay on the floor, however I have not heard her hoot since I changed to hay bags 3 days ago, but all the other issues still remain.

I'm concerned for her, that maybe she has a heart problem, URI or even something hormonal, like ovarian cysts. I can take her to the vets next week if needed, I think she does need at least a check up. What do you guys think could be wrong?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!
I would not worry about URI - she had a stuffy nose from the hay. It did become more noticeable during eating because she had to breathe fully through the nose.

However, it sounds like she is constantly in season because of an ovarian cyst/cysts. It would be good if you could see a piggy savvy vet for that. We have got a recommended vets locator on the top bar: Guinea Pig Vet Locator

There are other less invasive options to a full spay these days, like a round or two of chorulon (hormone) injections.

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

Hi!
I would not worry about URI - she had a stuffy nose from the hay. It did become more noticeable during eating because she had to breathe fully through the nose.

However, it sounds like she is constantly in season because of an ovarian cyst/cysts. It would be good if you could see a piggy savvy vet for that. We have got a recommended vets locator on the top bar: Guinea Pig Vet Locator

There are other less invasive options to a full spay these days, like a round or two of chorulon (hormone) injections.

Thank you Wiebke, very happy to hear she doesn't have a URI, those are a nightmare, she still hasn't been snuffly so I'm sure you're right. I have Aspen in the vet today at 2:40, it's not a specialist vet, just a normal small animal vet, but they're a good practice and better than nothing! Hopefully nothing is found, but if they do find something serious that requires surgery or anesthesia, I'd rather take her to a specialist for that. Hope she can be fixed!

 

[Swissgreys]

Good luck with Aspen today.
Please let us know how she gets on - she is a very beautiful looking lady!

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

Just got back from the vet with Aspen, they couldn't feel or see anything wrong, but due to her symptoms she has to go back next week for an ultrasound and an x-ray, I'm very happy because they opted to do it whilst she is conscious, NO ANESTHESIA YAY! It's possible she could have ovarian cysts or bladder stones, so hopefully we will find out what's going on next week.

 

[Wiebke]

Just got back from the vet with Aspen, they couldn't feel or see anything wrong, but due to her symptoms she has to go back next week for an ultrasound and an x-ray, I'm very happy because they opted to do it whilst she is conscious, NO ANESTHESIA YAY! It's possible she could have ovarian cysts or bladder stones, so hopefully we will find out what's going on next week.

That is a reasonable procedure - then you and your vet knwo what you are up against and can consider any treatment options accordingly.

 

[sport_billy]

Please keep us updated, sending lots of vibes x

 

[GPTV]

Good luck at the vets.

My Ellie had her ovarian cysts diagnosed with a conscious ultrasound scan. The vet let me hold her whilst she was belly shaved &scanned. It was fascinating watching it all.

She had 2 hcg (chorulon)hormone injections about 7-10apart. Was a total shrieking diva (her not me) she was around 6yrs old &she did well with the lump shrinking &she stopped having recurring uti's &heavy bleeding. (she mellowed too although she wasn't particularly stressy/hormonal or have any other
Textbook symptoms of cysts).

About 12months later she had another round of 2x injections which decreased the lump again.

Have a chat about the cysts first as they can be very painful especially when small &growing. This may be making her more crabby &squeal when u pick her up etc .
If it was stones I would expect her to squeal more when she's wee'ing or pooping.

Fingers crossed for your gorgeous girly . Xx

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

Good luck at the vets.

My Ellie had her ovarian cysts diagnosed with a conscious ultrasound scan. The vet let me hold her whilst she was belly shaved &scanned. It was fascinating watching it all.

She had 2 hcg (chorulon)hormone injections about 7-10apart. Was a total shrieking diva (her not me) she was around 6yrs old &she did well with the lump shrinking &she stopped having recurring uti's &heavy bleeding. (she mellowed too although she wasn't particularly stressy/hormonal or have any other
Textbook symptoms of cysts).

About 12months later she had another round of 2x injections which decreased the lump again.

Have a chat about the cysts first as they can be very painful especially when small &growing. This may be making her more crabby &squeal when you pick her up etc .
If it was stones I would expect her to squeal more when she's wee'ing or pooping.

Fingers crossed for your gorgeous girly . Xx

Thank you GPTV, is it possible that piggies can have ovarian cysts even as youngsters? I have another sow that is very squealy and doesn't like to be picked up or handled at all, she has always been this way since I got her at 8 weeks though so maybe it's just her personality, just wondering if I should have her checked out also, I never want to put it down to temperament when there could be a physical reason. I also have another sow that is squeaking whilst peeing and pooping, she is booked in for the vet next week at the same time Aspen will be going for her scans, so I expect bladder stones with her. My poor babies, they always get ill at the same time!

If it turns out Aspen does have cysts then I'm going for the hormone injection treatment first as I have read some success stories with it, however if it doesn't work then she will have to be spayed, such a risky treatment but at least if it goes well she will be clear of them for life and out of discomfort <3

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you GPTV, is it possible that piggies can have ovarian cysts even as youngsters? I have another sow that is very squealy and doesn't like to be picked up or handled at all, she has always been this way since I got her at 8 weeks though so maybe it's just her personality, just wondering if I should have her checked out also, I never want to put it down to temperament when there could be a physical reason. I also have another sow that is squeaking whilst peeing and pooping, she is booked in for the vet next week at the same time Aspen will be going for her scans, so I expect bladder stones with her. My poor babies, they always get ill at the same time!

If it turns out Aspen does have cysts then I'm going for the hormone injection treatment first as I have read some success stories with it, however if it doesn't work then she will have to be spayed, such a risky treatment but at least if it goes well she will be clear of them for life and out of discomfort <3

The earliest sows can get ovarian cysts is ca. 1 1/2 years of age when they reach adulthood; most cysts start later, towards older age. Some guinea pigs can be real drama queens all their lives. Sows can suffer from hormonal spikes when they are in their puberty. It is much less well known because it doesn't usually cause fall-outs. These spikes are often connected with a strong season. It is often the small, growing cysts that cause the behavioural problems, much less than the really big ovarian cysts.

If in doubt (and if she is of the right age), you can have her checked. Please be aware that many sows have ovarian cysts, but that the majority is never going to cause any problems.

Have you considered having a look at these links here; they can make a real difference to your interaction:
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig
How To Understand Guinea Pig Instincts And Speak Piggy Body Language

All the best! Illness is sadly like London buses - always several together!

 

[GPTV]

I'm not sure with the ages of guineas getting cysts but I would assume that when they hit puberty is when they're most likely to have problems with any cysts that have already formed. With hormones raging the cysts more likely to grow from this time onwards. The growing cyst stage is apparently most painful in humans so the chances of it being the same with guineas is possible too.

My Ellie was coming up 6yrs old before hers gave her any trouble though.

Think I would take your squealy girl too when u go to the vets.
She'll have some paw holding companions &save you another journey to the vets.
Might be worth phoning the vets &ask if u can bring along another patient (theyll probably be able to give u an extended time slot)

My grace had a bladder stone removed a few weeks ago. You wouldn't think now that she'd had anything done. Have a good chat with the vet to discuss all possibilities with each guinea.

Ellies hormone injections worked. But if your guinea is only young &your vet is an experienced cavy savvy vet then maybe the spay could be an option to prevent more problems as she ages.
Check how often they do guinea spays, the vets success rate, aftercare advice, how long ago since the last spay, etc.

Whatever happens -good luck at the vets &hopefully you can get them all sorted successfully &quickly. Fingers n paws crossed,let us know how they get on. Xx