Spay or Implant for Leeland?

[Dusty_bugs]

Hi guys,

Leeland is booked in next Monday for a spay because she has a rather nasty cyst which is causing her pain now. The vet has spoken to a contact who spoke at a conferance about using suprelorin.

I have 3 reservations. a) it doesnt stop it happening again at an older age b) We won't know how long it will last c) it was used in ferrets and male dogs (not guineapigs) and is entirely experimental.

I have heard it being used on guineapigs once or twice but on boars.

The benefits are obviously less invasion and better recovery. Leeland is 4.6yrs old now and has been knocked out maybe 4 or 5 times this year to have oral surgeries, xrays and inspections. I am confident that she is strong enough to come around but it's still a gamble.

Does anyone have any advise about implants or about suprelorin? I want her spayed but my vet wants to implant. He has quoted me a price of £234 because he has to buy them in pairs. Is that fair?



Thanks guys!

 

[Pebble]

Chorulon injections are the most widely used alternative treatment to spay for sows with cystic ovaries

I am only aware of Suprelorin implants being used as an alternative to castrating boars in this country but I understand it is used in the USA as chemical neutering alternative for both male and female animals

http://www.stlzoo.org/animals/scien...o/contraceptionmethods/suprelorin-deslorelin/.

Given her other condition with her throat, I would be inclined not to risk a GA/surgery atm.......and maybe seek further advice about chorulon injections vs suprelorin implants - Molly Varga might be a good vet to ring to consult with on this......
http://www.cheshirepet.co.uk/?team-member=molly-varga



HTH
x

 

[funnehmare]

I would second speaking to Molly about it. When I was considering what to do with my problematic sow and my sickly lone boar, it was only Molly who suggested an implant for either of them, but she did mention it is a fairly new alternative for piggies but it has had good success in other animals. I was quoted around £80ish if I recall correctly. In the end I opted for surgery due to the life expectancy of the implant being around two years (I didn't want to run the risk of pregnancy if I missed timed the implant replacement). Definitely consider having a chat with her though x

 

[Dusty_bugs]

Thanks guys, we've concluded the throat anomaly as non-problematic based on experiences from his contacts. They are benign calcium growths which can come and go apparently. They are no effecting her eating and cause her no pain. There isnt even localised redness so no visible signs fo infection.

I will discuss with him the price and ask why he wants to try Suprelorin instead of Chorulon. I'll also ask how much he was going to charge for a spay.

Is it true that hormonal inserts will only reduce the size of a cyst and not remove the chance of new ones growing? I would hate for her to have a sudden explosion of cysts if the drug wore out. No one has commented on the efficacy of the drug over the years on the numeracy or size of cysts. At least with a spay it definitively ends the problem.

 

[Dusty_bugs]

Chorulon injections are the most widely used alternative treatment to spay for sows with cystic ovaries

I am only aware of Suprelorin implants being used as an alternative to castrating boars in this country but I understand it is used in the USA as chemical neutering alternative for both male and female animals

http://www.stlzoo.org/animals/scien...o/contraceptionmethods/suprelorin-deslorelin/.

Given her other condition with her throat, I would be inclined not to risk a GA/surgery atm.......and maybe seek further advice about chorulon injections vs suprelorin implants - Molly Varga might be a good vet to ring to consult with on this......
http://www.cheshirepet.co.uk/?team-member=molly-varga



HTH
x

The first link is interesting.. though there are a few differences here to a paper I read about suprelorin..

http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB..._Discussion/veterinary/000109/WC500068832.pdf

... namely that it does effect progesterone.. the paper I read said it does not effect prog. only testosterone and eostrogen. Also it says it's easier to find steroidal action in females droppings that to check the males sperm levels. Can't you look for steroidal action in male droppings as easily? Surely you're just looking that the difference in levels is maintained :/ But I dont know I'm no vet.

 

[klee]

Rosie had chorulon injections for her cysts, they were both fairly large and have decreased dramatically and her belly hair has come back.
As far as I'm aware from what the vet said about chorulon, there is always the chance of them coming back as guinea pigs are always cycling. I would assume it would be similar for the implant being hormone based.

 

[weesilvie]

Hi dusty bugs

My Winnie pig had an implant put in after she started behaving a bit out of charactef and the vet discovered both her ovaries were cystic. It was done around Easter time and within 3 or 4 weeks she had got to behaving kuch more normally and the cysts have gone right down. We've only had it a couple of months so I can't comment more about longevity of the thing but it's working for us so far. A consideration in Winnie's case is that she is 4 1/2 so the implant has a life expectancy similar to hers.

The vet who did it is excellent. Although the implant goes in with a needle, like a dog or cat's microchip, it's a hit bigger thsn that so they need s GA. The vet also sealed the needle wound as if it were a surgical wound, with glue and waterproof coating - this is to prevent an abscess happening. Only cost me c £80 though...

I think the decision on what treatment will depend on yours and your pig's circumstances.

 

[TAN]

My Noodles is booked in for a spay as the vet who has done loads of spays and has 5 spayed piggies of her own (done by her) says that the injections / implants have a 50% chance of not working / cysts grow back and you still need to do a GA for the implant - she charges £76 for a spay.

 

[Dusty_bugs]

Hi guys, thanks for the continuing feedback! Leeland went in for her spay yesterday. I caved, because although I'm sure the hormones would have been useful it is not a definitive end to Leeland's problems, and with her complicated medical background and successful reactions to previous surgeries I bit the bullet.

She's been home about 14 hours by now, we've got her on a heat pad but she shakes and her eating is massively sporadic and it's almost like she slips in and out of lucidity :/ I am giving her critical care, water and Loxocom (0.6ml once a day). Unfortunately I have to be at work today (12 hr shift starting 5am). I got about 5mls into her earlier of food but it started coming back out so I didnt want to choke her. The bf is having another go now, he's only managed 3 ml before it came out again but she took the water ok.. I'm going to try and slip home midday. I'm also going to ring the vet to see if they have any of that red isotonic stuff. Her poos last night were nearly black and were quite thin.

Anyway, I need to shoot. If anyone has any advice about post spay care I'd really appreciate a few tips. I remember DT didn't eat as easily before but she had Leeland to keep to her going and help her regain her appetite. Leeland still has no one but my fat face

Cheers guys,
Maya

 

[Dusty_bugs]

uh! boss wont let me go home!

 

[helen105281]

Poor Leeland, I would recommend splitting the Loxicom dose in 2 so she has it each end of the day and also see if the vet could prescribe something stronger such as Rimadyl instead of the Loxicom. Metatone tonic is good for stimulating their appetite and helping them when they are run down.