Spayed Sow - Hard lump where Ovary should be

[adavies2]

Hello All,

I am hoping for some wisdom regarding my spayed sow Honey.
Honey had a spay in November 2025 due to ovarian cysts, and last week I noticed that on her right side there was a hard roundish feeling lump where her cyst used to be, I cant give an estimate on the size but its noticeable when I stroke her right side. Its just underneath her last rib.

When she had an ultrasound to see if she had cysts, they noticed a small stone in her kidney but was told its nothing to be concerned about.

I have a vet appointment on Thursday for a different pig as they may have a URI, and antibiotics so far havent helped. So I am going to take Honey to get a quick check and hope I dont get charged.

Note, Honey is a stable weight (roughly 980grams), eating, popcorns, rumbles and recently got her zoomy back.

Basically, I just need peace of mind so I can actually relax and stop pestering Honey, as I get obsessive when I am stressed about my piggies.

Can spayed sows develop cysts from where their ovaries used to be? I know with tumours, if there is leftover tissue, then a tumour can regrow, but not sure how it works with cysts.

Or if its a kidney stone, can you physically feel for stones when they are in the kidney? As I know you can when they progress to the bladder/urethra.

I appreciate any advice I can get, as vets in my area are getting stupidy expensive. £97 just for a second opinion consultation for the URI problem at a vets4pets...

Kind regards,

A stressed pig dad

2 pics, one of roughly where the lump is, and the second because of how chill she is knowing she is keeping a single vet practice going with her bills alone.

 

[piggieminder]

Bump

 

[Wiebke]

Hello All,

I am hoping for some wisdom regarding my spayed sow Honey.
Honey had a spay in November 2025 due to ovarian cysts, and last week I noticed that on her right side there was a hard roundish feeling lump where her cyst used to be, I cant give an estimate on the size but its noticeable when I stroke her right side. Its just underneath her last rib.

When she had an ultrasound to see if she had cysts, they noticed a small stone in her kidney but was told its nothing to be concerned about.

I have a vet appointment on Thursday for a different pig as they may have a URI, and antibiotics so far havent helped. So I am going to take Honey to get a quick check and hope I dont get charged.

Note, Honey is a stable weight (roughly 980grams), eating, popcorns, rumbles and recently got her zoomy back.

Basically, I just need peace of mind so I can actually relax and stop pestering Honey, as I get obsessive when I am stressed about my piggies.

Can spayed sows develop cysts from where their ovaries used to be? I know with tumours, if there is leftover tissue, then a tumour can regrow, but not sure how it works with cysts.

Or if its a kidney stone, can you physically feel for stones when they are in the kidney? As I know you can when they progress to the bladder/urethra.

I appreciate any advice I can get, as vets in my area are getting stupidy expensive. £97 just for a second opinion consultation for the URI problem at a vets4pets...

Kind regards,

A stressed pig dad

2 pics, one of roughly where the lump is, and the second because of how chill she is knowing she is keeping a single vet practice going with her bills alone.

Hi

Please contact your vet.

Unfortunately, we can only guess as much as you and even more wildly than you. It could be a sebaceous cyst, a fatty lump or a bit less likely an internal abscess; they can come up very quickly to quite a size.
It should not be another ovarian cyst after an ovari-ectomy or spay and the location is nowhere near the urinary tract or other main organs but the gut.

Adhesion in ovarian cysts is rare (the cyst must have been huge). If the bit of cyst that could not be operated out starts to grow back to some degree, it is rather painful and you would pick up on that long before it can become a significant lump. I know that from a personal experience but I don't think we have come across another case on here; that should tell you.

The kidneys are much further up in the body, closer to the spine and the ribcage, so you can at least strike them off your suspects list. That is why a very hunched back often indicates a problem in the kidneys or adrenal glands, a bit less the liver.

The fact that your girl doesn't seem to be bothered, means that it is obviously not causing her any major discomfort and that you are more likely dealing with a 'lump', most of which are on the harmless side. I am keeping my fingers crossed for that.

It is however normal to have the jitters if the same or a similar issues manifests in a problem area. We all experience that.

I truly feel for the pain in your purse.

Guinea Lynx :: Lumps

 

[adavies2]

Hi

Please contact your vet.

Unfortunately, we can only guess as much as you and even more wildly than you. It could be a sebaceous cyst, a fatty lump or a bit less likely an internal abscess; they can come up very quickly to quite a size.
It should not be another ovarian cyst after an ovari-ectomy or spay and the location is nowhere near the urinary tract or other main organs but the gut.

Adhesion in ovarian cysts is rare (the cyst must have been huge). If the bit of cyst that could not be operated out starts to grow back to some degree, it is rather painful and you would pick up on that long before it can become a significant lump. I know that from a personal experience but I don't think we have come across another case on here; that should tell you.

The kidneys are much further up in the body, closer to the spine and the ribcage, so you can at least strike them off your suspects list. That is why a very hunched back often indicates a problem in the kidneys or adrenal glands, a bit less the liver.

The fact that your girl doesn't seem to be bothered, means that it is obviously not causing her any major discomfort and that you are more likely dealing with a 'lump', most of which are on the harmless side. I am keeping my fingers crossed for that.

It is however normal to have the jitters if the same or a similar issues manifests in a problem area. We all experience that.

I truly feel for the pain in your purse.

Guinea Lynx :: Lumps

Thank you for your kind help.

I have booked a consultation for Honey tomorrow. I am hoping the lump is benign, she is a very happy pig who isn't even 2 yet and has had so much happen already.

If the vet isnt concerned then hopefully itll just be the consultation and no more wallet destroying treatment/scans. Worse case she will have another ultrasound and have to regrow her fur for a 3rd time lol

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for your kind help.

I have booked a consultation for Honey tomorrow. I am hoping the lump is benign, she is a very happy pig who isn't even 2 yet and has had so much happen already.

If the vet isnt concerned then hopefully itll just be the consultation and no more wallet destroying treatment/scans. Worse case she will have another ultrasound and have to regrow her fur for a 3rd time lol

Wishing you all the best!

 

[adavies2]

Wishing you all the best!

I have news on Honey.

She had an ultrasound, and somehow, without reproductive organs, she has another ovarian cyst.

The vet said this is a first time for him and hes a seasoned vet, thinking that a 'seed' from her previous cysts attached to the muscle wall. Its much smaller than before, but it explains her behaviour so much. She was incredibly rumbly and territorial after her surgery, and it makes sense if she has another cyst messing with her hormones.

All in all, she is healthy in a sense, just got a cyst again. Thankfully it should be cheaper as he can do a flank surgery and its only a single cyst, not the whole removal.

 

[Truffolo]

I hope everything goes well and its not very expensive. I hope Honey just continues to be OK in herself and recovers quickly

 

[weepweeps]

Poor Honey. I hope she’s soon on the mend.

 

[Mrs Tiggy Winkle]

Healing vibes for Honey for whenever her op takes place.