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Spaying my 6 year old Guinea Pig, large cysts

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wenton5

wenton5

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Hello all you lovely forum people. My guinea pig is 6 years old and my vet has told me after 2 and ahalf years of having cysts that it is time to have them taken out. She is loosing hair and they are growing. I have done all the research through guinea lynx and a few other websites on spaying, pre and postopt care. I have a wonderful vet and I have already gone through a very difficult neuter. My concern is that it is winter now and she is 6 years old. I have the critical care and everything else ready. I was quoted 500-800 dollars. Any other advice or personal experiences you have to offer would be very much appreciated. I am concerned about her age.
Thank you. Lara, Tia, S'more, Choochi and Skunky.
 
Hello There,

Is spaying the only option from where you are? (sorry i am not sure where mountain view ca is) We have injections here which stunt the growth of them, also hormone implants...?

Spaying is an extremely risky procedure. I wonder if there are more options to consider before spaying x
 
Hi, I should definently ask my vet about that. I have read that often the cysts come back with those methods, but I am thinking at 6 yrs. old it is probably safer anyway. Thank you!
 
There is a hormone implant available here in the UK. But not sure about the US? You can also try with draining them but often they return very quickly. Sometimes spaying is the only option. Happy to talk through post op care with this if you wish. I hope your little lady starts to get better soon with whatever you decide to do.

x.
 
Perhaps the hormone implant could see you through winter.. and spay in summer? Though she will only get older.

it's worth researching how long the implants are at their most effective for.

I plumped for surgery in the end with my girl. I wanted her free of them for good. But she was only 4 and after 10 days she seemed a whole year younger, she even came out of her shell from normal shy DT to bubbly chirpy DT. 20 days after and you couldnt even see the scar!

At 6 though I may be tempted to go implant, but only if efficacy is proven to stunt cysts for the number of years you would feel matches her natural life span anyway. Risky business either way.

Good luck with which ever you choose and be sure to post how things go so we can send out healing vibes and best wishes! x
 
Thank you Abi Nurse, you also really helped me through Romeo's neuter. I have been looking at the hormone implant and draining and discussing this with my vet. How quickly do the cysts grow back with the draining? My vet has never done the implants and he is considered the best vet in my entire area. My biggest concern is waiting to make a decision, winter is here, we have to move in 4 months and I am just not sure what to do. He says the cysts might not grow much larger but one is the size of a golf ball and the other is almost the size of a duck egg. His concern is the cysts might put pressure on an organ or a leg ligament. My piggy is healthy but I am just so hesitant to do the surgery. Thank you. Lara, More mores, Tia tia, Skunky and Romeo Choo Choo Anderson.
 
at that size I wouldnt be surprised if that is putting pressure on nerves as well.. possibly very uncomfortable.. is she on any pain killers? Does she shift her weight or drag her tummy at all?

Though knowing guineas you will probably say she is fine! :p My girl didnt show signs of her cysts until they were WHOPPING.. I thought she was just a porker because she always had been.. and to prove it, within 2 weeks of the op she was back to the weight she was when she had the cysts! little porker.
 
You make me laugh, thank you. My girl loves food too. No dragging, I do notice she shifts her weight very very slightly when she runs. Good appetite and spirits well. It is winter too, so it is so hard (in general but especially now because it is winter) to tell if there is any slight change. Vet said he has never done hormone therapy but we could first try draining the cysts, which is what I am leaning towards. My concern is waiting too long. He said he didn't think they would get much bigger but it is so hard to tell if she is getting pressure on a leg ligament or her organs or lungs. Thank you so much. xoxo
 
Thank you everyone. After much research and help from all the forums I have decided to try the hormone therapy. At best it will work, if not I am hoping to shrink the cysts down for an easier surgery and buy some time and do the surgery after winter and a move, I set my sites on may. Thank you so much everyone. Lara, skunky, smore, choochi and tia
 
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