Hello All!
I have a boar (I'm not sure how old he is as I got him from a neighbor. The vet estimates about 3 or 4 years old).
I noticed about a month or two ago that he was getting swollen on the right side of his muzzle just next to his nose which is causing his eye to leak tears often. He was still behaving normally (eating strong, devouring his chunky pieces of bell pepper, pooping and peeing normal, etc).
I took him to the vet for his check up and she noticed the swelling was not an abscess because it was hard almost like bone and it didn't hurt when it was touched. They recommended putting him under so they could get an xray and a sample for cytology. I was apprehensive but I did it because I wanted to know what was going on with his face.
The image showed a tumor in that area which was almost connected to his muzzle. She told me she couldn't tell exactly what it was until the sample came back from the lab.
I took my boy home and a day or two later I noticed his breathing was labored and shortly after that he was congested and lethargic. He had never gotten sick before. He was fine before his check up.
I rushed him back to the vet explaining what happened. But now it had been a week since they sent his sample to the lab. They told me they had gotten his results back the day before (I was pretty angry) and that "it appears" he has an aggressive carcinoma or sarcoma. I couldn't understand why they didn't know which one for sure. She said he was sick because of the cancer or the anesthesia slowed down his immune system enough that the illness started effecting him. She said surgery was not a viable option as he would most likely die during it as it was too traumatic for his system. She spoke as though she wanted me to put him down right then.
I rejected that, explaining that he was just fine prior to him being put under.
She prescribed him some anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, and a solution for a nebulizer. After about a week on these he returned somewhat to normal. He won't eat bell pepper if it isn't thinly sliced. He won't attack big pieces of hay like he used to, pellets don't excite him like before, and of he hears the treat box he will beg but won't take it once it's presented. When I wipe the swollen side of his face he speaks like it hurts him. He's using the bathroom regularly and drinking fine.
He was on red bell pepper before so I switched it to orange and I started thinly slicing it. He ate it all but idk if that's because I sliced it or because it's a different kind. I'll try slicing the red and try different treats.
I just can't help but think if I never took him for his check up he would be fine. I wouldn't have known it's a tumor on his face but at least he would have been feeling normal. Also, his vet is an exotic vet. I've been taking him and my bunny to them for years and never had an issue.
I just wanted to know if anyone has dealt with anything like this before...
I have a boar (I'm not sure how old he is as I got him from a neighbor. The vet estimates about 3 or 4 years old).
I noticed about a month or two ago that he was getting swollen on the right side of his muzzle just next to his nose which is causing his eye to leak tears often. He was still behaving normally (eating strong, devouring his chunky pieces of bell pepper, pooping and peeing normal, etc).
I took him to the vet for his check up and she noticed the swelling was not an abscess because it was hard almost like bone and it didn't hurt when it was touched. They recommended putting him under so they could get an xray and a sample for cytology. I was apprehensive but I did it because I wanted to know what was going on with his face.
The image showed a tumor in that area which was almost connected to his muzzle. She told me she couldn't tell exactly what it was until the sample came back from the lab.
I took my boy home and a day or two later I noticed his breathing was labored and shortly after that he was congested and lethargic. He had never gotten sick before. He was fine before his check up.
I rushed him back to the vet explaining what happened. But now it had been a week since they sent his sample to the lab. They told me they had gotten his results back the day before (I was pretty angry) and that "it appears" he has an aggressive carcinoma or sarcoma. I couldn't understand why they didn't know which one for sure. She said he was sick because of the cancer or the anesthesia slowed down his immune system enough that the illness started effecting him. She said surgery was not a viable option as he would most likely die during it as it was too traumatic for his system. She spoke as though she wanted me to put him down right then.
I rejected that, explaining that he was just fine prior to him being put under.
She prescribed him some anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, and a solution for a nebulizer. After about a week on these he returned somewhat to normal. He won't eat bell pepper if it isn't thinly sliced. He won't attack big pieces of hay like he used to, pellets don't excite him like before, and of he hears the treat box he will beg but won't take it once it's presented. When I wipe the swollen side of his face he speaks like it hurts him. He's using the bathroom regularly and drinking fine.
He was on red bell pepper before so I switched it to orange and I started thinly slicing it. He ate it all but idk if that's because I sliced it or because it's a different kind. I'll try slicing the red and try different treats.
I just can't help but think if I never took him for his check up he would be fine. I wouldn't have known it's a tumor on his face but at least he would have been feeling normal. Also, his vet is an exotic vet. I've been taking him and my bunny to them for years and never had an issue.
I just wanted to know if anyone has dealt with anything like this before...
