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Waiting For Blood Results Possible Diagnose Of Hyperadrenocortism Or Hyperthyrodism.

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Gp36

Gp36

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi,

I have a 4 year 3 months girl, I have had since I could hold her in my palm of my hand at 8 weeks old, her name is Stripe. She has the classic Dutch markings is black and white and always has been extra special to us, her personality shines like I have never seen or heard of in a piggy before. She bursts her lungs wheeking the minute she hears my voice and jumps up begging me to hold her if I put her down she follows me everywhere in the house attempting every obstacle jumping on sofa, climbing stairs to get to me the outcome is her purring with happiness.
When I say the word "kisses" she moves to my lips and licks them on every single command without fail.
She enjoys cuddles from everyone but when I am home you will only be tolerated for 5 minutes (longer with food) as she screeches till she is with me.

I first noticed her hind legs and side stomach area changing colour becoming lighter (bilateral) I thought at first it was as she was getting older and was going grey but it was actually her hair thinning and seeing her skin! I noticed this change within 5 days, no change to her personality.
Stripe has always been a slender pig, at her highest weight was 1050g (this was 1 years ago) but I began to feel her hips and shoulder bones and she seemed to have a pot belly now and losing weight.

We went straight to the vet's with information that I had researched over the internet (as I never had confidence that my vet knew completely about guinea pigs) I first thought cystic ovaries! my vet had not heard of this but agreed with me and said I will have to research this I will get back to you! I waited 5 days without an answer, So I then registered Stripe with The Royal Dick of Veterinary Studies as her primary care.

I was convinced it was cysts in her ovaries and was asking for her to have HCG injections to hopefully make them smaller as a spay especially at her age is risky. They instantly done a few tests costing £300 ultrasound and bloods and told me Stripe has ovarian cysts but this is very unlikely the cause of weight loss, it is either Hyperadrenocortism or Hyperthyrodism.
Her adrenal glands are enlarged and she might be producing a hormone that making her not put on weight but they think it is her thyroid.She

When I look into these diagnoses I see a lot of similarities apart from the obvious I have written with hair loss and weight loss. Stripe has been through 2 previous surgeries for "lumps" fatty lipomas that keep coming back and maybe she has always been a hyper pig I thought was her personality?

Stripe at the moment is pain free but just incase takes metacam daily.
She is very active and still seeks "mummy"
She like all my piggies has unlimited burgess pellets, meadow hay for bedding, alpha hay for eating (changed daily)
Fresh water.
Extra vitamin C.
2 x more veggies than she would normally get.
supreme science recover mix daily.

I am just maintaing her weight.
 
Blood results are back her thyroid is normal.
Adrenal glands next.... Possibility it nothing to do with them as she was stressed.

Taking in my 11 month old pig in with Stripe so they can compare adrenal gland sizes.
 
Abi will be the best person to answer this as it is beyond my expertise. Sorry for not responding earlier. I often look on my phone but threads move down before I get a chance to respond on the computer.
 
I had a pig who's adrenal glands where measured. His cortisol level was also off the scale in the as we also tested his cortisol levels. Unfortunately there is very little to reference to so if or not this was uncommon I do not know. My vet was convinced he had cushings disease but I never did treat him, I had a 2nd vet do the ultra sounds to measure the adrenal glands he to thought my little guy had cushings. There is a pig on Guinea Lynx who was also diagnosed, very similar results to my boy but again there is no reference.

Milo's results -

10.8 x 20.5mm Left adrenal gland
8 x 16.3mm Right Adrenal

I would also point out that bilateral hairloss is a common sign of Cyst's and as Cyst's have been confirmed perhaps treating them could be an option?
 
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My vet thought Cushings but has been thrown by her thyroid results being good.
 
I from day one have said cysts, 76% of sows that haven't been spayed have them 3+ years but much earlier in age.
 
Gp36 said:
My vet thought Cushings but has been thrown by her thyroid results being good.
Click to expand...

I don't believe we checked the thyroid level, truth is I can't remember. The cortisol I remember was off the scale so much so they where not even able to get a reading.

I'd be interested in hearing your results for the adrenal glands.

I do think it's worth treating the Cyst's.
 
She is perfect in every way, I'm maintaining her weight daily readings averaging 963g.
 
5 Year Old Piggy With Ovarian Cysts

i have a post on this thread referring to my Ellies experience with hormone injections for ovarian cysts, afraid i cant help with the thyroid problems though :(
i'll have a look through it properly tomorrow about to go offline, just spotted your other post, which made me come looking. xx
 
I will pass on the adrenal results for people to read.
We still don't know what's wrong or our next treatment.

Stripe is peeing, pooing, eating and still the most active I have ever known.
Just getting bald!


Knitted jumpers welcome.
 
I have to say, I think this is much more likely to be the cystic ovaries causing the problem. I am rather confused as to why they are discounting this. I recently had a piggy spayed, who was struggling to hold her weight and since her op her weight has been very stable.
 
i have no medical advice, just wanted to wish Stripe all the best, she sounds adorable ! xx
 
Whilst we were waiting for the appointment to discuss Stipe's options of treatment to help her the days prior she began to scratch and barber any area she could reach, I researched and started giving her Chlorphenamine maleate this eased it and after 2 days it stopped.
When at the hospital I saw another vet and she concentrated more on the cystic ovaries that was seen in the ultrasound, rather than the adrenal glands (possibly cushing disease) that was diagnosed also.

Our only option was for her to have a spay at 4 year and 2 months or watch my most beautiful baby/best friend diminish and soon have no quality of life, I opted for the spay.
I was not doing this for selfish reasons but she was fit, reasonably healthy, very active and my vet advised me she was strong.

Stripe had surgery today and came through it, her both ovaries removed were the size of ping pong balls the vet explained it was a difficult operation that lasted a good few hours and she isn't completely 1OO% happy that everything was removed. The cysts came out but due to fat something uterus parts maybe left and Stripe may produce hormones at the worst her hair loss may be seen.

They are keeping her in she isnt eating herself and are hand feeding her.
 
I'm in exactly the same position with my dear Connie, so know how difficult the decision is. She is also an older lady. I'm wishing Stripe good wishes for a full and healthy recovery. You have done exactly the right thing.x
 
Stripe spent 3 nights in hospital the longest she had been away from her family.
Her recovery was always one step infront of a young or healthy/normal Guinea pig the Clinician explained, Stripe also has Cushings disease and is over 4 years. She had a ovaiohsterectomy and also 2 masses removed from her body. She was poorly and required some help and syringed critical care as she would not eat alone.

That soon changed when I visited her! she was quiet but ate her we heart out next to me.
The Clinician thought about discharging her then, knowing Stripe wanted home and was eating with me.

Stripe is 70% back to her normal self
 
Although she has a lot to contend with that sounds like a positive outcome from the surgery. Hope she continues to eat lots now she can settle at home and keeps recovering well!
 
So glad to hear that Stripe is back home with you again. She will take some time to recover from major surgery like that but it all sounds very positive. Healing vibes from me and mine.
 
Unfortunately Stripe went back into hospital on 2nd of May her weight was slowly dropping even with critical care, she wouldn't eat hay, eat nuggets or drink from her bottle but grazed on fresh food mostly garden weeds like dandelion and grass or just nibbled on the rest of her veggies (20 plus varieties at a time given) . When I phoned the hospital they asked me to bring her in, her weight was 863g at this point, they were able to give her medications I couldn't and also fluids.I visited her daily and somedays with her friends and her friend Ruby Rose stayed with her in hospital for a few days but dominance was shown by stripe towards Ruby Rose and she was often taken away as they became to excitable, they tried to stop this by putting them in a buggy and pushing them around the hospital. On the 4th of May they said her weight was retaining and they would take her off opiate pain medication and wean her off half the amount of critical care (oxbow) she was fine with the reduced pain relief but the critical care caused her weight to drop more. On the 6th May I had Stripe home again weight on discharge is 822g, I feed her up and get chuffed when I see her weight is 890g only to drop to 841 over night Stripe medication is cisapride 0.1ml 2x daily, Ranitadine 0.25ml 2x daily, Metacam 0.3ml 2x daily, Tramadol 0.1ml 2x daily, Sulfatrim 0.3ml 2x daily, Oxbow 15ml 4x daily ( but I give more ) Piriton 1.35ml 1 X daily and Metronidazole 0.21 2x daily. She is now eating hay and shows interest in nuggets but seldom eats them compared to what she used to, she sometimes eats aggressively on fresh foods sometimes just nibbles. She hasnt went near a water bottle and at the moment she excepts about 30-40 mls of syringe over the 24 hours. She had a CT scan on Monday and waiting on the results. Stripe is 75% better and active and the occasional popcorn once a day.
Any help would be welcome Please.
 
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