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What to look for re: ovarian cysts

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PottyForPiggies

PottyForPiggies

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I know this is a common thing in ladies, and there are probably numerous other threads about this, but I would just like to ask what I should be looking for.
Treacle is 4 now, and is obviously more prone as she is older. I've looked on the Guinea Lynx page about it, and she doesn't appear to have many of the symptoms - then again, I don't know exactly what to look for.
She has slightly enlarged nipples, but I believe she's in season at the moment so that may be why. She has only started rumbling during season in the past month.
When I feel her tummy she doesn't seem to have any unusual lumps or bumps, but she is very very round and a little overweight for her frame. Plus, she's got a ticklish tummy so she never stays still!
She is eating, drinking, popcorning (for the first time ever a few days ago!), pooping and weeing with no discomfort. She seems perfectly well and is still a greedy little girl!

Should I take her to the vets and get her checked over just in case?
What should I be looking for? I don't want it to get too late for her because I don't know what I'm looking for.

BTW, this is Treacle 2 days ago ^) She's my eldest piggie and I love her to pieces :)

Treacle.jpg
 
Hi.

Symptoms of ovarian cysts include: enlarged nipples / crusty nibbles / hair loss around the belly and sides / hormonal behaviour / sometimes the cysts can be felt in front of the back legs on the belly area and unexplained weight loss.

Some pigs do not show all of the symptoms and in some cases, they don't show any.

If you are concerned, please see a cavvy savvy vet for a diagnosis. Sometimes the vet will be able to feel the cysts or an x ray / ultra sound will confirm.

I have a hormonal piggy who suddenly developed lumps. They wasn't cysts and thankfully turned out to be benign tumours but the advice I received from here regarding ovarian cysts was amazing.

A hormonal piggy does not mean cysts (I now know this) but I would see a vet asap just to make sure.

Treacle is lovely xx
 
She will be taking a trip to the vets tomorrow hopefully, just for a check up. I'm just unsure, is all :(
 
I have a feeling she is OK, but she's so wriggly I can never tell from one second to the next! She's happy and cheerful, but she's a bit grumpy with me for poking and prodding her. I got a nip on the fingers for that one!
 
Best of luck at the vets tomorrow x
 
Good luck at the vets tomorrow :)

I have a one year old sow with an ovarian cyst, the vet found it when I took my girls after one of them developed mites & she did a thorough check on them all. My sow doesn't have any of the typical symptoms except she does rumble strutt a little bit more than the others. At the moment we are just monitoring it.

I've had two previous piggies with ovarian cysts, both were noticed by Vedra at the CCT & both had hormone injections, 2 lots & had no further problems.
 
This is something that worries me with having four sows.
Our vet said that having litters (not recommended) minimises chances of having them plus if we had the boys neutered and they lived with the girls it would make it less likely, but that's not an option either.

I will be vigilant in looking out for any symptoms because we were told hormone injections can sort it out.
 
Well the thing that made me think is that, in 4 years, she's never rumblestrutted, and she's only just started in the past month. Plus she does have seemingly enlarged nipples (again, I can't get close enough to her tummy normally as she freaks out!)

I'll be asking my vets, and if they are concerned or don't give me a good enough answer, a vets about 5 miles away has a specialist exotics vet who can give me more information. Thankfully, I can see the vets' practice from my upstairs window - the lack of transport time makes it much easier on them, and they have always been fabulous with me previously :)
 
I noticed yesterday that my 3 year old girl has enlarged nipples, but she isn't really showing any of the other signs. She has lots of lumps on her belly that have been checked by a vet previously and were thought to be just fatty lumps, but I'm now worried it may be more sinister as they have grown quite a bit. I think I'll have to pop her to the vets soon if the nipples don't go down (I was wondering if maybe she's in season, so will leave it a few days and if they don't change I'll take her). It is worrying though isn't it? I hope your girl is ok. Good luck at the vets!
 
Well she's in at the vets at 1.30pm, so hopefully they'll give her a clean bill of health and tell me just to keep an eye on her :)
 
SapphireDreams said:
Well she's in at the vets at 1.30pm, so hopefully they'll give her a clean bill of health and tell me just to keep an eye on her :)
Click to expand...

Good luck hopefully she hasn't got any cysts at all :) Both Vedra & the vet I use could feel the cysts by palpitating the tummies rolleyes
 
The good news is that, short of being very grumpy and upset by being poked and prodded some more, Treacle is in perfect health :)

The vet knew very little about guinea pigs and ovarian cysts, but said he couldn't feel anything unusual and that, since she was clearly in no discomfort, eating and drinking well, we should just keep an eye on her and know that at the moment, she has nothing :) She's just a grumpy little thing and seems to have a soft spot for Stewart - she never used to rumblestrut until he came home :p
 
Aww, that's great news :)

I once convinced myself that two of my girls had mites. I took them to the vets to be told there was nothing wrong with them but the vet said he wishes more people paid attention to any changes in their animals behaviour.
 
It really is a relief, although I was a bit put off by the vet having to go and consult with other vets before giving me an answer! He knew very little but knew enough to say she had nothing to be concerned about. He checked her eyes, ears, teeth, feet and gave her tummy a good feel. Not bad for a £24 consultation fee :)
 
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