Help! Ovarian cysts have come back
Hi All, I hope you can help me.
I have three pigs, Willow, Harley and Quinn - all 5 years old. Feb this year Harley and Quinn both developed ovarian cysts. After thinking about surgery etc. i decided to go down the hormonal injection route. I really wanted to avoid surgery and the stress that comes with it. Anyway, after 3 lots of hormonal injections, there was signs of the cysts shrinking (woop!) - although i knew that it doesn't always work, and they might come back.
Here we are in May and they are back with a vengeance. Larger than they were previously (i don't think the injections worked all that well), around the size of ping pong/table tennis balls. Anyway, i have to make that choice again - do i go with surgery, or is it time to say goodbye?
Operate: there is still a risk of the cysts rupturing during surgery, or other complications, the aftercare struggles (i work full time and they are not the most cooperative of piggies - trying to give any of them metacam or antibiotics in the past has failed and i have had to take them to the vet each day - i don't really want to have to do this with a pig who has just been operated on). I am going away for a month in July while my parents care for them - i don't want to put extra stress onto my parents in caring for them either.
Let them live out their lives on pain relief: as i mentioned, giving my pigs metacam is a real, real struggle (for all parties involved). I go away for a month, and i would hate to put the stress and worry onto my parents as i have read others pigs dying within a matter of weeks. I also don't want to be worrying while i am away (I already suffer with anxiety/depression). Maybe it sounds quite selfish, but i am going to Peru to do the Inca Trail, where guinea pigs is a common delicacy - not sure if i could cope with that knowing i have ill guineas at home.
Euthanize: willow will be left on her own, and i don't really want to get another pig for me to be in the same situation in a few years (they are 5) - there are the options of her being totally fine with extra attention, or even trying to re home her to a ranch or charity that looks after guineas.
I really don't know what to do. I feel that no option is really a great one - please tell me your honest opinions :) I want the best for my guinea pigs. I want them to have the best life without pain, stress, trauma or anything negative.
Thanks - Yasmin :)
I have three pigs, Willow, Harley and Quinn - all 5 years old. Feb this year Harley and Quinn both developed ovarian cysts. After thinking about surgery etc. i decided to go down the hormonal injection route. I really wanted to avoid surgery and the stress that comes with it. Anyway, after 3 lots of hormonal injections, there was signs of the cysts shrinking (woop!) - although i knew that it doesn't always work, and they might come back.
Here we are in May and they are back with a vengeance. Larger than they were previously (i don't think the injections worked all that well), around the size of ping pong/table tennis balls. Anyway, i have to make that choice again - do i go with surgery, or is it time to say goodbye?
Operate: there is still a risk of the cysts rupturing during surgery, or other complications, the aftercare struggles (i work full time and they are not the most cooperative of piggies - trying to give any of them metacam or antibiotics in the past has failed and i have had to take them to the vet each day - i don't really want to have to do this with a pig who has just been operated on). I am going away for a month in July while my parents care for them - i don't want to put extra stress onto my parents in caring for them either.
Let them live out their lives on pain relief: as i mentioned, giving my pigs metacam is a real, real struggle (for all parties involved). I go away for a month, and i would hate to put the stress and worry onto my parents as i have read others pigs dying within a matter of weeks. I also don't want to be worrying while i am away (I already suffer with anxiety/depression). Maybe it sounds quite selfish, but i am going to Peru to do the Inca Trail, where guinea pigs is a common delicacy - not sure if i could cope with that knowing i have ill guineas at home.
Euthanize: willow will be left on her own, and i don't really want to get another pig for me to be in the same situation in a few years (they are 5) - there are the options of her being totally fine with extra attention, or even trying to re home her to a ranch or charity that looks after guineas.
I really don't know what to do. I feel that no option is really a great one - please tell me your honest opinions :) I want the best for my guinea pigs. I want them to have the best life without pain, stress, trauma or anything negative.
Thanks - Yasmin :)
Thanks Lynx.
They were given some form of hormonal injections. Can't recall the name but they had 3 jabs with a week between each. The vet didn't mention anything about fluid, just that they need removing or I need to use pain relief.
They haven't seemed in pain until the vet examined them. They are eating fine but giving willow a bit of grief with the bumble strutting etc.
I'm going to call a guinea specialist vet in my area for more advice, and if I go ahead with the op I will try and get it done through the specialist. It's really awful making this kind of decision. I really want them to have a happy life with no complications. Thanks for your response.
They were given some form of hormonal injections. Can't recall the name but they had 3 jabs with a week between each. The vet didn't mention anything about fluid, just that they need removing or I need to use pain relief.
They haven't seemed in pain until the vet examined them. They are eating fine but giving willow a bit of grief with the bumble strutting etc.
I'm going to call a guinea specialist vet in my area for more advice, and if I go ahead with the op I will try and get it done through the specialist. It's really awful making this kind of decision. I really want them to have a happy life with no complications. Thanks for your response.
I thought i would post an update.
Took the girls to a specialist today and they are back in tomorrow for keyhole surgery to just remove the ovaries - very much please with this :)
Sadly my other girl (willow), seems to have unknown health conditions at the moment - lumps under hew jaw/chin area, potential heart/lung issues (I didn't notice, neither did the other vet on Friday!) - So she has having all three in tomorrow - two to operate and one to observe.
I feel so much better with this solution :D Woop!
Took the girls to a specialist today and they are back in tomorrow for keyhole surgery to just remove the ovaries - very much please with this :)
Sadly my other girl (willow), seems to have unknown health conditions at the moment - lumps under hew jaw/chin area, potential heart/lung issues (I didn't notice, neither did the other vet on Friday!) - So she has having all three in tomorrow - two to operate and one to observe.
I feel so much better with this solution :D Woop!
Both girls had surgery yesterday. Picked them up at 6pm with some metacam. The op went well for both although Harley was last to come around, even though her op was done first.
Got them home and Quinn immediately started eating hay, pellets and drinking. Wheeking for veg. Harley however (she is the moody one) sat in her house in a huff. I gave her an hour to settle in then fed her some romaine. She will only eat it if I put it in the entrance of her house. That continued all night. Lights off for bed time. I had to go back into the room and Harley was out of her house, but as soon as she saw me she ran to the pigloo.
This morning, Quinn is exactly the same, Harley was out with the other two and has been eating spinach, so I am hoping she has been eating hay and drinking. I am certain they have both pooped, and Quinn has also had a wee. I have CC at the ready, may have to intervene with Harley if I don't see her eating hay/pellets in the next couple of hours. Surely romaine isn't enough for her?
Metacam at mid day so will try with some CC too x thanks all
P.s. the vet said willows breathing had been fine and she doesn't have any major concerns at the moment.
Got them home and Quinn immediately started eating hay, pellets and drinking. Wheeking for veg. Harley however (she is the moody one) sat in her house in a huff. I gave her an hour to settle in then fed her some romaine. She will only eat it if I put it in the entrance of her house. That continued all night. Lights off for bed time. I had to go back into the room and Harley was out of her house, but as soon as she saw me she ran to the pigloo.
This morning, Quinn is exactly the same, Harley was out with the other two and has been eating spinach, so I am hoping she has been eating hay and drinking. I am certain they have both pooped, and Quinn has also had a wee. I have CC at the ready, may have to intervene with Harley if I don't see her eating hay/pellets in the next couple of hours. Surely romaine isn't enough for her?
Metacam at mid day so will try with some CC too x thanks all
P.s. the vet said willows breathing had been fine and she doesn't have any major concerns at the moment.
Thank you everyone! Things are getting better each day!
Harley has picked up so much over yesterday. Quinn is thriving, bickering with my other girl and being her mischievous self. Yesterday, Harley was out eating hay and pellets. She ate romaine, spinach, watermelon, baby corn, fresh grass, baby toms. She is still gong into her little home after having her fill for a rest, and they have both had their dose of Metacam (which was like pulling teeth!)
Because I haven't seen Harley have a proper drink, we gave her some water by syringe last night and have been giving her some watery fruits/veg. I will start weighing them today when i give them their meds.
In terms of wounds (2 flank incisions each), Harley's are both perfect and clean. One of Quinn's has a slight overlap which the vet pointed out straight away and said it will be no concern. I am just keeping an eye to make sure she doesn't pick at it.
Thanks everyone! I will be sure to intervene with CC if I need to, but they are both doing great! :)
Harley has picked up so much over yesterday. Quinn is thriving, bickering with my other girl and being her mischievous self. Yesterday, Harley was out eating hay and pellets. She ate romaine, spinach, watermelon, baby corn, fresh grass, baby toms. She is still gong into her little home after having her fill for a rest, and they have both had their dose of Metacam (which was like pulling teeth!)
Because I haven't seen Harley have a proper drink, we gave her some water by syringe last night and have been giving her some watery fruits/veg. I will start weighing them today when i give them their meds.
In terms of wounds (2 flank incisions each), Harley's are both perfect and clean. One of Quinn's has a slight overlap which the vet pointed out straight away and said it will be no concern. I am just keeping an eye to make sure she doesn't pick at it.
Thanks everyone! I will be sure to intervene with CC if I need to, but they are both doing great! :)