Sakura - Medical Thread

[Tracis]

Sakura is a female black and white Aby, almost 4 years old. She was born in April 2006 at SnpDrgnz's home before joining my family.

Sakura has developed some bilateral hairloss that doesn't seem like a case of mites (to me).

Her weight and appetite are healthy. Her behavior seems normal, except for a slightly-longer-than-usual aggressive period during her last heat cycle. She does not have any signs of crusty nipples at this time, and hasn't developed a pear-shaped body. She isn't scratching excessively.

She has an appointment with the Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital this Thursday for an examination.

The hair loss on her right side is more obvious.

[Bugs Mom]

I hope the very beautiful Sakura will be ok and it turns out to be nothing. Fingers crossed here for you and Sakura.

[Talishan]

Ovarian cysts are the top possibility in my mind.

Not all signs have to be present for the pig to be cystic. Actually, according to one of my old vets, none of them do. Ovarian cysts can be present without all (or, in fact, any) of the signs we usually associate with them.

If an ultrasound confirms cysts, at 4 I'd really really really want to look into the hormone injection series (vs. surgery).

[sammianne]

I am hoping for the best for Sakura. I am not sure if you've been there before, but the staff at Arizona Exotics is really great. She'll be in good hands there.

[LainLockey]

Sakura is a really beautiful girl! I love her eye patches :)
The hair loss pattern is similar to what I saw when Ripley developed ovarian cysts. I hope her appointment goes well.

[Lynx]

Ditto Talishan. I have the feeling you already strongly suspected ovarian cysts. I think the hair loss on the sides of the body is the result of hormones being out of whack. A spay somehow rights this. I know you understand the risks of any surgery and would look for the best qualified vet for a spay if this is what is recommended by your vet.

Good luck Sakura!

[Bytxlaura]

I will keep my fingers crossed for Sakura. The only thing that comes to mind is ovarian cysts, just as everyone thinks.

[Tracis]

Thanks everyone.

Sammianne, this will be our first visit to Az Exotics. I've heard good things about them.

[Princess Aurora]

Oh Sakura! I hope it's nothing serious, and if it is, I hope it's on time to treat it.

I also think it could be Cysts.

Good luck, Tracis!

[sef1268]

Oh poor Sakura (Toby is very worried about his girlfriend-from-afar). I hope it's nothing serious, tracis. Like everybody else, cysts immediately popped to mind but I have zero experience with females, and can't offer anything more useful than my good wishes for her at the vet.

Keep us posted.

[Bethie]

Thinking good thoughts for Sakura. We hope her treatment and recovery will be smooth and successful.

[Bytxlaura]

How is Sakura?

[Tracis]

She seems to be doing well. Her appointment is at 11:30.

[egustavson]

Sakura is a beautiful guinea pig. I did not know abyssinians sometimes have long hair. Keep us posted.

[Bookfan]

She's a beautiful girl. Good luck with her at the vet today.

[LainLockey]

Good luck today!

[BamBam]

My Rubypea has exactly this bilateral hair loss.

She has received "HRT" therapy in the past and I am going to discuss further treatments with Vedra at CCT but so far it has failed to halt the hair loss. Consequently her flanks are completely bald.

I would only want to consider surgery if her condition was/became life limiting.

[Tracis]

Thank you for the good thoughts and well wishes!

Sakura is back from the vet's office. She is healthy, except for the possible cysts and hairloss.

The first thing on Dr. Wright's list of possibilities is ovarian cysts. He recommended a few other tests to rule out other possibilities (parasites, fungus).

He did not find anything in the fecal float. The fungal test results will not be available for 10 days.

He said that her belly felt a bit rounder than he would prefer, but that could mean that she is changing as she ages, or ovarian cysts.

He was not able to palpate any cysts, but he said they could still be present, just very small.

The recommendations for ovarian cysts (if the fungal test is negative):

1. Drain cysts periodically. This will not stop hairloss, of course.
2. Surgical spay.
3. Hormone therapy.

He said that hormone therapy can get expensive for the monthly shots of Lupron. A few of his patients can go as long as 3 months between injections.

I thought that other GL members had been able to wait longer between hormone shots? I will have to do some reading.

Sakura has a recheck on the 18th.

I feel a little confused.

Everyone at Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital was very nice and caring. It was very pleasant in their quiet waiting room. We even had the opportunity to admire some other "exotic" patients -- a gorgeous blue and gold macaw, and a handsome potbelly pig.

[Lynx]

Is she exhibiting any wacky behavior? Chasing?

[Tracis]

Not so far.