Advice on Treatment Options

[Calico Trio]

Between a hysterectomy, a cyst draining, and hormone treatment, which one is more cost effective? We are looking for something that is reliable but not a steep price. I think my guinea pig has an ovarian cyst and have scheduled a vet visit, but I want to have some information before I go in.

She is a little less than 2 years old (I don't have an exact birth date), and weighs 2.9 lbs. I only felt the soft bulge on her right side. Mimi hasn't lost any hair, and her appetite is normal but she avoids being touched when you touch her right side. She's also more stationary than usual, but she doesn't look obviously sick and is still alert.

 

[Betsy]

Betsy had a full spay a few weeks ago and it cost £150. Her cysts were 7cms long on both sides and were very round. I could feel them and they felt like hard balls. She had significant hair loss and she must have felt dreadful as her lovely personality is slowly coming back. Talk to your vet about the various treatment options and cost. @GPTV had one of her piggies go through hormone treatment I think. Maybe she can advise about that.

 

[rudent]

The pig is young & if she's healthy I'd recommend the hysterectomy. From my experience, cysts will keep coming back, grow to be very large, and can cause other health issues like pyometra down the line. Better to have her spayed while she's young enough to have minimal complications with the anaesthetic. The spays I've had done cost between £200 and £350, depending on additional care needed.

 

[Lady Kelly]

I'm pretty sure when my Bumble had her spay it was around £100 but was a few years back. I don't have experience of the injections or draining personally as the vet felt the spay was an emergency need after the scan due to the size of the cysts. Injections I know aren't suitable for all cysts so I would wait and ask these questions of your vet first as it really depends on whether you are dealing with ovarian cysts and what stage they are at.

 

[VickiA]

Please be guided by the vets as to what she needs on medical ground.

 

[GPTV]

It's good that you've managed to get a vets appointment
Discuss with the vet your options & prices (ask lots of questions on how often they do gpig operations, their experience, savvy'ness, confidence and competence with Guineas too).

My Ellie had HCG Chorulon injections for a walnut sized ovarian cyst, that was discovered during a conscious ultrasound investigation into her constantly, recurring Uti's & genital bleeding (not the textbook, hormonal behaviour, crusty nipples & hair loss on sides often shown).

My vet thought Ellie was too high a risk for a spay at 6yrs & she wasn't very experienced on Guinea operations, but was happy to get advice from the pharmaceutical manufacturer & try the hormone injections.

Elli had 2x injections 7-10 days apart, then again 12months later as the cyst returned.
They were successful for Ellie in her circumstances.

As your Guinea is young & generally sounds in good health a spay may be a better & more permanent option.

Please discuss with your vet though and they'll diagnose if it is indeed an ovarian cyst or something else (sebaceous cyst, abscess, etc), all lumps should be discussed with a Guinea savvy vet.

Let us know how your girly gets on fingers & paws all crossed for a full & speedy recovery xx

 

[Calico Trio]

Hello, I wanted to give an update. We decided to go with hormone treatment and Mimi is better now. Thank you for all the advice and support.

 

[VickiA]

Glad to hear she is feeling better.