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Booked an elective lumpectomy for Blodwen... am I doing the right thing?

PigglePuggle

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Blodwen had a festive routine vet trip today to check on a cyst on her back, and I've booked her in for elective surgery on 18th January... just want some reassurance I'm doing the right thing?
The lump appeared in June about the size of half a grape, diagnosed as a harmless cyst, and was loose under the skin- now it is 3 or 4cm all round and is bothering her- she's chewed the fur off, and it is starting to attach to the tissues underneath...
Her usually wheezy breathing is very good this winter, and our favourite vet thinks she's safe for anaesthesia at our local friendly vet practice just a mile from home.
I hate booking her in for surgery mostly on account of her currently being healthier than usual, but I would also hate this lump to get so big it's inoperable but affecting her quality of life, or have her chew a hole in it herself and need an emergency clean up job...
What does anyone with experience of elective lump removal surgery think? Blodwen gave her opinion by doing a massive wee on the vet table, then on the vet, then on daddy when she got home. She's very good at big wees. Also good at looking like a camel with her big cyst right in the middle of her back!
I love funny little Blod-splod so much, I'd hate to risk losing her unnecessarily, but... that's why I want the lump gone while she's in best health and it's still not a big procedure- I'd not want to be consideing a massive high risk operation in a year's time when the lump is bigger or more firmly attached, or in an emergency, or when her wheezing is bad...
Blod isnt convinced!
 
Blodwen had a festive routine vet trip today to check on a cyst on her back, and I've booked her in for elective surgery on 18th January... just want some reassurance I'm doing the right thing?
The lump appeared in June about the size of half a grape, diagnosed as a harmless cyst, and was loose under the skin- now it is 3 or 4cm all round and is bothering her- she's chewed the fur off, and it is starting to attach to the tissues underneath...
Her usually wheezy breathing is very good this winter, and our favourite vet thinks she's safe for anaesthesia at our local friendly vet practice just a mile from home.
I hate booking her in for surgery mostly on account of her currently being healthier than usual, but I would also hate this lump to get so big it's inoperable but affecting her quality of life, or have her chew a hole in it herself and need an emergency clean up job...
What does anyone with experience of elective lump removal surgery think? Blodwen gave her opinion by doing a massive wee on the vet table, then on the vet, then on daddy when she got home. She's very good at big wees. Also good at looking like a camel with her big cyst right in the middle of her back!
I love funny little Blod-splod so much, I'd hate to risk losing her unnecessarily, but... that's why I want the lump gone while she's in best health and it's still not a big procedure- I'd not want to be consideing a massive high risk operation in a year's time when the lump is bigger or more firmly attached, or in an emergency, or when her wheezing is bad...
Blod isnt convinced!

Hi

If it is bothering her and she keeps chewing it, then I would make the same decision. The risk of repeated infections in addition to the ongoing discomfort is enough reason to opt for operative removal.

Thankfully, as the cyst is just loose in the skin, it should be a comparatively straight forward low risk operation as your vet doesn't have to go deep into the body.
Hafren at just one month shy of 7 years is my oldest lumpectomy piggy for a cyst that we had hoped would stay put for the previous two years as it wasn't bothering before it decided to put in a sudden massive growth spurt and burst while my operating vets were on holiday... Nevertheless, she made a full recovery.

All the best!
 
If the lump is starting to bother her, I too would opt to have it removed before it starts affecting her quality of life. The last thing you want is an infection from her biting. I think you’re making the right decision

Good luck Blod x
 
I would absolutely make the same decision, Ebony had a lump removed from her back earlier in the year and she did fantastic in spite of all her health issues. As they're not going into the body cavity it's less of a strain on them, and probably a quicker surgery minus any complications so they're under aneasthesia for less time.
Ebony was up and about like nothing had happened.
 
Jellybaby had a similar size lump removed from his tummy earlier in the year. Although it wasn’t a cyst, it wasn‘t attached to anything so the surgery was quick, stitches were internal and healed within a few days. As a 4 year old skinny pig I was very anxious about it but he was up and about and back to normal really quickly.
 
Thanks everyone, I think I'm doing the best thing, here is Blod with her poor old well chewed lump, glowing like rudolph's nose through her long fur!
I'm all for watch and wait, which was what the vet recommended in summer, but we've watched the lump get bigger and a bit sore so it's time it came off I think before she breaks the skin... lucky its in such a hard to reach place and she's so chubby!
2022-12-28 15.56.57.webp
 
If think you have made the right decision with this lump. It will only bec9me more and more irritated and so will Blodwyn. Hoping the operation goes really well and she’s back to her old self very soon 🤞
 
Definitely the right decision for Blodwen. If the lump is bothering her it really needs removing.

Ginger, our 5 year old skinny pig recently had a lump (fast growing tumor) removed from his back. He has recovered really well. Like Blodwen, he also has other health issues including severe arthritis.

We will be keeping our fingers and paws crossed here for Blodwen.xx
 
Definitely the right decision for Blodwen. If the lump is bothering her it really needs removing.

Ginger, our 5 year old skinny pig recently had a lump (fast growing tumor) removed from his back. He has recovered really well. Like Blodwen, he also has other health issues including severe arthritis.

We will be keeping our fingers and paws crossed here for Blodwen.xx
So lovely to hear that Ginger is doing so well, it’s amazing how they bounce back. Here’s my Ginger after her op for a lump on her back
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:agr: - I would also operate. My RB Holly had a cyst on her side that was harmless. But it grew and grew over time and she spent her time scratching and nibbling at it. When it was removed it was found to be like an iceberg - with far more beneath the surface than had been visible. She did fine after the surgery and felt much better for its removal. 8147DC21-821B-4FC9-AE25-B79C77FCC1F0.webp
 
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