Cyst

[VJ&Flower]

Hi all

I wonder if you can advise? My boy, Flower, has had a cyst on his back for three years on and off now. He is five Years old. I’ve been to the vets several times for this and different vets have given different advice. He has had the cyst drained several times and stitched up once. Until quite recently, since the last draining in summer last year, the cyst was flat and all the hair had grown back over it. Then it grew very quickly again and he was taken to the vets. They said there was no fluid to be drained - just ‘necrotising matter’ and that he should be treated with antibiotics. We were told if this treatment didn’t work he could have surgery which wouldn’t be advisable due to his age or be put to sleep. However, although the wound looks bloody still (four weeks later) and slightly smells, he has a great appetite and is in good shape apart from this. We will take him to the vet again to check him out but has anyone had any similar experiences?

Thanks in advance. I can post a photo if anyone wants to see.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all

I wonder if you can advise? My boy, Flower, has had a cyst on his back for three years on and off now. He is five Years old. I’ve been to the vets several times for this and different vets have given different advice. He has had the cyst drained several times and stitched up once. Until quite recently, since the last draining in summer last year, the cyst was flat and all the hair had grown back over it. Then it grew very quickly again and he was taken to the vets. They said there was no fluid to be drained - just ‘necrotising matter’ and that he should be treated with antibiotics. We were told if this treatment didn’t work he could have surgery which wouldn’t be advisable due to his age or be put to sleep. However, although the wound looks bloody still (four weeks later) and slightly smells, he has a great appetite and is in good shape apart from this. We will take him to the vet again to check him out but has anyone had any similar experiences?

Thanks in advance. I can post a photo if anyone wants to see.

Hi

My Hafren was in her high 6th year of life when a large cyst under observation decided to put on another massive growth spurt and then promptly burst while my piggy savvy vet was still on their summer holiday. She had her emergency lumpectomy one month short of her 7th birthday and lived into the following year to tell the tale.
Recovery a was a bit slower; especialy the healing process when compared to a young guinea pig but she did get there pretty well, considering the size of her cyst.
This was her on the day after her op:


My Tesni was 6 years when she needed burst cyst removed from righ next to her genitalia and at least three of my sows have had a full emergency spaying operation aged 5 years; Iola needed hers on the same vet visit as Tesni so I came back home with two freshly operated sows.
6 years old Tesni and 4 years old Iola


It very much depends on how confident and practised your vet is with operating on guinea pigs.
Tips For Post-operative Care

Can you get to one of our recommended vets if your regular one is not feeling confident with operating?
Recommended Guinea Pig Vets

All the best!

 

[VJ&Flower]

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. I’m so pleased your pigs had successful operations. We’re going to try again and request the most pig savvy vet in the practice and find out her view. Thanks again.