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Cystic Ovaries

SallyM79

SallyM79

Junior Guinea Pig
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Location
Hertfordshire, UK
Hi all,
Our 4 year old guinea pig Sandy started losing her gorgeous fur recently although appears healthy in all other ways (eating, pooping etc). We have taken her to the vets and they have advised that she is likely to have cystic ovaries and found it a bit tender when the vet was feeling her tummy. They said that the best option is to have her spayed or we can have a scan to confirm the diagnosis and then decide if we want her spayed or not.

I have no idea what to do for the best. The vets we use is vets for pets in Stevenage and they have been fab and caring when we have visited before for check ups and nail clipping etc but an operation seems a huge deal! I saw the list of recommended vets on here but how do vets get on the recommended list? The closest one to us is the next town over but their website doesn't even mention guinea pigs! I just want to make the right choice for her and give her the best chance of getting through it. All advice welcome and needed please
 
The vets on the recommended list are ones that members have used and found to be very good with guinea pigs.
If you are confident with your vet then that’s half a decision made.

I’ve had 4 sows spayed, 3 came through with no problems. I sadly lost the 4th one because when the vet operated they found she was riddled with cysts and despite their best efforts my old girl couldn’t cope with the extended surgery.

Some of the health experts can give better advice but all I would say is weigh the options carefully and make the decision that seems best for you. You clearly love your piggy so you will know in your heart what is right.
 
SallyM79 said:
Hi all,
Our 4 year old guinea pig Sandy started losing her gorgeous fur recently although appears healthy in all other ways (eating, pooping etc). We have taken her to the vets and they have advised that she is likely to have cystic ovaries and found it a bit tender when the vet was feeling her tummy. They said that the best option is to have her spayed or we can have a scan to confirm the diagnosis and then decide if we want her spayed or not.

I have no idea what to do for the best. The vets we use is vets for pets in Stevenage and they have been fab and caring when we have visited before for check ups and nail clipping etc but an operation seems a huge deal! I saw the list of recommended vets on here but how do vets get on the recommended list? The closest one to us is the next town over but their website doesn't even mention guinea pigs! I just want to make the right choice for her and give her the best chance of getting through it. All advice welcome and needed please
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Hi

You may find the information in this guide link on ovarian cysts and what treatment options there are (some of them less invasive) helpful: Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)

We rely on our forum members' feedback as to which are the best vets in their area. There are around 4000 registered veterinary places in the UK with quite a high turnover of staff, just to give you an idea of what any comprehensive in-depth survey would involve! We simply can't visit them all and test her services and knowledge re. guinea pigs first-hand.
Our vet recommendations are considered to be a bit of a helping hand to avoid your own lengthy searches and a repeat of bad experiences from other people in the same area but the recommendations are neither exhaustive nor conclusive.

We are after all just a place that is entirely run on voluntary member donations and by members giving their own free time for free to help with moderation, admin and other jobs needed to keeping this forum running in the way we all want it to.
 
If you are happy with your vet then the next step would be to ask them specific questions.
Which vet will do the operation?
How often do they operate on guinea pigs?
What do they think the prognosis is?

If they seem confident and regulary operate on guinea pigs then this is half the battle.
A good and experienced vet will have a much better chance of a successful operation and smooth recovery.
Good luck with your decision.
 
Thanks all for your advice. I will give the vets a call on Monday and ask the questions suggested of the vet that would be performing the op before deciding whether to find an alternative person.
 
Hi all, I have an update on my piggy. Having spent the last two weeks calling around vets and being unsuccessful in finding one that is more experienced, I booked her in with the first vet for an op this coming Thursday.

However, yesterday she was a bit off her food and today wouldn't touch anything. Took her back to the vet and they said she is now in pain with the cysts. She has lost 100g in weight. They gave her a pain relief injection and I have to give her metacam (0.25ml) and Emeprid (0.4ml) every 12 hours along with critical care food every 1-2 hours until she is eating again for herself and her weight is stable. I have managed to do the first syringe feed (never done that before! Luckily the nurse showed me). I have also separated their cage so that I can monitor if she is pooing etc. Since then she has been eating hay so I guess the pain injection worked.

As I am a novice, does this all sound correct and right? Any other advice welcome x
 
Sounds as if you’re doing well so far.
If I’m syringe feeding I usually put a small dish of Critical Care in the cage as well to help encourage eating.
Grated carrot or sweet potato mixed with raw oats also helps with weight.
Hope she’s ok
 
All sounds good to me, just be careful handling her as if the cysts are large they can burst which will cause more pain and can risk infection and adhesion, theyre surprisingly thin walled! I had my newest rescue spayed on Monday and hers were almost the size of golf balls! My vet brought them out to show me while I was waiting to collect her. Fingers crossed with the pain medication she puts on weight and does well with her surgery.
 
Thank you. She seems to really like it. We have a pouch that she sits in and it means I don't have to squeeze her to hold her steady thankfully.

How much critical care should I be giving her? The vet nurse said 1ml every 2 hours but that doesn't seem a lot.
 
So I have been feeding critical care for 24 hours now and she has gained 10g. Is that a good amount in a day?

She definitely ate hay last night as the pile was noticeably smaller as well as some pellets and this morning she had quite a few strands of coriander. She is also pooing almost normal sized poos. Bit worried she isn't drinking enough so have marked a line on her water bottle and might give some water in the syringe too.
 
Sounds promising.
Don’t worry about water too much - she’ll get that from veggies.
You’re doing a good job.
Look after yourself too.
It’s exhausting caring for a sick piggy
 
Thank you. She hasn't been so good this afternoon. She loves the critical care and takes that well but has barely moved from her cosy sack and hasnt touched veggies.

Just gave her more critical care and gave her about 5ml of water too. She then went to the hay pile and tucked in little. Her op isn't until Thursday. Hoping she gets back to her usual weight before then.

Do you think if I feed her at 11pm, 3am and 7pm that it will be OK or should I keep to 2 hours through the night?
 
I can’t really answer detailed health questions as I don’t have the knowledge or experience.
You know her best so go with your instincts.
Holding you in my heart ♥️
 
I've just caught up with your posts and send hugs. Every case is different but just to say, one of my piggies lost her fur on the rear half of her body and an excellent piggy- savvy vet diagnosed ovarian cysts. I was given options and in her situation chose to have a series of 3 injections, one week apart and I have certainly seen an improvement in her and her fur is beginning to grow back. I can't remember what the injections are called but it may be worth mentioning it to your vet. I hope all goes well on Thursday
 
Update:
I have just dropped Sandy off at the vets for her operation 😢. I managed to maintain her weight with emeraid and she has been nibbling on pellets but no hay or veg. Just a waiting game now 🤞
 
Update 2

Just had a call from the vet - this is the first opportunity she has had to examine her since she stopped eating as I had to see a vet at a different practice then as it was the weekend.

She believes that Sandy has stopped eating due to a tooth spur on her molar rather than the cystic ovaries being the reason. She has advised that she treats this today rather than the ovaries. I have given her the go ahead but not sure how to feel really 😟
 
Spaniel said:
How is Sandy doing?
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Good i think.

She had her teeth tidied up. There were a couple of spurs at the back that hadn't caused tissue damage thankfully and she filed down her incisors as they were at angles - She thinks she may have been eating on one side causing the unevenness.

Since she came round, she has eaten some hay (YAY!) and has taken emeraid and critical care. She is preferring to hide in her house but seems well in herself. Really hoping she is back to herself soon. Will keep up with the syringe and weighing, metacam and emeprid and hope for the best.
 
SallyM79 said:
Good i think.

She had her teeth tidied up. There were a couple of spurs at the back that hadn't caused tissue damage thankfully and she filed down her incisors as they were at angles - She thinks she may have been eating on one side causing the unevenness.

Since she came round, she has eaten some hay (YAY!) and has taken emeraid and critical care. She is preferring to hide in her house but seems well in herself. Really hoping she is back to herself soon. Will keep up with the syringe and weighing, metacam and emeprid and hope for the best.
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Great news. I hope she continues to improve :)
 
Sending good vibes for a positive outcome. I've had 2 piggies who had dental problems and know how good it feels when you see them enjoy eating hay again!
 
Think I have spoken too soon. She still isn't really eating but looks desperate to try. She has nibbled some broccoli and a little hay but no where near as much as I expected her to today.

I did notice something unusual though when she is drinking water. She was using the nozzle then kept stopping and doing a weird action - throwing her head up and mouth open and it was like she was trying to shift something in her mouth. I took a video but this is a picture from it. Any ideas?
 

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SallyM79 said:
Think I have spoken too soon. She still isn't really eating but looks desperate to try. She has nibbled some broccoli and a little hay but no where near as much as I expected her to today.

I did notice something unusual though when she is drinking water. She was using the nozzle then kept stopping and doing a weird action - throwing her head up and mouth open and it was like she was trying to shift something in her mouth. I took a video but this is a picture from it. Any ideas?
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Sorry to hear this :(

I’m afraid I don’t know but I hope someone else can advise.
 
After visiting the vet this afternoon again, I don't really know what to do. They said they don't have enough experience to be able to identify why she isn't eating and suspect it is a mouth issue rather than her ovaries.

They want to refer her and suggested the vet hospital in camden or vets4pets in newmarket as they have access to more equipment. I asked to be referred to the place in Northampton that is mentioned on here so much but when they called, they said unfortunately they are on holiday until 31st October. I can't get to the Camden one as there is no parking and am nervous of the newmarket one as I don't know if they actually have a guinea pig expert there. I don't know where to turn 😢.

I am in the south east - Hertfordshire. Can anyone give me the name of someone who has experience with guinea pigs please? I called the local ones on the recommended list but was advised their experts either retired or they don't really have anyone.
 
Is she still on painkillers? Maybe her mouth is sore or feeling odd.

I don’t know for sure but you’d think the cat and rabbit vet would choose someone competent to cover when they’re away so maybe still go there? And definitely book an appointment now for when the vets are back off holiday so you’ve got that option ready if needed.
 
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