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Hormonal Issues

Guinea Slave

Guinea Slave

Adult Guinea Pig
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Hi

i need some help with what I know is a relatively common issue in Guineas but which we are struggling to treat. Daisy is a pretty, very hyperactive guinea, about 3 years old. BIG character! She doesn’t have classic ovarian cysts, I.e not fluid filled, but she does have hormonal issues.

She has been seen by a very guinea savvy vet and had two lots of Chorulon. Each has worked brilliantly for a few months but she reverts back after about 3 months. Loses hair on her back, chases around and humps her poor long suffering sister and wears herself out! the last time she had Chorulon she had a fit which really concerned me. we don’t think continued Chorulon use is wise due the fits but it’s also unsustainable long term every few months but it has proved it’s a hormonal issue.

the recommendation is to have her spayed but I am desperately concerned about it and almost would rather just deal with her as she is rather than spay.

anyone know of any possible alternatives? I am sure I read about a hormonal implant once but cannot see any reference any where. Be very interested in Views. She is an absolute character and so very friendly, I just want to do what’s right but with least risk.

any ideas!?
 
I think your best option would be to spay her. If she’s otherwise healthy it should be a fast and straightforward procedure. She isn’t old either so I don’t think her reaction to anasthetics would be much of a concern. It sounds like everything going wrong would be resolved if she were spayed. I wish you the best :)
 
Hope you can figure out a plan for Daisy @Guinea Slave :) I really don’t have much experience with these girly hormones other than with my Aliona who was recently spayed due to her ovarian cysts, her op and recovery went really well and she’s much more chilled out now!
Can understand why you wouldn’t want to go back to Chorulon, how scary she was fitting, so glad she was ok afterwards! Really hope someone’s got some ideas to help :hug:xx
 
Betsy had an emergency spay at the beginning of Lockdown 1 last year she was 4 then and recovered well. She's still a moody old cow just not as moody as she was and her hair has grown back as she had really bad hair loss and was starting to look like a scraggly miss.
 
Hey guys, thank you so much for this. I guess it seems this is the best option then. I am just so nervous, I lost a gorgeous little girl many years ago to a spay op, she had a heart attack and died in my arms a week later, and I guess it’s just put me off. However, watching her tonight, she is a little madam with her sister and I am sure her sister would be delighted at her being spayed!

thank you x
 
Guinea Slave said:
Hey guys, thank you so much for this. I guess it seems this is the best option then. I am just so nervous, I lost a gorgeous little girl many years ago to a spay op, she had a heart attack and died in my arms a week later, and I guess it’s just put me off. However, watching her tonight, she is a little madam with her sister and I am sure her sister would be delighted at her being spayed!

thank you x
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All the best!

I have also lost the first of my own sows to be spayed in an emergency op 11 years ago but have had 5 successful spays since then. Morwenna and Mererid needed theirs aged 5 (Morwenna for preventing her cyst from turning cancerous and Meleri when her non-hormonal cysts suddenly put on a massive growth spurt); they have just celebrated their 7th birthday in February.

It is always harder when you are facing the same op again after one has gone wrong. I just had to take a deep breath when Meleri required an eye removal op last week (from which she is recovering well) after losing Hafina due to her heart giving out right at the end of her op 10 years ago when she needed to have her eye removed after a medical last ditch approach had failed.
Things have thankfully moved on quite a bit in the intervening decade!
 
Guinea Slave said:
Hey guys, thank you so much for this. I guess it seems this is the best option then. I am just so nervous, I lost a gorgeous little girl many years ago to a spay op, she had a heart attack and died in my arms a week later, and I guess it’s just put me off. However, watching her tonight, she is a little madam with her sister and I am sure her sister would be delighted at her being spayed!

thank you x
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Yes my Luigi wasn’t the happiest when Aliona was humping and chasing him for a change (and biting his bum, kicking him out of beds and just being a bit manic all round!), he was definitely happy when her hormones had decreased and she was a bit of a nicer housemate!
Massive hugs and healing vibes to you and Daisy, I hope it all goes well if you chose to spay her. I was a nervous mess on the day but everything went really well so hopefully the same for you and your lovely girl :hug:xx
 
Wiebke said:
All the best!

I have also lost the first of my own sows to be spayed in an emergency op 11 years ago but have had 5 successful spays since then. Morwenna and Mererid needed theirs aged 5 (Morwenna for preventing her cyst from turning cancerous and Meleri when her non-hormonal cysts suddenly put on a massive growth spurt); they have just celebrated their 7th birthday in February.

It is always harder when you are facing the same op again after one has gone wrong. I just had to take a deep breath when Meleri required an eye removal op last week (from which she is recovering well) after losing Hafina due to her heart giving out right at the end of her op 10 years ago when she needed to have her eye removed after a medical last ditch approach had failed.
Things have thankfully moved on quite a bit in the intervening decade!
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Thanks for Wiebke, I think I am coming around now!
 
alpacasqueak said:
Yes my Luigi wasn’t the happiest when Aliona was humping and chasing him for a change (and biting his bum, kicking him out of beds and just being a bit manic all round!), he was definitely happy when her hormones had decreased and she was a bit of a nicer housemate!
Massive hugs and healing vibes to you and Daisy, I hope it all goes well if you chose to spay her. I was a nervous mess on the day but everything went really well so hopefully the same for you and your lovely girl :hug:xx
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Thank you so much for your reassurance! xx
 
Aww thank you for your responses everyone, it has REALLY helped!

I know I need to do it. After we lost poor Squeak recently we now have two herds of 2 girls and really I would love to try and bond them and get a boy, (I never replaced poor Heath who we lost last year) I think that will be a lovely mix. Plus they have an enormous C&C (about 30 sq feet) which would be so much nicer not split into two. The other two are rather robust Abyssinians who will not put up with her humping and chasing (poor Layla's just sighs and ignores her) so thats not an option currently, so if I look at it, strategically its better for all of them.

Trouble is Daisy is such a friendly girl, she runs up to you in her cage and rubs noses through the C&C, she is not fussed for treats, she just loves humans. If I cuddle one of the others she comes charging up, puts her paws on the side and wheaks for cuddles (she is a bit of a 'mummies girl!) ! She is such a character and so full of energy and joy for life in general. So I feel awful putting her through it. But I guess she cannot go on and some of the stories here makes me realise that if I dont, then she could then become worse and it could lead to other issues so I just need to be brave I guess!

You guys are so very helpful, thank you!
 
Guinea Slave said:
Aww thank you for your responses everyone, it has REALLY helped!

I know I need to do it. After we lost poor Squeak recently we now have two herds of 2 girls and really I would love to try and bond them and get a boy, (I never replaced poor Heath who we lost last year) I think that will be a lovely mix. Plus they have an enormous C&C (about 30 sq feet) which would be so much nicer not split into two. The other two are rather robust Abyssinians who will not put up with her humping and chasing (poor Layla's just sighs and ignores her) so thats not an option currently, so if I look at it, strategically its better for all of them.

Trouble is Daisy is such a friendly girl, she runs up to you in her cage and rubs noses through the C&C, she is not fussed for treats, she just loves humans. If I cuddle one of the others she comes charging up, puts her paws on the side and wheaks for cuddles (she is a bit of a 'mummies girl!) ! She is such a character and so full of energy and joy for life in general. So I feel awful putting her through it. But I guess she cannot go on and some of the stories here makes me realise that if I dont, then she could then become worse and it could lead to other issues so I just need to be brave I guess!

You guys are so very helpful, thank you!
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Sometimes a spay is unfortunately still the best or the only option.

Instead of fixating on your fear of loss, try to see the operation as a chance to buy Daisy the longer and trouble-free future life-span that she otherwise wouldn't have. That is a big gift you are making her. Unfortunately, every major medical procedure is ultimately a leap of faith but if you do it for the right reasons, you cannot go wrong because we all want our piggies to have a long and healthy life. ;)

Some ovarian cysts can turn very nasty indeed and can cause life-shortening problems or even kill. I am very sorry that Daisy has got some really unpleasant ones and is so badly affected by them.
 
Wiebke said:
Sometimes a spay is unfortunately still the best or the only option.

Instead of fixating on your fear of loss, try to see the operation as a chance to buy Daisy the longer and trouble-free future life-span that she otherwise wouldn't have. That is a big gift you are making her. Unfortunately, every major medical procedure is ultimately a leap of faith but if you do it for the right reasons, you cannot go wrong because we all want our piggies to have a long and healthy life. ;)

Some ovarian cysts can turn very nasty indeed and can cause life-shortening problems or even kill. I am very sorry that Daisy has got some really unpleasant ones and is so badly affected by them.
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Thank you, as always fantastic and considered thoughts and advice. I sent a note to the vet tonight....
 
So Daisy is booked in on25th May For her spay. I had a long chat with my vet and we agreed we had run out of options. She is going to (hopefully) just have her ovaries removed going in through the flank rather than underneath. He can’t guarantee it will work but that’s what he is going to try. I am dreading it, she is so friendly and trusting and I feel so bad but it’s the best thing for her and her poor long suffering sister.

poor Gizmo has been poorly as well and has been diagnosed with heart disease and an upper respiratory tract infection which won’t go. She is on new antibiotics and the usual heart meds. Very perky in herself which is good. So it’s like a guinea pig hospital here....that goodness for working from home!
 
Good luck for the 25th Daisy! :hug:Hope everything goes well and she sails through her recovery ❤️ Sure her sister will be very pleased to have a calmer Daisy around! :)

Sorry Gizmo isn’t well bless her, hope the new meds help to shift it! Glad she’s still a happy girl though! And hope you’re getting a rest in between running your hospital and work! Big hugs from me and the pigs :) xx
 
alpacasqueak said:
Good luck for the 25th Daisy! :hug:Hope everything goes well and she sails through her recovery ❤ Sure her sister will be very pleased to have a calmer Daisy around! :)

Sorry Gizmo isn’t well bless her, hope the new meds help to shift it! Glad she’s still a happy girl though! And hope you’re getting a rest in between running your hospital and work! Big hugs from me and the pigs :) xx
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aww thank you! I think Gizmo is liking all the attention, she is the cuddliest guinea I have ever had but boy is she naughty with her meds. The others just take the syringes, I don’t even need to catch them..Gizmo no, she has to be held in a headlock. I am hoping once all this is over and things are better I can try them in one herd...let’s See!
 
Guinea Slave said:
aww thank you! I think Gizmo is liking all the attention, she is the cuddliest guinea I have ever had but boy is she naughty with her meds. The others just take the syringes, I don’t even need to catch them..Gizmo no, she has to be held in a headlock. I am hoping once all this is over and things are better I can try them in one herd...let’s See!
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She sounds just like my Jess was, the sweetest cuddly, licky girl until a syringe of meds was around! :)) Naughty Gizmo! :)):wub: Really hope you can bond them all and have a happy gang when all is calmer! 🤞
Will be thinking of you all :) xx
 
Exactly like that! Although not as bad as another character I had years ago who was again, wonderful and loved people until you brought out the syringe. Then she would try and savage your hand, grab the syringe and fling it across the room!
 
She sounds like quite the character! :love: :))
My newest addition Cleo has very much hated humans since she arrived as a terrified baby but is great with a syringe and meds(?), it’s just after she gives you a nice hard (very sly!) bite to get you back! Has broken the skin quite a few times now the demon mini-pig, why she very much deserves the nickname Jaws! 🦈:)) Thankfully the bites are less frequent than they were as she’s growing and so are those nashers! :yikes::))
 
alpacasqueak said:
She sounds like quite the character! :love: :))
My newest addition Cleo has very much hated humans since she arrived as a terrified baby but is great with a syringe and meds(?), it’s just after she gives you a nice hard (very sly!) bite to get you back! Has broken the skin quite a few times now the demon mini-pig, why she very much deserves the nickname Jaws! 🦈:)) Thankfully the bites are less frequent than they were as she’s growing and so are those nashers! :yikes::))
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they are so funny aren’t they. Such wonderful individual characters. She will learn what a wonderful slave you are soon enough!
 
Thank you so much @Merab's Slave and @alpacasqueak really appreciate you thinking of us!

Daisy is feeling very miserable, she has nibbled some hay, grass and some lettuce but very depressed and tensed up. I am trying to syringe feed her but not give her too much and stuff her up, it’s a real balance isn’t it? She hates the food too. I knew this one would be tough and can see a few very stressful days ahead for sure. Fingers crossed she starts to feel a little better in the next 24 hours! please send healing vibes! x (I am trying Not to panic!)
 
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