Mammary gland tumor

[Bitsato]

Hi all!

I am back after a few years... From when I was active here before, then I became really busy and didn't really have time for just hanging in forums but now I have gotten some sad news and remembered how fantastic the people here are! Everyone with their problems always gets support, this is such a great community.

So why am I posting this in Health&Illness? I have 2 guinea pigs that I used to post about here a lot and I am so in love with them. They will be 4 years old in October and have been doing great so far. Last years November, one of my guinea pigs suddenly started having very bad breathing so I went to my emergency exotic vet. Turns out it wasn't an URI, he has a very odd issue, don't even know what the vet called it. So basically, his heart is in a bad position and it puts stress/pushes the windpipe up a little so it's ok for him to breathe, but fluid will gather in his lungs because of the way his breathing is. We got that under control with meds and he responds very well to the medication and I also have emergency medication that I can either give him orally or if we get a very bad case with his breathing, I can give him an injection in his butt. Although it was very devastating and I'm sad that he has to live on medication, he's a very happy piggy and I give him the best life I possibly can, this is not the reason I'm writing.

Last week on Wednesday I was cutting my piggies' nails and I felt a lump in my other piggy's breast. When I looked more closely, I saw that his nipple/breast is huge, rock hard and very warm. The other one felt a little odd, like a tiny tiny lump. Mind you, I check my pig's bodies every week thoroughly... Another trip to my exotic vet.
Yup. Tumors in both of his mammary glands that seem to be very aggressive and growing quickly. Vet checked for metastasis in the lungs and lymph nodes, fortunately that was clean but a surgery is needed fast, but everything there was very much inflamed and that's why it seemed warm and was so big. Couldn't do the surgery then.
Now he has been getting medication since last Wed and will have the surgery this Thursday at 2pm.

I am absolutely terrified. What if he doesn't make it?! He's also had weight issues since 2 years ago, even though he runs around a lot, their living space is large (literally half of our living room lol). He just eats so much and is a little chubby. I am so scared.. He's just 3 years old! How do you make sure your piggy's recovery is easy? What can I do to make it go easier for him?
My vet is hoping that my pig can come home on the same day late in the evening and I will be working from home so I can monitor him.

Hoping that someone maybe can tell me anything about these tumors and surgery on mammary glands or just... calm me down a bit.

Thank you!

 

[Eviolus-]

Hi all!

I am back after a few years... From when I was active here before, then I became really busy and didn't really have time for just hanging in forums but now I have gotten some sad news and remembered how fantastic the people here are! Everyone with their problems always gets support, this is such a great community.

So why am I posting this in Health&Illness? I have 2 guinea pigs that I used to post about here a lot and I am so in love with them. They will be 4 years old in October and have been doing great so far. Last years November, one of my guinea pigs suddenly started having very bad breathing so I went to my emergency exotic vet. Turns out it wasn't an URI, he has a very odd issue, don't even know what the vet called it. So basically, his heart is in a bad position and it puts stress/pushes the windpipe up a little so it's ok for him to breathe, but fluid will gather in his lungs because of the way his breathing is. We got that under control with meds and he responds very well to the medication and I also have emergency medication that I can either give him orally or if we get a very bad case with his breathing, I can give him an injection in his butt. Although it was very devastating and I'm sad that he has to live on medication, he's a very happy piggy and I give him the best life I possibly can, this is not the reason I'm writing.

Last week on Wednesday I was cutting my piggies' nails and I felt a lump in my other piggy's breast. When I looked more closely, I saw that his nipple/breast is huge, rock hard and very warm. The other one felt a little odd, like a tiny tiny lump. Mind you, I check my pig's bodies every week thoroughly... Another trip to my exotic vet.
Yup. Tumors in both of his mammary glands that seem to be very aggressive and growing quickly. Vet checked for metastasis in the lungs and lymph nodes, fortunately that was clean but a surgery is needed fast, but everything there was very much inflamed and that's why it seemed warm and was so big. Couldn't do the surgery then.
Now he has been getting medication since last Wed and will have the surgery this Thursday at 2pm.

I am absolutely terrified. What if he doesn't make it?! He's also had weight issues since 2 years ago, even though he runs around a lot, their living space is large (literally half of our living room lol). He just eats so much and is a little chubby. I am so scared.. He's just 3 years old! How do you make sure your piggy's recovery is easy? What can I do to make it go easier for him?
My vet is hoping that my pig can come home on the same day late in the evening and I will be working from home so I can monitor him.

Hoping that someone maybe can tell me anything about these tumors and surgery on mammary glands or just... calm me down a bit.

Thank you!

You could put everything he needs in a corner so he doesn't have to move too much if he doesn't want to? Maybe limit pellets if you don't already.
I hope everything goes well x

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all!

I am back after a few years... From when I was active here before, then I became really busy and didn't really have time for just hanging in forums but now I have gotten some sad news and remembered how fantastic the people here are! Everyone with their problems always gets support, this is such a great community.

So why am I posting this in Health&Illness? I have 2 guinea pigs that I used to post about here a lot and I am so in love with them. They will be 4 years old in October and have been doing great so far. Last years November, one of my guinea pigs suddenly started having very bad breathing so I went to my emergency exotic vet. Turns out it wasn't an URI, he has a very odd issue, don't even know what the vet called it. So basically, his heart is in a bad position and it puts stress/pushes the windpipe up a little so it's ok for him to breathe, but fluid will gather in his lungs because of the way his breathing is. We got that under control with meds and he responds very well to the medication and I also have emergency medication that I can either give him orally or if we get a very bad case with his breathing, I can give him an injection in his butt. Although it was very devastating and I'm sad that he has to live on medication, he's a very happy piggy and I give him the best life I possibly can, this is not the reason I'm writing.

Last week on Wednesday I was cutting my piggies' nails and I felt a lump in my other piggy's breast. When I looked more closely, I saw that his nipple/breast is huge, rock hard and very warm. The other one felt a little odd, like a tiny tiny lump. Mind you, I check my pig's bodies every week thoroughly... Another trip to my exotic vet.
Yup. Tumors in both of his mammary glands that seem to be very aggressive and growing quickly. Vet checked for metastasis in the lungs and lymph nodes, fortunately that was clean but a surgery is needed fast, but everything there was very much inflamed and that's why it seemed warm and was so big. Couldn't do the surgery then.
Now he has been getting medication since last Wed and will have the surgery this Thursday at 2pm.

I am absolutely terrified. What if he doesn't make it?! He's also had weight issues since 2 years ago, even though he runs around a lot, their living space is large (literally half of our living room lol). He just eats so much and is a little chubby. I am so scared.. He's just 3 years old! How do you make sure your piggy's recovery is easy? What can I do to make it go easier for him?
My vet is hoping that my pig can come home on the same day late in the evening and I will be working from home so I can monitor him.

Hoping that someone maybe can tell me anything about these tumors and surgery on mammary glands or just... calm me down a bit.

Thank you!

Hi!

Please take a deep breath! The first operation is always a big jump over the cliff.
How the operation will go, depends on the form the tumour is. If it is still encapsulated (as yours sounds like), then it is pretty much a straight forward operation with a high success rate. The sooner you operate, the better.
Age-wise, your boy is currently at the peak of his life. If he has weight issues, make sure that you can support him with syringe feeding top up if he is losing weight during post-op recovery and this becomes necessary. Ideally, it shouldn't.

Take the time to read our post-op care guide linl below; it takes you through all the aspects of caring for an operated piggy from the preparation to the first hours/day and the longer term. It will hopefully answer many of your questions: Tips For Post-operative Care

 

[Bitsato]

Hi!

Please take a deep breath! The first operation is always a big jump over the cliff.
How the operation will go, depends on the form the tumour is. If it is still encapsulated (as yours sounds like), then it is pretty much a straight forward operation with a high success rate. The sooner you operate, the better.
Age-wise, your boy is currently at the peak of his life. If he has weight issues, make sure that you can support him with syringe feeding top up if he is losing weight during post-op recovery and this becomes necessary. Ideally, it shouldn't.

Take the time to read our post-op care guide linl below; it takes you through all the aspects of caring for an operated piggy from the preparation to the first hours/day and the longer term. It will hopefully answer many of your questions: Tips For Post-operative Care

Thank you for the answer and the tips certainly were very helpful. I was told to not let him fast before the surgery because we all know that guinea pigs have to have access to hay and water at all times etc and to give him his usual breakfast. Should I give him some extra food a few hours before the surgery as well or no?

And when I take him to the clinic, should I take the other piggy as well for the drive? They're always together and get anxious without each other and I'm not sure how to make sure that they both feel good for the duration of the day when they're separated. Or is it ok for the one day? I'll be at home and can he can spend time with me.

 

[Eviolus-]

Thank you for the answer and the tips certainly were very helpful. I was told to not let him fast before the surgery because we all know that guinea pigs have to have access to hay and water at all times etc and to give him his usual breakfast. Should I give him some extra food a few hours before the surgery as well or no?

And when I take him to the clinic, should I take the other piggy as well for the drive? They're always together and get anxious without each other and I'm not sure how to make sure that they both feel good for the duration of the day when they're separated. Or is it ok for the one day? I'll be at home and can he can spend time with me.

It's pretty stressful for them to be taken places so you could bring a hide or something that smells familiar to keep the pig calm?

 

[Jade&co]

Hi, I found this thread as I’ve been searching for information in the forum about mammary gland tumours. My Bradley is 5 and a half years old and has recently developed a small unattached tumour on his nipple/mammmary gland. It has been checked by my vet (who is an exotics vet, knows guinea pigs well and is very experienced). He of course advised that it would be best if it is removed and though I want to do what’s best for my piggy, I’m just not feeling right about putting him through a surgery- especially the anesthesia and the recovery worries me too. He’s just a little geriatric and it’s a tough decision. Bradley is very healthy, eats great, has great energy and spunk, loves his “paddock” as I call the cage and overall is a healthy pig. So maybe I should go ahead with the surgery? Anyway I would appreciate your thoughts in this community. Thank you so much. I will prob also post this as a new question if I can figure out how to do so. Approve date the read!