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Ovarian cysts

D

donna83

New Born Pup
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Hi I was just wanting some advice from anyone thats been through similar I have a sow aged over 3 years in January I noticed a extreme change in her behaviour to the point I've had to separate her n noticed she had crusty nipples took her to the vet straight away only to be told there's nothing wrong with her so fast forward a few months took her back to the vet as nipples still crusty n she's lost a lot of weight so really not happy and wanting the problem sorted the vet said maybe ovarian cysts which I presumed after researching but she said if it is this she can't feel them so only will be small now my dilemma is she gave me two choices either sedate her to perform an ultrasound to see if it is ovarian cysts which I don't think is worth the risk or she said she could live a normal happy life on long term pain medication rheumocam so I was just wondering if anyone had been in a similar situation I only want what is best for her and really don't know what to do she is currently living in a 5x2 cage next to my other pigs as due to her extreme dominant behaviour she can't live with my other pigs and I really don't want this for her so any advice would be great thanks for reading
 
I'm sorry you're in this situation, personally I would find a different vet for a second opinion who seems more willing to treat. With those symptoms at her age my vet wouldn't bother sedating for ultrasounds, he would just go straight for surgery. I've had 9 sows in total spayed now, 8 done by him, each one has done incredibly well and returned to their herd, ages from 18 months to almost 5 years old.

The only one we have not opted to spay is Tilly, who is almost 8 years old and very fragile due to neurological issues, we are just monitoring her health and the size of her cyst/whether it bursts etc

Ultimately its your choice, but I always choose surgery where possible as cysts can rupture and reform over time, this is not only painful but can lead to infection and gut adhesion if they start forming scar tissue. Gut adhesion effectively puts them into gut stasis as the guts cannot move properly.
 
Eriathwen said:
I'm sorry you're in this situation, personally I would find a different vet for a second opinion who seems more willing to treat. With those symptoms at her age my vet wouldn't bother sedating for ultrasounds, he would just go straight for surgery. I've had 9 sows in total spayed now, 8 done by him, each one has done incredibly well and returned to their herd, ages from 18 months to almost 5 years old.

The only one we have not opted to spay is Tilly, who is almost 8 years old and very fragile due to neurological issues, we are just monitoring her health and the size of her cyst/whether it bursts etc

Ultimately its your choice, but I always choose surgery where possible as cysts can rupture and reform over time, this is not only painful but can lead to infection and gut adhesion if they start forming scar tissue. Gut adhesion effectively puts them into gut stasis as the guts cannot move properly.
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Thank u so much for your reply I'm really considering getting her spayed as I do think that is what needs doing especially with her weight loss I'm just so very annoyed with the vets as they have never been very good or knowledgeable when it comes to my pigs and they have had a lot of money off me over the past few years and I only want what is best for my girl and I really do think spaying is the answer to this problem after what I have researched about this but thanks again for your reply much appreciate
 
donna83 said:
Thank u so much for your reply I'm really considering getting her spayed as I do think that is what needs doing especially with her weight loss I'm just so very annoyed with the vets as they have never been very good or knowledgeable when it comes to my pigs and they have had a lot of money off me over the past few years and I only want what is best for my girl and I really do think spaying is the answer to this problem after what I have researched about this but thanks again for your reply much appreciate
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I'm also really pleased to hear about your 8 girls who have have recovered well through this and best of luck with your old girl u must have gave her an amazing life it gives me hope that I will get my girl through this
 
I actually know someone whose sow had ovarian cysts, when it was finally decided that she needs spaying it was too late.
Like you, the person noticed crusty nipples as well as balding sides, the guinea pig also started losing weight and being aggresive towards her other guinea pigs.
The vets opened her up and saw that her insides were almost glued together, as the cysts were all over the place. The guinea pig was put too sleep as it was in so much pain it would be cruel to make her live with it, and treatment wasn't possible. I'd say try to look for a better vet and book her in for spaying as soon as possible. Good luck!
 
luckyandsammy said:
I actually know someone whose sow had ovarian cysts, when it was finally decided that she needs spaying it was too late.
Like you, the person noticed crusty nipples as well as balding sides, the guinea pig also started losing weight and being aggresive towards her other guinea pigs.
The vets opened her up and saw that her insides were almost glued together, as the cysts were all over the place. The guinea pig was put too sleep as it was in so much pain it would be cruel to make her live with it, and treatment wasn't possible. I'd say try to look for a better vet and book her in for spaying as soon as possible. Good luck!
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Thanks for your reply appreciate it
 
donna83 said:
sedate her to perform an ultrasound
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Look for a different vet. Cysts are a common occurrence but cause different symptoms, some mild, some severe. Here's our forum link Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts) see section 4 for cysts.

My girl Flora (4) has large cysts and I'm still debating my options as my vet hasn't performed many piggy spays - she said they've been successful it is a major op. Although my girl doesn't have many symptoms she's got ovaries so big you can feel them (3cm and 5cm apparently) but her behaviour is OK. She has no shedding, weight loss or moody behaviour but she was shaved for her ultrasound 2 weeks ago and is still bald on each side. No GA - I held her for the shave (and we did a patch underneath too to check for bladder stones) - scan took maybe 10 mins. At least the belly fur has all grown back! She has 3 units of dog metacam (which is roughly 0.2ml of 1.5mg/ml) twice a day.
Flora windows.webp
A poster in Finland recently told us about ovariectomy: removal of the ovaries through the sides rather than full spay which is done from below as you might imagine. They said the op was so quick (10 mins - seems unbelievable) it's replacing neutering of boars over there. But my vet doesn't have experience of this so I'm phoning around at the minute. Your case does sound more severe than Flora so in your shoes I'd be doing something. It's just what...

I'll keep you informed about which way we go. In the meantime have a look at the forums recommended vet list on the green bar above. This might not be completely up-to-date but it's somewhere to start with if you're trying to find a different vet. Even if one isn't practical for you in terms of travel it's worth phoning around for a few prices. My vet said that people often do phone round for prices of spays so practices often price low to attract new customers... a bit like supermarkets and bananas! But you can also ask about whether ovariectomy is available, or hormone treatment, or prices for a general consult.

Good luck poor moody girl 💕
 
Free Ranger said:
Look for a different vet. Cysts are a common occurrence but cause different symptoms, some mild, some severe. Here's our forum link Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts) see section 4 for cysts.

My girl Flora (4) has large cysts and I'm still debating my options as my vet hasn't performed many piggy spays - she said they've been successful it is a major op. Although my girl doesn't have many symptoms she's got ovaries so big you can feel them (3cm and 5cm apparently) but her behaviour is OK. She has no shedding, weight loss or moody behaviour but she was shaved for her ultrasound 2 weeks ago and is still bald on each side. No GA - I held her for the shave (and we did a patch underneath too to check for bladder stones) - scan took maybe 10 mins. At least the belly fur has all grown back! She has 3 units of dog metacam (which is roughly 0.2ml of 1.5mg/ml) twice a day.
View attachment 224270
A poster in Finland recently told us about ovariectomy: removal of the ovaries through the sides rather than full spay which is done from below as you might imagine. They said the op was so quick (10 mins - seems unbelievable) it's replacing neutering of boars over there. But my vet doesn't have experience of this so I'm phoning around at the minute. Your case does sound more severe than Flora so in your shoes I'd be doing something. It's just what...

I'll keep you informed about which way we go. In the meantime have a look at the forums recommended vet list on the green bar above. This might not be completely up-to-date but it's somewhere to start with if you're trying to find a different vet. Even if one isn't practical for you in terms of travel it's worth phoning around for a few prices. My vet said that people often do phone round for prices of spays so practices often price low to attract new customers... a bit like supermarkets and bananas! But you can also ask about whether ovariectomy is available, or hormone treatment, or prices for a general consult.

Good luck poor moody girl 💕
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Thank u for your reply I wish u all the luck with your girl my vet has just quoted 918 just for the ultrasound so I'm in the process of finding a new vet that actually know what there doing then I will be getting her spayed I have just read about the ovariectomy somewhere today but I'm more than happy for u to keep me informed about your beautiful girl n ill let u know how I get on in the coming weeks thanks
 
I would definitely look for a different vet. Why my experience with ovarian cysts is very limited, I’ve had ultrasounds done several times and they’ve always been done conscious and never costed more than £60
 
Claire W said:
I would definitely look for a different vet. Why my experience with ovarian cysts is very limited, I’ve had ultrasounds done several times and they’ve always been done conscious and never costed more than £60
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Thanks for your reply I was utterly shocked at there disgusting price
 
I’ve had sows spayed because of cysts, one of them was 5 years old and she came through the surgery well.
Personally I wouldn’t want to risk leaving cysts in case they burst.
I agree with the comments about finding a new vet.

Let us know how things go.
 
Free Ranger said:
Look for a different vet. Cysts are a common occurrence but cause different symptoms, some mild, some severe. Here's our forum link Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts) see section 4 for cysts.

My girl Flora (4) has large cysts and I'm still debating my options as my vet hasn't performed many piggy spays - she said they've been successful it is a major op. Although my girl doesn't have many symptoms she's got ovaries so big you can feel them (3cm and 5cm apparently) but her behaviour is OK. She has no shedding, weight loss or moody behaviour but she was shaved for her ultrasound 2 weeks ago and is still bald on each side. No GA - I held her for the shave (and we did a patch underneath too to check for bladder stones) - scan took maybe 10 mins. At least the belly fur has all grown back! She has 3 units of dog metacam (which is roughly 0.2ml of 1.5mg/ml) twice a day.
View attachment 224270
A poster in Finland recently told us about ovariectomy: removal of the ovaries through the sides rather than full spay which is done from below as you might imagine. They said the op was so quick (10 mins - seems unbelievable) it's replacing neutering of boars over there. But my vet doesn't have experience of this so I'm phoning around at the minute. Your case does sound more severe than Flora so in your shoes I'd be doing something. It's just what...

I'll keep you informed about which way we go. In the meantime have a look at the forums recommended vet list on the green bar above. This might not be completely up-to-date but it's somewhere to start with if you're trying to find a different vet. Even if one isn't practical for you in terms of travel it's worth phoning around for a few prices. My vet said that people often do phone round for prices of spays so practices often price low to attract new customers... a bit like supermarkets and bananas! But you can also ask about whether ovariectomy is available, or hormone treatment, or prices for a general consult.

Good luck poor moody girl 💕
Click to expand...

I wasn't aware of ovariectomy as a term but this is what one of my first piggies had when she was 5.5 years old. She started sitting in her own urine and then I noticed she didn't want one side of her body touching. She had an ultrasound and the vet found sizeable cysts. The vet wanted to operate immediately so I gave permission and she was very much a fan of going in through the flank like you would a cat rather than from the belly. She felt there was a lower risk of infection as well as the wounds were kept off the ground while healing. It was very interesting to hear her experience and decisions as a vet and I was gutted she only lasted a year at that practice (they had a spate of exotics specialists who moved on very quickly and relied a lot on locums so I registered elsewhere in the end).
 
Lady Kelly said:
going in through the flank like you would a cat
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This is what mine said when I asked about it... it's the way you spay a cat. I think they go in through the side and just kind of pull everything through with a cat but presumably the ovaries are a bit smaller and the gut doesn't get in the way so much. I don't know though.
George's bladder stone was almost £700 with all his meds and everything which is sort of what I expected for a full spay because I imagined it to be an even bigger op, so when I was quoted £160 I was surprised (and happy). I nearly booked her in there and then! It's just that it'll be such a big thing for Flora that's putting me off and she'd just had the loss of the other two to cope with. But we're ploughing on...
 
donna83 said:
Hi I was just wanting some advice from anyone thats been through similar I have a sow aged over 3 years in January I noticed a extreme change in her behaviour to the point I've had to separate her n noticed she had crusty nipples took her to the vet straight away only to be told there's nothing wrong with her so fast forward a few months took her back to the vet as nipples still crusty n she's lost a lot of weight so really not happy and wanting the problem sorted the vet said maybe ovarian cysts which I presumed after researching but she said if it is this she can't feel them so only will be small now my dilemma is she gave me two choices either sedate her to perform an ultrasound to see if it is ovarian cysts which I don't think is worth the risk or she said she could live a normal happy life on long term pain medication rheumocam so I was just wondering if anyone had been in a similar situation I only want what is best for her and really don't know what to do she is currently living in a 5x2 cage next to my other pigs as due to her extreme dominant behaviour she can't live with my other pigs and I really don't want this for her so any advice would be great thanks for reading
Click to expand...
Hi just thought I'd update everyone as yous were all so kind and helpful I eventually got my girl referred to a different exotic vet who took her in yesterday firstly for an ultrasound which quite large cysts were found on both ovaries so we decided to put her straight in for spaying it was a lot more complicated than we thought as 1 of the cysts was huge and had started growing in her gut but they managed to do the operation sadly my girl didn't recover from the operation and the sedation she just wasn't strong enough they tried everything they could but it just wasn't enough she passed away last night we are heartbroken but thanks again all for the kind advice
 
I’m so sorry you lost your little lady, you did everything you could have done, take care :hug:
 
I am so sorry for your loss. You did everything you could, as did your vet. Sadly the downside to surgery is both the risk it carries and the risk that the scan didn't show the full extent of what was going on.
 
Thanks everyone for your kind comments it really doesn't feel like it at the minute but I knew it was the best thing to do for her quality of life to give her a chance of living comfortably but these things happen I knew the risks but least she's out of pain now she was so loved by me and the children it's heartbreaking but thanks all for being so kind
 
Sending you and your children a hug. It’s so sad but you had to try. I’m so sorry she didn’t make it.
 
I'm so sorry for your loss. The anaesthesia is such a tricky one for pigs and even experienced vets will lose patients - and they'll be as upset about it as us. At least you could give her a chance. But I know it doesn't help your heart right now 😔

My girl was spayed yesterday and it's only at this point I'm starting to breathe a little although she's not out of the woods. She ended up with a huge cut about 2 inches long - each ovary had reached about 6cm and one burst as soon as it was touched so it was ready to go at any time. My girl has been alone since the other two passed and I very much wanted to find her a friend but from what the vet said the hustle and bustle of normal piggy life could have seen one of them burst at any point - I couldn't even imagine it. Your beloved girl might not have known it, but you have spared her that pain x
 
Free Ranger said:
I'm so sorry for your loss. The anaesthesia is such a tricky one for pigs and even experienced vets will lose patients - and they'll be as upset about it as us. At least you could give her a chance. But I know it doesn't help your heart right now 😔

My girl was spayed yesterday and it's only at this point I'm starting to breathe a little although she's not out of the woods. She ended up with a huge cut about 2 inches long - each ovary had reached about 6cm and one burst as soon as it was touched so it was ready to go at any time. My girl has been alone since the other two passed and I very much wanted to find her a friend but from what the vet said the hustle and bustle of normal piggy life could have seen one of them burst at any point - I couldn't even imagine it. Your beloved girl might not have known it, but you have spared her that pain x
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Thank you I wish your girl a healthy speedy recovery x
 
So very sorry for your loss.
Losing a piggy in surgery because the issue was more serious or complicated than thought is a real blow.
I am holding you in my heart ♥️
You made the best decision you could make for your girl.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve.
 
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