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Ovarian cysts

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Pepper&Pip

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Just looking for some advice for our piggie with ovarian cysts.

Our guinea pig Pepper had to have an ultrasound just under 18 months ago for a separate issue, but during the ultrasound they discovered ovarian cysts. We were told that they are a moderate size, but the vet said the best thing is not to treat them unless she shows any signs of being in pain or becomes distressed/can’t get comfortable etc. They told me to bring her straight back if any symptoms appear.

Has anyone else received advice like this from their vet and has a guinea pig living comfortably with untreated cysts? Whenever I see posts about ovarian cysts they’re usually receiving some treatment. I trust my vet, but as it’s been 18 months I’m conscious that the cysts might be getting bigger and cause issues further down the road. Pepper is now turning 5, she’s a happy girl and has stayed a stable weight (she’s always been a large piggie) and is very energetic. She hasn’t got any of the hormonal signs from cysts either. As it’s been 18 months since her last vet visit, I’m wondering whether she should be going again just to keep an eye on them? She does get very stressed at the vets, so I don’t want to take her unnecessarily if it’s not needed.
 
Yes for cysts that aren't accompanied by the obvious hormonal symptoms, monitoring would be the normal way forward. They can exist and continue to expand without causing any noticeable issues, but it is also possible for them to grow enough to impact on other organs.

I had a sow diagnosed with cysts last summer, during a general checkup. They were only 1cm across (approx) and there weren't any symptoms of hormonal issues, so we were advised just to keep an eye on them.
 
Qualcast&Flymo said:
Yes for cysts that aren't accompanied by the obvious hormonal symptoms, monitoring would be the normal way forward. They can exist and continue to expand without causing any noticeable issues, but it is also possible for them to grow enough to impact on other organs.

I had a sow diagnosed with cysts last summer, during a general checkup. They were only 1cm across (approx) and there weren't any symptoms of hormonal issues, so we were advised just to keep an eye on them.
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Thank you so much, that is good to know!

Do you take your piggie to regular vet check ups for them to check over the cysts, or do you just monitor it at home? :)
 
I agree - it is possible for cysts to not cause any issue and for monitoring to be the course of action. As it’s been a long time since it could be worth a discussion with your vet about checking them - just a phone call at this point and they can decide if they want to see her

Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
 
Pepper&Pip said:
Just looking for some advice for our piggie with ovarian cysts.

Our guinea pig Pepper had to have an ultrasound just under 18 months ago for a separate issue, but during the ultrasound they discovered ovarian cysts. We were told that they are a moderate size, but the vet said the best thing is not to treat them unless she shows any signs of being in pain or becomes distressed/can’t get comfortable etc. They told me to bring her straight back if any symptoms appear.

Has anyone else received advice like this from their vet and has a guinea pig living comfortably with untreated cysts? Whenever I see posts about ovarian cysts they’re usually receiving some treatment. I trust my vet, but as it’s been 18 months I’m conscious that the cysts might be getting bigger and cause issues further down the road. Pepper is now turning 5, she’s a happy girl and has stayed a stable weight (she’s always been a large piggie) and is very energetic. She hasn’t got any of the hormonal signs from cysts either. As it’s been 18 months since her last vet visit, I’m wondering whether she should be going again just to keep an eye on them? She does get very stressed at the vets, so I don’t want to take her unnecessarily if it’s not needed.
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Hi and welcome

It's estimated that about 75-80% of sows develop ovarian cysts in their lives but only a minority of cysts actually cause hormonal symptoms or grow so large as to cause problems and even less become cancerous. Most go unnoticed.

In older age it is the non-hormonal fluid filled cysts that can grow to quite a big size. I would also have your sow checked for any hard cysts - they could turn cancerous in the coming years. I have had to have one 5 years old sow spayed over cancer concerns (she lived to 8 years) and several 5 year olds over fluid filled cysts which were large enough to be visible. It's worth checking at that age.
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
 
Thank you so much everyone, this is really helpful. I knew ovarian cysts were common, but I didn’t realise it was such a large percentage of sows that get them!

We’re going to give our vets a call and see if they would like to check her over as it’s been a little while and fingers crossed she’s all okay!
 
Pepper&Pip said:
Thank you so much everyone, this is really helpful. I knew ovarian cysts were common, but I didn’t realise it was such a large percentage of sows that get them!

We’re going to give our vets a call and see if they would like to check her over as it’s been a little while and fingers crossed she’s all okay!
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The majority of the are thankfully not causing any problems... But because so many are going unnoticed, the numbers can only be a guesstimate. However, unlike with rabbits there is not the direct link with cancer. Yes, cysts can go cancerous but it is only a minority.
 
Pepper&Pip said:
Thank you so much, that is good to know!

Do you take your piggie to regular vet check ups for them to check over the cysts, or do you just monitor it at home? :)
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Sorry, I forgot to reply to your question last week!

The piggy in question last year was having a checkup before going to her forever home with another forum member (I'm having a break from piggy slavedom for a while). If I had been keeping her, I expect I would have taken her to have another checkup (especially the cysts) after 12 months, unless she had had to go for something else before that. I used to try to ensure all my pigs had a check about once a year if they hadn't needed the vet otherwise.
 
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