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Poorly Pingu (Lymphoma) :(

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Gracie01

Gracie01

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Pingu is nearly 4 years old, and has never really been the picture of health. I brought her home from a pet shop. She was so tiny and was obviously the runt of the litter. She got cataracts at a very young age (before she was a year). She has also had urine infections on more then one occasion.

She has always been a very happy piggy all through her illnesses. Shes the boss of her pair, eats very well, loves her baths, and runs round the garden at any chance she gets.

Yesterday, while bathing her back end (because of a urine infection), i noticed a few little lumps in front on her back legs.

Today, the vet confirmed my worst thoughts. Pingu has lymphoma. :(

The vet and I are both in agreement. 8... Pingu seems happy in herself but probably doesn't have much time left, so we are going to make her last days as comfortable and happy as possible.

It might seem to some that i am hanging loosing Pingu out, a bit. But i know she is not ready to go just yet.

DSC05606.jpg


This is Pingu today. (The bowl might look a bit empty. It has their veg in as Pingu can't always find the vegetables when you put in straight in the hutch).
 
awwww i hope pingu has an enjoyable time with you and sorry to hear about the illnesses. She is gooooorgeous though.
 
Aww thats awful news, and so sad too, hope she has a happy and comfortable time with you however long that may be. Take care little Pingu, you are such a beautiful girl!
 
Oh she's so gorgeous! What a shame. Hope she hangs in a while longer (as long as she's not in pain). Spend as much time with her as you can :)
 
Oh Hunny.....

I amso very very sorry to hear this having myself lost two piggies this last year to lymphoma....verified by PM....and their demise followed a very standar pattern....and yours doesn;t ring true I;m afraid.

I don;t wish to raise your hopes up but swellings would indicate lymph node involvement and without the proper diagnostic tests and details of more symptoms ...well how can your vet be sure this is "carte blanche" lymphoma instead of oterh causes such as an infection without conducting the proper diagnostic tests? The hind leg lymph nodes can get inflamed because of a bladder infection or GI problems or many other scenrios

Sorry if you or anyone else feels this post is in-appropriate - but having unsuccessfully nursed 8/15 guineas this last year through what was originally diagnosed as a hereditary lymphoma problem...only to find following PM's that the specialist exotciic vet was "way off base" in their diagnosis...(no probs - bless him...we have a good working relationship and I attach no blame - we are working on the "elimination" principle to try to discover what is wrong with all my piggies)..

So unless there is more info you haven;t posted to justify your vets decision - well, I personally would be a tad sceptical of your vets diagnosis at this early stage

Happy if you want to PM me with your phone number and I am very happy to ring you back to chat about this

If is IS lymphoma - my sympathies and hugs are with you...but I'm a great believer in the fact that it's not over untill the fat lady sings.......

x
 
I am sorry, i don't think i was quite with it when i wrote the original post! Hopefully, i can explain a little better.

Pingu had been on antibiotics for nearly 2 weeks because a urine infection (the third she has had in 2 years), prior to me spotting the lymphnodes. My original thought was she may have a severe infection, so i took her back to the vets to make sure, but having lost a piggy at the beginning of the year Millie to Lymphnoma (confirmed by PM) i had a heavy heart.

I noticed the lymphnodes in front of Pingus back legs (these sprang up within 24 hours), she has twice daily backend baths, because the discharge from her vulva, and this is when i noticed them. The vet did a thorough examination and found more enlarged nodes under her front armpits, and a large 2p piece size one under her jaw, on her throat :0

Pingus other symptoms are increased thirst, and increased urination, squidgy stools, loss of condition (she doesn't look thin but is very boney, with a big belly), and she has been wheezing more recently. I understand these could all be symptoms of UTI and other illnesses.

Positively, she is still eating well, and runs for the hills at floor time.

My personal belief is that Pingus immune system has never been quite what it should be. I have had over 25 piggies and never had one have so many health issues. (You might say i am being cruel) But I decided against the biopsy.

She is still on the antibiotics, until Thursday, when she has a follow up appointment.

If the suspecions (sp?) of the vet and myself are not correct, and her lymphnodes shrink in size, then thats great. But her symptoms are very much the same as my Millie, and i am preparing for the worse.
 
Gracie01 said:
I am sorry, i don't think i was quite with it when i wrote the original post! Hopefully, i can explain a little better.

Pingu had been on antibiotics for nearly 2 weeks because a urine infection (the third she has had in 2 years), prior to me spotting the lymphnodes. My original thought was she may have a severe infection, so i took her back to the vets to make sure, but having lost a piggy at the beginning of the year Millie to Lymphnoma (confirmed by PM) i had a heavy heart.

I noticed the lymphnodes in front of Pingus back legs (these sprang up within 24 hours), she has twice daily backend baths, because the discharge from her vulva, and this is when i noticed them. The vet did a thorough examination and found more enlarged nodes under her front armpits, and a large 2p piece size one under her jaw, on her throat :0

Pingus other symptoms are increased thirst, and increased urination, squidgy stools, loss of condition (she doesn't look thin but is very boney, with a big belly), and she has been wheezing more recently. I understand these could all be symptoms of UTI and other illnesses.

Positively, she is still eating well, and runs for the hills at floor time.

My personal belief is that Pingus immune system has never been quite what it should be. I have had over 25 piggies and never had one have so many health issues. (You might say i am being cruel) But I decided against the biopsy.

She is still on the antibiotics, until Thursday, when she has a follow up appointment.

If the suspecions (sp?) of the vet and myself are not correct, and her lymphnodes shrink in size, then thats great. But her symptoms are very much the same as my Millie, and i am preparing for the worse.
Click to expand...

Thank you for giving more detail - I'm so very sorry to read that she does appear to fit the classic signs of lymphoma as demonstrated by my piggies, and also that you have already lost Millie to this horrible disease...... so I can truly understand your sorrow ad heavines of heart.

I know that prednisolone can be given (my vet suggested this with my piggies if another one got diagnosed with lymphoma) ... but obviously there is the rsk of infection owing to depressed immune system... however there is a detailed case history on guinea lynx where a lymphoma piggie was treated with pred and L-asparaginase (Elspar)

http://www.guinealynx.info/records/viewtopic.php?t=123

Might be worth printing this out and discussing it with your vet...
it is certainly something my vet and I will be consdering doing if another one of mine starts showing symptoms.....
......Big hugs......

x
 
I just wanted to give everyone an update on Pingu.

There is lots of positive:

Her vulva is a lot clearer. There has been no discharge for 2 days.
Although her poos are half the size of normal poos they are solid today.
She is still active, she scoots away when i give her antibiotics, and check her vulva.
She is still eating - hay, green leafy stuff, and some recovery food, but is struggling to eat hard foods carrots, stalky vegetables and guinea mix.

....BUT still her lymphnodes are still large. :0
 
I know this thread was posted a year ago, I happened across this by chance, but my Misty had this very illness, and also she developed lumps on her face too.. the vet administered a steroid injection, and I subsequently lost her to respiratory failure a side effect of the injection.. it was hoped at the time, that the steroid would reduce the swellings in her swollen lymph nodes, but we never got to find out:(
 
I'm so sorry about Pingu(I love that name by the way, i used to watch that show when i was little), lots of wheeks for Pingu. She's really prettty. <3
 
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