velveteenery
New Born Pup
Hello gp forum community,
I couldn't decide if this was a better topic for here or for medical/illness section. Here is a thread regarding my Sassafras which was a couple months ago, regarding bladder stones. I don't know if I was supposed to put this on the same thread, but since the title regarded a different issue, I wasn't sure. I think I'm just hoping for feedback on my decision-making process and any experiences y'all have had with your piggies.
Well, Sassy passed the stone! Thank God! But, literally two days later, I brought her into the vet, and he noticed her nipples were crusty. This coincided with an uptick in aggressive behavior from Sassy, especially directed towards Cinnamon, one of Sassy's two cage mates (the other is named Rosemary). We discussed options of a spay or possible hormone replacement. I went to get a second opinion from an exotics vet bc although Dr Curran had some good knowledge and experience with guinea pigs, he didn't have piggie-specific experience regarding the hormone implant. Took her in to see the exotics vet last week, and we discussed the risks of a full spay operation (which is what I'd initially been thinking) and the hormone implant that could be done instead. She took an xray and did an ultrasound, and ovarian cysts did not show on either, so the vet said either the aggression was due to pain, or due to small ovarian cysts we couldn't see, and to try increasing the pain med (metacam) to twice daily. We've done that and the aggression doesn't seem to have changed at all, so I am thinking of trying the implant. I did reread Wiebke's guides (thanks so much for those; they are amazing!) and it was helpful to know that the smaller cysts can actually cause more aggression than larger ones.
I am worried about Sassy because her weight is dropping slightly. She's rumblestrutting, chasing Cinnamon and humping her multiple times a day, often multiple times an hour, and I think we're on week four of this (I wonder if, as soon as we'd addressed the pain from the bladder stone and then once she passed it, she was more able to focus on asserting her dominance?). We found a small abscess on her tum this week that the vet drained (on antibiotics for that now) that the vet thinks have been a bite from Cinnamon, which I think is likely, although it could have been a hay poke. I'm also worried about Cinnamon, although her weight is consistent; she seems more subdued. I just imagine it's stressful for the both of them and for Rosemary, too, and I am worried about the potential of their bond breaking. I have not separated them because I know that can break their bond. They've been together most of their lives. Cinnamon has been incredibly patient with Sassy so far, and I will see them sometimes grooming each other or nestled down near each other in between tussles. Then suddenly Sassy will get up and start rumble strutting again, and on and on.
I also know that Sassy is 4 1/2 years old and that if I am going to do the spay, age is a potential risk factor, so part of me wants to do that sooner rather than later.
Anyway, so I am thinking of trying the hormone implant. Has that worked for anyone's piggies? The vet says it's similar to a little microchip that goes under the skin between the shoulders and that it's still a little experimental, not a lot of research on guinea pigs, but there's anecdotally been success. Does anyone know how quickly it will work?
I love these sweet girls and their drama is so draining!
I appreciate any wisdom y'all can give.
Warmly,
Lydia
I couldn't decide if this was a better topic for here or for medical/illness section. Here is a thread regarding my Sassafras which was a couple months ago, regarding bladder stones. I don't know if I was supposed to put this on the same thread, but since the title regarded a different issue, I wasn't sure. I think I'm just hoping for feedback on my decision-making process and any experiences y'all have had with your piggies.
Well, Sassy passed the stone! Thank God! But, literally two days later, I brought her into the vet, and he noticed her nipples were crusty. This coincided with an uptick in aggressive behavior from Sassy, especially directed towards Cinnamon, one of Sassy's two cage mates (the other is named Rosemary). We discussed options of a spay or possible hormone replacement. I went to get a second opinion from an exotics vet bc although Dr Curran had some good knowledge and experience with guinea pigs, he didn't have piggie-specific experience regarding the hormone implant. Took her in to see the exotics vet last week, and we discussed the risks of a full spay operation (which is what I'd initially been thinking) and the hormone implant that could be done instead. She took an xray and did an ultrasound, and ovarian cysts did not show on either, so the vet said either the aggression was due to pain, or due to small ovarian cysts we couldn't see, and to try increasing the pain med (metacam) to twice daily. We've done that and the aggression doesn't seem to have changed at all, so I am thinking of trying the implant. I did reread Wiebke's guides (thanks so much for those; they are amazing!) and it was helpful to know that the smaller cysts can actually cause more aggression than larger ones.
I am worried about Sassy because her weight is dropping slightly. She's rumblestrutting, chasing Cinnamon and humping her multiple times a day, often multiple times an hour, and I think we're on week four of this (I wonder if, as soon as we'd addressed the pain from the bladder stone and then once she passed it, she was more able to focus on asserting her dominance?). We found a small abscess on her tum this week that the vet drained (on antibiotics for that now) that the vet thinks have been a bite from Cinnamon, which I think is likely, although it could have been a hay poke. I'm also worried about Cinnamon, although her weight is consistent; she seems more subdued. I just imagine it's stressful for the both of them and for Rosemary, too, and I am worried about the potential of their bond breaking. I have not separated them because I know that can break their bond. They've been together most of their lives. Cinnamon has been incredibly patient with Sassy so far, and I will see them sometimes grooming each other or nestled down near each other in between tussles. Then suddenly Sassy will get up and start rumble strutting again, and on and on.
I also know that Sassy is 4 1/2 years old and that if I am going to do the spay, age is a potential risk factor, so part of me wants to do that sooner rather than later.
Anyway, so I am thinking of trying the hormone implant. Has that worked for anyone's piggies? The vet says it's similar to a little microchip that goes under the skin between the shoulders and that it's still a little experimental, not a lot of research on guinea pigs, but there's anecdotally been success. Does anyone know how quickly it will work?
I love these sweet girls and their drama is so draining!
I appreciate any wisdom y'all can give.Warmly,
Lydia
your sassy Sassy gets well soon x
