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Splenectomy

baleofhay

baleofhay

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi guys, long time no post.

I am here posting as tomorrow my very dear boar named Russell will be going under to have his spleen taken out. A lot of tests over the past couple weeks have showed that his spleen was enlarged and an aspirate biopsy showed tumour cells. After weighing up pros and cons and the fact that tests don't indicate this thing has metastasised or that it isn't benign we are going forward with it. He, by outward appearances, is a healthy active middle aged pig.

My vet is excellent and has extensive guinea pig and exotic critical care experience. She has been reading research papers to better understand this as she explained to me just how unusual this is in guinea pigs. She has helped me with different cancers on other guinea pigs but spleen is a first for me and rare for her. This is apparently common in dogs, even being a killer of one of her dogs.

Despite his appearance right now as healthy, we all know how quickly piggies can go downhill and I believe this is his best chance for long term survival. Will definitely be sending the spleen off to pathology.

I have been trying to find accounts of other owner's experiences with this and my googling has only really lead me to research papers that I don't understand. So, has anyone here ever had to deal with spleen issues/cancers in guinea pigs? My concerns aren't necessarily with the surgery itself but the recovery from it and going forward. I will of course do what my vet tells me, but looking out for any experience that could help me dealing with a spleenless guinea pig would be valuable as this is a new one for me.

Thank you.
 
I'd also like to say he's currently on gabapentin from the aspirate biopsy. I am also very experienced with syringe feeding and medication giving. I am having a read through historic posts on this forum. One mentioning needing a rich iron diet after I'll be asking about that one to my vet.
 
I wish your piggy all the best for tomorrow.
 
Wow - I hope all goes well with your boy and his operation.
Please do let us know how it goes as this is something I have never come across in a piggy before.
He sounds like he is in very good hands.
 
Little Russell sounds like he is 8n the best experienced hands, fingers crossed it all goes well for him x
 
Hi guys, thanks for your kind words. I have an update.

Russell is currently waking up post op and the vet is pretty happy.

The spleen has come out as well as part of his liver. It seems like a nodule of his liver has the cancer in it and it attached to his spleen. The rest of his liver and his gall bladder, which also seemed unusually big, stayed.. It will all be sent off to pathology to see what subtype of the specific cancer it is. (I'm not sure if its sarcocarnicoma, carcinosarcoma etc, I am not in any kind of medical field and it all means little to me). This will tell us how closely we will need to watch his internal organs going forward.

A few weeks ago I observed a period where he didn't want to eat and upon weighing, realised he had lost 100g in about 3 days. (even those he bounced back after syringe feeding, this triggered a vet visit). I suggested if this was the moment when the event happened and the vet said that was their hypothesis too. That's why I weigh my guinea pigs weekly!

Sounded like the clinic had a great opportunity, took lots of photos and had everyone participating as it was so unusual and risky. I definitely don't want to see those images, but they'll probably help train and prepare for other surgeries in the future lol. But as Russell is my beloved pet, his individual outcome is most important to me right now, and I can't wait to see his lil face again.

All being well, I might even get him home tomorrow. Tonight tho, he's got his brother Owen, who stayed with him as moral support.
 
I've got him home! He looks a bit dopey, but is eating and pooing and had an exploration of his cage to know he's home. I've got critical care at the ready if concerned tho. His incision site looks incredible. He will be on gabapentin and meloxican for the next couple weeks. It's early recovery days. but I am feeling good about this. Booked in his revisit for Saturday, tho if concerned I will take him in sooner of course. Just amazed what veterinary medicine can do for my piggies these days.
 
All the best! 🍀
I had a piggy a few years ago whose spleen had to be removed. But in the same operation she was also spayed. She took quite a long time to recuperate, but in the end she was fine again.
A friend of mine also had a piggy whose spleen had to be removed and he didn't have any troubles at all.
So all fingers and paws crossed!
 
I took a quick pic of his suture site. I'm not sure if that's something that's allowed to be shared or even wanted, but I can if you'd like it. It's amazing work.

He's eating, pooing, walking around today. Still quiet, but definitely not in strife. Owen has been very sweet, lying besides him, even if it means he's out in the open.
 
Thanks for confirming, VickiA.

Not the world's greatest photo. It's a very long line, but it's clean, dry and no discharge. His bottom was a bit damp, so gave that a wipe, but his belly is fine. Earlier this year I had a castration go bad, so really keeping an eye on this.
 

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That’s very neat! Send8ng lots of healing vibes for your brave little man
 
That’s a very neat scar.
Glad everything is healing well.
It does take a few days to recover fully from anaesthesia and surgery but it sounds good.
 
That is a lovely neat scar. I could hardly see it! I was expecting, and secretly hoping, for some gore (I’m not squeamish at all) 🤣. So glad he’s ok though.
 
I am pleased to report Russell is going excellently. His whole demeanour is one of a happy boy. He's eating and moving great and his scar is healing rapidly. We had his post op check today and has been given a big tick. He has lost a bit of weight, but that's okay, we can build that up slowly, or if we don't, I'm comfortable with him there.

Now, some very exciting news is that I've got some results from pathology and they are quite promising. My vet needs to confirm these results as they kind of contradict the first lot we did. The aspirate biopsy showed some kind of cancer cells but not that specific. But the new pathology shows that A. his spleen is largely clear and that the chunk of liver, while nasty, is not cancerous. The hypothesis is that part of his liver has some kind of torsion, detached and attached itself to his spleen. So the suspect cells were more reactive to the trauma than were actually cancerous.

This would mean my boy is cancer free!

SO before I get too excited, my vet is still confirming with the lab. I was hoping for a call today but none, so hopefully tomorrow. There is a discussion I need to have with her then to determine what liver torsion means, how it happened, if there was something I did that made it happen etc and whats best for him going forward.

I am so proud of my boy.
 
Sending you both lots of healing vibes and a little hug to brave Russell. How wonderful to find a vet who will discuss things with you; they are to be treasured.
 
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