Sterile interstitial cystitis research

[Piggies2023]

Those with female guinea pigs who have pain when weeing and stones have been ruled out or those diagnosed with IC please can you comment if your guinea pig has cysts or not as far as you are aware.


I read some research regarding mast cells and estrogen. Mast cells can be found in the bladder of IC patients (this is humans) but not much on guinea pigs. Estrogen can bind with the mast cells making them fire more often and cause inflammation in the bladder. IC can be worse around the menstrual cycle in humans. Estrogen is often higher when you have ovarian cysts. This is making me wonder if having ovarian cysts in guinea pigs can make IC worse. I have a piggy with potentially IC. She also has ovarian cysts. We've not put her through such major surgery as we don't know if it will help.

I'm interested in other people's comments on this subject. Thank you.

 

[stef.trg]

I have one girl who‘s had IC since she was about 9ish months old. Overall mild symptoms, most of the time these days she‘s symptom free. She is now a little over 3 and was last checked for ovarian cysts end of November 2022. At that ultrasound they didn‘t find any cysts. On the other hand, I have a second girl who doesn’t have IC but has ovarian cysts and is getting spayed on 20th July. I hope this helps!

 

[Piggies2023]

I have one girl who‘s had IC since she was about 9ish months old. Overall mild symptoms, most of the time these days she‘s symptom free. She is now a little over 3 and was last checked for ovarian cysts end of November 2022. At that ultrasound they didn‘t find any cysts. On the other hand, I have a second girl who doesn’t have IC but has ovarian cysts and is getting spayed on 20th July. I hope this helps!

Thank you. Is your girl who is being spayed have large cysts? Or are they the small hormonal kind? My Nancy has small hormonal ones (about 1cm)

 

[stef.trg]

Thank you. Is your girl who is being spayed have large cysts? Or are they the small hormonal kind? My Nancy has small hormonal ones (about 1cm)

They aren‘t huge, around 3,5 to 4cm on her right side and 2cm on her left. So sizeable but not monstrous. Not hormonally active but they are super hard little balls and my vet said in her experience this kind often turns cancerous with age so she wants to get the spay over and done with while Buttons is still young-ish and fit.

 

[Piggies2023]

They aren‘t huge, around 3,5 to 4cm on her right side and 2cm on her left. So sizeable but not monstrous. Not hormonally active but they are super hard little balls and my vet said in her experience this kind often turns cancerous with age so she wants to get the spay over and done with while Buttons is still young-ish and fit.

Sounds wise at that size.

Interestingly I've just read some research while for humans they used guinea pigs and it seems there can be a link with IC. So will have to discuss this with my vet. Nancy goes through months of behaving hormonal and then she stops. And then it restarts. We haven't done surgery because she has bladder issues and wanted to get on top of those.

 

[stef.trg]

Sounds wise at that size.

Interestingly I've just read some research while for humans they used guinea pigs and it seems there can be a link with IC. So will have to discuss this with my vet. Nancy goes through months of behaving hormonal and then she stops. And then it restarts. We haven't done surgery because she has bladder issues and wanted to get on top of those.

Totally agree, it‘s also caused her to get gassy so it‘s the right thing to do. I am a little nervous, not gonna lie but I‘m hoping she pulls through alright.

That‘ actually a really interesting take. Definitely keep us updated what your vet thinks to it as well. All the best for your girl and her IC as well, I hope you can get a handle on her bladder problems and that she can live a fairly pain-free life.