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Specialist Suspected Ovarian Cyst? No Cavy Savy Vet Around

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Ronak Ahmad

Ronak Ahmad

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Hi everybody
My piggy Virginia Woolf (!) is going to be 3 years old in July, and she has been losing hair for almost a year now but recently it has been very noticeable on her sides, she has crusty nipples and she kinda seems like she's PMSing?

My problem is that I live in the middle of nowhere, there are no exotic vets close to me at all (and those that do exist in the country require a 8 hour drive which I feel would be a great stress for the poor thing, however I don't mind doing it for her at all) so basically she has only been seen by a normal vet which gave her two courses of Ivermectin (only when I suggested mites) and yet since then she has not improved at all. She keeps losing her fur! I see some hair pulling but little scratching.

For the past months I have been thinking about the possibility of ovarian cysts, but if it is the case, what can I do? There's no way I would trust my poor baby to a ver surgeon that only works on dogs and nobody can actually confirm that it is Ovarian cysts.

In case it's important, she is on a good balanced diet and has a healthy appetite, she has weighted between 600-700 grams in the past year currently at 648 grams, and she has always had Vitamin C drops and very good quality hay.


But now I need your advice desperately:
Should i go to a normal vet and ask for hormone injections? As I heard that could help
If left untreated, would the cyst burst? If yes, then would she die? This breaks my heart to know I can't do anything but would she be in a lot of pain toward the end?
Please anything you know could be helpful please please I really need to help her somehow
I'm sorry this is such a long post
 
Hiya, welcome to the forums.

I've tagged @Wiebke for you who will give you some really go advice or point you in the right direction, she's brilliant.

Where are you located?

Here's a link for you to look at in the meantime, don't know if it'll help. We did have a piggie with possible ovarian cysts or a UTI, the vet didn't take it seriously, said the bloated tummy was nothing, she ended up being put to sleep four months later, we'd only had her for that length of time too, we adopted her bloated.

http://www.guinealynx.info/ovarian_cysts.html
 
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I would go to a normal vet and ask for an ultrasound or xray to be done and then if cysts are found ask about the hormone injections. Does she have any other symptoms like crusty nipples or dominant behaviour?

Could you confirm your location as it will help us to help you.

Could you also post a photo if possible from above so we can see her shape?
 
Thanks for your replies :)
Yes she does have crusty nipples. Not sure about dominant behavior because she's an only pig.
The problem with normal vets is they all want to treat for fleas and fungal issues and one fungal cream gave her such a bad inflammation that she pulled out all her hair off her own back poor thing and it's just barely growing back.
Are these photos helpful?


Forgot to mention, I'm from the Middle East. Sorry I'm not in the UK :(
 

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Thank you for the photos. If she has crusty nipples then ovarian cysts are a definite possibility. However, I think there is a skin issue too which is either mange mites or fungal or even both. Do you know how the Ivermectin was given? was it an injection or was it put on the back of her neck?

In the UK we have this product for treating fungal

http://www.hyperdrug.co.uk/Enilconazole-100mg_ml-100ml-Imaverol/productinfo/ENILCON/

Do you know if this is available in the middle east at all? It is used as a dip which you don't wash off. Do you know the name of the cream you were given previously? If a fungal condition is bad and a cream is put on, it can make the skin heat up which may be why she was so sensitive to it.

Also do you think your vet would be willing to speak to a vet in the UK?
 
Hello and thank you for your reply
The ivermectin was injected, twice, about 10 days apart. The fungal ointment that I was given to use on her bald spots is known chemically as "ketoconazole" but I think it's probably sold under a different brand name elsewhere in the world.

I decided not to trust a normal vet (and they wouldn't have taken kindly to hearing advice from the UK anyway, such idiots, don't even speak proper English) I'm taking Miss Virginia Woolf to the exotic vet 8 hours away from my hometown but we're taking the journey in 2 days in a fancy car so I guess she'll be alright. We'll leave next Wednesday. Wish us luck please :)
 
Good luck with your piggy roadtrip!
Make sure she has access to water &hay on the way.

I have an elderly piggy Ellie who was given an conscious ultrasound &a walnut sized ovarian cyst was found.
The vet gave her 2 hormone injections approx 7-10days apart.

Hers started with reoccurring urinary tract infections &she bled heavily when she pooped.

Her injections (hcg) chorulon were a cattle hormone.
She had those march 2014 &I think only one bleed since.

She seemed all puffy &not herself this March &the lump seemed to be noticeable. So she had another course of 2jabs &the lump seems to have gone down again :)

Would be wise to get her checked for fungal, mites etc whilst she's at the decent vets &u have travelled so far for her.

Keep us updated. &speedy recovery
The girls &I
x
 
Wishing you all the best!

Could you please add your country to your details, so we can adapt any advice and medical brands straight away? Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you! It saves all of us time.

I agree that she looks very much like ovarian cysts (hair loss on the sides), but with mites or fungal problems on the top. It is pssible that just two rounds of ivermectin may not have done the trick. Ketonazole is one of the active ingredients that can be used against fungal complaints.
You and your vet may find these link here helpful:
http://www.guinealynx.info/fungus.html
http://www.guinealynx.info/mites.html

As your vet is not experienced with guinea pigs, I agree that it is much safer to try a course of hormone injections before considering a much riskier operation for her ovarian cysts.
http://www.guinealynx.info/ovarian_cysts.html
 
Bad news!
We went to the exotic vet's clinic today, they took some ultrasounds and it's several massive ovarian tumors.
Oh god :(
The surgery is obviously high risk, but if we don't do it she only has 3-4 months to live. The surgeon said it's really my choice on what step to take next...
Would it be a painful death if we don't do the surgery and let her live her life for now? Because honest to God I'm pretty sure I would die too if I see my fur baby in pain.
Should we risk surgery?
Won't I deprive her of several months of her life if she dies on the table?

Ugh :(
(Forgot to mention, apparently there's no drug treatment to help her, surgery is the only way)
 
Would your vets consider trialling much less invasive cattle hormone injections (see our previous posts)? They are used with some good success here by guinea pig specialists in other countries.
Polycystic ovaries are not uncommon in middle aged and older guinea pigs.
 
Sorry it doesn't seem very positive.
I'm surprised they have no hormone injections to try. Its not licensed here in the UK for guinea pigs-but its a cattle hormone. Guess u have no cattle over there? What about camels? Wonder what they would use for them?

Well I guess if she's only about 3yrs she's not really old. But still reasonably high risk :(
Is your vet used to doing gpig spays?
That will add greatly to the risk if not too.
Aftercare makes a huge difference to recovery. Try reading through some of the sticky posted threads at the top of care section or health &illness (sorry can't remember which)
Extra vit c- probiotics, wound care, hydration , recovery food&bedding types all assist in a successful recovery.
Try ordering some in advance so that it gets to you before the op.

Check the type of stitching/ suture material that's going to be used, I think catgut can cause problems &reactions (abcesses etc)

@helen105281. @Pebble @Wiebke @furryfriends will probably know more

Apparently ovarian cysts are painful in humans so I'm guessing the same applies for your piggy.
Please request a painkiller for her to make her more comfortable &aid with the healing process if u decide to get her spayed.

Good luck with whatever u decide. Fingers crossed

Luv the girls &I xx
 
But these aren't cysts, which can be treated by hormones! These are tumors :( There's a very big tumor in her uterus and a smaller one in one of her ovaries.
tumors apparently (as the vet explained to me) have a way of being attached to organs or major blood vessels hence the big risk. And tumors don't shrink with hormones do they? Either way I suggested maybe she should be treated with hormones and the vet said it won't do anything.
If we don't do the surgery (which honestly doesn't seem likely) she's going to be in lot of pain while still eating and having energy to "fight" right? :( is there a painkiller that I can administer at home to make her suffer less toward the end?



Just so you know, we have plenty of cattle over here and I'v never seen a camel in my life. LOL
 
My Terk had one ovarian tumour and we opted for the hormone injections as she was 7 and it shrank it enough to give her a whole more year with us. It did come back in the end though and we made the decision to let her go when we couldn't control her pain.

Can the vet prescribe you a pain killer? in the UK we have Metacam which is an anti-inflammatory but there are also much stronger ones when needed such as Rimadyl (similar to Metacam), Tramadol and Vetergesic. She will also need pain relief after the operation if you do decide to go ahead.
 
Ronak Ahmad said:
But these aren't cysts, which can be treated by hormones! These are tumors :( There's a very big tumor in her uterus and a smaller one in one of her ovaries.
tumors apparently (as the vet explained to me) have a way of being attached to organs or major blood vessels hence the big risk. And tumors don't shrink with hormones do they? Either way I suggested maybe she should be treated with hormones and the vet said it won't do anything.
If we don't do the surgery (which honestly doesn't seem likely) she's going to be in lot of pain while still eating and having energy to "fight" right? :( is there a painkiller that I can administer at home to make her suffer less toward the end?



Just so you know, we have plenty of cattle over here and I'v never seen a camel in my life. LOL
Click to expand...

Ooh oops sorry I was thinking u from Arabian parts -just checked your location &see you're in Iran. Apologies :(
&sorry I did read it as cysts not tumours.

Looks like you're stuck between a rock &a hard place :(

Only you know your guinea best. Do you think she would cope with a trial of injections as Helen said she did with terk&hope they work too?
If you tried them with the local least cavy savvy vet for maybe a month &see if there's any improvement. If not go with the full spay.
or go to the most experienced vet & jump in with both feet &hope she does well with a spay?
The healthier she is on arrival the chances are the better she'll do after the op.
Her quality of life &happiness are the main deciding factors here.

Whichever you plan to do I would ask for painkillers for now to make her comfortable. Looks like Helen has suggested a few-hopefully at least one of them will be available for you.

I'm sure you'll decide what's best for your little girl. Good luck fingers &paws all crossed for a positive outcome.
Luv the girls &I. Xx
 
Thanks for your replies! So much information and factors to consider I'm going crazy over this decision :(

@helen105281 that's great that it worked for Terk! :) but the vet told me the hormones can't help in this situation? Should I call and suggest it again? I really don't know what to do

@GPTV thank you! Your words always make me a teeny bit hopeful :) but I have another question right now, do you think I can postpone treatment for 2 weeks? I have to go to the other side of the country (again) to take my final exams and there's no way I can schedule either surgery or injections before that time (June 27) would that be too late? Ugh the very thought of it KILLS me :(
 
I would ask again, there is a chance I may have misunderstood with Terk and it was a couple of years ago now, but it definitely did shrink for a while.
 
I think I would double check with the experienced vet. Ask what suggests its tumours as opposed to cysts as a starting point.

Go to the closer vets if your discussions with the experienced vet turn out optimistic for using the injections. My ellie had 2jabs in her leg/rump, 1 in her back/rump area&1 in her shoulder area. So I think any general vet could do the injections, but I would only trust the experienced vet with the spay.

If they decide the injections are a definite no, then go to the most experienced vet &get a spay.

Please talk through the procedure &aftercare with the vet first-if you decide to go for the spay.
You can discuss any concerns &complications that you're worried about too. You can also get in any essential supplies for aftercare that aren't provide by the vet beforehand.

It sounds like you have a difficult decision to make. See what the vet recommends &how your girly is coping- with the timescale its all down to your girls health-
She will determine how quickly she needs to be seen &if she can wait.

Good luck with your decision
x

Oh my vet originally said a spay was the only option &she was too old to operate on at 5yrs. &that was it.
This forum gave me the information&confidence to suggest the jabs &has given me 15months of extra quality time with Ellie... when I thought having her a week or two &then pts was going to be my only option.

Xx

Good luck with your exams too- everything always seems to come at once!
Xx
 
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