• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Specialist Thyroid cancer?

piglette

piglette

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
May 5, 2015
Messages
175
Reaction score
314
Points
370
Location
Southern Moreton Bay Islands, QLD, Australia
My poor 4.5 y/o male Abraham (Abe) has been generally unwell (losing weight, not eating properly, progressively more depressed). I'm seeing excellent exotics vets - they can find absolutely nothing wrong except a 'calcified thyroid gland' on x-ray. There's also some minor calcification in the retroperitoneal space (not sure what organ/s - possibly kidneys/adrenal glands?). I'm waiting to hear back with a firm diagnosis but they seem to think Abe could have thyroid cancer.

Based on what I've read, thyroid cancer is pretty rare in guinea pigs. Has anyone had any experience with this? I realise the outcome won't be good ... but am trying to make the very difficult decision about continuing with intensive hand-feeding versus putting Abe to sleep :(

I've also been reading about 'metastatic calcification' (Deposition of Calcium in the Internal Organs in Guinea Pigs | petMD), but I think this is unlikely - it seems to be due to a diet rich in calcium (Abe has a low-calcium diet due to a past stone) and low in magnesium (the Critical Care and Oxbow Adult GP grain which Abe gets both contain magnesium).

Any thoughts/experiences would be hugely appreciated.
 
piglette said:
My poor 4.5 y/o male Abraham (Abe) has been generally unwell (losing weight, not eating properly, progressively more depressed). I'm seeing excellent exotics vets - they can find absolutely nothing wrong except a 'calcified thyroid gland' on x-ray. There's also some minor calcification in the retroperitoneal space (not sure what organ/s - possibly kidneys/adrenal glands?). I'm waiting to hear back with a firm diagnosis but they seem to think Abe could have thyroid cancer.

Based on what I've read, thyroid cancer is pretty rare in guinea pigs. Has anyone had any experience with this? I realise the outcome won't be good ... but am trying to make the very difficult decision about continuing with intensive hand-feeding versus putting Abe to sleep :(

I've also been reading about 'metastatic calcification' (Deposition of Calcium in the Internal Organs in Guinea Pigs | petMD), but I think this is unlikely - it seems to be due to a diet rich in calcium (Abe has a low-calcium diet due to a past stone) and low in magnesium (the Critical Care and Oxbow Adult GP grain which Abe gets both contain magnesium).

Any thoughts/experiences would be hugely appreciated.
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry that you are in a situation where you have to make hard choices. Sadly we have never come across a guinea pig with your issue in all the years on this forum. It is either this rare or very difficult to diagnose (most likely a combination thereof, considering the huge strides veterinary medicine has made in the last few years).

Even diagnosing and treating hyperthyroidism reliably is still an ongoing learning curve and is an issue that has come into view only in the last 5 years. :(


This guide here is looking at the dynamics and challenges for you when caring for a terminally ill guinea pig and having to evaluate when to call it shots all the time, especially when you come close. There is a kind a of grey zone where there is no right or wrong between your warring concern for sparing your beloved piggy any unnecessary suffering and your natural desire to keep them with you for as long as possible. It also looks at what you can do to make any remaining time count.
You may find it helpful going through your experience: Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children


I am linking in @Abi_nurse for you. She may know more.
 
Thanks so much @Wiebke - that guide is excellent, particularly the info about deciding when is the ‘right’ time to PTS, it won’t be long for Abe as he wasn’t keen on his Critical Care during the past few feeds. I hand-reared Abe, and though I adore all my pigs I feel a real bond with him so am really devastated. That guide is really comforting, thanks so much.
 
Nothing to add medically, but I just wanted to say how sorry I am that you are going through this with your precious Abe.
It probably isn't much consolation right now, but having lost a pig to cancer myself, I found that there is actually a lot of peace to be gained from knowing what is coming and making the time to say good bye in your own way.
Thinking of you and Abe :hug:
 
Thanks so much @Swissgreys and @Bill & Ted - I’m dealing with this by myself so I do hugely appreciate your thoughts. You’re right @Swissgreys about the opportunity to say goodbye, it hasn’t often happened that way with my sick pigs.

I’m sorry to hear about your cancer pig. Also for me, Abe is the third pig I’ll have lost to cancer this year - Bunny had an ovarian/bladder tumour and Jojo had lymphoma. Need to get one of those ‘cancer sucks’ charity bumper stickers :(
 
Frankly cancer sucks @piglette and it's never easy to go through with one of our beloved piggies.
But I also think of the care end specialist medical treatment that our piggies get, and how lucky they are they we can offer them the chance to be diagnosed and have supportive care for whatever time they do have left.
I know we all dread the cancer diagnosis, but I also dread to think of how many piggies out there never see a vet and simply just fade away.
At least you know you have fought as hard as you could for treatment and a diagnosis for Abe (and your otehr piggies too).
 
Sending you my very best wishes and hugs at such a difficult time.
The thyroid, kidneys and adrenal glands (to name a few) are all part of the endocrine glands, so problems with the thyroid often have a knock on effect with the rest of the system and vice versa. This may explain some of Abe's results. (I only know this because I have several medical conditions linked to the endrocine glands myself, please understand I am no way a medical expert!)
Bracken had bladder stones removed last year and 4 months later a scan showed calcification/mineralisation in several organs, he was PTS as nothing could be done to help him. The vet could not fault his diet and could only suggest it was down to genetics, there is just so much more to understand about these little furries at the moment.
 
Thyroid cancer in piggies is pretty well documented and I've had quite a lot of them myself. However they do not present like your little chap is. They are often overactive, eat ravenously and lose a lot of weight despite eating. Calcification of organs is a little different. I would be interested to see his X-rays should you have them to hand. I don't really have much advice I can truest offer as I've only once or twice really seen this in the very elderly piggie. At this stage I would think it's more about supporting him. However there may be other diagnostics you could do, it really does depend on how far you want to take it. So sorry for your little one being poorly.

x
 
@Swissgreys, yes you’re right, it won’t be a good outcome but Abe’s had the best care available here and certainly won’t suffer, so I’ll need to take comfort in that.

@piggieminder and @Abi_nurse, thanks so much for that information. I wondered about a calcium/phosphorus metabolic disorder because the stone Abe had last Dec came despite his great diet. Will ask the vets when I see them today. I don’t have his xrays, unfortunately - was so upset it didn’t cross my mind to get them!

I thought about extra diagnostics (i.e. bloods) but, at this stage, I feel it’s just extra stress for Abe (he’s already spent so much time at the vets these past 3 weeks!) and it’s really probably not going to change the care or outcome.

Will keep supporting and loving Abe until it’s time, let’s see how the next few days unfold ❤ Thanks again everyone, I’m feeling a lot more ready for this now.
 
I am really sorry to hear about the suspected diagnosis and the difficult decision you face. My OAP piggie Hamish is currently trialling Thyronorm due to the recent discovery of a lump in his neck. We suspect a thyroid issue due to his weight loss despite ravenous eating. However, we’re working on assumption as I don’t think he’d survive tests under sedation. I feel it’s worth a go to see if it helps. I’m not sure if Thyronorm is helpful for thyroid cancer. Probably only if the tumour is creating a hormone imbalance.
I’m not sure if it’s worth discussing this medication with your vet? Either way, I’m sure you’ll make the right decision for your piggy. Xx
 
Hi @alexr - thanks so much for this information. We’re making the trek back to the specialist vet again today, so I will definitely add this to my list of things to ask about. Sending some healing vibes Hamish’s way, it’s so stressful when they’re ill.
 
piglette said:
Hi @alexr - thanks so much for this information. We’re making the trek back to the specialist vet again today, so I will definitely add this to my list of things to ask about. Sending some healing vibes Hamish’s way, it’s so stressful when they’re ill.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the well wishes for Hamish. 😀 I really hope Abe gets on ok at his appointment. Hamish has been started on 0.1ml twice per day of the Thyronorm. He seems to be tolerating it well apart from a couple of off-days initially but I guess time will tell as to whether it is doing anything to support him. The poor lad has quite the medication regime going on but he doesn’t seem to mind - so long as he gets a snack after! Sending lots of positive vibes to you and Abe. x 🤗
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top