Toughening of the skin around nipples

[KHBz]

I have just taken Bianca to the vet, thinking that she had a crusty white/yellow discharge around the nipples and concerned about ovarian cysts (particularly given that this little piggy is a rumblestrutter extraordinaire). But apparently it is not that at all but toughenings of the skin around the nipples. The vet hasn't this seen before in guinea pigs and so is sending photos to other vets and will get back to me. He isn't concerned, just puzzled and needing to check. Does anyone have experience of this? (We noticed it a month or so ago, but there was so little to see then that I just opted for a 'monitoring' approach! Apart from this, Bianca appears to be her usual healthy, rumblestrutty self.)

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

Sorry - this is a new one to me, too! All the best.

 

[KHBz]

Hi

Sorry - this is a new one to me, too! All the best.

Thank you for your reply. I’ll let you know if the vet comes back with any information.

 

[KHBz]

Unfortunately, my fears would seem to have been correct. The vet consulted with specialists, sending photos, and they think it is indeed ovarian cysts. So now we face the logistics of getting her to an exotics vet at some distance from us (and I don't drive).

 

[weepweeps]

Unfortunately, my fears would seem to have been correct. The vet consulted with specialists, sending photos, and they think it is indeed ovarian cysts. So now we face the logistics of getting her to an exotics vet at some distance from us (and I don't drive).

Good luck.

 

[KHBz]

Good luck.

Thank you for this. I'm really worried about the cost ontop of what might have to be done. Once they accept the referral from our general vets, just the consultation fee is £185.

 

[weepweeps]

Yes. It’s the vet bills which stop me getting anymore piggies. I hope the exotic vets come up with a plan to help your piggy.

 

[KHBz]

Yes. It’s the vet bills which stop me getting anymore piggies. I hope the exotic vets come up with a plan to help your piggy.

I hope it’s not surgery -(and I have no idea how much that will cost.)

 

[Wiebke]

Unfortunately, my fears would seem to have been correct. The vet consulted with specialists, sending photos, and they think it is indeed ovarian cysts. So now we face the logistics of getting her to an exotics vet at some distance from us (and I don't drive).

All the best!

You and the new vet can consider whether an operation or hormone treatment would be better; there are different options for each of these, which you will find in the link below.
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Tips For Post-operative Care

I have travelled for over 5 hours by train and over 6 hours by car with piggies of mine, by the way. I've also travelled by train a few time with freshly operated piggies. They have all survived!
Here are some practical tips: Travelling with guinea pigs

Tips For Vet Visits

 

[KHBz]

All the best!

You and the new vet can consider whether an operation or hormone treatment would be better; there are different options for each of these, which you will find in the link below.
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
Tips For Post-operative Care

I have travelled for over 5 hours by train and over 6 hours by car with piggies of mine, by the way. I've also travelled by train a few time with freshly operated piggies. They have all survived!
Here are some practical tips: Travelling with guinea pigs
Tips For Vet Visits

Thank you very much for this and for pointing me to the links - I hadn’t thought to search for these so that’s very helpful. At least where we need to go is not 5 or 6 hours away! That is quite something.

 

[KHBz]

@Wiebke -- Just an update as we have now seen the exotics vet. As with the general vet, she was a little puzzled, agreeing that the accretions do seem to be thickenings of the skin (like callouses --- so hyperkeratosis, I think). Because they are on two nipples, she thinks it probably is due to ovarian cysts. However, she couldn't feel any and doesn't think they would show up on an ultrasound because they must be so small (if that is what it is). Apparently, the vets haven't been able to get hold of the hormone treatment for at least a year and so the only option would be a preventative spaying. However, Bianca is such a healthy and happy little piggy, that we have opted just to continue to monitor her for now. The vet spent a very long time indeed examining her, so it must have all been quite traumatic, but as soon as she was back in her hutch, she gave a little popcorn!

This was our second vet trip in three days ... Ophelia has an eye infection but apparently we caught it early, so it is just eye ointment for seven days.

 

[Wiebke]

@Wiebke -- Just an update as we have now seen the exotics vet. As with the general vet, she was a little puzzled, agreeing that the accretions do seem to be thickenings of the skin (like callouses --- so hyperkeratosis, I think). Because they are on two nipples, she thinks it probably is due to ovarian cysts. However, she couldn't feel any and doesn't think they would show up on an ultrasound because they must be so small (if that is what it is). Apparently, the vets haven't been able to get hold of the hormone treatment for at least a year and so the only option would be a preventative spaying. However, Bianca is such a healthy and happy little piggy, that we have opted just to continue to monitor her for now. The vet spent a very long time indeed examining her, so it must have all been quite traumatic, but as soon as she was back in her hutch, she gave a little popcorn!

This was our second vet trip in three days ... Ophelia has an eye infection but apparently we caught it early, so it is just eye ointment for seven days.

Whatever Bianca has is very unusual; we have never seen a case of it on here before.
As long as she is happy and well in herself, just don't worry. Hopefully, things are normalising a bit more over the coming year or two.

 

[KHBz]

Whatever Bianca has is very unusual; we have never seen a case of it on here before.
As long as she is happy and well in herself, just don't worry. Hopefully, things are normalising a bit more over the coming year or two.

Thank you. It is so lovely to have the support of you and others on this forum.