Tumour/Mass

[evymv]

Hi everyone,

I need your honest opinion. My girl Meadow has had a tumour on her right arm for a couple of months now. When I first discovered the mass back in June, I took her to vet and they said they couldn’t remove it because they would have to amputate her arm. They said her quality of life wouldn’t be the same without one of her arms.
She’s on pain medication but I still hear her little cries when she’s been laying down for too long and has to get up to get to her bottle of water.
She doesn’t have a problem moving around yet but the mass is bigger now and I don’t know if it’s gonna keep growing.

I was thinking about asking the vet to maybe cut a bit of the mass so it wouldn’t be so heavy nor bother her further in the future but is that even possible or a good idea?
Is it worth it or would it make things worse?
I hate seeing her with that huge tumour but I don’t know what to do.

 

[Merab]

I can’t offer advice, but want you to know that I am holding you in my thoughts

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry.

It is a bit more difficult for a piggy when the weight-bearing front leg is amputated than if it is a
propelling back leg but I have seen pictures of sanctuary piggies with front leg amputations doing perfectly fine and being able to get around and doing all the normal piggy stuff that comprises what we define as having quality of life.

It would obviously be in the way of a make or break operation and your vet would have to feel confident in pulling it off; it also depends on whether the tumour has in the interim spread further into the body or not.
Otherwise, if your piggy is in major pain as they clearly are now, then it would have to be the moment to call it time as the most loving but also most heart-breaking gift you can make a beloved pet. Please contact your vet tomorrow.

The further information in these guide links here may help you:
Tips For Post-operative Care
Looking After Guinea Pigs With Limited or No Mobility
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs