Your opinion on Flufy's ovarian cysts

[Laure]

I am sure I have mentioned this before ;D - Fluffy who is 6 has got ovarian cysts on both sides.
She has had the hormone injections a few months back with no effect. Because of her age I have decided not to get her spayed.
Draining has been mentioned as an option to me but so far I can not find a local vet who will do this without putting her under. My old vet in Reading (I am in north London now) can do this however.
I am debating whether it is worth putting her through the stress of a train journey etc... (I don't have a car).
Is drainign effective? What are the chances of them coming back?
What are the risks of her if I do not get it done? They are getting pretty large now.
Just trying to weigh up my options.

Thanks

Lx

 

[karenrgpr]

Do you know James B? He was there before Jenny. He drained Emily's cysts after she'd had the Chorulon and they didn't come back and didn't get infected etc etc. James is in Maidenhead now at Summerleaze. GP people still go over and see him though because for some its closer than Reading.
Mine have never minded train journeys to be honest, but then they travel a lot. Even those that only go out to see the vet travel on the bus OK, I know its not the train but a rabbit I looked after got totally stressed about the whole ordeal.

If you do decide to come down bring her a friend down for company and put Bachs Rescue Remedy on their ears (a dab on each )

Have you tried another course of hormone injections? Sometimes it takes more than one.

I would guess if you don't do something they will eventually start to press on other organs and she will 'go downhill'.

I think your options are spaying, more injections, draining or leaving and pts when they affect her quality of life :-\

 

[maryh]

I think spaying is too invasive a surgery for a 6 year old.I have had very large cysts drained(without aneasthetic and no discomfort to the sow)They can refill,but not always.It is worth a try.

This is a problem,I understand your concern about the travel stress.Would the journey to Reading take very long?.,and is the sow laid back or nervous?.I suppose you could ring round and try and find a nearer vet.I dont really understand why they want to aneasthetize.

If the cysts get much larger they are very likely to give mobility problems,or press on another organ and cause a lot of pain.

Good luck with this and remember that whatever decision you make is right,because you and only you,know what is the right thing for your piggy.

 

[choloe]

hello,
sending hugs and cuddles to you and flufy. :smitten: :smitten: our piggy zoe had surgery 2 weeks ago for the same reason and for a mass on her uterus. i have no idea of the set up in the Uk as i am in australia. but like maryh said ring around and explore your options and talk to the vets. find one you can trust and perhaps like suggested if going by train take a friend for flufy to lessen the stress. good luck :smitten: :smitten: please keep us updated on flufy.

 

[Laure]

Thanks Karen, Mary,

Do you know James B?

I do not know James but I have only heard very good things about him from Chrissie . Do you know how near the station his surgery is? I think you can get faster trains to Reading than Maidenhead. I will have to check.

Have you tried another course of hormone injections? Sometimes it takes more than one.

She's had 3 in total and it didn't work.

I think spaying is too invasive a surgery for a 6 year old

I fully agree I have already rulled that out.

Would the journey to Reading take very long?.,and is the sow laid back or nervous?

It would probably take about 1.30 each way door to door. Mary, I have already rang all of the vets in my area, I am in London and it seems that there are no cavy savvy vets around here. Most didn't want to do it without anesthetic. My routine vet here has agreed to do it but he has never done it before and mine are his first guinea pigs patients. He has spoken to Jenny (the good vet) in the past for info etc... she told him how to inject the Chorulon for example. I just don't feel confident in letting him do it if he has never done it before. what do you think? :-\

If the cysts get much larger they are very likely to give mobility problems,or press on another organ and cause a lot of pain.

I think this has made my mind up for me. She has arthritis and so her mobility is not great anyway + the cysts to get in the way of her cleaning herself properly etc.... I don't want her to be in pain ands so I am going to give it a go I think.

 

[maryh]

As you are in London,could you get to the Ewell-By-Pass in Surrey/London border.My vet surgery specialises in gps.One of the vets was trained by Peter in dentals without sedation.Peter took all his poorly pigs to this surgery.Depending on what part of London you are in it could be easier than Reading.The nearest rail stations are: Ewell East,Ewell West or Epsom Town.You could get a cab from any of these stations,the journey is very short.Anne is very friendly and helpful and is willing to talk to owners who cannot get tto the surgery,and will also talk to or email other vets who are interested .

 

[Laure]

Hi Mary,

I have just checked and this is half an hour out of Waterloo which is a bit easier for me to get to.
Could you send me their contact details? Should I be trying to see Anne rather than one of their other vet?

Thanks!
L

 

[maryh]

Anne Taylor is a very good gp vet,Andy is very good as well,but I consider Anne to be better.,so try and see her.

The surgery address :

151,Kingston Road,
Ewell-By-Pass.
Surrey.

The surgery telephone number is: 02082936049, the surgery is open from 08.15 - 18.30 Monday to Friday. 0900 - 12MD Saturday.

Anne will try and give out of hours appointments to clients who have to travel a fair way.

They do have a website,just Google O,Meara vetinary surgery.

You can mention my name when you phone., or not, that is up to you.

Flufy will get a thorough examination and a candid opinion of treatment options.

 

[Laure]

Thank you Mary. I will call in tomorrow

 

[Kent Girl]

I am not sure whether this will help you but I had a very old sow who had ovarian cysts so big that she looked pregnant and I didn't want to put her through surgery and I was mentioning it one day to a very experienced guinea pig rescuer who gave me some advice.

You can feel the cysts quite clearly so what she suggested and what I did was gently massage the cyst in my hand, slightly squeezing it and it popped, the guinea pig felt absolutely no discomfort and didn't squek when it popped so I did the other one on the other side. The fluid then just drained out of her body naturally. After a few days she went back to her "normal" shape. One reoccured again and again I popped it. The guinea pig lived for at least another year and a half.

 

[maryh]

Ovarian cysts can sometimes burst of their own accord. What you did obviously worked well and safely for your sow.I however have some reservations about this and would not try it.There is I feel,a risk of infection,and unless you know exactly whhat you are doing there is a risk of another organ being squeezed by mistake.I would rather try the Choralon injections or have the cyst drained by a qualified vet in sterile surroundings.