My Guinea Pig Has Ovarian Cysts

[livius drusus]

Just like her mommy. Of course, if it were a dangerous condition requiring more than a couple of shots, I wouldn't be so absurdly amused about it. As it is, however, I've got a whole interspecial sisterhood thing going on which can't help but make me grin like an idiot.
:guinpig:

[LadyXoc]

How do they treat that? In the guinea pig, I mean. I have a basic knowledge of the procedure for humans.

[livius drusus]

Two injections a week apart. It doesn't cure the cysts, but it provides symptom relief. In Zeut's case, she's shedding a lot and has a couple of bald patches right over her ovaries. She's also 4 1/2 years old, so she's getting on in years.

[Ymir's blood]

Wish Zeut Drusus luck for me. :firstaid:

[pescifish]

I'm glad it's treatable, livius.

[Dingfod]

My kdis had a ginea pig. Roxy dropped it dwon the stairs and broke it s back. I had to fukken finsih it off, the poor little furball.

[livius drusus]

Hmm... Something tells me you're not a happy drunk, Warren. ;)

[pescifish]

livius, on second read of your post, I see that the 'treatment' is not really a cure. I'm sorry she's got to deal with this and you too. I hope the shots bring her some relief. Same to all the rest of the critters :hug: in the household who are inflicted with the same condition. :ouch:

[freemonkey]

Ugh, ovarian cysts. Is it like polycystic disease, or fibroids, or ???? Either way, it sucks and can cause some uncomfortable/annoying/painful/crappy :hug: symptoms.

[livius drusus]

livius, on second read of your post, I see that the 'treatment' is not really a cure. I'm sorry she's got to deal with this and you too. I hope the shots bring her some relief. Same to all the rest of the critters :hug: in the household who are inflicted with the same condition. :ouch:

Thank you, pesci. I'm grateful they have shots even, because it's not exactly a deeply studied field of medicine. She really is fine, though; her only symptoms are hair loss. Other than that, she's her usual suspicious, protective, loving to be brushed self. And she still looks like a Russian hat when she sits a certain way. :yup:

Thank you freemonkey and Ymir's blood for the good wishes. Group hug! :hugs:

[JoeP]

:cuddle: :smilehug: :cuddle:
:smilehug: :guinpig: :smilehug:
:cuddle: :smilehug: :cuddle:

[livius drusus]

Oooo! I love it, Joe! :bgirl:

[Ymir's blood]

And she still looks like a Russian hat when she sits a certain way. :yup:
Does Blake ever wear her on his head?
Thank you freemonkey and Ymir's blood for the good wishes. Group hug! :hugs:
:D

[Socratoad]

Oh Liv, poor little Zuet. Ginny, Persephony, Thomasina and Thomas Pig as well as all the rest of the tiny people send their best wishes :guinpig: :prairiedog: :bat: :dove1: :chicken2: :cat: :retrieve: :pancakebunny: :catwalk: :turtle: :chinch: :ferret2: :squirrel: :redfish: :redfish: :redfish:

And of course me :toad: :weed:

Whoops, Smiley is very annoyed I almost forgot her :chameleon:

[livius drusus]

/me and Zeutie wave at all the lovely beasties.

P.S. - Have you seen the latest addition to the bestiary: :gecko:?

[LadyShea]

Can you get her ovaries removed? I had no idea Guinea Pigs were susceptible to PCOS

[Socratoad]

* livius drusus and Zeutie wave at all the lovely beasties.

P.S. - Have you seen the latest addition to the bestiary: :gecko:?

Missed that one. She does look more like Smiley. Poor Smiley ain't having much luck at crawling across the ceilings though.

Maybe :toad: can tie some toilet plungers on :gecko: feet though :chin:

[livius drusus]

Can you get her ovaries removed? I had no idea Guinea Pigs were susceptible to PCOS

The vet doesn't really know which kind of cysts are involved, and they generally don't do surgery or ultrasounds on such small animals of such advanced age when the illness isn't fatal. The anesthesia of the surgery would be far more likely to kill her than the cysts.

[Socratoad]

Can you get her ovaries removed? I had no idea Guinea Pigs were susceptible to PCOS

The vet doesn't really know which kind of cysts are involved, and they generally don't do surgery or ultrasounds on such small animals of such advanced age when the illness isn't fatal. The anaesthesia of the surgery would be far more likely to kill her than the cysts.

I'll second that. Guineas have such high metabolic rates that she would never survive the anaesthesia or the surgery, especially at her advanced age.

The only ways of possibly preventing theses cysts, from my experience, is either spaying when they are young or allowing them to have babies, say perhaps once a year. Alas neither of these two measures work 100%

[livius drusus]

The only ways of possibly preventing theses cysts, from my experience, is either spaying when they are young or allowing them to have babies, say perhaps once a year. Alas neither of these two measures work 100%

I sure do wish my vet had mentioned the potential benefits of spaying when the girls were little. :sadcheer:

[beyelzu]

The only ways of possibly preventing theses cysts, from my experience, is either spaying when they are young or allowing them to have babies, say perhaps once a year. Alas neither of these two measures work 100%

I sure do wish my vet had mentioned the potential benefits of spaying when the girls were little. :sadcheer:
at least its treatable and not lifethreatening.

:glomp2:

[Socratoad]

But it is life threatening.

[livius drusus]

Thanks, bey, you're right. :) One of her sisters died totally suddenly of a massive tumor (the size of a peanut, according to the necropsy, which is gigantic for a wee pig) on her heart and there was never any indication that she was even sick.

Zeut's medicated and chipper so it's all good. :yup:

[livius drusus]

But it is life threatening.

Crap. The vet indicated meds would provide symptom relief and she'd be fine until old age took her. :(

[Socratoad]

But it is life threatening.

Crap. The vet indicated meds would provide symptom relief and she'd be fine until old age took her. :(

Liv, I said life threatening, not a death sentence. You really have done your very best for the tiny girl. As you know she is quite old by cavy standards, so from now on its all about quality of life and you certainly have and are continuing to provide that. :yup:

[livius drusus]

Thank you, Toad. :hug:

[Bella]

Wait a second, liv... you have pigs?

You have guinea pigs?

How come this is the first that we've heard of it (or did I miss a "meet the pets" intro thread somewhere)? I have two guineas sitting on a table right now, next to my computer - named Tod and Scrub, after Edward Gorey's Fantod and a Brillo pad - and they say hello to your girl(s) and wish her/them good health.

[livius drusus]

I thought I mentioned it way back when you first got your boys, but mebbe not. I currently have two girls: Drusilla and Zeut. They're sisters, but Dru came from an earlier litter. :)

[Bella]

If you have pictures of them or their habitat, could you send/post them? I'm always looking for new and interesting decorating ideas for the little 'uns. Currently they're in a huge rabbit hutch (sans metal grid liner - not good for feet) the size of a dining room table that seats four. They've got a ramp up to a second level in one corner, a rolling hay-ball, and a little skewer thing that holds their vegetables up off the Yesterday's News. Jek works as a manager at PetsMart so there's a never-ending supply of new toys working their way into the house.