Momo's Nipple Problem

[3piggles]

I took Momo to the vet this morning because her nipples are both bulbous and dried like cauliflower. The vet had no idea what was wrong, checked all of her vitals, and said she's in great health. The vet took pictures, and will post them on the vet website for exotics. That will get responses from any vet who's seen this before.

I learned that my vet trained in England, and while she never met the rodentologist Vedra, she did take some of The British Association of Rodentologists Cambridge Cavy Trust online seminars. She is familiar with Guinealynx, and approves of it. Most American vets never heard of either, and dismiss them as not being up to the US par for training and knowledge Since so few places in the US have enough guinea pig owners who bother to take their pigs to the vet, few exotics vets have more than a passing knowledge of real guinea pig problems.

I'm getting more impressed with the vets at the Amherst Animal Hospital, with every visit, even if I still haven't determined if the Dr. Jen there is the Dr. Jen I loved at a former vet clinic

The vet said it could take a few days for a vet who knows what's causing the nipple to do this, to read and respond. When she gets a reply, she'll let me know.

I shared this photo from my phone to Tapatalk. If it's not the right size, please let me know. I'm still working out the details of the sharing process.

[Bean]

Oooh crikey, I've never seen anything like that before - I've seen crustiness but not swelling. Sounds like you have a great vet there - both knowledgeable and keen to learn. I hope it's not too long before someone can shed some light on it - you'd assume something hormonal but I really have no idea. Do they seem to bother her?

The picture is 808px × 455px but under 50kb so definitely not a problem. I was thinking of upping the pixel size a little anyway (from 640 x 480) as we set those limits when everyone was using dial-up and had tiny monitors! I know more people use phones and tablets now but they usually scale things for you, or have you click to download pics, don't they?

I shall be interested to hear what the news is on this, and glad she's otherwise passed her medical with flying colours.

[3piggles]

I was actually pleased that the vet chose to post the pictures and discuss the problem with other vets, rather than just run endless tests trying to find something wrong. She had no idea if it's hormonal, but thought Momo might have had a litter, when she was very young. Having come from that huge group rescued from the hoarder, if she were pregnant, she would have had the babies, and they might have gone to another rescue. She would have been put up for adoption, once she was ready, and the branch of the MSPCA where I got her wouldn't have know if she'd had a litter.

No, the situation doesn't seem to bother her at all. Even at the vets, she was nose bonking the fleece covering on her carrier, and bouncing that around, moving all over the carrier and eating the veggie treats I had given her. Once out on the exam table, she clung to me, but that's normal. She was very cooperative, and didn't show any signs of discomfort, when the vet moved the dry parts around, or probed the bulbous parts. She did say Momos eyes show her as being older than Mia, so she may have been with the hoarder longer than Mia, and could have had several litters.

What impressed me so much about my original Dr. Jen, was her willingness to seek answers from other, more knowledgeable vets. Dr. Beaudre is equally as willing, and that's great

[jolovespiggies]

I have never seen anything like that either love and I am glad that she is not bothered by it. It is wonderful when you get a vet who cares and wants to find out more about these delightful little darlings.

Hugs
JO xx

[3piggles]

Thanks. I'm still trying to figure out how to upload the photo from my phone to Guinealynx on Facebook. I posted the picture on Facebook, and on Facebook Wheekers. Hopefully someone will know something, even if it's just that she's an older gal who's had some babies.

[3piggles]

A former member I'm still friends with on Facebook posted that one of her pigs had the same problem, and it was ovarian cysts. Regan said she had her pig spayed, and that solved the problem. I will discuss it with the vet, when she calls.

[Bean]

I've heard swollen or crusty nipples mentioned in relation to ovarian cysts too. Just never seen both together quite so dramatically.

I guess an ultrasound would confirm or eliminate that possibility - can they do that without anaesthetic if the pig is cooperative? I understand you can have them treated with hormone injections too, if spaying isn't perceived to be a good option for whatever reason.

Hope the vet has managed to find someone with experience of it too - the more info, the better before you decide what the next step will be.

[3piggles]

I now have about 9 testimonies for ovarian cysts, so I will contact the vet and schedule a conference. Don't know if vets do that, but it's worth a try. I'll ask about doing an ultrasound, etc. A UK friend also said Gorgeous Guineas sells a cream to help with the external issue, so I will check on that, too. She's still her normal self, so no pain, but I do wish the weather were warm enough to take her out any time, instead of having to schedule around the bad weather.

Heard from the vet. Her exotics specialists agreed Momo probably has ovarian cysts. They don't do the surgery, so she's checking on recommended vets for me, if we go with the spay. There is also hormone therapy, which I might consider, if there isn't a vet anywhere near me. She was going to recommend Weare Animal Hospital. That's where they operated on Momma pig, and sent her home with me, with all the stuff to give her the subQ injections I told them I couldn't give her. They told me to find someone to help me with the injections. Momma died, probably because I couldn't get any help, and I did a terrible job with the injections.

I should know something next week, about the surgery or the hormones.

UPDATE: The vet called. The only vet they know has done one spay only. While that may still be the best option, I am going to call the rescue where I got the girls, and see if they can refer me to a vet with more experience. The vet also suggested some vets they often use, but those vets are a long way away. The rescue is about an hour away, and my hands cramp terribly driving there. I don't think I can drive even further. Daughter did say she would drive me, but if I have to leave Momo for surgery, that means daughter has to be available to drive me to bring her home, too, and she can't guarantee that.

I am also going to check out the hormone injections. The vet said there are 5 different hormones, and it seems to be like picking the right birth control pill. Try one, and if that upsets your system, try another one. Since the vet doesn't keep that medicine on site, I would have to pay for the whole bottle, about 100 pigs worth, and I think that will be prohibitively expensive.

The vet agreed there is no hurry. Momo is not hurting, and is in great spirits. We'll work on all the options, and eventually figure out what to do.

[3piggles]

I have gotten a lot of information about the hormones others have successfully used, as well as information on an implant that has worked quite successfully. I have also contacted Dr. Jenkins, vet to two of our lapsed members, in San Diego, and am hoping to hear from him. Janet (member) offered to set up a conference call between my vet and Dr. Jenkins, so we may do that, too.

[Bean]

Sounds like all the information is gathering together nicely to help you make an informed decision, and glad that Momo is happy in the meantime so everyone can think it all through carefully. You'd certainly hope for a vet with a lot more experience of spaying than one, for it to be done in a non-emergency situation. I had no idea the injections were so varied either. Would certainly make you want to make sure it was the right one before buying in a massive bottle in specially!

It's good that your daughter can help with the trips if needed. Maybe you could set it up for when hub is off work one day so he can do one trip with you and your daughter could do the other? My husband uses the car for work so our vet trips are always coordinated round the car's diary, and things involving multiple trips in a day have to be carefully planned to make sure I don't get stuck with massive taxi bills!

Fingers crossed all the info carries on coming together nicely, and you get a proposed treatment plan that works for everyone practically and financially. It must be difficult in a way to know she has something going on inside her when she's so well - it definitely makes you think twice before launching into anything that has any degree of risk for their welfare.

[jolovespiggies]

We are all behind you love, best of luck.

Hugs
JO xx

[3piggles]

I never heard back from the other vets I contacted. I'm not really surprised. My vet did find out that the hormone implants aren't available in the US, and the different hormones are $500 per bottle. Since I have to buy the whole bottle, without knowing which one might work, or if any will work, that's not an option. So I'm down to a spay by the vet who has only done one spay, or doing nothing. I did hear from Wee Companions rescue in San Diego, and from some others. Most felt since the cysts don't cause death or even bother the pig, it was better to leave them alone than to risk surgery. She's getting a bit pear shaped, though, so I'm definitely considering the surgery. It's so hard to know which risk to take.

[jolovespiggies]

It is all though isn't it hun? Our vet has performed surgery on hundreds f guinea pigs, isn't there a possibility of finding a vet who is also experienced with piggies? $500 dollars? That is extortionate!! Lots of comforting and positive vibes are on their way love.

Hugs
JO xx

[cookie72]

$500 a bottle for the hormones, for how long a supply is that? A month? Longer? That's an obscene amount of money. I was paying about $250 a month for my dog's meds but that was for 6 different meds, total.  Seems ridiculous that they'd make you buy the whole bottle not even knowing if it's the right med for her. Such a hard decision...I'd be leery of doing the spay with a vet who's only done one previously, and I think you said something in another thread about having a bad outcome of another piggie surgery. But if that's the only feasible option, maybe it's worth the risk. But if she doesn't seem to be in pain or bothered by it, maybe not. Such a hard decision and I feel bad for you having to decide that.

[cookie72]

Sorry, having random questions here. Would the hormone pills have to be a continual regimen, or something you'd give temporarily until she gets better?

[Bean]

I'm sorry a great option hasn't presented itself. I must admit that in choosing leaving a pig who is seemingly unaffected by a condition be, and having her spayed by an inexperienced vet, I'd probably choose to leave things as they were for now. I guess the main worry would be that the cysts would burst which'd present an emergency situation, and then you'd be more willing to risk the spay. I'm not sure how likely that outcome is in the longrun - if it's a very small rather than a significant risk?

In the absence of finding another vet, is your vet going to do an ultrasound to confirm the situation is as it looks? Just so you know you haven't missed anything else. I wonder if draining them could also be an option at some point if needed? It's such a shame it's not possible to get a smaller amount of the hormones to try, but I guess confirming what you're dealing with would be the next step anyway.

Just glad Momo is well throughout this as it enables you to really think over the options rather than there being a panic to make a decision.

[3piggles]

Cookie72, the bottle of hormones for injection would treat hundreds of pigs. Each pig would get a series of 3 injections over a period of time, don't remember how long. The results seem to last about 5 months, and she'd need another round of injections. I still wouldn't use the whole bottle before she died of old age!

In answer to your and Jo's question, there are no guinea pig vets in New Hampshire, because there are very few guinea pigs in New Hampshire, which is also why vets within a reasonable driving distance don't stock guinea pig hormones for injections. If I lived in Massachusetts, I would have more options, but the vet for the rescue where I got my girls is an hour drive from here, and I don't know if I can do it.

I agree, a vet with one ops experience, even successful, isn't reassuring. I just don't want to do nothing, if nothing is an even worse option. I think that's what I will do, at least for now, as she doesn't seem to be in any pain. She is having small poos, so I want to watch that. If I think the cysts are interfering with her in any way, I'll have to take the risk and have her spayed. It's a very hard choice to make.

[ayemee]

It must be a very difficult situation that you're in.

Hope you're okay.

x

[3piggles]

Blood on Momos bedding yesterday. Seemed fresh, but when I checked, it was all dry. Found it in a couple of places. Washed that bedding, put in new bedding and covered it with white hospital bedding. I've found pee spots, but no blood. Definitely not a UTI, as they don't clear up that quickly. I'm wondering if a cyst burst. None of the blood spots has a dark center, getting lighter toward the outside, almost as if the blood were diluted before it some out. I was going to call the vet tomorrow, but if I don't find any more blood, I'm not sure what she can do.

[Bean]

Oh no, I'm sorry you found blood. I guess that's a sign that things may need to be addressed sooner rather than later.

I suppose pyometra might also be an option as that can cause swollen/crusty nipples and passing blood. Can your vet do an ultrasound to confirm what you're dealing with? Without having a look at her insides, it's all guesswork and you can't really make any sort of a plan. But with blood appearing I'm sure you're eager to make an informed choice as soon as possible. I understand it doesn't usually need an anaesthetic, so could be done without any risk to Momo's health and would put you all in a much better position.

Have the folks at Guinea Lynx had any useful ideas or advice? I remember when another member was having issues with one of her sows (which turned out to be pyometra), there were many members with experience and knowledge of all the women issues over there.

Will keep everything crossed for Momo. x