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Small pets

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Original poster

Guinea Pig operation

23 replies

Bakedbeanhead · 29/07/2020 08:08

One of my male GPs has got a couple of lumps on his tummy. The vet has said he needs an operation to remove them and I am really worried about the anaesthetic.

Has anyone’s GP’s been through a similar operation and what was the recovery like. He is only 2 so want to give him a good chance of a longer life.

Thanks in advance for any help xx

OP posts:
twinguineas · 29/07/2020 22:53

Our male pig had to have a operation, he was two at the time and went on to live until he was seven. We made sure he had soft fleeces to lie on after the operation.

Applesfortea · 29/07/2020 23:05

Is your vet a specialist in small mammals? It helps to have a vet who really knows what they are doing with guinea pigs. Have a look at the Guinea Pig Forum, lots of people on there can give advice.

Original poster
Bakedbeanhead · 30/07/2020 07:02

Thank you for your replies. We have spoken to the Vet and they seem experienced and confident, so have put my mind at rest. He is booked in for Monday.
Thanks for the tip for the fleece as well x

OP posts:
Applesfortea · 30/07/2020 08:12

Hope all goes well. My 5 year old had surgery to remove ovarian cysts & made a full recovery so at 2 hopefully yours will sail through it.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 30/07/2020 09:24

Ahh Paws Crossed

I know I was worrying when our ( large young) boar was castrated which is commonly done but still a risk.

He's a young boy so thats in his favour . And you trust your vet (we went to a guinea-pig clinic so it was something they did day in day out )

We were adviced :
a snack when they come round , their guts need to keep going .
White towels or fleece so you can check for bleeding or exudate
No hay to sleep in but we gave hay cookies (solid disc) or hay in a loo roll tube

Loxicom is like Guinea-Pig Crack cocaine - ours literally sprinted over ( in his post surgical state Grin ) by Day 2 to scoff it .

Hopefully they're fatty lumps , have they suggested they might be otherwise ?

Original poster
Bakedbeanhead · 30/07/2020 09:30

Thank you, you are all making me feel better! The lumps are going to be tested, they are not sure what they are.

Can he have sawdust in his cage ? Both my boys are indoor GP’ s but go out in their run in the day, but obviously I won’t put them out for a while in case of infection. Great tip about white towels.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bakedbeanhead · 30/07/2020 09:35

Loxicom ! I’ve never heard of that. Sounds like my boys would love that

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 30/07/2020 09:45

Best just to stick with towels and newspaper .
Any fragments that get caught might make them want to groom themselves .

They might advice to keep him seperate from his cagemate fr his recovery (side by side so they have contact) or he might be ok just to take himself off somewhere quiet .

Is the cagemate going as moral support ?

We took GP3 on his own because his very new wives (not bonded till he was sterile) were too lairy , we'd only had them 3 days and they'd have been the opposite of help .
Any other time we took a companion .

One of my sows got lumpy in old age and sadly they weren't fatty . But she had a good life right to the end , which is what they want and deserve .

He'll want lots of treats after - parseley , dandelions leaves , that soty of thing Smile

StudentHelp · 30/07/2020 09:55

Hi OP,

I’m a vet student and an avid guinea pig lover (I currently have 5)! My last boy who I lost in February at 6 and a half had an operation when he was 5 years old.

I was in my first year of uni and he stayed at home and he had a huge lump that ballooned to 60g in the space of not much more than a week or 2. My parents left it as they wanted me to make the decision for him but thought it’d be time to say goodbye.

I had an FNA done and it was fatty so he had it removed and was also castrated to go with the 2 sows I had acquired whilst at uni Grin. It went well and he lived another 18 or so months very happily with his new wives after losing his brother.

To be honest I hadn’t expected him to come through the operation but wanted to give him the chance.

As with all anaesthetics, there are risks which you’ve mentioned and your vet will fully run through with you to check you consent, but at 2 years old he really has a fighting chance.

I wish you and your lovely boy all the best and good luck for his operation Flowers

Original poster
Bakedbeanhead · 30/07/2020 10:42

Thank you for all your kind replies, I really appreciate it.
The Vet said we could bring the boys down together to keep each other company and I might do that. They really love eachother and are great friends.
The one who is having the op is probably the more feisty one, but cuddles up to the other one for snuggles.

Honestly, these are the first GPs we have ever had and they have wormed their way into our affections, the kids (teenagers) adore them. They sit and watch telly with me.
When the Vet was chatting to me, I had to give the phone to my husband as I couldn’t stop crying.

OP posts:
twinguineas · 30/07/2020 10:57

That vet sounds lovely.

I'd stick with hay in toilet roll tubes and hay biscuits rather than loose hay, they do get quite active when grooming themselves. As ever, 70 excels herself with guinea pig advice.

twinguineas · 30/07/2020 10:59

Actually I just had an after thought about taking them down the the vet together, if they are going to be in the same cage down there then it might be something which unsettles them as they need to assert ownership over a new space, they could fight because of it.

Applesfortea · 30/07/2020 11:14

My girls went together as they'd be more stressed if they were apart. Boys can be a bit more territorial but you know them best.

Don't starve him before the op like you might for some animals, they need to be eating up to & as soon as possible after the op.

Best avoid sawdust as it can irritate the stitches. (Many people think it can cause respiratory issues too)

Original poster
Bakedbeanhead · 30/07/2020 11:21

They do get a little stressed if they are apart. The vet said that you don’t need to starve them, which is a relief as all they do is eat !

OP posts:
twinguineas · 30/07/2020 12:03

@Bakedbeanhead

They do get a little stressed if they are apart. The vet said that you don’t need to starve them, which is a relief as all they do is eat !
The thought of having to manage nil by mouth for a guinea pig Shock

My two behave as if they have been on starvation rations every time they hear the kitchen door Grin

Original poster
Bakedbeanhead · 03/08/2020 12:12

Update
We have just come back from the Vets. The lumps are cancer and are just to big to operate on and have spread to his Lymph’s.
The vet was lovely and is going to speak to a small mammal expert they deal with to get advice.
To be honest, I was expecting something like this, and we just want him to enjoy the months he has left. He is busy in his hutch noshing his food, so we will keep an eye on him.
Thanks for all you advice, it really helped me x

Guinea Pig operation
OP posts:
Feralkidsatthecampsite · 03/08/2020 12:16

So sorry it was bad news op. He looks a proper little character!

Floralnomad · 03/08/2020 12:23

Oh that is sad news but at least he’s happy and enjoying himself .

Applesfortea · 03/08/2020 12:39

I'm so sorry, that's really sad news. If he's still eating then chances are he's feeling ok & fingers crossed he'll stay well for a while yet.
Maybe not what you want to think about but if you only have two, you'll need to think about a friend for the one left behind so he doesn't get lonely. Is there a piggy rescue near you, so you can get advice from them?

Original poster
Bakedbeanhead · 03/08/2020 17:50

Thank you everyone for your kind words. We will definitely consider a rescue pig (Or two) for the one left behind. They are such sociable animals and I would hate for him to be lonely 😔

OP posts:
TokyoSushi · 03/08/2020 17:54

Oh bless him, what a beautiful boy.

StudentHelp · 03/08/2020 20:16

Oh Op, I am devastated for you, your lovely boy and his little friend. I’m so sorry the news was bad but hopefully he can have a few more comfortable months with you being loved and cherished Flowers

Feralkidsatthecampsite · 03/08/2020 20:18

Saw this and thought it might cheer you up a bit op..

Guinea Pig operation
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