Ovarian Cysts: Newly diagnosed with cysts

[jackrussellgirl]

I took Tulip to the vet yesterday because she had recently had some behavioral changes. Everything else was OK, she was eating, drinking and pooping normally. The vet said it was probably ovarian cysts and we just caught it earlier before other symptoms showed up. She is 4 now so we decided against spaying because of her age. I'm trying to see if my girls can stay in the same cage together so I've made some adjustments. But my question is does anyone have experience with this problem. If so do you have any advice for me so I can better manage her condition?


Additionally he said some weight loss would be beneficial. How would I go about doing this? I want to make sure she is still getting the proper nutrition but still achieve weight loss.

[krittercrazy]

Have you read this http://www.guinealynx.info/ovarian_cysts.html

As for getting her to loose weight, what is her diet now?

[Peggysu]

I would pm Ly&Pigs and ask her about diet change and weight loss. I think she would be the best to answer that and help you with what to feed and how much.

[jackrussellgirl]

Ya I read the page on guinealynx. Right now they get timmothy hay, 1/4 a cup of oxbow pellets to share and romaine.

[Meeko]

I just had to spay my girl Meeko due to the same thing. Her cysts were huge so surgery was the only option. Keep us updated on how your girl is doing!

[Peggysu]

The only get romaine? They should be getting more veggies then that. I know my girls don't really eat many of their pellets because they get lots of veggies. I would check out the nutrition charts for how often other stuff should be feed.

[MapleOwl18]

What Peggy Su Means is look at this page. Its a more complete listing of what types of vegetables and fruits piggies should get and how often they can have them. You probely want to branch out from romaine and include to other vegatables and forages to give them a more balanced diet.

http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...arts-info.html

[jackrussellgirl]

I used to give them more veggies but they totally ignore their pellets. I want to make sure they get the vit C from the pellets.

[Peggysu]

Their pellets should be the least of their diet. If they eat mostly veggies, hay and a few pellets it's fine as they are getting plenty of nutrients with a varied diet. As long as they get green bell pepper daily they get Vitamin C from that. Vitamin C degrades in the pellets so it's not always safe to assume they are getting enough vitamin C from the pellets.

[jackrussellgirl]

So I thought I'd give an update on Tulip. She had to go back to the vet about 2 weeks ago because she wasn't pooping and had stopped eating. I was prepared to not come home with her. The vet took an x-ray and found that her cyst (which is about the size of a golf ball) is pushing her intestines off to the side and they are not working properly. She was backed up with about 5 days worth of poop. He sent her home on pred, reglan, and lactrolose. It has helped her out so much. She is eating again and has been running around just like her old self. The vet said she will have to stay on the reglan and lactrolose becuase he does not think it will resolve. I guess now we are just kind of waiting on pins and needles for the day we have to take her in. I've been really worried.

As a side note, she loves taking her meds! She tries to run away with the syringe. She even climbed up on her house, ate through the paper bag her meds were in, and pulled the syringe where she promptly licked and chewed it clean!