Surgery

[Emily F.]

Last month, one of my guinea pigs, Jack developed a cyst on his back. It eventually popped, and I took him straight to the vets. She gave him an antibiotic, and I cleaned it daily. Well, about 2 weeks ago I noticed another one, but it just keeps growing, little by little. I took Jack to the vets this morning, and she recommends surgery to remove the cyst. If I don't, she said it's not life threatening, but they will just keep coming back, and getting infected.

I know the risk for surgery. She obviously gave me no guarantees if he will make it out of anesthesia or not, but she said he's young and healthy, and that there probably won't be any problems. The surgery it $140.00. I'm happy with that. I want what is best for Jack, and I think surgery is the answer. She said if I do the surgery, he will get a mild pain reliever, in a form of a shot before the surgery, on the estimate sheet she gave me it says Metacam Feline 1.5mg/ml. Does anyone know anything about that? He will be under anesthesia for about 20 minutes, get staples in, and then after 10-14 days, come back for the vet to take them out.
Has anyone ever had their guinea pig go through this before?

Thanks

 

[daftscotslass]

While Bonnie only had a small cyst, there's a thread here about her surgery last year:

https://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/about-guinea-pigs/19138-bonnies-going-hospital.html

I would press to have oral metacam that you can administer yourself as and when it's needed at home. Bonnie didn't require any pain medication after the first day. You know your piggy best but it's best to have the medication available in case you need it as pain can reduce the appetite.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

Metacam seems to be the preferred choice for pain medication in guinea pigs. I've used it myself for Chatty and Finna. I hope the 1.5mg/ml isn't the actual dose as that's a bit too much.

Guinealynx states:
Meloxicam (Metacam, Mobic)
0.2 mg/kg, PO, q24h

PO= by mouth, q24h= every 24 hours

 

[Emily F.]

In your opinion, does $140.00 seem like a lot?

 

[Ly&Pigs]

If that includes the anesthesia and the surgery, I think it's rather reasonable.

 

[sweetjay6891]

When Oko had mites two years ago, he had to get three rounds of Ivermection and some ear cleaner. Only that cost $170.00! You got a great price for surgery. (then again, it depends where you live. I live in Orange County,Ca other wise known as Money Hungry County)

 

[salana]

1.5 mg/ml is the standard concentration of Metacam liquid. The dose you want for your pig is 0.2 mg/kg. So to find out the amount of the 1.5 mg/ml liquid your pig should get, you divide 0.2 mg/kg by 1.5 mg/ml to get 0.13ml/kg. So if your pig weighs exactly 1kg he should get 0.13ml.

 

[rabbitsncavyluv]

It could be a follicular or sebaceous cyst. They frequently return if they are not removed. You may have to flush it or keep it clean in the meantime.

 

[Emily F.]

rabbitsncavyluv-

Yes, it is a sebaceous cyst. This is the second one that Jack has developed. It has not 'popped' yet. My mom thinks the surgery is expensive, but after what everyone is saying, it sounds reasonable enough!
Thanks everyone for all the help.