X-Ray to check for babies

[RodentCuddles]

I'm worried about my Precious girl as she does have a baby like lump on her right side, our vets have offered that they could do an xray...if she is pregnant and a lump can be felt then should the xray show if there are babies?

I'm just so worried about her so want to check if it's just me worrying or if she is pregnant...I've been feeding her critical care as even though she eats lots she isn't seeming to keep her weight on with-out some help *shes a lethal white*

She was rescued 3 weeks ago along with a male who she had been living with for the past 6 months, they hadn't had any babies so we were praying that she is lucky and is infertile but I'm not so sure now.

Her thread is here - https://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/threads/89707-Is-she-a-lethal-white-or-not

I have heard that radiation can harm guinea pigs but am not sure if a quick x-ray would? Our vets can't do an ultra-sound though there is a vets who we do not like *so would really rather not go to* who would probably be able to.

I know you'll just say wait...but I'd rather not. So I'd like to know if an X-ray would be safe and since my mum and I can feel a lump that if there was a baby or something in there it'd show up.

 

[skbrodie]

An xray would probably detect babies... but considering every time a human woman gets an xray done, they ask about pregnancy and sometimes require a pregnancy test to make sure they don't do xrays on a pregnant woman, I doubt it's a good idea :/

 

[RodentCuddles]

An xray would probably detect babies... but considering every time a human woman gets an xray done, they ask about pregnancy and sometimes require a pregnancy test to make sure they don't do xrays on a pregnant woman, I doubt it's a good idea :/

Do you know what kind of harm will an x-ray do?

The vets have offered to do the x-ray for free tomorrow if we want it, I just need to balance out the good and the bad.
I know someone else on this forum got their girl x-rayed and it showed 3 babies..I'm pretty sure the babies were okay but would like to know for sure.

 

[YourSoJelly]

Well, pigs have gotten X-rays when pregnant before. It's really up to you. I would go for it, but be careful for radiation poisoning signs. I hope she isn't, and she's just fat! Best wishes.

 

[RodentCuddles]

[MENTION=24680]YourSoJelly[/MENTION] what radiation poisoning signs would there be, do you know how long after they would show ect?

I really want to know for sure...the vet said we can just bring her in, do it then and there and then bring her home...

 

[aspecht]

They actually xray dogs quite often while pregnant. It isn't harmful to fetuses in small doses. If you are concerned, I'd say go ahead. Often times, they do Xrays to check for fetuses stuck during labor so I doubt it would be overly harmful. Good luck!

 

[YourSoJelly]

[MENTION=24680]YourSoJelly[/MENTION] what radiation poisoning signs would there be, do you know how long after they would show ect?

I really want to know for sure...the vet said we can just bring her in, do it then and there and then bring her home...

Lethargy, hair loss... It looks like a patient going through radiation treatment for cancer. Paleness, exhaustion, that sort of thing.

 

[Pink Portrait]

Can I ask what difference it will make to get the xray?
If it were me personally I'd forgo it. You'll find out eventually.

 

[RodentCuddles]

Can I ask what difference it will make to get the xray?
If it were me personally I'd forgo it. You'll find out eventually.

Because I'm worrying sick about it, as she's my little lethal girl and I worry about her so much.

We've already rescued a girl and a boy together before and the girl was pregnant but she was healthy and a normal pig so I wasn't really worried as much.

We might get her spayed if she is.

ETA: She is blind and deaf and is having a hard enough time keeping her own weight...I don't feel that her caring for little babies would be very good as she couldn't see or hear them and I feel it would be dangerous.

 

[skbrodie]

I probably should have re-worded or expanded on my reply lol. I mean, it's not *advised* for humans to get xrays while pregnant, although if necessary it most likely won't do any harm. Your piggy and her babies will probably be ok to get an xray done, though extensive amounts of radiation is of course bad.

 

[bpatters]

Nobody, including the pups, is going to get radiation poisoning from x-rays to determine if a sow is pregnant.

Given that you've got a lethal, and the chances of a normal birth are less than those of a healthy sow, I'd probably consider having her spayed, even if she's pregnant. But you want a good vet for that -- one who's done a gravid spay before.

I'd weigh her daily and see if she's gaining an inordinate amount of weight. You also should be able to feel pups at about six weeks along (a good vet could feel them before that), and you'd still have time to spay her. There's really no big rush to know if she's pregnant or to spay her, as you may be able to tell for sure within a couple of weeks without the x-ray.

 

[RodentCuddles]

While ours vets are great, and they've neutered lots of our boys before and did the fist spay with us last week...it's all only ever gone well...I'm not sure I'd feel safe with her in their hands doing a gravid spay.

There is a vets who is more experienced with extoics but our boy got a clasped penis *I think that's what it's called..* from them and someone who we know lost their pig due to the vet thinking it was something else.

When we go to the vets tomorrow if she is we'll talk to them about spaying her and if they honestly think they could safely do it, if not I might contact the SPCA to see if their vets have done that type of surgery before or I can contact the animal sanctuary and see if Shawn knows any vets who would feel okay about doing it.

We're going to take her to the vets tomorrow and will keep you updated.

 

[Pink Portrait]

Because I'm worrying sick about it, as she's my little lethal girl and I worry about her so much.

We've already rescued a girl and a boy together before and the girl was pregnant but she was healthy and a normal pig so I wasn't really worried as much.

We might get her spayed if she is.

ETA: She is blind and deaf and is having a hard enough time keeping her own weight...I don't feel that her caring for little babies would be very good as she couldn't see or hear them and I feel it would be dangerous.

Well then it seems that the decision before is what you want to do if she is pregnant. If you don't I wouldn't. Besides the little radiation she's be getting she'll probably be under some stress by taking her there.

If you decide on spaying her if she is pregnant go ahead and do it.

That would be my recommendation concerning your situation. I wish you the best of luck in this difficult situation. (((Hugs)))

 

[YourSoJelly]

There is a .001% chance if her getting radiation poisoning. I just put that out there just incase. I'm sure she will be fine, she's in the best of hands!

 

[RodentCuddles]

Am leaving to walk her around to the vets in 3 hours and a half...

Am really hoping she is not as it'll just make me worry so much...as a normal spay is dangerous but a gravid spay is more dangerous ...but then if we don't do it then the pregnancy would also be more dangerous then a normal one...and I don't know how I'd make that decision.

So hopefully I don't have to make it and shes not.
I'm so thankful to the vets for letting me x-ray her for free.

 

[YourSoJelly]

I hope she isn't pregnant! I have fingers, paws, and hooves crossed for her not to be pregnant! Keep us updated on how well she is doing!

 

[bpatters]

Do keep us posted.

But just to be sure you know, x-rays won't show anything until the bones mineralize, which is several weeks into the pregnancy. I don't think three weeks is far enough along to be able to tell. So do ask the vet whether this x-ray is premature or not. He may want to palpate for pups before x-raying her.

And please don't worry about radiation poisoning. That comes from an acute overdose of radiation, not from one or two x-rays to determine pregnancy.

 

[TheMuffinPiggy]

Do they have ultrasounds for guinea pigs? Hope all goes well, keep us updated!

 

[RodentCuddles]

Do keep us posted.

But just to be sure you know, x-rays won't show anything until the bones mineralize, which is several weeks into the pregnancy. I don't think three weeks is far enough along to be able to tell. So do ask the vet whether this x-ray is premature or not. He may want to palpate for pups before x-raying her.

And please don't worry about radiation poisoning. That comes from an acute overdose of radiation, not from one or two x-rays to determine pregnancy.

Okay, They had been together for the past 6 months so she could only be 3 weeks along or she could be more or she could not be pregnant...
Hopefully it shows nothing because there isn't anything not because it's too early!

Thanks, the radiation poisoning was what was worrying me at first...If it was dangerous I wouldn't put her through it.

 

[RodentCuddles]

Okay!
After an hour and 15 minutes at the vets (I can't complain!) they think it's un-likely she is pregnant and it could just be a kidney...they don't think it's anything to worry about but they did recommend that after she puts on a bit more weight to spay her so they can also just go in and check what it is.

I'm so relived!
I was kept company at the vets by their resident fluffy cat...she was an angel of fluff!
They said Precious was just eating hay most of the time..and they couldn't get a good side view of her as she kept moving when they tried to do it but they got a good one of her and Marie (one of the two vets we use) is going to email a picture of it to me.