Here we can see, “What to Do If Guinea Pigs Have Cystic Ovaries”
Female guinea pigs, often known as cavies, have reproductive organs that can become diseased, cancerous, pregnant, cystic, and cause other issues if they are not removed. In your guinea pig’s ovaries, just as in human women, cysts can form, causing various problems, including pain, but happily, these cystic troubles can be avoided with a simple surgical surgery.
What are Ovaries?
In both humans and animals, the ovaries are the component of the reproductive tract that excretes eggs. They are tiny glands that produce hormones and are found on both ends of the female guinea pig’s “V” shaped uterus. These glands are complex and produce crucial things like follicles, corpus luteum from empty follicles, and eggs, but they can also produce fluid-filled cysts that cause issues in female guinea pigs who have not been spayed.
What are Cysts?
A cyst is a pocket in the tissue filled with air, pus, or some other fluid. Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled pockets or bubbles that form inside your female guinea pig’s ovaries when the ovaries’ follicles fail to release the eggs they should. Ovarian cysts can occur in humans in a variety of forms.
Why are Guinea Pigs Cystic Ovaries a Problem?
The most severe issue with guinea pig cystic ovaries is when they burst, which can be painful. Even if they don’t pop, simply having cysts can be life-threatening if your guinea pig gets ileus. Because guinea pigs will stop eating and defecating when they suffer discomfort or pain, having cysts, even if they don’t pop, can be life-threatening if your guinea pig develops an ileus. A guinea pig will die if ileus, also known as GI stasis, is not treated promptly.
What Are the Symptoms of Cystic Ovaries in Guinea Pigs?
Symmetrical baldness on your guinea pig’s abdomen indicates ovarian cysts. Hair loss on both sides of your guinea pig’s tummy is a symptom that it is suffering from ovarian difficulties. Many owners send their guinea pig to an exotics vet for hair loss, assuming their pet has an external parasite like lice, only to find that the alopecia is caused by something much more severe.
During a physical check, your exotics veterinarian may detect a huge cyst or pair of cysts inside your guinea pig and gastrointestinal discomfort. Your veterinarian may recommend an X-ray or abdominal ultrasound to determine the existence or absence of cystic ovaries. To make a diagnosis, they may try to sample the fluid in the cyst by putting a needle into the belly and the cyst.
What Can You Do If You Have Cystic Ovaries?
Cystic ovaries can only be “fixed” by removing them. A thorough ovariohysterectomy, often known as a spay, is usually recommended for your guinea pig as soon as feasible. Even if your guinea pig doesn’t have cystic ovaries, your exotics vet will neuter it as they usually would, and this will solve your guinea pig’s problems and prevent them from recurring.
What Kinds of Issues Can Guinea Pig Ovaries Cause?
Guinea pig ovaries can develop cysts and tumors, and unpleasant cancer. The easiest method to keep your guinea pig from getting it is to get it spayed. The ovaries are entirely removed if an ovariohysterectomy is performed on a guinea pig.
In most cases, a hysterectomy is performed instead of an ovariohysterectomy. Only the uterus is removed; however, in pets, the ovaries are frequently removed along with the uterus. Any veterinarian who has worked with guinea pigs knows how to do this.
The ovaries are also vital in a guinea pig’s ability to become pregnant. If a male and female guinea pig copulate, the eggs are released from the ovaries and can be fertilized. Most pet owners do not want baby guinea pigs since they take more time, space, and money to care for.
User Questions
Are ovarian cysts painful for guinea pigs?
Non-hormonal cysts (also known as cystic rete ovarii) are most commonly connected with pain as a symptom. These cysts begin small but can grow quite enormous (up to 7cm is not unusual) — these pigs frequently have a “weeble” look with a very wide abdomen.
Are cysts common in guinea pigs?
Female whole guinea pigs aged 2-4 years are most likely to develop cystic ovaries. According to various studies, up to 76 percent of female guinea pigs between 2 and 5 develop cystic abnormalities on their ovaries.
Do guinea pigs recover from an abscess?
Abscesses that can be surgically removed in their totality have a very high chance of being cured. Palliative care may be an option for abscesses that cannot be removed but can be managed with drugs to keep the guinea pig pain-free and comfortable.
Can you burst a sebaceous cyst?
Holding a warm flannel on the cyst’s skin will help it heal and reduce inflammation. Do not attempt to rupture the cyst. If it’s contaminated, you risk spreading it, and if the sac is left under the skin, it can grow back.
Do guinea pigs survive surgery?
Guinea pigs have a higher risk of anesthetic problems than cats and dogs, with a 3.80 percent perioperative mortality rate compared to 0.24 percent for cats and 0.17 percent for dogs (Brodbelt et al., 2008).
Conclusion
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