Hammy Strikes A Signature Pose

Hammy is the official spokes-pig for HappyCavy.com.

Having had to see the vet only once in her life – for a case of mites in 2010 – even at five years old, she is one of the healthiest guinea pigs at the HappyCavy Forever Home.

Or so we thought.

Something is Awry: Brown Stains in the Cage

The week of March 24, The Humans began to notice large brown stains dotting the guinea pig fleece bedding. Like clockwork, each pig was diligently separated from the herd and quarantined in a small cage with white fleece to determine who, or what, was leaking.

Each pig was separated until they would wee, after which The Humans would hem and haw over what was left behind. But everyone’s wee appeared healthy: no odors, no discoloration, and private areas were clean and odor-free.

Example of brown stain found on fleece. Photo taken prior to vet appointment.

The Humans shrugged it off as a fluke, as certain foods, such as dark-colored vegetables, can cause a guinea pig to expel discolored urine. So the pigs were returned to the HappyCavy Forever Home, and watchful eyes were kept.

The Leaky Guinea Pig is Found

Then, on Monday, March 31, Hammy made it perfectly clear that she was, in fact, the offending stain-leaver. That day, Human #2 noticed dark, red spots in all of Hammy’s favorite hiding places. This wasn’t urine; this was something much different and much more alarming. The Humans immediately separated Hammy to be certain the spots were coming from her.

Sure enough, 30 minutes later, The Humans picked Hammy up and saw several rust-colored spots on the white fleece of the quarantine cage.

An appointment at the HappyCavy family vet was made for the next day, and The Humans began the preparations for the drive across town to fix whatever was ailing Mrs. Ham.

Fortunately, Hammy was carrying on like usual: eating and drinking regularly and keeping up her normal levels of activity.

The Vet Appointment

April 1, 2014 – Cost of Care: $91.45 USD

What Was Done/Prescribed: Office visit/routine exam ($50.50), urinalysis screen with dipstick ($23.70), Baytril ($17.25)

The next day, on April 1, Hammy had her appointment at the vet.

While preparing for the trip, Human #1 noticed a large, quarter-sized blob of deep-red coagulated blood on the fleece where Hammy was taking a nap. Good thing we were on our way to the doctor!

Deep-red blood spot left on fleece. Freak out!!

While there, Hammy was welcomed with obligatory “oohs” and “ahhs” from the staff before the good doctor, Dr. Burgess, entered the exam room.

He first noted Hammy’s healthy appearance: full coat of fur, bright eyes and overall pleasant disposition. So he picked her up and began palpating her lower abdomen.

After a few moments, the good doc looked straight at The Humans and said, “Cystic ovaries.”

Guinea Pig Ovarian Cysts

Ovarian cysts, also called “ovarian tumors,” are pockets of tissue that can develop spontaneously on the ovaries of a guinea pig as it ages. While not a form of cancer, cysts can grow to become so enlarged that they burst. These cysts can often secrete hormones, such as estrogen, in excessive amounts, which may lead to additional health complications if not treated. [1] While some guinea pigs can be asymptomatic, like Hammy, ovarian cysts can present with a number of symptoms, including:

• Hair loss without signs of itching or irritated skin
• Mounting and other sexual behaviors in females
• Vaginal bleeding
• Enlarged or distended nipples
• Crust formation on the nipples
• Lack of appetite [1]

Ovarian Tumors and Uterine Infection – Vet Diagnosis

Hammy waits patiently at the vet. Her pigloo was removed for The Humans to check on her post-trip.

After identifying the tumors, the doctor wanted to ensure that Hammy’s blood discharge was coming from her uterus and not her urinary tract (which would indicate a urinary tract infection or other urinary issue). As The Humans and the good doctor were discussing the merits of performing a dipstick urinalysis to rule out such an infection, Hammy – one of the easiest HappyCavies to work with – let out a large pool of wee on the examination table.

The doctor was thrilled.

He rushed to grab a dipstick and touched it to the small puddle. The colors on the plastic tab indicated that Hammy did not have a urinary tract infection.
Thus, the official diagnosis for Hammy’s emergency visit was issued:

• possible uterine infection
• ovarian cysts, one being the size of a “small golf-ball”

The Humans were surprised that they hadn’t noticed such a pronounced growth during Hammy’s weekly health checks, but they were relieved that they had scheduled an appointment so soon after noticing the blood.

Treatment – Vet Recommendations

Baytril (20mg/mL suspension), an antibiotic, was prescribed and scheduled to be given to Mrs. Ham at 0.28mL every 12 hours. A probiotic was also recommended to be given at least 45 minutes before the Baytril to encourage strong gut health during Hammy’s course of antibiotics.

Spaying (ovariohysterectomy) is a surgical procedure to remove the uterus and ovaries. This is the standard treatment for ovarian cysts. [2] Hammy’s surgery will occur mid-way through her course of antibiotics.

The procedure is scheduled for Wednesday, April 9 at 9am. Hammy will be anesthetized and will have her uterus, ovaries, and cystic tumors removed. After surgery, she will remain at the vet’s office for monitoring, and will be released at 5pm to return home.

Hammy’s Pre-Op Care Schedule

Hammy shows off with her Baytril, probiotic, probiotic syringe, and discharge paperwork.

Hammy began receiving antibiotics on Tuesday, April 1st after The Humans arrived home from the vet.

Since starting her antibiotic regimen for the uterine infection, Hammy has shown no signs of bleeding and has been eating, sleeping, and acting just as spryly and athletically as she always has. The Humans are hopeful that Hammy’s surgery will be very successful!

(As a side note: The Humans and Hammy were involved in a rear-end collision on US Highway 26 on their way back from the vet. The Humans were stopped in traffic, and another silly Human rammed their vehicle from behind. Hammy suffered no visible injuries, most likely because her carrier was safely secured to the back-near with a seatbelt. But that’s an entirely different story that we’ll have to share at a later time…)

Buttercup Will Join Hammy!

Buttercup is thrilled for her upcoming visit to the vet. Hammy is suspicious.

Buttercup will join Hammy for her trip to the vet, where she will receive an annual check-up.

Being that Hammy’s cystic ovaries are asymptomatic, and being that Buttercup is four years old, The Humans think this is a good opportunity to have Buttercup fully examined for any potential issues. (Feebee, also four years old, had an annual visit two weeks ago without major complications.)

Just as with Bitsy’s health complications, The Humans are prepared to provide Hammy with the proper post-operative care she needs, and they remain confident that Hammy will recover quickly and without incident.

Send Hammy Your Well-Wishes!

Have your guinea pigs ever been treated for cystic ovaries? What do you wish you knew at that time that you could share with us?

Share your story in the comment section below, and don’t forget to wish Hammy a speedy recovery!

—

Join us in the comments

About HappyCavy

HappyCavy is your go-to source for tips and recommendations on guinea pig care and entertainment.