Chris and others...time to rack our brains

[Kims Critters]

I just got a emaill from a person with a sick cavy.

Here is the history of the illness(es) that I have gotten taken from the email I got from her:

Renny is a 3 year old sow that use to be bred. When she was taken out of the breeding program, I adopted her. The breeder told me she had her first litter at 3 months of age and was bred every other heat cycle until she was retired a little short of her 3rd birthday.

Since I have gotten her, 2 months ago, she has been in the vets more often than she is home. We have had to deal with pneumonia, diarhea and now permanent head tilt.

Yesterday, she started to bleed from her vaginal area. I called the vet and the vet told me to bring her in. The vet tried to palpate her abdomen but it caused her great pain. While doing a full body "all over check", he found barbell shaped formations on her neck. The vet had no clue what was wrong. He couldn't determine why the vaginal bleeding was happening either. I am at a loss as to what can be bothering her. I did forget to mention, she is spayed.

Now, here is where I stand on the issue. I think that the barbell "formations" are most likely CL.

The vaginal bleeding is boggling my mind though. If she hadn't been spayed, I would have immediately thought uterine tumors, cysts, etc. But what can be causing the vaginal bleeding post spay? She was spayed the day after she was adopted.

I called my own vet who has yet to get back to me. I really wish I knew what was causing this bleeding.

Any ideas????

[gokubear]

i know i am not the one with the knowledge..but (and this may be a silly question but i have to ask..) do cavy's go through a menstrual cycle? i know my female cats and dogs have, but do all female animals go through it?

[Kims Critters]

They do NOT bleed during their estrus cycles like some cats and dogs do. But, that said, it is irrelevant here because the sow in question is spayed. Good question though gokubear.

[gokubear]

sorry for imposing on the post .. but like i said i had to ask!

[Kims Critters]

Eh, don't worry about it. I would rather someone ask a question in the middle of a thread, than not. It's best to be as informed as possible about these little guys.

[Kims Critters]

It was an oviohysterectomy meaning that both the uterus and ovaries were removed. The blood is definitely coming from the vaginal canal, according to the vet she saw. I am real stumped on this.