Guinea Pig bleeding

Question
QUESTION: Hello.  My guinea pig, age 2.5 years, has been bleeding when she goes potty or pee.  She has been bleeding for the past 2-3 days.  I took her to my vet and he gave me two options:  either do an exploratory (surgery) to see if his thoughts are confirmed which is cancer or to put her to sleep.  He felt around her and noticed a huge tumor.  He believes it may be uterine cancer and believes it may have spread due to the size of the tumor.  He explained that there is a 1 in 4 chance of survival from this surgery.  He explained he has done this quite often and is basing his advice on his experience.  He is an excellent vet that I would refer to anyone and is very experienced, compassionate, and kind.  The only reason I am writing this question is because I consider this guinea pig my baby, it's really hard to just euthanize her.  I am writing because I would like a second opinion.  Do you think this could be treatable or need surgery? Or has anyone else gone through the same thing?  I read some other posts and it seems a lot of them have their guinea pigs with my guinea pig symptoms on medication.  Can you please provide me your thoughts?  Would greatly appreciate any feedback....just reaching out.  Thanks.

ANSWER: I would say to go through with the 1 in 4 survival rate procedure because you might as well try to save her as opposed to just throwing in the towel.

Please report back on your decision.

John Kliewer

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QUESTION: I agree...and I definitely am not throwing in the towel...that's why I'm seeking a 2nd opinion and definitely still considering the surgery.  It's just really hard...the advice given to me by the vet was to euthanize her not only because of the survival rate from the exploratory but also because even if she survives the exploratory, there is a really good chance that this will be a recurring theme causing more pain and suffering to the guinea pig.  I just don't want her to suffer but at the same time I don't want to lose her...it's heartbreaking to see a precious innocent animal suffer even though you are trying everything humanly possible.  I'm just afraid I am delaying the process and making the guinea pig suffer for my own selfish reasons, since I really love and will miss the little thing.  I guess my question is have you heard other similar stories where this has occurred and what the survival rate is?  Just trying to get some other people's feedback because I feel that my decision will be ultimately based on my own bias thoughts.  By the way, can you also let me know what you think the cause of this blood from the rectal area is?Thanks.

Answer
The cause is unknown to me. I would say go with the surgery, just so that there is a little chance that she lives. I know that, even if the surgery goes through correctly she will be suffering but I think that letting her suffer a little until she gets recovered from the surgery would be worth it.

I hope that she makes it through and let me know how she does.
John Kliewer