Sonnet
Species: Guinea pig
Status: Sanctuary resident
Arrived: March 27, 2025
Condition: Post-spay; ovarian cysts and cervical hyperplasia (fully resolved)
March 2026 marked one year since Sonnet came into our lives. She has come an incredibly long way.
Her Intake
When Sonnet arrived on March 27, 2025, she was a tiny 1-year-old girl weighing just 1.4 lbs — and she was noticeably bald in the middle. She came in with vaginal discharge, a possible mass in the reproductive area, and hair loss that was clearly hormonal. The working diagnosis at intake was ovarian cysts or pyometra, with pyometra being the stronger suspicion given her presentation. On top of all of that, she had slightly slanted front teeth — not as progressed as some cases, but something the team wanted to address sooner rather than later.
She needed a spay as soon as possible.
Sonnet shortly after arriving at HALT.
Her Diagnosis and Recovery
After her spay, the full picture became clear: Sonnet had ovarian cysts and hyperplasia of the cervical tissue — a rare combination that accounts for less than 2% of biopsied uteruses in guinea pigs. What made it even more remarkable was that Lyric, another guinea pig, came into the rescue around the same time with the exact same rare condition. Back to back. The odds of that are extraordinary.
Both were spayed. Both made incredible recoveries.
Sonnet's hair has fully grown back and she looks incredible. She has filled out a bit weight-wise, though she remains a petite girl — her exact age is a little difficult to pin down because of how small she is.
Her Life Now
Sonnet today — full coat, full life.
Sonnet currently lives with Colin, who was a grumpy old man before she arrived. He is not so grumpy anymore. At 6.5 years old, Colin has been seen doing tiny popcorns since Sonnet came into his life. She has brought him so much joy.