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2 year old male Guinea pig with sudden lump developed on neck

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Rachael s

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi all. Looking for some help please20180708_004455.webp20180708_004455.webp
Last night around 10 pm my indoor pig called Barry ( not sure what breed he is- rescue from 6 weeks old) started breathing heavier than usual. And making slight wheezing sounds. I took him straight to seers croft the vets. He goes here regularly for dental work and is seem by an exotics specialist.
Last night a locum vet was on. He said Barry's heart rate is fine. Nothing in the lungs. But did find a lump. Like the size of a grape on his throat area. I myself was in shock. This wasn't there yesterday. It's turned up rapidly. The locum said it's cancer. With no tests done. And to expect that in a pig of 2 yrs old.
From doing researching other forums have mentioned that it can be Lymphadenitis or access with can be worked with. Does anyone have any info on options other than cancer ? Or if this has happened to your own pigs ?
Barry is breathing normally this morning and eating and pooping well and talking etc so seems content.

Thanks for reading.

Rachael.
 
Rachael s said:
Hi all. Looking for some help pleaseView attachment 90567View attachment 90567
Last night around 10 pm my indoor pig called Barry ( not sure what breed he is- rescue from 6 weeks old) started breathing heavier than usual. And making slight wheezing sounds. I took him straight to seers croft the vets. He goes here regularly for dental work and is seem by an exotics specialist.
Last night a locum vet was on. He said Barry's heart rate is fine. Nothing in the lungs. But did find a lump. Like the size of a grape on his throat area. I myself was in shock. This wasn't there yesterday. It's turned up rapidly. The locum said it's cancer. With no tests done. And to expect that in a pig of 2 yrs old.
From doing researching other forums have mentioned that it can be Lymphadenitis or access with can be worked with. Does anyone have any info on options other than cancer ? Or if this has happened to your own pigs ?
Barry is breathing normally this morning and eating and pooping well and talking etc so seems content.

Thanks for reading.

Rachael.
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Hi! Please have your piggy vet checked by a piggy savvy vet tomorrow; lumps of any kind often appear rather suddenly and at that size. Any treatment needs to be based on your vet's diagnosis. Some lumps are harmless, others sadly not. When the lymph nodes are involved, it is usually not very good news. I have however had a piggy with an abscess in that area, so I would strongly recommend not to home in too much on just on the worst case scenarios and read up on them.

We can support you with tips and experiences during the necessary treatment but we cannot diagnose nor are we qualified to do so, and we can most certainly not replace a hands-on examination - as can no online place!
At this point, we can only speculate about the nature of a lump as much as you. Happily throwing all the worst case scenarios into the ring can only help to fan any natural apprehensions of yours further, which is not exactly productive at this stage; especially if you happen to suffer from anxiety. The sooner you know where you stand, the more you can then concentrate on caring appropriately for your beloved piggy to the best of your vet's and your own abilities.

You have done absolutely the right thing in having your piggy seen promptly. I hope that a further examination and if necessary a biopsy, by a more experienced vet will bring clarity.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi! Please have your piggy vet checked by a piggy savvy vet tomorrow; lumps of any kind often appear rather suddenly and at that size. Any treatment needs to be based on your vet's diagnosis. Some lumps are harmless, others sadly not. When the lymph nodes are involved, it is usually not very good news. I have however had a piggy with an abscess in that area, so I would strongly recommend not to home in too much on just on the worst case scenarios and read up on them.

We can support you with tips and experiences during the necessary treatment but we cannot diagnose nor are we qualified to do so, and we can most certainly not replace a hands-on examination - as can no online place!
At this point, we can only speculate about the nature of a lump as much as you. Happily throwing all the worst case scenarios into the ring can only help to fan any natural apprehensions of yours further, which is not exactly productive at this stage; especially if you happen to suffer from anxiety. The sooner you know where you stand, the more you can then concentrate on caring appropriately for your beloved piggy to the best of your vet's and your own abilities.

You have done absolutely the right thing in having your piggy seen promptly. I hope that a further examination and if necessary a biopsy, by a more experienced vet will bring clarity.
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Thank you. He is booked in tomorrow for the exotics specialist vet who he normally sees. Hopefully they can find out what's happening. Thanks again.
 
Rachael s said:
Thank you. He is booked in tomorrow for the exotics specialist vet who he normally sees. Hopefully they can find out what's happening. Thanks again.
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They will! All the best and I hope that it is good news. The wait is usually the worst time as your fears and worries can really take over. :(
 
Please have the lump at least biopsied to double make sure what it is. I don’t see how a lump can just be diagnosed as cancer just by a quick examination.

I really do hope it isn’t anything sinister :( xx
 
Claire W said:
Please have the lump at least biopsied to double make sure what it is. I don’t see how a lump can just be diagnosed as cancer just by a quick examination.

I really do hope it isn’t anything sinister :( xx
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I know. It really upset me. Will defo have the lump biopsied. It's so annoying the exotic vet only works week days. Hanging on waiting is the worst part. Barry's happy in himself today eating so that's cheered me up a little. Xx
 
Rachael s said:
I know. It really upset me. Will defo have the lump biopsied. It's so annoying the exotic vet only works week days. Hanging on waiting is the worst part. Barry's happy in himself today eating so that's cheered me up a little. Xx
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Whatever it turns out to be, you have caught it early. Problems always happen late in the evening, over weekends, on bank holidays or when your specialist vet is on holiday. Believe me, I have just had to extend my wardrobe because I am running out of shelves for the t-shirts! :( :( :(

Hang on in there; it is only for a day!
 
Will do. Sweating with worry. Poor little Barry. Out of interest does any one know what breed he might resemble ?

Rachael xx
 
Rachael s said:
Will do. Sweating with worry. Poor little Barry. Out of interest does any one know what breed he might resemble ?

Rachael xx
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It's always an anxious wait :( I went through similar last week when my boar suddenly developed a number of lumps in suspicious places. A biopsy thankfully concluded that they are harmless fatty lumps. I've also had anxious waits on lumps in the past.

Sorry, I'm rubbish with breeds but Barry is gorgeous x
 
Sending healing vibes! Please let us know how he gets on at the vets.
 
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