Abcess on Belly Boar

[Angela99]

Hello.... well I rescued Buttercup from Truffle hormonal rage today... he's 4! And I found an abcess on his belly (Buttercup) I dont puck him up hardly ever because he's terrified but I did today and he was quite glad I did! Just brought them to a Vet who checked them both out and found nothing .. frustrating. A lump cyst abscess on belly... is serious? Buttercup already had surgery last year for an abcess on his back! He's also 4.... is it dangerous to go under again in a year? What would you do? I guess I cant leave it. How long do Guinea Pigs live? They are babies to me. I'm too frightened to put him in surgery again

 

[Piggies&buns]

Any lumps need investigating. Some don’t need prompt intervention, but Abscesses need treatment but if the vet couldn’t find anything.....see if you can find it again and then go back to the vet.

Any anaesthesia has a risk, but with a vet who knows what they are doing then it’s as safe as it can be.
Guinea pigs can live up to 8 years

 

[Angela99]

Any lumps need investigating. Some don’t need prompt intervention, but Abscesses need treatment but if the vet couldn’t find anything.....see if you can find it again and then go back to the vet.

Any anaesthesia has a risk, but with a vet who knows what they are doing then it’s as safe as it can be.
Guinea pigs can live up to 8 years

Ok thanks. No I found a large lump on his belly... I don't think that other Vet did anything I wasn't in the room. I accidentally felt it today when I picked him up and then looked... it's pretty big how could she not see it if she said she checked him. I'm taking him to another Vet next week that specializes in rabbits and piggies ... I'm just worried about anesthesia... he's actually 3 years old not 4. Glad they live 8 years but I thought it was 11 for some reason. Ok I won't worry too much if you say hell be fine. The Vet I'm taking him to is the one who did surgery last year on his abcess... was really large. Belly area looks more sensitive and harder to keep wound clean.... actually how would I be able to with pain he'd be in? Thank you again

 

[Piggies&buns]

Ok thanks. No I found a large lump on his belly... I don't think that other Vet did anything I wasn't in the room. I accidentally felt it today when I picked him up and then looked... it's pretty big how could she not see it if she said she checked him. I'm taking him to another Vet next week that specializes in rabbits and piggies ... I'm just worried about anesthesia... he's actually 3 years old not 4. Glad they live 8 years but I thought it was 11 for some reason. Ok I won't worry too much if you say hell be fine. The Vet I'm taking him to is the one who did surgery last year on his abcess... was really large. Belly area looks more sensitive and harder to keep wound clean.... actually how would I be able to with pain he'd be in? Thank you again

Good idea to take him to another vet if you can still feel something.
Without a diagnosis you don’t know what you are dealing with, so don’t worry too much at this moment.

If he needs surgery, then he needs surgery though and I know it’s worrying, but you obviously can’t leave something which can be dealt with, untreated.
Any pain would be managed with medication - the vet would tell you what to do

If you don’t pick him up, are you weighing him weekly? If he has an illness or abscess brewing, then it is more important to weigh more often to know that he is still eating enough as you can’t judge hay intake by eye

 

[Angela99]

Good idea to take him to another vet if you can still feel something.
Without a diagnosis you don’t know what you are dealing with, so don’t worry too much at this moment.

If he needs surgery, then he needs surgery though and I know it’s worrying, but you obviously can’t leave something which can be dealt with, untreated.
Any pain would be managed with medication - the vet would tell you what to do

If you don’t pick him up, are you weighing him weekly? If he has an illness or abscess brewing, then it is more important to weigh more often to know that he is still eating enough as you can’t judge hay intake by eye

Yes. No it's very visible and quite big I think 2 cm round. Poor piggy! It must have grown pretty darn fast!

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes. No it's very visible and quite big I think 2 cm round. Poor piggy! It must have grown pretty darn fast!

In that case, you need to get a lump that is growing quickly seen to ASAP.

 

[Wiebke]

Yes. No it's very visible and quite big I think 2 cm round. Poor piggy! It must have grown pretty darn fast!

Hi!

I a lump of any sort (fatty lump, cyst, abscess, tumour or lymph node) is growing very quickly, then they will need to be seen very promptly. Please contact a vet now.
Some lumps come up quite quickly to a certain size and then stop growing while others will actually pick up speed and treble or quadruple in size within 24 hours - and keep going until they burst.

Is the lump firmly attached to the body or is it sitting loosely in the skin?

 

[Merab's Slave]

Hope the lump proves to be something easily treated

 

[Posyrose]

Good luck at the vets.

 

[Angela99]

Hi!

I a lump of any sort (fatty lump, cyst, abscess, tumour or lymph node) is growing very quickly, then they will need to be seen very promptly. Please contact a vet now.
Some lumps come up quite quickly to a certain size and then stop growing while others will actually pick up speed and treble or quadruple in size within 24 hours - and keep going until they burst.

Is the lump firmly attached to the body or is it sitting loosely in the skin?

Its soft and looked like its sitting loose on skin. I have to check again. He's very fearful so I don't force him for lap time but yesterday he was good with me so I'll try again. I booked him for Vet next Saturday

 

[Wiebke]

Its soft and looked like its sitting loose on skin. I have to check again. He's very fearful so I don't force him for lap time but yesterday he was good with me so I'll try again. I booked him for Vet next Saturday

Fingers crossed that it keeps until then!

 

[Angela99]

Fingers crossed that it keeps until then!

I'll look at it again today. I didn't realize they would grow at warp speed! Maybe ask to be on a cancellation list. The other specialty Vet is full for 3 weeks and the emergency hospital made too many mistakes bc they lie about knowing pigs... so I can't go back to them and wouldn't in a million years let them do surgery .... good thing Truffle was so hormonal and I found it yesterday!

 

[Wiebke]

I'll look at it again today. I didn't realize they would grow at warp speed! Maybe ask to be on a cancellation list. The other specialty Vet is full for 3 weeks and the emergency hospital made too many mistakes bc they lie about knowing pigs... so I can't go back to them and wouldn't in a million years let them do surgery .... good thing Truffle was so hormonal and I found it yesterday!

I know that vet access in Canada is very difficult because there are so few and they are usually booked out well ahead. Hopefully the lump is staying put. You can just never know...

 

[Angela99]

I know that vet access in Canada is very difficult because there are so few and they are usually booked out well ahead. Hopefully the lump is staying put. You can just never know...

I just checked him now and I was wrong it's firm and inside skin. I touched it and he was maybe a little uncomfortable. He was sooo good today and I think we have bonded finally! I think he'll be ok til Saturday but I'll keep a close eye on him

 

[Wiebke]

All the best! Unfortunately lumps are one of those things that really need to be seen as they can be so many different things.
if it is still firm, it is generally much less likely to blow up that and a soft lump.

 

[Flutterby]

Please let us know how he gets on at the vets, sending healing vibes!