I recently discovered a hard black lump on one of my guinea pigs buttock that is about a cm in diameter the other one now has a small one also, they are both well and acting lively, any ideas what it is & how it can be treated before I take them to the vets?
-
Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement
An Unusual Black Lump
- Thread starter Jo holt
- Start date
- Status
P
piggyfan
Welcome to the forum. Could it be the grease gland?
http://www.guinealynx.info/grooming.html
Look at that link for information on grease glands.
http://www.guinealynx.info/grooming.html
Look at that link for information on grease glands.
Hi julie M not easy to see as she has dark hair but it's between my fingers
P
piggyfan
That is a relief!
cavy love
Junior Guinea Pig
Looks a bit high for a grease gland, but it's really hard for me to tell from the photo. Does it feel like a lump that moves around under the skin or just a lump actually on the skin? If on the skin, could be an abscess or cyst of some sort - these can sometimes feel a bit softer rather than hard. You won't be able to treat it yourself, really. Both would need draining at the vet, and if it's something that is under the skin and grows, it would need to be checked out, too.
That is where the grease gland is located if both have it sitting in the same place on top of the skin and not under the skin! It can get rather mucky if it is overproducing, more so with boars than with sows.
Here are tips on how to clean them: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...inea-pigs-including-ears-grease-glands.47314/
Here are tips on how to clean them: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...inea-pigs-including-ears-grease-glands.47314/
P
piggyfan
It looks like the grease gland to me but I will ask @helen105281 her opinion.
helen105281
Senior Guinea Pig
It looks like the grease gland to me too.
cavy love
Junior Guinea Pig
Maybe my guinea pigs are just weird - their grease glands are quite low down! 
Thanks everyone, it is on the skin rather than under it, after checking out about grease glands it's not in the usual place said to be found as it's more middle of one buttock rather than where a tail would be, could this still be the grease gland?
kerry
Junior Guinea Pig
My pig has a hard, dark patch of skin/lump on her shoulder and I took her to the vet and the vet said that it is a sebaceous(?) cyst and nothing to worry about. Just like if we have a mole.
I keep an eye on it in the summer to make sure it had not started to leak pus in the heat and that no flies have got to it but other than that she said not to worry and I dont think my pig knows its there as she never chews it or scratches.
Best to get a nurse appointment and check it out
I keep an eye on it in the summer to make sure it had not started to leak pus in the heat and that no flies have got to it but other than that she said not to worry and I dont think my pig knows its there as she never chews it or scratches.
Best to get a nurse appointment and check it out
- Status