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Barney Bubbles In Surgery Today - Lump Removal

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lauraboara

lauraboara

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My boys continue to keep me in a permanent state of anxiety! Barney this week - a large lump has appeared very quickly on his right hip area. He is having op to remove today.
It might be abscess, it might be hair follicle tumour? Needle biospsy test not conclusive earlier this week. He is OK in himself, still eating well and a good weight but he is in discomfort with it and turning around a lot to groom the area.
I do think my vet is good at small animal surgery so I am trying to be brave about that but last time Barney has anesthetic (for something totally different this spring) he developed gut stasis in the days after the procedure and we nearly lost him (on my birthday of course...) But he made it then so he is a fighter.
Any vibes for Barney would be appreciated - waiting for phone to ring :(
 
Keeping everything crossed that the op goes ok and there are no complications after.
 
helen105281 said:
Keeping everything crossed that the op goes ok and there are no complications after.
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Thanks Helen. when I went through my first piggy op experience, I was so focused on the actual procedure but you quickly learn that the days afterwards are also so important aren't they. I am just preparing 'hospital' pen for him.
 
I know he has had op and they have just rung to say he has come around OK. Here is a pic of him last night and you might be able to make out the lump on his far hip with raised fur around it.
 
Barney B is home now - looking pretty rough but he is eating for himself. he has about a 6 cm wound.
The lump was not an abscess, it was some kind of tumour. I saw the blob - it looked a bit like a conker and was very solid. we are sending it away for testing.
Vet said the tumour came out well - there was no root so it was within the skin layers and spherical. Anyone had experience with skin tumours like this? @Abi_nurse maybe?
 
Glad that you have Barney B back home. Sorry Laura but I cannot give any info on the tumour as luckily none of mine have had that issue.. It is reassuring that Mark says the tumour came out well. Healing vibes for Barney B and hoping he continues to improve.
 
Aw, get well soon Barney B. No experience of piggy tumours I'm afraid, but hope he gets the all clear and is soon back to normal x
 
Poor Mr BB, hope he is recovering well. The only tumours l have experience of have been mammary and oral. Hopefully its a benign tumour and he has no further problems. It's frightening how quickly these things appear.Did you manage to bond Colin and Cheeky @lauraboara?
 
pig in the city said:
Poor Mr BB, hope he is recovering well. The only tumours l have experience of have been mammary and oral. Hopefully its a benign tumour and he has no further problems. It's frightening how quickly these things appear.Did you manage to bond Colin and Cheeky @lauraboara?
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Yes hope it is benign - apparently a fair few skin ones are - new territory for me. I was just amazed how quickly it appeared and kept growing. It didn't exist less than 2 weeks ago.
@pig in the city As for Cheeky and Colin not much progress to report yet but that is my fault for being busy. But interaction through bars has been positive....
 
Ok advance warning for slightly grim photo now - quite a long wound but neat. Poor lad looking pretty miserable today.


As we know, a watched guinea pig doesn't poo but when i haven't been looking, he has managed a few mis-shapen poos today. he is eating but very selectively. Because his eyesight is pretty poor, I have to remind him about food with audible clues so if I rustle something or cut something that seems to remind him to eat - bless him.
 
That photo shows what a large lump he must have had. Did you get anything to clean him with? Like Hibiscrub to keep the wound clean.. It does look a really neat stitching job that Mark has done on Barney B.
 
Poor baby - My Nugman had a big lump the size of a large walnut removed a couple of years ago - it was attached to his muscles on his side - he also had a huge shaved patch - vet also got all of it out in one go - it wasn't cancerous - hopefully yours wont be either - sending you both big hugs x
 
Poor little fellow, that's a very big wound but like you say very neat. I always find guinea pigs selectively eat when they aren't feeling 100%.

Healing wheeks and gentle strokes.
 
Hope your little one starts to feel better soon. As for the tumour I really couldn't comment with certainty, there are a number of different types of skin tumours both benign and malignant, just by the look of it doesn't always give a clue which way it will go.

Thinking of you, let us know how things go.

x
 
Thanks for the replies and support. The lump was about the size of a large conker but I think getting under the lump meant the wound had to be longer than the lump - if that makes sense! He is looking bit better this evening - had some mint leaves and little gem lettuce for tea and was hungry for it.
Probably a few days before I get the results on the tumour but will let you know.
 
Oh bless him that is some wound.

Sending him lots of 'healing vibes' and hope he gets better soon.

Lots of TLC from Mummy I am guessing for him right now :hug: Hugs to you to :hug:
 
Thanks for asking after Barney B @pig in the city . He gave me a few days of worry but now he is doing really well thanks. I tested him out with putting him back with Sudoku today - I was worried he would stretch the wound with daft boy stuff but actually Sudoku was really gentle and Barney is already much happier. He seems to eat more when he sees another pig eating?
The hair is already growing back and the scar is healing really well. Just waiting for the lab results now....
 
Aww bless him, what a horrible thing to go through :( I'm glad he's picking up a bit now though. Sending healing vibes and wheeks from the herd xx
 
Wow, that was some big operation site. Glad to hear he is perking up again. Everything crossed for you re the results.
 
lauraboara said:
Thanks for asking after Barney B @pig in the city . He gave me a few days of worry but now he is doing really well thanks. I tested him out with putting him back with Sudoku today - I was worried he would stretch the wound with daft boy stuff but actually Sudoku was really gentle and Barney is already much happier. He seems to eat more when he sees another pig eating?
The hair is already growing back and the scar is healing really well. Just waiting for the lab results now....
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That's great news Laura, what a relief. Fingers crossed for the biopsy result. X
 
Well the lab results are back and they are not good news:(. The lump was malignant - 'spindle cell soft tissue sarcoma' - intermediate grade. As you can imagine, I am trying to read about that now! But it seems that the main treatment is to remove the lump and the surrounding tissue and of course, that has already happened. very glad I went straight for removal now not biopsy first. I am still thinking did I miss the lump (as you do) but he had a bath in the first week of October and I am sure it wasn't noticeable then.
Meanwhile Barney B is not aware of lab tests etc! and he is doing fine - eating well and being silly with Sudoku which is usual for him. So everything crossed that the lump removal has worked and it doesn't return - at least for a good while. That last sentence sounds more positive than I am actually feeling but it is what I am trying to tell myself!
 
Am sorry it has turned out to be malignant but like you say as long as Barney is feeling ok in himself everything is good in his world at the moment.
 
Sending you big hugs. You've had a nasty shock but Barney knows no better and as long as he's well in himself that's all that matters at the moment. Long may he stay that way.
 
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