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Bernie’s strange lump!

furryfriends (TEAS)

furryfriends (TEAS)

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Neil @SkyPipDotBernie was concerned about a couple of lumps he’d found on Bernie and as work commitments meant he couldn’t get Bernie seen until Friday, he brought Bernie (and Dot) to me last night. I was quite worried by the one low down on his belly, as it appeared to be connected to the ridge, you can feel on boars, that is part of the part of the penis. I rang the vets this morning to get an emergency appointment for Bernie and got an appointment with Kim Maddock. Kim gave him a thorough check over and whilst he has a few fat pads, due to being of a stocky build, she found nothing sinister. However, she agreed the lower lump needed further investigation and took him out the back. After less than 10 minutes she was back, having removed quite a large lump of dried secretions from the penis shaft. It had taken plenty of lubrication and a cotton bud, but it was out! No doubt this will have many of you panicking about how often you should be cleaning your boars bits and I asked Kim for her thoughts. She advises we leave well alone, as it isn’t a common problem and we could do more harm than good, but recommends a once or twice yearly veterinary health check, so any issues like this can be addressed at that appointment.

Neil was so relieved to get my call to say all good and nothing to worry about. However, I think this shows what a vigilant owner Neil is, as the problem wasn’t at all obvious and Bernie was showing no signs of discomfort.

Here is the lovely boy with his little specimen bottle, plus a further pic to show what was removed. I’ve photographed it next to a 5p to give you an idea of size.

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Getting a yearly or twice yearly health check for guinea pigs is a really good idea. Dogs, cats and rabbits see the vet for vaccinations, so get a health check at that appointment. However, as guinea pigs don't need vaccinations, it means they don't get that regular check, unless we choose to book one.

I strongly urge everyone to get at least an annual health check for their piggies!
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Neil @SkyPipDotBernie was concerned about a couple of lumps he’d found on Bernie and as work commitments meant he couldn’t get Bernie seen until Friday, he brought Bernie (and Dot) to me last night. I was quite worried by the one low down on his belly, as it appeared to be connected to the ridge, you can feel on boars, that is part of the part of the penis. I rang the vets this morning to get an emergency appointment for Bernie and got an appointment with Kim Maddock. Kim gave him a thorough check over and whilst he has a few fat pads, due to being of a stocky build, she found nothing sinister. However, she agreed the lower lump needed further investigation and took him out the back. After less than 10 minutes she was back, having removed quite a large lump of dried secretions from the penis shaft. It had taken plenty of lubrication and a cotton bud, but it was out! No doubt this will have many of you panicking about how often you should be cleaning your boars bits and I asked Kim for her thoughts. She advises we leave well alone, as it isn’t a common problem and we could do more harm than good, but recommends a once or twice yearly veterinary health check, so any issues like this can be addressed at that appointment.

Neil was so relieved to get my call to say all good and nothing to worry about. However, I think this shows what a vigilant owner Neil is, as the problem wasn’t at all obvious!

Here is the lovely boy with his little specimen bottle, plus a further pic to show what was removed. I’ve photographed it next to a 5p to give you an idea of size!

View attachment 133913View attachment 133914
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Glad that it is nothing serious!
 
I’m so glad it’s nothing more serious Neil @SkyPipDotBernie. Know you were worrying:( xx Poor Bernie though, bet he’s glad that’s out! Hope he’s feeling better the gorgeous lad :love: x
So lovely of you to take him Debbie!
Think my pigs prefer a five times a year check rather than one or two! :doh::))
 
alpacasqueak said:
I’m so glad it’s nothing more serious Neil @SkyPipDotBernie. Know you were worrying:( xx Poor Bernie though, bet he’s glad that’s out! Hope he’s feeling better the gorgeous lad :love: x
So lovely of you to take him Debbie!
Think my pigs prefer a five times a year check rather than one or two! :doh::))
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Thanks 👍. Funny thing is, he wasn't acting out of character atall, I just happened to feel it under my finger when I picked him up Saturday night
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
Thanks 👍. Funny thing is, he wasn't acting out of character atall, I just happened to feel it under my finger when I picked him up Saturday night
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So strange! Then again Luigi had a HUGE bit of hay stuck in his willy the other day and acted the same, like nothing there! He rubs his bits everywhere constantly while he shows the ladies how lovely he is, must have worked it’s way up, was shocked at the size when I removed it! Hardcore piggies!
So glad Bernie’s ok x
 
:eek: That must have been uncomfortable!

Thank you for the tip, @furryfriends (TEAS) ,and @SkyPipDotBernie . Since Squeaks was neutered 18 months ago, and Winifred's mammary lump last summer, I check all the piggies' tummies when I get them out for cage cleaning, but in future I'll be even more careful round Squeaks' boar bits. Wouldn't want him to have to put up with something like that for days!
 
Aw bless him. You must be so relieved!
I must admit that I have never fiddled with Edwards bits but he does see the vet every 6-8 weeks for nail trims so he gets a check over then along with Ellen and Elizabeth :)
 
Qualcast&Flymo said:
:eek: That must have been uncomfortable!

Thank you for the tip, @furryfriends (TEAS) ,and @SkyPipDotBernie . Since Squeaks was neutered 18 months ago, and Winifred's mammary lump last summer, I check all the piggies' tummies when I get them out for cage cleaning, but in future I'll be even more careful round Squeaks' boar bits. Wouldn't want him to have to put up with something like that for days!
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Whilst it’s good to give a quick external check, Kim says we shouldn’t be extruding the penis and cleaning it, as we could cause damage, as it’s such a delicate organ.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Whilst it’s good to give a quick external check, Kim says we shouldn’t be extruding the penis and cleaning it, as we could cause damage, as it’s such a delicate organ.
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Thank you, I won't try that at all, I'll just make sure to feel more carefully around the area for unusual lumps and bumps.
 
Qualcast&Flymo said:
Thank you, I won't try that at all, I'll just make sure to feel more carefully around the area for unusual lumps and bumps.
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Neil @SkyPipDotBernie did well to notice the lump, as I am pretty sure I wouldn't have noticed it, unless I had gone looking for a problem. The fact that Bernie hadn't presented with any signs of illness, makes it even more remarkable that it was found!
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Whilst it’s good to give a quick external check, Kim says we shouldn’t be extruding the penis and cleaning it, as we could cause damage, as it’s such a delicate organ.
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Would that be the case with much older boys too? Not that I have any now but with Rupert in his last year or so it got very dirty (that smell you talk of too! :vom:) as him and Jess didn’t really mate and he gave up cleaning himself down below most of the time (age 6+)! I wouldn’t clean it too often as he got distressed but just to avoid any problems.
 
alpacasqueak said:
Would that be the case with much older boys too? Not that I have any now but with Rupert in his last year or so it got very dirty (that smell you talk of too! :vom:) as him and Jess didn’t really mate and he gave up cleaning himself down below most of the time (age 6+)! I wouldn’t clean it too often as he got distressed but just to avoid any problems.
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Possibly good to get a health check every half year then instead. But I do realise it's difficult getting to a decent vet for many people. I'm lucky Simon and Kim are round the corner.

I've had 2 old boars before age 6 and 7 and I never even got them checked back then
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
Possibly good to get a health check every half year then instead. But I do realise it's difficult getting to a decent vet for many people. I'm lucky Simon and Kim are round the corner.

I've had 2 old boars before age 6 and 7 and I never even got them checked back then
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Yes will leave Luigi’s future internal man checks/cleans to the vets, would prefer that anyway! And definitely now I’ve heard that! Hated upsetting my Rupert Bear doing it! And Gigi’s bad enough with a nail trim with just me!
 
alpacasqueak said:
Would that be the case with much older boys too? Not that I have any now but with Rupert in his last year or so it got very dirty (that smell you talk of too! :vom:) as him and Jess didn’t really mate and he gave up cleaning himself down below most of the time (age 6+)! I wouldn’t clean it too often as he got distressed but just to avoid any problems.
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Kim said a 6 monthly vet check, for the older boars, is probably a good idea. She said problems in this area are rare!
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Kim said a 6 monthly vet check, for the older boars, is probably a good idea. She said problems in this area are rare!
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That’s good to know, thank you. Will definitely stick to that advice in the future! It was just that pong that I worried about leaving but we’ll let the vets smell it instead! :))
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
I forgot to ask, did she say that bernie could be prone to it or not?
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Possibly, although in most cases animals deal with their own issues and don’t need human intervention. She said maybe worth getting him checked a couple of times a year.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Possibly, although in most cases animals deal with their own issues and don’t need human intervention. She said maybe worth getting him checked a couple of times a year.
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Ok, that's cool, il be able to get him in on Saturdays. Hope it's not a deformity causing it. But even if it is, this issue has only came about after a year and half
 
Don’t worry too much, sure he’ll be fine for a while now that’s all cleaned out! You were quick to notice the lumps in case it happens in the future.
Dot’s gorgeous! :)) :love:
 
Really glad Bernie is ok. When Donald had his stone problems Craig found similar though not to the extent it caused any lumps. He did reassure me that I hadn't done anything wrong and that it's one of those things, just to check every now and then but sometimes it builds up quickly so you could check one week and need to do nothing but a few weeks later it's built up a lot.
 
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