Specialist Big Lump Found On My Guinea Pig?

[HappyPig29]

Hi guys, well, this morning (11th of July 2015) I was sitting with a guinea pig of mine named Squeakie and I found something quite frightening and quite shocking - right under her chin, I found a large, rock-hard lump.
She is turning 7 in September, so yes, she's a very elderly guinea pig! She also has got a history of abscesses. She hasn't had one for a couple of years though the last one we took her to see a vet. They squeezed the pus out of it and it went down quickly.
However, I don't really know what this is. Her last abscess popped up on her back - and this is right under her chin. I am very worried that it could be a tumour but I am hoping for it to only be an abscess. In the past, we had a guinea pig who underwent surgery to remove a tumour in the stomach, but the poor thing didn't make it through the operation. Squeakie is so old and I am worried it would be too stressful to get the lump squeezed or operated on, depending on if it is an abscess or a tumour - or possibly something else?
Can anybody maybe help me out here and tell me what it is? Could anyone give me some advice? Thank you so much!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi guys, well, this morning (11th of July 2015) I was sitting with a guinea pig of mine named Squeakie and I found something quite frightening and quite shocking - right under her chin, I found a large, rock-hard lump.
She is turning 7 in September, so yes, she's a very elderly guinea pig! She also has got a history of abscesses. She hasn't had one for a couple of years though the last one we took her to see a vet. They squeezed the pus out of it and it went down quickly.
However, I don't really know what this is. Her last abscess popped up on her back - and this is right under her chin. I am very worried that it could be a tumour but I am hoping for it to only be an abscess. In the past, we had a guinea pig who underwent surgery to remove a tumour in the stomach, but the poor thing didn't make it through the operation. Squeakie is so old and I am worried it would be too stressful to get the lump squeezed or operated on, depending on if it is an abscess or a tumour - or possibly something else?
Can anybody maybe help me out here and tell me what it is? Could anyone give me some advice? Thank you so much!

I am ever so sorry; under the chin is always a worrying location as it could be an abscess, but it could also be based in the lymph node or glands there! Only a vet will be able to tell and give you a diagnosis, on which you can base any further decisions.

I am sure that you are going to have her seen promptly. It is always so much more upsetting when you are facing yet another issue so soon after having lost a piggy.

 

[gizzy]

Cysts filed with puss are not that comon around the neck area, my poor Gizzy RIP had very simular for a Cople of years , he coped with no problems whatsoever! ,

it was a hemeragic (blood ) syst , vet said leave well enough alone, and he went on to live a happy life , with the occasional drainING by vet (2 to 3 months )

I would get an indication of when it was due as he would get minor breathing problems ,

Sadly it needed draining over the long crismass break and to my ever lasting regret , my usual vet was closed and i took him to an emergancy vet ! The duty vet was out on call so I left him there vet nurse said they would phone me, when he came back as the draining had been done.


I phoned them early the next morning and he had died , but it was not the cyst that killed the poor lad , it was the vets wife , she tried to force feed him grated carrots and he chocked to death, I distinctly told them not to feed as syringe, feed was Ness eery during these periods

Sorry a just needed to share .

Back to topic , if it is a hemeragic cyst , your vet should simply drain it no general anesthetic is needed, then you need to watch it , it may refill,
or it may simply dri up inside , if this happens, (dries up) , if it is causing him discomfort (not lightly) ask your vet to remove
Though in my experiences dried up hemeragic,s do not cause a problem

 

[HappyPig29]

I am ever so sorry; under the chin is always a worrying location as it could be an abscess, but it could also be based in the lymph node or glands there! Only a vet will be able to tell and give you a diagnosis, on which you can base any further decisions.

I am sure that you are going to have her seen promptly. It is always so much more upsetting when you are facing yet another issue so soon after having lost a piggy.

Cysts filed with puss are not that comon around the neck area, my poor Gizzy RIP had very simular for a Cople of years , he coped with no problems whatsoever! ,

it was a hemeragic (blood ) syst , vet said leave well enough alone, and he went on to live a happy life , with the occasional drainING by vet (2 to 3 months )

I would get an indication of when it was due as he would get minor breathing problems ,

Sadly it needed draining over the long crismass break and to my ever lasting regret , my usual vet was closed and i took him to an emergancy vet ! The duty vet was out on call so I left him there vet nurse said they would phone me, when he came back as the draining had been done.


I phoned them early the next morning and he had died , but it was not the cyst that killed the poor lad , it was the vets wife , she tried to force feed him grated carrots and he chocked to death, I distinctly told them not to feed as syringe, feed was Ness eery during these periods

Sorry a just needed to share .

Back to topic , if it is a hemeragic cyst , your vet should simply drain it no general anesthetic is needed, then you need to watch it , it may refill,
or it may simply dri up inside , if this happens, (dries up) , if it is causing him discomfort (not lightly) ask your vet to remove
Though in my experiences dried up hemeragic,s do not cause a problem

Thank you so much for that reply, I'm so worried about my little guinea pig! I'm going to get her checked out by a vet I'm sorry about your Gizzy by the way.

 

[HappyPig29]

I am ever so sorry; under the chin is always a worrying location as it could be an abscess, but it could also be based in the lymph node or glands there! Only a vet will be able to tell and give you a diagnosis, on which you can base any further decisions.

I am sure that you are going to have her seen promptly. It is always so much more upsetting when you are facing yet another issue so soon after having lost a piggy.

Thank you so much for replying! I'm getting her checked out by a vet, it is quite scary as like you said it could be based in the lymph node or glands. Thank you so much for your help!

 

[MushiiPeas]

I've never had a guinea pigs with a lump under the chin but one of my first guinea pigs got a tumour on the side of her stomach luckily she did pull through the operation, she lived for another year and a half and she was 3 years old when she had it done.

I wish your little man the best and that it's something easily treatable!

sending you healing vibes for him!

 

[gizzy]

Hi how is Squeakie to to day

 

[HappyPig29]

I've never had a guinea pigs with a lump under the chin but one of my first guinea pigs got a tumour on the side of her stomach luckily she did pull through the operation, she lived for another year and a half and she was 3 years old when she had it done.

I wish your little man the best and that it's something easily treatable!

sending you healing vibes for him!

Thank you so much! I'm also very happy that your guinea pig survived a tumour

 

[HappyPig29]

Hi how is Squeakie to to day

She's OK, she's eating and drinking fine but on Tuesday morning she's going to see a vet to get checked out

 

[gizzy]

Thanks for the update ,

Did vet give you anti b,s ? If so what one, ? Did he give you or recommend a pro biotic ? Is she pooping ? If yes what are they like .

 

[HappyPig29]

Thanks for the update ,

Did vet give you anti b,s ? If so what one, ? Did he give you or recommend a pro biotic ? Is she pooping ? If yes what are they like .

We haven't been to the vet yet, we are going on Tuesday if all goes to plan! And yes, she is pooping and I will let you know what the vet said once we have been!