Big lump on guinea pig (know what it is?)

[owen_jackson]

My guinea pig has had this large lump on her far body on the side of her back and we are just wondering what this is, we think it might be a harmless cyst or maybe a tumour. We’ve had her for almost 6 years and she’s never been sick, she’s never seemed to be in pain and hasn’t lost her appetite since spotting this (greedy pig!). We don’t want to take her to the vets because it would most likely end up in her being put down and us having to pay lots of money for treatment, obviously if we can hear and see she’s in pain we will obviously take her to the vets , but since she’s still eating and being happy we don’t want to change anything. We’re just letting her carry on as normal since we spotted it since it’s not causing harm when we touch her or when she moves. If anyone’s got any possible causes for this I’d appreciate it. Thanks

 

[Tiamolly123]

I think that is far to large to leave. Could you pop her to the vets, please don't leave it. Maybe see if a rescue can take her on, if you can't afford the vets. She has a right to be treated though. Good luck

 

[Wiebke]

My guinea pig has had this large lump on her far body on the side of her back and we are just wondering what this is, we think it might be a harmless cyst or maybe a tumour. We’ve had her for almost 6 years and she’s never been sick, she’s never seemed to be in pain and hasn’t lost her appetite since spotting this (greedy pig!). We don’t want to take her to the vets because it would most likely end up in her being put down and us having to pay lots of money for treatment, obviously if we can hear and see she’s in pain we will obviously take her to the vets , but since she’s still eating and being happy we don’t want to change anything. We’re just letting her carry on as normal since we spotted it since it’s not causing harm when we touch her or when she moves. If anyone’s got any possible causes for this I’d appreciate it. Thanks

View attachment 119187View attachment 119188

Hi!

Please have that lump vet checked and if necessary removed. It is impossible for us to say what it could be.

My 6 year old Tesni had an infected burst sebaceous cyst next to her genitalia operated out and my Hafren was just short of 7 years when her large and suddenly fast growing fleshy cyst burst (of course it all happened just while my operating vet was off on summer holiday...) and needed removing as soon as he had returned. Both operations were successful and both girls lived to celebrate their 7th birthday.

Hafren after her operation (from which she recovered well). You can see from the size of her scar that her burst cyst was about a comparable size to your lump.
I hope that that helps you?


Here are our post-op care tips if you need them: Tips For Post-operative Care

 

[Lady Kelly]

Oh crikey that is huge, did it come up suddenly or over time? No one on here is going to be able to tell you exactly what it is but what I do know is that lumps are much easier to treat when they are smaller. Realistically when a guinea starts to develop a lump it should be checked promptly by a vet so, if action needs to be taken, it's while it's small enough to try and prevent complications. I would really recommend seeing a cavy savvy vet. They should not be mentioning put to sleep unless it's something sinister or if surgery is needed but your piggy is deemed unable to cope with it. I will add that we have seen piggies on this forum as old as 8 undergoing, and surviving, operations.

 

[owen_jackson]

Hi yes we can afford it just unfortunately our last guinea pig died a day after we spent £1000 on vet bills. Thanks for your concern I’ll make sure we take her down

 

[Wiebke]

Hi yes we can afford it just unfortunately our last guinea pig died a day after we spent £1000 on vet bills. Thanks for your concern I’ll make sure we take her down

It is always extremely gutting when you are left with a huge bill and no piggy. I have been there myself, too!

 

[owen_jackson]

Hi, glad to hear all went well! I’ll make sure we try and get her in tomorrow, thank you.

 

[owen_jackson]

It sure is. As I said she isn’t in any visible pain like limping or bleeding but I’ll make sure I do take her to the vets. Thanks again

Oh crikey that is huge, did it come up suddenly or over time? No one on here is going to be able to tell you exactly what it is but what I do know is that lumps are much easier to treat when they are smaller. Realistically when a guinea starts to develop a lump it should be checked promptly by a vet so, if action needs to be taken, it's while it's small enough to try and prevent complications. I would really recommend seeing a cavy savvy vet. They should not be mentioning put to sleep unless it's something sinister or if surgery is needed but your piggy is deemed unable to cope with it. I will add that we have seen piggies on this forum as old as 8 undergoing, and surviving, operations.

Hi, unfortunately it’s been there for a few months but we didn’t know what to do. I know it may sound cruel not taking her to the vets earlier but she’s getting on and we didn’t want her to go through anything traumatic. We’ve always said we will take her if we know she’s in definite pain. We will try and get her in this week. This guinea pig was part of a sister duo we rescued and unfortunately a couple of years ago her sister passed away a day after we spent lots of money on vet bills. Of course we’d obviously pay to help her but we don’t want to pay lots of money for her to die the next day, god forbid. Thanks anyway and we’ll try and get her in this week

 

[Lady Kelly]

I can understand your thoughts about vets bills. I went through similar earlier this year. £1000 to then have him PTS a couple of weeks later as he went right back downhill. However, it's hard to say which way this would go. I've had older pigs operated on and sailed through it. My late bumble was 5 and a half when she had an emergency spay for sizeable cysts and she was absolutely fine.