• 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

Buzz has a lump!

Potterpig

Potterpig

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Apr 27, 2019
Messages
248
Reaction score
394
Points
370
Location
Carshalton, Surrey
I absolutely cannot believe I'm typing this, I almost didn't, because after the past ten days we've had with Harry I can't bear the feeling I've got once again in my tummy.

Got buzz out earlier for cuddles, he has a huge lump under his neck. It moves so easily I barely spotted it, but once you've got it kind of thing there's no mistaking it's not far off a gold ball. He's got a healing mark on his ear, clearly where woody has bitten him. So I am assuming this is bite related. I am so upset it's unreal. He's gained 50g in the past week and he is totally normal buzz. Eating, drinking, running around. Vet booked for Tuesday morning.

After the trauma of the past week please be kind, I feel so upset yet again 😭

112521
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
Aw hope its nothing too serious, my old boar has 2 lumps like this under his neck
Click to expand...
Is he okay SkyPipDotBernie? He's always been baggy under his neck, but this lump is new. I'm thinking I may have to separate the boys and get woody neutered if this is confirmed. I've never seen them 'fight' but I know woody has bitten him you can see his ear. Plus woody is so bolshy he will almost run over the top of buzz to get past.
 
Potterpig said:
Is he okay SkyPipDotBernie? He's always been baggy under his neck, but this lump is new. I'm thinking I may have to separate the boys and get woody neutered if this is confirmed. I've never seen them 'fight' but I know woody has bitten him you can see his ear. Plus woody is so bolshy he will almost run over the top of buzz to get past.
Click to expand...
Sorry i meant had. His was cancer, but i have heard of plenty more cases where it wasnt. So dont worry.

Do you think the lump is from a wound? Can you see puncture marks
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
Sorry i meant had. His was cancer, but i have heard of plenty more cases where it wasnt. So dont worry
Click to expand...
How old was your piggy? Buzz is only about 13 months old. You can literally pick this up, it's a squishy very round ball. Seriously my heart dropped when I found it. Its more on the right but you can almost move it to the left! X
 
Potterpig said:
How old was your piggy? Buzz is only about 13 months old. You can literally pick this up, it's a squishy very round ball. Seriously my heart dropped when I found it. Its more on the right but you can almost move it to the left! X
Click to expand...
It was my old boar sky who was 7. He passed away a year ago, his was rock hard and there were 2, about conker sized
 
Potterpig said:
I absolutely cannot believe I'm typing this, I almost didn't, because after the past ten days we've had with Harry I can't bear the feeling I've got once again in my tummy.

Got buzz out earlier for cuddles, he has a huge lump under his neck. It moves so easily I barely spotted it, but once you've got it kind of thing there's no mistaking it's not far off a gold ball. He's got a healing mark on his ear, clearly where woody has bitten him. So I am assuming this is bite related. I am so upset it's unreal. He's gained 50g in the past week and he is totally normal buzz. Eating, drinking, running around. Vet booked for Tuesday morning.

After the trauma of the past week please be kind, I feel so upset yet again 😭

View attachment 112521
Click to expand...

BIG HUGS

Please see a vet tomorrow promptly in case it is an abscess; where it is located, it should be possible to lance it and to allow it heal from the inside out by keeping the hole open for as long as possible.

Other options are sadly not as nice (infected lymph node), but can be a complication caused by a lowered immune system.

I am keeping my fingers very firmly crossed for Buzz!

Please do not beat yourself up over it; you are not a bad owner in any way; in fact you are very much the opposite. Even the best owners can have a bad run. I have certainly had a few myself! :(
 
Wiebke said:
BIG HUGS

Please see a vet tomorrow promptly in case it is an abscess; where it is located, it should be possible to lance it and to allow it heal from the inside out by keeping the hole open for as long as possible.

Other options are sadly not as nice (infected lymph node), but can be a complication caused by a lowered immune system.

I am keeping my fingers very firmly crossed for Buzz!

Please do not beat yourself up over it; you are not a bad owner in any way; in fact you are very much the opposite. Even the best owners can have a bad run. I have certainly had a few myself! :(
Click to expand...
Bless you thank you, I feel so out of my depth right now with it and am definitely beating myself up! We did so much research before getting buzz and woody, and we adopted them with the best of intentions and heart 😭 I've just had him out again, I cant see a bite mark on the actual lump but there is a clear tear to the ear which is healing nicely. The lump goes almost from chin to chest, feeling it I am sure it can only be fluid. Can he wait til Tuesday? The vet said if he's doing okay then yes when i phoned? Can they have 'one off' scraps or is this a sign to separate? It may also be worth noting that buzz rarely squeaks and I've never seen him popcorn. I've always put that down to personality (hes so mild mannered and calm), because he's gained weight beautifully and can run real fast when you put him on grass x
 
Potterpig said:
Bless you thank you, I feel so out of my depth right now with it and am definitely beating myself up! We did so much research before getting buzz and woody, and we adopted them with the best of intentions and heart 😭 I've just had him out again, I cant see a bite mark on the actual lump but there is a clear tear to the ear which is healing nicely. The lump goes almost from chin to chest, feeling it I am sure it can only be fluid. Can he wait til Tuesday? The vet said if he's doing okay then yes when i phoned? Can they have 'one off' scraps or is this a sign to separate? It may also be worth noting that buzz rarely squeaks and I've never seen him popcorn. I've always put that down to personality (hes so mild mannered and calm), because he's gained weight beautifully and can run real fast when you put him on grass x
Click to expand...

Please have him seen as quickly as you can if it is that advanced and already rather in the runaway stage. If there are bite marks in that areas, then it most likely a very large abscess and will require a strong antibiotic. Tedious to service in order to prevent a flare up, but it can be healed; the easier the sooner.
 
My daughter is currently at cub camp and I've got to do a 3 hour round trip to pick her up tomorrow, I will phone them first thing tomorrow morning and see if they can see me around collecting her with their reduced hours for the bank Holiday. I do have baytril and metacam left from Harry (unopened pods) but I don't have any confidence in pigs like I do with my cats to medicate til I see a vet. I feel sick to my stomach again, my poor Buzz 😭
 
Fingers crossed for Buzz. Hopefully the vets will be able to see him tomorrow.
Every lump is a worry, completely understand how you feel.
Healing vibes it's not serious.xx
 
My Guinea Pig also has a lump so I know how you feel
fingers crossed for Buzz
x
 
Morning guys, I've spoken to the vet who insisted it isn't an emergency so he's still in for 9.50 tomorrow. I explained everything and if I'm right with the abcess she said it'll be drained tomorrow and he will get hibiscrub and antibiotics. I'm going to be prepared with the probiotic, can I get that at the vet or shall I get some on amazon prime today? Buzz is still doing well, wolfed down some veg this morning. I may post on the bonding page, I was scrolling the bonding guides and some posts til 2am this morning, I really don't know if buzz and woody would be better separated 🤔 I may get the vet to check buzz for any further evidence if bullying or fighting before I decide. X
 
If you want a good probiotic I can recommend fibreplex, available on amazon. It’s amazing stuff and my pigs LOVE the taste so not a struggle to get it in them.

I’ve had various pigs with abscesses in the same place, I think they are prone to it. All healed very well but had some dodgy times during the process as one reacted badly to the antibiotics, so healed without antibiotics. Hers burst hours before the appointment to have it drained which was nasty but all ok in the end. Breathe, get it drained, keep flushing it. It needs to heal from inside out so can take a few weeks. Hugs
 
Elthysia said:
If you want a good probiotic I can recommend fibreplex, available on amazon. It’s amazing stuff and my pigs LOVE the taste so not a struggle to get it in them.

I’ve had various pigs with abscesses in the same place, I think they are prone to it. All healed very well but had some dodgy times during the process as one reacted badly to the antibiotics, so healed without antibiotics. Hers burst hours before the appointment to have it drained which was nasty but all ok in the end. Breathe, get it drained, keep flushing it. It needs to heal from inside out so can take a few weeks. Hugs
Click to expand...

Bless you thank you so much. I'll order now and hopefully it'll come tomorrow. Buzz is such a mild guines pig, so gentle, I feel so sad for him!
 
Glad to hear he is still ok. I've had two sets of boars I've had to separate with a cage divider, so they could see, hear and smell each other. They could touch each other through the divider but not enough to cause harm. Classic case of can't live together, can't live without each other.x
 
Morning guys, we've just got back from the vet, he's doing good. Originally they thought surgery would be needed tomorrow but they lanced it and squeezed it all out. He's got baytril, metacam, hartmans solution to flush it, manuka honey and I got two tubes of fibreplex. He's back next Monday. Poor baby. Where's the best place to keep him whilst he heals? The vet found no other signs of fighting, and no wound anywhere to suggest how it happened. Teeth in good shape and general health good. Woody has been cuddled up with him since he had it done so maybe they love each other more than I thought 😍
 
I wouldn’t separate unless necessary. If he’s struggling then the other pig may pick on him but if he’s chirpy and happy then just leave m together. Keep flushing out any build up, there will be more puss coming out. (And it won’t be nice!) maybe get some latex style gloves if you prefer. Good job 😁
 
I agree if they are fine leave them together, it can be more stressful if they are separated. Sounds like you have the bases covered meds wise. Flushing can be a bit yucky and sometimes a 2 person job.
Sending healing vibes and hugs that Buzz is soon on the mend.xx :nod:
 
Ooh yes I didn't think about gloves. I wonder if superdrug sell them 🤔 I've got to ring the vet back, I didn't listen what time the drugs start and it's not on the packets this time. I don't take anything in when I'm worried. I think we only dodged the surgery because she knows I start wailing 🤦‍♀️is he fine with hay etc in his bedding as usual? Thanks guys x
 
Should be fine with that
bedding. Lots of places sell gloves,superdrug , Wilkinson and adsa.xx
 
Okay fab thank you, he's having the drugs now and he can go back in, he's currently laying on the sofa on a Blanket like a cat 😂 ill give the fibreplex two hours later is that right? I'm so neurotic with my pets I apologise 🤦‍♀️ x
 
It's usually one to two hours after the antibiotics, so they don't just cancel each other out. So two hours should be ok. Don't be sorry for being worried about your piggies I'm just the same. :nod:
 
Potterpig said:
Okay fab thank you, he's having the drugs now and he can go back in, he's currently laying on the sofa on a Blanket like a cat 😂 ill give the fibreplex two hours later is that right? I'm so neurotic with my pets I apologise 🤦‍♀️ x
Click to expand...
Don’t apologise, it’s because you care x
 
Should be able to get thin gloves in most places - I get mine from sainsburies as I use them when peeling lots of onions/garlic as I don’t like my hands smelling.

He should be totally fine. The risk now is a bad reaction to the antibiotics (eg soft poop or lack of appetite) or infection of the wound (redness and heat, pain). So keep an eye on those things (lethargy, not eating/not interested in food, sitting hunched up, change to poops).
 
Bless him.... he will soon feel better once all the gunk is out I am sure.... I hope so anyway! You are doing a great job x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top