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Cookie - Lump in neck

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sport_billy

sport_billy

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I gave Cookie a chin rub this evening and could feel a small pea sized lump in her neck in the Dewlap area. It is causing her no discomfort and is not on the skin but within her neck itself. It can't have been there long as chin rubs are a normally daily occurrence and she will come over for a fuss, cheek rubs have become a favourite though so I may not have found it for a week and missed it but doubt it...

Cookie had lost 70g over the past few weeks but put it is back on and is her normal 1.149g weight, I had put this fluctation down to the settling in issues the trio have been having, so I haven't been concerned with her general health, she is her normal active self and is eating great. Her bladder issues (touch wood) are completely under control too, I would say she is in the best shape for a year health wise.

Will get her to see Rosie on Friday when she is in. I would rather see a vet who I trust completely than see another with less piggie knowledge.

With fatty lumps are they normally on the skin or can they be within?

I am just praying it is nothing sinister, We both adore her so much - Her and Treacle were one in a million piggies and the bond I have with her is amazing as it was with Treacy. I guess I am a little on edge over it - as lots of your know her sister Treacle passed away in April with Lymphoma.

If anyone has any experience or can provide info on lumps it would be greatly received. x
 
Hi there, and know how worried you are, and if it's any consolation, (which it's probably not) the majority of lumps in Guinea pigs are simply that just lumps,

to identify whether it is a harmless lump, you will need see somebody qualified, but here a few guidelines to perhaps hopefully put your mind at ease.

From how you've described it, It sounds to me as so it could possibly be a cyst, there are many types of cysts, but in this case I was thinking haemorrhagic, that is to say blood filled, the feel of a cyst is like you're described a small piece size lump , and in some cases they feel attached to underlying tissue and in some cases they are free moving

if it is a haemorrhagic cyst they are relatively harmless and easily drained(by vet) , though in my experience periodic repeated draining, may be necessary,

more familiar to piggies is the Sebaceous Cyst , these can pop up anywhere , once they are mature they are usually self draining , and need little to no attention, I have several pigs with these, in fact I have a pig with one in its ear, it has been there for 2 years now

It could also be a fatty lump ( Lipoma) but they tend to be on the oval side, though round ones do occur, feel if it is attached to anything, if it is free moving under the skin, then you can also consider Lipomas (fatty lump)

It could be a tumour, but the word tumour covers a multitude of tissue related lumps, the majority of them are harmless.

Best wishes with Cookie,
 
Just a footnote I wouldn't rule out inflamed cervical lymph nodes but the situation you've described doesn't really correspond

they are either side of the neck a few centimetres below the ear.
 
Poor Cookie. You're going through the mill with your piggies at the moment :(
I hope it is nothing serious and that Rosie can sort it for you, sounds like you caught it early so that's always a benefit.
 
Poor girl! It sounds like another trip to the vets to find out what kind of lump it is. Of course, it is even more worrying for you after the lymphoma. I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed that it is harmless this time!
 
Extra vibes for Cookie. Hopefully it is just an abscess like what Maggie had under her chin (which appeared the day after Rum died last year). Maggies lump was drained and she had a course of Baytril for it. It is quite common for piggies to nick the skin under their chins which is sometimes the cause of such lumps so I was told when I had Maggie in.
 
Oh gosh, I hope it's nothing to worry about. Our pets know how to worry us, don't they?! *hugs* :)
 
Healing vibes for Cookie - having had a fatty lump removed from Noodles when I took her in because she had a small sebaceous cyst - and a big walnut sized lump removed from Nuggets recently (nuggets was attatched to the intestines and had its own blood supply and everything - vet thought it was cancerous by the look of it )turned out to be made out of layers of fatty tissue and wasn't as sinister as he thought) - I know what you are going through - the majority of lumps turn out to be easily treatable though.
 
Having a lumpy piggy myself I know how worrying it can be. Although Peanut Butter's were judged to be harmless sebaceous cysts with needle aspirate, I obsessively check his lumps every 2nd day just in case there is a change. I really hope Cookie's will turn out to be equally harmless.
 
Oh just want to say I hope everything ok with cookie? Like Klee said have you been to the vets yet? x
 
Sorry for the late reply

Our vet aspirated the lump and no pus came out just blood. She doesnt think it is lymphoma but it is definitely a tumour of some sort, She has advised against a biopsy as due to its location as it grows it will almost definitely cause problems and because it has a good blood supply will grow quickly. If we leave it for any amount of time Rosie said it will be a more difficult op and the chance of complications are higher. Cookie is to have an operation on Friday morning.

We've both quite scared, never been through any other op than dentals and have no experience of post op care. I do however know our vet is amazing and have no doubt she will do all she can for Cookie. Thanks for everyone's thoughts x x
 
Have had a few pigs with similar sounding lumps who have recovered very quickly after removal. In fact they have all been lively and eating lots straight after the op. It's definitely best to get it removed now rather than later as it means the vet can also remove a good margin from around the lump so if it is anything sinister there is far less chance of it coming back. Give me a shout if you want any advice xx
 
As you know both my Eleanor and Ena had lumps removed. You already know the sad outcome for Ena but both girls recovered well from the op eating straight away afterwards.

i would rather have lumps removed sooner rather than later for the same reasons Debbie has pointed out.

I'll be thinking about you xx
 
Good luck with the op on Friday. I hope everything goes well, sounds like you have caught it quickly. Thinking about you all.
 
Thanks you all. I know it has to be done and I know Rosie really cares for our girls as she does all patients at her vets so I trust her experience and advice. We have just ordered CC in as Meg had the last in the week so will be ready for feeding if needed and I know how great everyone is on here with advice if needed x x
 
Good luck. Maggie had a lump removed from the same place earlier this year so she sends special healing wheeks to Cookie
 
I'm sorry to hear this. been through similar situation before. Good luck to cookie and pray that all will be well!
 
Sorry I missed this - hope recovery is going well.
Melvin had about 12 lumps on him and I kept getting them checked - all fatty lumps from the ones he had a fine needle biopsy on.
Hope Cookie is ok x
 
Hope all goes well on Friday. Keeping everything crossed.
 
Gave her an extra special breakfast and dropped her off for her operation today. Feeling really sick :( Have to ring back at 3pm to see how it goes. x
 
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