Ear lump - slowly growing

[Lisanjake]

Hi all

I noticed about 2 months ago that Ruby has a pink lump in one of her ears.
It’s been growing very slowly, but still I wonder if it’s annoying her. She was a bit off over the weekend, but I had some metacam in the fridge which I gave her for a few days and she seems to have perked up.

Anyway about 3 weeks ago I took her to a local vet and she said just keep an eye, it doesn’t look like an abscess and she’s still herself, eating etc so leave it be as it’s going to be difficult to remove.

Has anyone experienced this before? I worry it’s annoying her some days, but don’t want to just go ahead and try and get it removed incase it makes it worse, when it could be left.

I’m just worried it’s growing slowly… I’ve attached a few pics about 3/4 weeks between each.

You can see the most recent it’s looking big, like filling her each which worries me now. I feel like they should have removed it when it was smaller :/

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all

I noticed about 2 months ago that Ruby has a pink lump in one of her ears.
It’s been growing very slowly, but still I wonder if it’s annoying her. She was a bit off over the weekend, but I had some metacam in the fridge which I gave her for a few days and she seems to have perked up.

Anyway about 3 weeks ago I took her to a local vet and she said just keep an eye, it doesn’t look like an abscess and she’s still herself, eating etc so leave it be as it’s going to be difficult to remove.

Has anyone experienced this before? I worry it’s annoying her some days, but don’t want to just go ahead and try and get it removed incase it makes it worse, when it could be left.

I’m just worried it’s growing slowly… I’ve attached a few pics about 3/4 weeks between each.

You can see the most recent it’s looking big, like filling her each which worries me now. I feel like they should have removed it when it was smaller :/

OUCH

I think it is about to swell the ear shut and is definitely concerning-looking as it is not stopping. The ear is a sensitive organ, so it may be painful. It's also close to the jaw.

But seeing its location, I can fully understand why any vet would rather not operate on it.

As to its nature, I cannot say. It is the first time I have come across something like that.

 

[Eriathwen]

I had a gerbil with a similar looking lump, it was an aural cholesteatoma which is unfortunately a type of tumour. Theyre quite common in older male gerbils apparently.
While I've never had one in a guinea pig, I have seen them in other peoples guinea pigs and they always seem to be some type of tumour and seem to keep growing until they need removing.

 

[Lisanjake]

I had a gerbil with a similar looking lump, it was an aural cholesteatoma which is unfortunately a type of tumour. Theyre quite common in older male gerbils apparently.
While I've never had one in a guinea pig, I have seen them in other peoples guinea pigs and they always seem to be some type of tumour and seem to keep growing until they need removing.

Oh darn that’s not good at all I’ll get her booked into the cat and rabbit clinic as soon as I can! Poor baby. She is nearly 4

 

[weepweeps]

Good luck at the vets. Sending healing vibes

 

[Lisanjake]

I had a gerbil with a similar looking lump, it was an aural cholesteatoma which is unfortunately a type of tumour. Theyre quite common in older male gerbils apparently.
While I've never had one in a guinea pig, I have seen them in other peoples guinea pigs and they always seem to be some type of tumour and seem to keep growing until they need removing.

Ive just been looking this up and she doesnt have any of these symptoms thankfully. She didnt come out from under the sofa this morning again (thats where she sleeps overnight) she usually comes straight out for treats but shes been slow these last few days. buit once she is out she acts totally normal, its almost like she doesnt hear me.

Aural cholesteatoma in guinea pigs is a rare but serious, benign, yet aggressive keratin-filled cyst in the middle ear, often stemming from chronic ear infections (otitis media). It causes bone erosion, profound head tilt, foul-smelling discharge, and neurological issues.

she has none of these, yet anyway! but shes always had quite crusty ears.

 

[Lisanjake]

Quick update, Simon has taken her in to remove it so I’m anxiously waiting now

 

[weepweeps]

Good luck

 

[Lisanjake]

She is out now, wow that was a long day lol

She is okay, sleepy now but nibbling a few bits which is good.

Obviously would like to start with syringe feeds as she’s been home a few hours now and the drive home was about 2hrs.

Question is, she’s still very raspy. Is it okay to syringe feed her whilst she’s breathing like this? (I know it’s normal for a day or 2 before it wears off) I don’t want to aspirate her.
It’s been a long time since I’ve had a piggy from surgery

 

[weepweeps]

If she isn’t eating a lot I’d try a little syringe feed but take it very slow. Just see how it goes. It’s a balance between keeping the gut moving. Good luck. Keep her warm too. Not hot though. A half heated snuggle safe where she is resting maybe.

 

[weepweeps]

What did Simon think it was. Will it be tested?

 

[Lisanjake]

Simon said he thinks it’s just a subcutaneous cysts and shouldn’t grow back.

I will give it a go bless her, she’s trying to get comfortable but wheezing quite a bit.
She is indoors, it’s fairly warm today.
I don’t have a heatpad as the heatings always on if it’s cold, I have a tiny hot water bottle but not sure even if I wrapped it she would go near it? I can try.

The nurse said her body temp was really good and stable, it didn’t drop like some can.

 

[weepweeps]

Just take it slow. I’ve not experienced the wheezing after an operation.

 

[Lisanjake]

Hi all, another update on Ruby.
The wheezing subsided after a day (i had this with a previous girl who has surgery, i think its just a side effect of the anaesthetic?)

Ruby is doing fine, her weight hasnt increased since the op, but no big drop either.
shes flat out refusing syringe food now - she was so good the first few days! but eating herself.

She had her post op check up today at my local vets, and the vet cleaned the excess blood / muck away. but her other ear was quite dirty..shes had them cleaned before as they get really flakey.
The vet suggested infant vitamin C drops, which i know probably arent recommended totally but she said because of the stress of the op she thinks give more vitamin C for a month?
Well firstly i gave her extra red pepper and she hasnt touched it! typical as she usually eats this but happy to much on veg.
Ill get her more coriander tonight - anything else i should do?

She does get a dandruffy rump too anyway, but i though that was just the Teddy breed and thick fur?

Please any hints ill happily take.