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.

 

[Lisanjake]

Can anyone advise please if it’s normal for weight to stay pretty much the same after a dicky tummy?
She was doing well after her op but hasn’t gained any weight since her tummy upset a few weeks ago :/
Eating and drinking as normal now.

 

[Ramia]

It took my boy five months to put back on weight after his illness

 

[weepweeps]

I’ve always found with my piggies when they are really poorly then the weight never goes back on. They just find another “normal”.

 

[Lisanjake]

I’ve always found with my piggies when they are really poorly then the weight never goes back on. They just find another “normal”.

I did think that, she looks so small! But not sick as such. She’s always been the runt lol
I guess she is 4 years old now

 

[Wiebke]

Can anyone advise please if it’s normal for weight to stay pretty much the same after a dicky tummy?
She was doing well after her op but hasn’t gained any weight since her tummy upset a few weeks ago :/
Eating and drinking as normal now.

Hi

Your experience is very common. Sometimes the weight comes back after several months, sometimes the piggies just find a new normal but it doesn't seem to necessarily impact their longevity.

How is the ear?

 

[Lisanjake]

Hi

Your experience is very common. Sometimes the weight comes back after several months, sometimes the piggies just find a new normal but it doesn't seem to necessarily impact their longevity.

How is the ear?

Thank you, that is very reassuring.
Her ear seems to be fine from what I can see.
She’s been back to her normal self now and it’s literally been months. So I’m glad we went ahead and removed it as it was clearly bothering her.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you, that is very reassuring.
Her ear seems to be fine from what I can see.
She’s been back to her normal self now and it’s literally been months. So I’m glad we went ahead and removed it as it was clearly bothering her.

Thank you. That is good know.

 

[Lisanjake]

I’m sad to say we went to see Simon today. He found a hard grape sized lump which he scanned and said it’s likely a tumor.
I have her booked in Friday again for surgery to remove it. If it looks really bad inside he will pts if not I’m he will try and remove but it’s grown very quickly since he seen her last month x

 

[Wiebke]

I’m sad to say we went to see Simon today. He found a hard grape sized lump which he scanned and said it’s likely a tumor.
I have her booked in Friday again for surgery to remove it. If it looks really bad inside he will pts if not I’m he will try and remove but it’s grown very quickly since he seen her last month x

BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry about the bad news and am keeping my fingers crossed.

Your girl couldn't be in better hands so if it is not to be at least she won't suffer but you are giving her the best chance.

 

[Lisanjake]

So gutted for her

 

[Lisanjake]

Thank you weibke

 

[weepweeps]

Good luck with the operation

 

[Lisanjake]

Sadly Simon was unable to remove the tumour as it was too intertwined with her bowel, mainly the cecum area
He did wake her up in the end and said as long as she is happy and eating, doing normal things to let her live out her life x

 

[weepweeps]

I’m so sorry. I hope you and Ruby have lots more happy days together. Sending hugs

 

[Lisanjake]

I have read the pinned posts about when is best to put a sick piggy to rest.. I think I know it’s best now but when I get home she walks to the end of the sofa like she always has, and looks for a treat. Obviously giving her lots now. She even did this a few hours ago - only wanted lettuce and is getting very picky now.

Last night I thought was going to be it for her. So I was surprised to wake up and she took quite a bit of veg from me and a crunchie treat.
She seems more interested in me feeding her than doing it herself.
Then she’s back under the sofa in her favourite hiding spot which I’ve filled with some hay and other forage for her.
She is mainly hiding now though.
She still likes her metacam (though not always) I heard her grunting a few times but she does that if she’s had to much veg, which I’ve given lots to make her happy recently as she’s not interested in much hay and gets very stressed being syringe fed and I don’t want that to be her last days..
she’s hobbling more as I can see the growth is making her walk a bit funny, like she’s almost lifting her belly up when walking along.
I know they say you know when the end is. Which I thought was when they refuse to eat, but she’s coming to me and showing some interest and eating a little. I guess I just want other peoples advice please
I can’t drag her 1hr 30 to Northampton as she gets so so stressed in the car bless her.
At the same time Simon’s the only one I trust with her :/

 

[weepweeps]

Sending you massive hugs. I’ve been through this recently. Such a hard decision to make. L My Pebble had a bladder stone. I opted to bring him home with pain relief and he had a happy 12 days of being even more spoilt than usual.

Like you I said I’d take him back to the vets when he stopped coming out for veggies and treats. But he never stopped doing that. But his weight was dropping fast and I didn’t want to prolong things by syringe feeding. So he had a lovely big breakfast of all the things he loved, some cuddles and a big pile of coriander at the vets.

There’s not really a right or wrong time. You just have to be at peace with the decision you make. Also a day too early is better than a day too late. I’m so sorry you are in this position.