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Found a lump on Melvin

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alisont

alisont

Adult Guinea Pig
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I noticed a small lump on Melvin just, it is under the skin upper chest area, and feels like it moves about a bit. It feels to be roughly the size of a cherry tomato/broad bean size.

He appears in his usual good health - eating/drinking and been his usual chilled lazy self, no weight loss - could be a cyst - Melvin is a large chunky pig hard to feel under the fat and he was not impressed at me examining him.

I'll monitor him and check the feel of the size of it daily, can go to the vets but don't want to stress him out - having said that Melvin and Parsnip are very chilled.

Hope it is nothing serious am all worried now I know guineas can have lumps and be fine but you always think the worst the min you find a lump.

We go away Easter too - the boys are all booked into the small pets hotel - luckily have to say she is great there and very experienced in medical care if needed and would go above and beyond if Melvin was ill or needed vets visits but not sure I could leave an ill animal, but won't think that far ahead.

Would people here advise me to go to the vets - Melvin and Parsnip are both neutered so have had GA before but am guessing the vets would either monitor or want to do a biopsy?

I'm hopefully worrying over nothing - I had one guinea with a lump and that was a cyst and never bothered her. Equally we had to nurse a rabbit who developed cancer once and had so many tumours it was awful. Have also had a mouse who developed an egg sized tumour and had surgery you never forget what it's like.

As I type he is having excercise time in the run as it is warmer this weekend, and seems quite happy eating grass and playing with Parsnip.

Think he is 3 this year must check his adoption certificate.

Thanks for any replies!
 
Hmmm, If he's a chunky piggy, it might be a fatty lump. My Nibbles once had one, and she was a very chunky piggy :))

The only way to be sure though, is to take him to the vet.

Hope everything's ok :)
 
I'm really hoping that it's a harmless fatty lump - it does move about not linked to anything I don't think. He is a large chunky guinea - not keen on excercise!

Have got a few photos to show location/size - excuse the undignified pose my Melvin - he put up with my lying him down but was not impressed!

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Hopefully it is harmless. The one Nibbles had moved like it wasn't attached to anything too. Melvin's is a bit bigger though.
 
Would you go to the doctor if you found a lump on yourself?

It makes sense to get it checked! Good Luck xx
 
I'm concerned how I missed this as he is out/held daily.

I shall ring the vets tomorrow see when I can get an appointment - only a ten minute walk away so can pop up after work one evening. Hopefully I can get in tomorrow but Monday is always busy there. I want to go to see the senior vet/owner as he is very experienced - depends which practice he is working at as can't get to the other one unless I get a lift.

Will take them both up as they are always together.

It does look big on the photos but I was gently moving it to the surface for photos - feels more like a cherry tomato size.

Will let you know what the vet says.
 
alisont said:
feels more like a cherry tomato size.

Will let you know what the vet says.
Click to expand...

A Cherry Tomato lump, is a big lump.

Pebbles had a marble sized lump appear overnight, the vet thought it was an inflamed Lymph Nobe, prescribed Baytril. Finished the course of Baytril, lump never went away although it did by it's self but I do think the Ab's played a part. I now think it may have been an abscess.

xx
 
Thanks - have never had too many health problems with guineas and as he is held daily does make me wonder if this has developed quickly as can't think I'd of mised it. It is big for a guinea sized lump. Crunchie in the past had a cyst on the top of her head area but that was small pea sized and did seem to shrink and was afatty lump/cyst.

I won't stop worrying until I have seen the vet and have a better idea what it is.
 
Vets appointment booked for tonight - got last one - different vet but hopefully will be good with guineas. Will report back later on.
 
Just back from the vets and it's good news it's a fatty lump!

Vet did a fine needle biopsy - I held Melvin - he did not wheek and was so good but was most put out after. Vet checked it under the microscope and confirmed it was a fatty lump. Said to monitor it as it could grow but they would only consider removing it if it ruptured.

Said they operated on a guinea to remove ten lumps last week.

So Melvin is ok, as soon as I out him back he had a wash and started eating his tea. Could do with washing the blood off him but think he has had enough for one day, might get the baby wipes on him later otherwise might look at a bath at the weekend, if it does not fade off.

Am so pleased it's nothing serious:)

Thanks from me and Melvin for all the well wishes x
 
I am so pleased it is nothing to worry about. Eliza has a fatty lump near her nipple. Although it is nowhere near as big as Melvins, it was a worry due to it's location but thankfully, Eliza is fine.
 
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