Growth on guinea pig

[Fifi's piggies]

When trimming one of my sows fur today, I found a growth on her lower back. It's flesh-colour luml and about the size of a pinky-finger tip, located on her lower back. She is about three-years-old, generally healthy other than the fact she's always been very large (not over-fed, given the same diet as my other two and has regular exercise but just has just always been bigger than the average piggy.) I haven't noticed any changes in her behaviour or feeding patterns, etc. recently. We will be taking her to the vets as soon as possible but, in the meantime, what can I expect? What could be causing this and what will the treatment be?

 

[Betsy]

Could you take a picture so we have more of an idea what the problem is?

 

[Fifi's piggies]

Done! Couldn't get one at the time as she was impatient to get home and began fidgeting

 

[Claire W]

It could be an abscess, harmless cyst or harmless fatty lump. What does it feel like?

 

[Sarah from Chucklebunnies]

Is it hard? Soft and flexxible? Does it move across the muscle or is it glued down? Does she really fight you when you touch it, go very very still, or simply shuffle about with a 'what's going on' attitude?

 

[Merab]

If you are concerned a trip to the vet is in order.
Only they can give you a proper diagnosis.
Hopefully it nothing to worry about and you will be reassured.
Keep us posted

 

[Wiebke]

Done! Couldn't get one at the time as she was impatient to get home and began fidgeting

Hi and welcome!

Unfortunately, all we can do is guess, not having hands-on access or being qualified to replace a vet.

Please have your girl vet checked. Your vet can assess better what the nature of the lump is and whether it would be better to keep it under observation or whether it needs removing. Lumps can come up quite suddenly to quite a size, so it is not likely you have been missing it it for long. The older piggies get, the more likely they are to develop some lumps and bums. Unfortunately there is quite a variety of them.

This is not an emergency but something you can have checked during regular opening hours at your own convenience.

 

[Fifi's piggies]

Hi and welcome!

Unfortunately, all we can do is guess, not having hands-on access or being qualified to replace a vet.

Please have your girl vet checked. Your vet can assess better what the nature of the lump is and whether it would be better to keep it under observation or whether it needs removing. Lumps can come up quite suddenly to quite a size, so it is not likely you have been missing it it for long. The older piggies get, the more likely they are to develop some lumps and bums. Unfortunately there is quite a variety of them.

Okay thank you! We are booking her in tomorrow

 

[Wiebke]

Okay thank you! We are booking her in tomorrow

Don't panic - this is not an emergency but something you can have checked at your convenience during regular hours.

The ones that need quick attention are the ones that triple or quadruple in size in one day (it can be rather frightening to watch), or if lumps are in a sensitive location or are impeding movement, which this one isn't.

 

[Fifi's piggies]

Don't panic - this is not an emergency but something you can have checked at your convenience during regular hours.

The ones that need quick attention are the ones that triple or quadruple in size in one day (it can be rather frightening to watch), or if lumps are in a sensitive location or are impeding movement, which this one isn't.

Okay thank you! This is reassuring, I did panic when I first saw it! She's a tough old girl so hopefully the vets can sort her out

 

[Fifi's piggies]

If you are concerned a trip to the vet is in order.
Only they can give you a proper diagnosis.
Hopefully it nothing to worry about and you will be reassured.
Keep us posted

Will do!

 

[Fifi's piggies]

Is it hard? Soft and flexxible? Does it move across the muscle or is it glued down? Does she really fight you when you touch it, go very very still, or simply shuffle about with a 'what's going on' attitude?

It moves slightly with the muscle. It doesn't flex or squish beneath my touch (although I did only touch it extremely gently) and is slightly soft to touch and smooth - generally just feels like the rest of her body. She allows me to touch it aside from the odd complaint and shuffle when she gets impatient.

 

[Fifi's piggies]

Update: I've seen images of a sebaceous cyst and it looks very much like what she has! Does anyone have an idea of why these form?

 

[Bill & Ted]

Only a vet could confirm this, my Ted had a sebaceous cyst in his ear. A little scratch that damages the skin or a blocked sebaceous gland caused the grease to build up into a cyst.

 

[Sarah from Chucklebunnies]

Some piggies can develop harmless cysts, some fat filled or fluid filled. I had one piggy who was simply prone to these, I used to carefully get to know all of them and check them all. Because a cyst can become infected. I am hoping that the vet will simply confirm it as a cyst and tell you to keep an eye on it. Hopefully it will not be a problem over time.
Just a note - please check for other cysts on that particular piggy, run your fingers gently across all of her. It is best to know what is going on and if there are any more then you can tell the vet who doesn't have the time to do a proper careful search.
All the best.

 

[Wiebke]

Sebaceous cysts and fatty lumps are pretty common in guinea pigs; especially as they get older. Some can have a genetic disposition for them and have lots. It is not something you can prevent.