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Growths under the belly

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Dav

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Hi there,

I have some concerns regarding my older guinea pig (I have 2 females, 4 years old and 1 year old), she developed 3 growths of a cherry size under her belly. Some time ago there was only one just under her fore leg, but I recently noticed another two on the lower belly. They are quite firm and can be moved under the skin but the pig seems not to feel any pain when touching it. However, her behaviour changed, not much, but she looks a bit less active. Maybe its a kind of lipoma or sth like this?
I washed her once in nizoral (a month ago) and her skin condition improved much and she looked happy but how to get rid of those lumps? To be honest I dont trust local vet, he does not specialize in small rodents, so maybe someone could give some advise regarding some creams/sprays/lotions that could help? many thanks
 
Welcome to the forum Dav

Please give your location and hopefully a more cavy savvy vet can be recommended. No lotion or potion will deal with lumps. An exam by a good vet and the diagnosis is needed before any treatment can be recommended.

Suzy x
 
Hi Dav

I have several guineas with lumps, one has a belly covered with them (last count over 20!) and has had two removed due to their location (one was interfering with her ability to swallow). She is checked by my vet regularly.

It really does depend on what they are and where they are as to whether you should be of concern. My little sow who has loads, has mainly fatty lumps which are harmless however a smaller one which was firmer than the others and was causing concern (it was ulcerating) turned out to be cancerous and therefore was removed, so it is vital (as said) that your guineas are checked out by a guinea savvy vet. Ask them to take a sample of the lump (they will do this with a needle) and get this analysed. You can then deal with whatever it turns out to be.

Typically they are nothing to worry about but it is important to find out so you know what you are dealing with.

Let us know how things go?
 
There are several kinds of lumps from the harmless to the not so harmless, so it is important to have them checked by a good vet - he needs to feel them as well as see them. Chances are that they are lipomas, but a diagnosis over the internet is impossible.

http://www.guinealynx.info/lumps.html
 
Suzygpr said:
Welcome to the forum Dav

Please give your location and hopefully a more cavy savvy vet can be recommended. No lotion or potion will deal with lumps. An exam by a good vet and the diagnosis is needed before any treatment can be recommended.

Suzy x
Click to expand...

i live in Milton Keynes... and btw, do you know what sort of money do you need to prepare for such a vet examination? thanks
 
Truffle had a biopsy for this recently, it cost £65 at the vets. Turned out to be lipomas.

Hope all is well for you xx
 
Dav said:
i live in Milton Keynes... and btw, do you know what sort of money do you need to prepare for such a vet examination? thanks
Click to expand...

Normally about £25-£30 plus any medication or treatment. Treatment could involve drugs, tests, surgery, or all of the above. An initial consultation wouldn't cost much though, probably about £50-£60 if they try some medication. Anything more than that would be discussed with you and require a follow up appointment.
 
Whoa my vet is taking the mick then. . . . £15 to examine and £65 for the biopsy and no meds involved . . . . grrrr
 
My vet said a lipoma is harmless, just fatty tissue (I have one in my back) and require no treatment x
 
gingerpig said:
Whoa my vet is taking the mick then. . . . £15 to examine and £65 for the biopsy and no meds involved . . . . grrrr
Click to expand...

I don't think so! £15 is a very cheap consultation charge. Where I go its £31.95. Cameo's lump analysis was £71.00 - they are expensive because they are sent to an external lab to be looked at by a pathologist.
 
Ah ok, that makes sense then thanks x

(It's more for a larger animal, think dog consultation is £40)
 
i just contacted my local petsathome vet, they have all facilities in one site (lab, hospital) so hopefully it wont be too expensive...

do you think they are good? they sold me one of the pigs last year...
 
also, my both pigs have white flakes all over their fur (some kind of guinea pig dandruff? :)) ) Do you think nizoral is good treatment for that? if yes, how often wash them in it? Or maybe there are better shampoos/treatments?
 
Have you looked on the sticky vet thread for an exotic vet in your area? If there isn't one then add a post asking if anyone knows of any. There's not many people that would recommend anything from P@H including vetinary care but in the end you're better off going to their vet than none at all. I recently changed vets ( from a farm and small animal vets ) when I found an exotic one not too far from me, I took all four pigs in for a check-up and was quoted £25 for one consultation, £40 for all four which was very reasonable as this included lump checking on two different piggies - both cases of lumps were different by the way so you really need to get them checked. Flaky skin could be anything including mites, lice and fungal. Again - you need to see a cavy savvy vet. Do you treat regularly ( every 4 weeks ) with Ivermectin for prevention? You can also get advice from Gorgeous Guineas regarding skin conditions http://gorgeousguineas.com/
but your first port of call should be an experienced vet. Hope that helps.
:)
 
Milton Keynes is so close to Northampton that I would suggest you go go Simon Maddock at the Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic. Simon is one of the best gunea pig vets in the country and is well worth travelling a little way to.

Simon Maddock
Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic
Northampton
NN5 6LP

Telephone 01604 478888
 
Growths

Hi. One of my older girls has had lumps and we have just found some more on her. The first ones were just fatty lumps and we are hoping that these are going to be the same. Going to the vet a week on Sunday to have them checked and see about biopsy. Roll on Christmas!

HO HO HO
 
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