Guinea Pig Lump!

[Satterwhitea]

Hello everyone, I am brand new to this forum. I signed up because I am worried about my guinea pig, I have recently found a huge lump/bulge on my guinea pig, Gus Gus, and I am not sure what it could be.

Gus Gus is a little over a year and a half old. He is a little overweight but nothing to extreme for a pig. I give him unlimited amounts of timothy hay and food that is veterinary recommended. Every now and then I will give him fresh greens and maybe a slice of apple, because he loves them. I also have a salt wheel in his cage so his teeth stay filed. A couple of days ago I noticed a large growth on the underside of his neck. At first I dismissed it as fat with the way he was standing. When i picked him up and started to pet under his chin I realized it was a large lump. He doesn't seem to be bothered by it at all. He eats and drink normally. He even lets me pick him up and look at it without struggle. When pressed on it is quite solid, where as it does not move around and does not swoosh down. It is under the fur with no balding, discoloration, or cowlicks from continuous grooming by Gus Gus. He has not had any known injuries lately and has not gotten into any fights with fellow pigs. My question is what it could be. I am extremely worried it is life threatening. The link below contains two pictures so you can have a better look. The lump you see in the picture extends across the underside of Gus Gus and gets only a little bit smaller as it reaches the left side of his neck.

http://s1258.photobucket.com/albums...whitea/?action=view&current=iphonepics087.jpg

Thank you all for you time! I really appreciate it!

 

[Lola1]

Hi there.
It could be an abscess as I have just had the same thing with my rescue guinea pig. After having her for only 30 minutes I found a large lump under her chin. The vet gave some antibiotics for her water but this didn't stop it from bursting a week later, pretty horrible! I now have some quite time consuming but worthwhile treatment for her, she has twice daily Baytril in a syringe and I also constantly open the wound and clear the pus with saline solution. It looks like we are winning the battle as the lump is now virtually gone. She has been very good at letting me clean it which has helped. The vet thinks it may be a tooth abscess and there is every chance it may return but we just have to see.
Essentially take him to the vet as they can prescribe antibiotics, also ask for some probiotics to help his gut as the Baytril will destroy his friendly bacteria.

I hope all goes well!
P.S this is a great forum as I learned most of what I have told you from this site!

 

[flips]

Please take your boy to a vet so that the lump can be assessed and he can get treatment if needed.

 

[Jessie]

Mine is the same! She has one too and is on Baytril is a bit of a struggle but have it down to a fine art! She isn't liking me at the moment! Thanks for the probiotics idea! only her's has not bursted! but going down allot! I'm hoping she'll get better she doesn't like to eat in front of me either!
Jessica
X

 

[Mother Hubbard]

Blimey it must be catching...8...My big bum bloss has same thing. But now her under carriage is swollen, we've been to vets today, had an injection and on baytril. I've separated her (thank goodness for spare cage) cleaned her and using some nappy rash cream... Poor thing she's in pain. She's eating and drinking well but clearly theres a decent infection going on so she's back on Wednesday. It came on so quickly. I feel so bad... I've made her cage extra comfy and disinfected everything doubly.

I don't want to disturb her too much, she gets cuddles but I'm sure she doesn't want moving around too much.

 

[rodentlady1987]

Take him to å vet My Mduli had 2 lumps removed last year, which turned out to be lipoma's (fatty lumps) she has another now, which I am monitoring but it dosent need to be removed unless it grows or causes her pain! Its important to have å vet check any lump

 

[Spiggly]

I have noticed my boy has exactly the same lump as yours, only about half an hour ago.

I have been readingup on some sligtly worrying lump stories about strep infections online. I am going to try and get to the emergency vet tomorrow and getbsome abs as i am away for a week and otherwise he may suffer while i am away.

Fingers crossed for both our boys. Does yours live on his own? Mine has his buddy and i worry it is contagious and he will get it too.