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Large lump near back leg

Liz47

Liz47

Junior Guinea Pig
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I'm gutted, I don't handle Ellie (5 years old) one of my piggies very much as she's skittish but we do handle and health check once a week. I actually picked her up earlier today, checked her claws, mouth/ears/eyes, bottom and teats (as our last piggy had a swollen teat once) all fine. My partner was holding her just now while I was clipping her claws and he felt the lump. It's about the size of 1 1/2 grapes and is at the top of her back leg towards her back. It feels very 'full' and is a bit squishy. I feel really bad for missing it. We're not having much look at the moment as now including Ellie that's 4/6 of our pets poorly and needing vet trips ASAP. I will call the vets tomorrow to hopefully get her booked in Tuesday as I'm out all day tomorrow travelling to an exotic referral for one of our rabbits to have a CT and most likely PTS as she has a lung tumour which has stopped responding to treatment. Anyway, back to Ellie and is there any tips of anything we should ask for at her vet appt? I'm guessing she'll be having surgery to remove, any tips on recovery? She lives with a neutered male, should he go with her or will they need to be separated for risk of him chewing stitches? Thank you for any advice
 
Liz47 said:
I'm gutted, I don't handle Ellie (5 years old) one of my piggies very much as she's skittish but we do handle and health check once a week. I actually picked her up earlier today, checked her claws, mouth/ears/eyes, bottom and teats (as our last piggy had a swollen teat once) all fine. My partner was holding her just now while I was clipping her claws and he felt the lump. It's about the size of 1 1/2 grapes and is at the top of her back leg towards her back. It feels very 'full' and is a bit squishy. I feel really bad for missing it. We're not having much look at the moment as now including Ellie that's 4/6 of our pets poorly and needing vet trips ASAP. I will call the vets tomorrow to hopefully get her booked in Tuesday as I'm out all day tomorrow travelling to an exotic referral for one of our rabbits to have a CT and most likely PTS as she has a lung tumour which has stopped responding to treatment. Anyway, back to Ellie and is there any tips of anything we should ask for at her vet appt? I'm guessing she'll be having surgery to remove, any tips on recovery? She lives with a neutered male, should he go with her or will they need to be separated for risk of him chewing stitches? Thank you for any advice
Click to expand...


Poor you!

All the best! Here is our post-op care advice, including companionship considerations: Tips For Post-operative Care

Very small lumps can suddenly blow up and triple/quadruple in size within less than a day as I know from my own experiences. My Gethin had to be rushed to the vet's a year ago with an fast growing lump on his chest and and concerns that it could be a tumor growing into the chest (thankfully, it was just a rogue fatty lump that went from a couple of millimetres to 5 cm in a matter of days). He did have his wife with him all the time; no problems.

You don't have to feel guilty about missing the lump because it was simply not there.;)

Your piggies can stay together if your vet is OK. Companions don't gnaw on stitches.
 
Thank you all :) The vet came out and told us no fluid came out of Ellie's lump on an FNA, we've decided to ask for surgery as it looks to me like it will just keep growing or ulcerate. The earliest our regular vet (more savvy unlike today) can fit her in is Friday 9th April so we will keep a close eye on her until then.
 
Liz47 said:
Thank you all :) The vet came out and told us no fluid came out of Ellie's lump on an FNA, we've decided to ask for surgery as it looks to me like it will just keep growing or ulcerate. The earliest our regular vet (more savvy unlike today) can fit her in is Friday 9th April so we will keep a close eye on her until then.
Click to expand...

All the best and fingers crossed that the lump behaves until after Easter.
 
Thank you, luckily Ellie's lump seems unchanged. She's going in tomorrow with Rocco for company for her op. One of my rabbits is also in for a big operation so will be an anxious day! I'm unfortunately recovery from surgery, but my partner will take them and has strict instructions on what to take for their packed lunches haha!
 
Ellie has had her lump removed, the vet said it was a tight closure due to the size so to keep a close eye on the wound. We have sent it off for histology, the vet advised it was mostly in the sub cut but slightly attached to the muscle, all of its been removed but not good margins due to lack of space. Ellie is doing really well, she's eating and moving as normal. :)
One of our rabbits also had an eye removed alongside an abscess behind it, so is an anxious night for us keeping an eye on them but they're both doing well.
 

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Glad it all went well.
I am wishing you a peaceful and uneventful night with all of your poorly animals.
 
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