Lump found in female gp

[DMS260820]

Just been to vets tonight. They found a lump in dot my female guinea pigs private area. The vet felt it by pressing dots tummy area.
The symptoms so far have been straining and wheeking when pooping and laying on her side to poop also eating less hay than normal.
Apparently it could either be a bladder stone a tumour or just an enlarged infected lymph node. Ive got zythromax and metacam for 10 days to see if it is the infected lymph node.if not am havin her ex rayed after this course of antibiotics is over and may need dot spayed (if thats how you say it?) Or a flush out. Anyone ever had this with a sow? Shes only 2 I'm so worried

 

[sport_billy]

Hello

So sorry to read this, what a shock

I would advise getting the x-ray done as soon as possible so you know what you are dealing with.

Were are you located please? We may be able to suggest a good piggy vet in your area.

Sending love to little Dot.

 

[Wiebke]

Just been to vets tonight. They found a lump in dot my female guinea pigs private area. The vet felt it by pressing dots tummy area.
The symptoms so far have been straining and wheeking when pooping and laying on her side to poop also eating less hay than normal.
Apparently it could either be a bladder stone a tumour or just an enlarged infected lymph node. Ive got zythromax and metacam for 10 days to see if it is the infected lymph node.if not am havin her ex rayed after this course of antibiotics is over and may need dot spayed (if thats how you say it?) Or a flush out. Anyone ever had this with a sow? Shes only 2 I'm so worried

Hi! I am sorry for your worries. It very much depends on the nature of the of the lump, so you have to take it from the findings. Is the lump sat directly above the genitalia or off centre? Personally, I would strongly recommend an x-ray with minimal sedation sooner rather than later.
A spaying operation is only needed if the lump is located inside the reproductive system, but if it is a bladder stone or other lump (abscess, cyst or tumour), then it may require an operation.
Has your vet checked if it is a bladder stone sitting in the urethra and at a risk of blocking it? Please see your vet ASAP if your girl is suddenly looking very ill.

Has your girl got painkillers as she in clear discomfort?

Please support her with syringe feeding to keep the guts going and her weight up. Your home care is as important as any medical care when a piggy is not well. Weigh daily at the same time and adjust your support feed accordingly.
Most piggies react well to Zithromax, but in some it can cause total loss of appetite. You still need to continue the course. Add probiotics to the syringe feed and give a pinch either 1 hours before you give the Zithromax (US recommenation) or two hours afterwards (UK recommendation).
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide (includes information on support products as well as how you make mushed up pellets and how to cut off the syringe tip correctly to allow the fibre to come through)

If it is any consolation to you, I have had several much older sows come through bladder ops (in one case, repeated), spaying ops and last year a 6 year old with an infected cyst right next to her genitalia sucessfully. I've also nursed two piggies with severe eye injuries through appetite loss with Zithromax (out of a lot more who have never had a problem with it, even with repeated courses). With determination, you can get through anything that is healable!

Try to bundle your worries, do not let them paralyse you and use the energy your fear is generating to help and support your girl as best as you can.

 

[DMS260820]

Shes been seen yeaterday by kim at cat and rabbit care clinic. She doesnt know without x raying and they go on holiday soon. They r back the 30th july. Dot is booked in at 9.30 that day. I'm goin to get her xrayed and an op if possible.i dont care about the money. The zithromax has totally made her not eat.i have critical care that she licks up all on her own out of a bowl.i make critical sanswiches kut of 2 slices of cucumber too for hydration. Simon has told me to half her dose if zythromax to see if its easier on her gut. I have probiotics too from pets at home the vetark one. Basicly everything planned out. I'm just worried about leaving her as it my wedding day on 27th july .but she mite have an appetite by then. If i lose her il be gutted. I think il stick with males in the future tho haha . But the girls are alot cleaner

 

[DMS260820]

Hello

So sorry to read this, what a shock

I would advise getting the x-ray done as soon as possible so you know what you are dealing with.

Were are you located please? We may be able to suggest a good piggy vet in your area.

Sending love to little Dot.

Northampton is use simon and kim and cat and rabbit care clinic. So all is good there. Its so bad timing my vets are a couple and they are going on holiday for the week on fri. And they are all booked up this week because of people panicking about them not being there.ive made sure i have dot booked on the day they return to work

 

[Claire W]

Hey, Males can get lumps too My boy had suspicious lumps a couple of weeks ago but thankfully they turned out to be fatty lumps.

I understand that Simon and Kim are on holiday soon but is there another vet at the practice who can take a quick xray?

 

[DMS260820]

Hey, Males can get lumps too My boy had suspicious lumps a couple of weeks ago but thankfully they turned out to be fatty lumps.

I understand that Simon and Kim are on holiday soon but is there another vet at the practice who can take a quick xray?

I know my 7 year old boar died 2 weeks ago .his was cancer lumps in the neck. I always get sick animals in pairs. I have gerbils too but they hardly ever get sick. I really want the vet i trust to do it really . Plus i they are fully booked cant get in. And shes not on deaths door so cant do much

 

[Wiebke]

Shes been seen yeaterday by kim at cat and rabbit care clinic. She doesnt know without x raying and they go on holiday soon. They r back the 30th july. Dot is booked in at 9.30 that day. I'm goin to get her xrayed and an op if possible.i dont care about the money. The zithromax has totally made her not eat.i have critical care that she licks up all on her own out of a bowl.i make critical sanswiches kut of 2 slices of cucumber too for hydration. Simon has told me to half her dose if zythromax to see if its easier on her gut. I have probiotics too from pets at home the vetark one. Basicly everything planned out. I'm just worried about leaving her as it my wedding day on 27th july .but she mite have an appetite by then. If i lose her il be gutted. I think il stick with males in the future tho haha . But the girls are alot cleaner

Kim will have automatically checked for stones in the urethra and she is one of the very best and considered diagnostician I have ever met, so it cannot be that; they have operated on all my older and frail piggies in last years, so you are in the best and safest hands possible.

I would recommend ordering fibreplex and to mix it into the mush if necessary. It has helped to getting Hafren through two full courses of zithromax and saved her from the risk of an eye removal operation at 6 years old last winter; she still has got both eyes and is very much eyeing up her 7th birthday in a couple of months.
Fibreplex for Rabbits and Small Rodents - From £7.90

Can you get somebody to look after her for the day? I you can add your UK county, one of us may be able to help.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...cation-and-creating-an-avatar-picture.107444/

PS: Boars have their own problems and can get lumps just as well...

 

[DMS260820]

Kim will have automatically checked for stones in the urethra and she is one of the very best and considered diagnostician I have ever met, so it cannot be that; they have operated on all my older and frail piggies in last years, so you are in the best and safest hands possible.

I would recommend ordering fibreplex and to mix it into the mush if necessary. It has helped to getting Hafren through two full courses of zithromax and saved her from the risk of an eye removal operation at 6 years old last winter; she still has got both eyes and is very much eyeing up her 7th birthday in a couple of months.
Fibreplex for Rabbits and Small Rodents - From £7.90

Can you get somebody to look after her for the day? I you can add your UK county, one of us may be able to help.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...cation-and-creating-an-avatar-picture.107444/

Is critical care no good? Its just that she will demolish cc on her own. I dont need syrnges. Got them incase tho. The big ones. Kim did check and said it could be stones. Or a lymph node swollen or a tumour. Her symptoms are straining to poo and eating a little less hay. Shes lost a tad of weight.but she was fat anyway for a small pig.I'm going to go now and sort her out.i need a routine going

 

[DMS260820]

Do you think i can keep her going til kim is back? I dont have much choice. I literally cant think about anything but this.stressed to the max

 

[Wiebke]

Is critical care no good? Its just that she will demolish cc on her own. I dont need syrnges. Got them incase tho. The big ones

Critical care is fine; this is the feeding/nutrition bit. Fibreplex is stronger support for the gut flora than your usual probiotic; it can also help to rebuild the gut afterwards.
You can mix the two, and if necessary mix all with mushed up pellets if your girl doesn't like the taste. If she is still eating from a bowl, then that is very good indeed! With zithromax it is either no trouble at all (my Hywel absolutely loved it) or total loss of appetite in some cases, with nothing in between. It is a very strong antibiotic, after all.

 

[Wiebke]

Do you think i can keep her going til kim is back? I dont have much choice. I literally cant think about anything but this.stressed to the max

Yes, you can! Can you please post your county, so one of us can help you out on your special day if necessary.

 

[Wiebke]

Hafren needed feeding support for over a month and Pili Pala has been on support feed ever since her GI stasis last October; she has IBS.

 

[DMS260820]

Yes, you can! Can you please post your county, so one of us can help you out on your special day if necessary.

Ive had good luck with septrin before and baytril but zythromax has been bsd in 2 of my pigs. Dots dose was 0.5 twice a day but now simon said give 0.25 once a day

 

[Claire W]

I completely understand as I prefer to see the vet I trust too.

Sadly Guinea pigs tend to get poorly at the most in convenient of times. I had a poorly pig leading up to my wedding

I have gerbils too and very rarely have problems with them!

 

[DMS260820]

Hafren needed feeding support for over a month and Pili Pala has been on support feed ever since her GI stasis last October; she has IBS.

Jesus. I'm starting to think guinea pigs arnt for me. I mean i love them but after my 2 i have now .i think il stay with gerbils. One good thing is that if dot is spayed. My boar can be with her hopefully

 

[DMS260820]

I completely understand as I prefer to see the vet I trust too.

Sadly Guinea pigs tend to get poorly at the most in convenient of times. I had a poorly pig leading up to my wedding

I have gerbils too and very rarely have problems with them!

Gerbils are hard as nails . They tend to get respiratory problems when old. And i had a male with a scent gland tumour .but thats it. One of my males lived to 5 years old

 

[Claire W]

Gerbils are hard as nails . They tend to get respiratory problems when old. And i had a male with a scent gland tumour .but thats it. One of my males lived to 5 years old

I lost my last four gerbils to scent gland tumours but they were all brothers so I think it was in their genes.

Please don't give up on piggies. It really is luck of the draw on if they become poorly or not

 

[Wiebke]

Jesus. I'm starting to think guinea pigs arnt for me. I mean i love them but after my 2 i have now .i think il stay with gerbils. One good thing is that if dot is spayed. My boar can be with her hopefully

That makes sense why you have been talking about spaying! Take a deep breath - it is normally not that hectic!

PS: Four of my own sows have been spayed by the Maddocks; two of them as an emergency in older sows and two spayed adoptees. I am currently saving up for the ops for two more ovarian cyst sows that are thankfully not urgent.

 

[Wiebke]

Ive had good luck with septrin before and baytril but zythromax has been bsd in 2 of my pigs. Dots dose was 0.5 twice a day but now simon said give 0.25 once a day

Halving the dose can help. With Hafren just splitting it into two doses a day got her as far as eating her mush on her own with me no longer having to syringe feed.

 

[DMS260820]

That makes sense why you have been talking about spaying! Take a deep breath - it is normally not that hectic!

PS: Four of my own sows have been spayed by the Maddocks; two of them as an emergency in older sows and two spayed adoptees. I am currently saving up for the ops for two more ovarian cyst sows that are thankfully not urgent.

Can you do a payment plan?

 

[DMS260820]

I lost my last four gerbils to scent gland tumours but they were all brothers so I think it was in their genes.

Please don't give up on piggies. It really is luck of the draw on if they become poorly or not

I have been adopting all mine from pets at home.guinea pigs that is. Yea must have been genes. One of my pigs sky who lived to 7 has no problems atall til the end oh his life.but his bro had quite a few

 

[DMS260820]

Thanks everyone for the support. Your all great . Il try keep this updated

 

[DMS260820]

Just mucked her cage out and shes nibbling fresh hay . Good start . Now to try cc on dolloped on her log bridge lol . Shes also lapping up cc like its going out of fashion

 

[DMS260820]

How much critical care do i need to give dot per day. Baring in mind i work from 8 until 5 6 ish. I have just gave 15ml of it now. Mite do 15ml before bed and then 15 ml in morning before work.

 

[Wiebke]

How much critical care do i need to give dot per day. Baring in mind i work from 8 until 5 6 ish. I have just gave 15ml of it now. Mite do 15ml before bed and then 15 ml in morning before work.

It depends on how much else she is eating. Ideally you make a bowl full and let her eat as much as she wants to on her own 3-4 times a day if she is eating by herself. A healthy adult piggy eats the equivalent of between 90-120 ml in a day; when a piggy is off its food you try to get in what it will take. 15 ml in one go is not a bad portion and about as much as piggy that is not acutely ill and struggling to eat will take in one sitting. If she is eating mushed pellets, then leave her with another bowl when you go to work; try to get three feeding sessions in in the evening.

You can find more information and advice on that score in the syringe feeding guide.

 

[DMS260820]

Shes eating nothing at the moment on her own. But she is taking syringe feeding well.its the first time i have done it with her. She has a tiny mouth which doesnt help lol

I have got to do this til the 30th july. I'm.hoping once the big dose of zythromax wears off and she goes onto the smaller does in the morning, she will get an appetite

 

[DMS260820]

Sorry about all the updates. But i have just got her pooing again using the cc . But they are small

 

[Wiebke]

Sorry about all the updates. But i have just got her pooing again using the cc . But they are small

Please keep in mind that the poo output is lagging 1-2 days behind the input. Your task is now to just keep her going and get as much into her as you can whichever way.

Like so much, syringe feeding is a matter of practice. it is a mixture of chivving, praising, piggy whispering and trying to get a little bit more in after the first 3-5 ml have gone in pretty quickly...
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips

Try to get hold of the fibreplex. It has made the difference for me between having to feed Hafren with a syringe and her eating the mush from a bowl.

 

[DMS260820]

Please keep in mind that the poo output is lagging 1-2 days behind the input. Your task is now to just keep her going and get as much into her as you can whichever way.

Like so much, syringe feeding is a matter of practice. it is a mixture of chivving, praising, piggy whispering and trying to get a little bit more in after the first 3-5 ml have gone in pretty quickly...
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling thankyou. Shes starting to show interest on her own now