Lump on back - vet trip booked!

[DougalandDiego]

Hi all,

Found a small lump on Dougal’s back to the right of his spine near his shoulder blade area. It seems to be an under the skin lump but he hasn’t lost weight and still seems himself. He has an appointment booked in for Monday (this was the quickest appointment they had available). Unfortunately the guinea pig savvy vet we use that’s recommended on the forum isn’t in next week so we’re seeing another vet at the same practice. They did say if they needed a second opinion they would contact her and book an appointment in when she’s back. I don’t like that we’re not seeing the specialist but I don’t want to leave it another week before he gets seen! I wondered if anyone had any experience with lumps and could offer any advice before our vet visit? It’s quite small at the moment (smaller than a 5p) so hoping for the best!

Thanks everyone

 

[Claire W]

Good that you have an appointment booked. Hopefully it’s just a fatty lump or harmless cyst. Let us know how you get on x

 

[Merab]

Hope the vet trip goes well.
Hoping it’s nothing serious

 

[Siikibam]

All the best for Monday.

 

[DougalandDiego]

Thank you all! Hope he’s ok! If it’s a cyst do they normally recommend removal or medication?

 

[Claire W]

Thank you all! Hope he’s ok! If it’s a cyst do they normally recommend removal or medication?

It depends on the cyst. Sometimes surgery to remove it is recommended but mostly cysts can be left alone

 

[DougalandDiego]

Ah that’s good to know thanks @Claire W

 

[DougalandDiego]

Hi everyone. Just wanted to update you all - not the news we hoped for. The vet we saw tried to take some fluid and couldn’t as it’s quite hard. He thinks it’s a tumour but has said it could be benign so I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I’ve booked him in with Christina who is the piggy specialist next Monday to see what she advises and go from there.

 

[Claire W]

I’m sorry for the not do good news Fingers crossed that if it is a tumour, that it’s benign. Good luck with the piggy specialist x

 

[DougalandDiego]

I’m sorry for the not do good news Fingers crossed that if it is a tumour, that it’s benign. Good luck with the piggy specialist x

Thanks @Claire W hopefully after Monday and seeing the specialist we will know a bit more and can go from there. Poor little Chap.

 

[Siikibam]

Good luck for Monday. Hopefully it’s benign.

 

[DougalandDiego]

Thank you @Siikibam me too. He’s such a happy little boy and hate to think it’s anything awful.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear this. Fingers crossed it’s benign.

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

Sorry to hear this, I hope it's something benign like my Winifred's lump last year (that was found to be a granuloma or steatitis after Simon Maddock removed it, my vet had thought it was a tumour and nothing could be done for it.)

 

[DougalandDiego]

Oh that’s good to know thank you @Qualcast&Flymo . I’m really hoping for positive news Did they remove it completely and then send it to be tested? That’s another concern of mine that the options the vet gave me today were sedate and send a sample then decide to remove or not sample it and just have it removed. I don’t want him to have the stress of sedation twice but then don’t want him to have it removed if he doesn’t need it to be. Hoping Christina will be able to advise on the best course of action that gives him the least stress possible but good to know that others have done! Thought I’d attach a picture of my handsome boy I took the other day

 

[DougalandDiego]

Thanks @Piggies&buns

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

Yes, that was after the lump was removed and sent for analysis. Simon did a needle biopsy at an initial appointment, but it was inconclusive because the lump was fairly hard so it didn't extract enough cells. He thought it was worth removing though because even if it were a tumour, if he could remove it all there would be a reasonable chance of it not recurring.

 

[VickiA]

I hope you’ll have a clearer picture after next week.

 

[Merab]

Sorry for the news.
Hopefully the lump will prove to be easily dealt with.
Holding you in my thoughts

 

[Flutterby]

Sorry it's not the best new so far! Fingers crossed it's just a fatty lump!

 

[DougalandDiego]

Thank you everyone

 

[DougalandDiego]

Realised I hadn’t updated Dougal’s thread about his lump!

I took him back to the pig specialist who we normally see and she managed to get some fluid from the lump and send it to the lab which hey confirmed was a benign lump that must have started in one of his hair follicles! She did suggest removal still due to the fact that it would grow and eventually burst and could run the risk of getting infected so we decided to remove it whilst it was fairly small.

He went in for his op today and the vets said it went really well, however, they noticed when stitching the wound up that he had very thick skin (think she said half a cm thick!) she said it was nothing to worry about but that he needed an extra stitch!

Since he’s been home he’s eaten veggies, pellets and hay so hoping he continues to keep his appetite up so I don’t have to worry about syringe feeding!

 

[DougalandDiego]

 

[Eddie & Elvis]

What a relief it wasn't a tumour! Wishing Dougal a speedy recovery I hope his beautiful crazy fur grows back soon too

 

[DougalandDiego]

Thank you @Eddie & Elvis ! Yes I’m not sure he’s going to be happy with me about his beautiful long locks being cut!

 

[Eddie & Elvis]

I'm sure he'll soon forgive you with a few sneaky treats

 

[alpacasqueak]

He’s still gorgeous even half shaved! Go Dougal, you brave little man! xx

 

[Claire W]

I hope he makes a swift recovery x

 

[DougalandDiego]

Thanks @Claire W ! He keeps having a good munch in his hay pile then falling asleep bless him!

 

[YvonneBlue]

Get well soon handsome boy.