Lump on piggies side (vet app already made)

[Dilly's Piggies]

Today I noticed a lump on my sow Lottie, it's on her right side low down behind her armpit. At first I thought it was a hair matt, but upon looking closer it looks like a pus filled lump, abscess maybe? A vet appointment is already scheduled for her tomorrow, but I'm panicking about what may happen so I was hoping you guys could give me an idea of what this might be and what the vet might do...

I have no idea what caused this, but she was bathed in gorgeous guineas lice n easy shampoo 2 days ago and I didn't notice this lump, as far as I'm aware it has come up in the past 2 days so it could be an allergic reaction to the shampoo, other possibilities could be a splinter as they are fed hay on the floor and like to lay in it, or maybe she was bitten by another pig and it got infected, or it could even be an infected bug bite...

What do you guys think? The skin surrounding it is slightly red although the camera didn't pick that up, she didn't seem too bothered and let us examine it without any obvious signs of pain although it does look painful to me. She has been slightly lethargic and breathing heavier than usual, weight has dropped very slightly but it could also be the heat we have at the moment, she's still eating and drinking normally. We've felt her everywhere after seeing this and there are not any more, only this one.

 

[Wiebke]

Today I noticed a lump on my sow Lottie, it's on her right side low down behind her armpit. At first I thought it was a hair matt, but upon looking closer it looks like a pus filled lump, abscess maybe? A vet appointment is already scheduled for her tomorrow, but I'm panicking about what may happen so I was hoping you guys could give me an idea of what this might be and what the vet might do...

I have no idea what caused this, but she was bathed in gorgeous guineas lice n easy shampoo 2 days ago and I didn't notice this lump, as far as I'm aware it has come up in the past 2 days so it could be an allergic reaction to the shampoo, other possibilities could be a splinter as they are fed hay on the floor and like to lay in it, or maybe she was bitten by another pig and it got infected, or it could even be an infected bug bite...

What do you guys think? The skin surrounding it is slightly red although the camera didn't pick that up, she didn't seem too bothered and let us examine it without any obvious signs of pain although it does look painful to me. She has been slightly lethargic and breathing heavier than usual, weight has dropped very slightly but it could also be the heat we have at the moment, she's still eating and drinking normally. We've felt her everywhere after seeing this and there are not any more, only this one.

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Hi! Any lump needs to be vet checked, as we cannot making any diagnoses without a hands-on examination as to the nature of your lump. The good news is that you have found it early and are seeing a vet promptly.

Generally a lump is harmless if it is sitting loosely in the skin and can be moved. If it is deeper in the body, then you are either dealing with harmless fatty lumps, abscesses or benign or malign tumours.
The overwhelming majority of lumps are thankfully harmless and will be kept under observation unless they impede movement or grow too large. If your vet is suspecting something on the nasty side, they will usually ask to have a biopsy done to be sent off to lab for testing.

Please take a deep breath! Send healing and positive thoughts to your piggy with every slow exhale to calm yourself down whenever you start panicking. That is much more helpful than worrying yourself into shreds right now. Your piggy is not going to die tomorrow.

 

[Claire W]

All the best at the vets. As stated above, lumps can be anything ranging from harmless fatty lumps to abscesses to nasty tumours but whatever it is, you have caught it early.

Just last week, my boy developed several lumps in suspicious areas but thankfully a lump biopsy has concluded that they’re harmless fatty lumps.

I am keeping everything crossed for you x

 

[Flutterby]

Good luck at the vets, fingers crossed it can be sorted easily xx

 

[Betsy]

Good luck at the vets. Just to let you know that Betsy has had a couple of small lumps on her for about 18 months now. They have never grown any bigger and don't bother her at all. One is on left shoulder and the other is at the top of her right arm pit.