• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Lump side of neck / shoulder

Black piggies

Black piggies

Senior Guinea Pig
Joined
Dec 12, 2016
Messages
5,066
Reaction score
3,997
Points
1,375
Location
Hertfordshire UK
I noticed my 2.5 year old sow had a small lump under the skin, on her right side a few months ago. The vet took a sample and the results came back not cancerous, no further action recommended.

The lump has grown, what might happen now? How would I know she's not suffering because of it, could it affect her airways?

The vet seems conscientious but not very clued up about piggies.

(Unhelpfully her pet insurance now has an exclusion on any treatment for her lump)
 
Black piggies said:
I noticed my 2.5 year old sow had a small lump under the skin, on her right side a few months ago. The vet took a sample and the results came back not cancerous, no further action recommended.

The lump has grown, what might happen now? How would I know she's not suffering because of it, could it affect her airways?

The vet seems conscientious but not very clued up about piggies.

(Unhelpfully her pet insurance now has an exclusion on any treatment for her lump)
Click to expand...

Hi! If the lump is growing noticeably (more than doubled in size and continuing to grow) and is starting to impact on her movement/bodily functions, then it is time to see a vet for a check-up, in case it needs to be removed.

Here is a link to recommended UK vets: Recommended Guinea Pig Vets
If you can travel as far as Northampton, you will be able to get one of the most experienced guinea pig vets and one of the best operating vets when it comes to guinea pig. They are general vets that are specialising in cats, rabbits and guinea pigs so they are up to scratch on them and see a lot more than most general and exotics vets.
The Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic
 
Wiebke said:
Hi! If the lump is growing noticeably (more than doubled in size and continuing to grow) and is starting to impact on her movement/bodily functions, then it is time to see a vet for a check-up, in case it needs to be removed.

Here is a link to recommended UK vets: Recommended Guinea Pig Vets
If you can travel as far as Northampton, you will be able to get one of the most experienced guinea pig vets and one of the best operating vets when it comes to guinea pig. They are general vets that are specialising in cats, rabbits and guinea pigs so they are up to scratch on them and see a lot more than most general and exotics vets.
The Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic
Click to expand...

Many thanks Wiebke, I'd say it has doubled in size. I live 50 miles from Northampton. I always feel anxious taking the pigs far as they're so scared, I only do it if I need to travel for out of hours vet. I worry they'll have a heart attack but not sure if it's hamsters that happens to.
 
Black piggies said:
Many thanks Wiebke, I'd say it has doubled in size. I live 50 miles from Northampton. I always feel anxious taking the pigs far as they're so scared, I only do it if I need to travel for out of hours vet. I worry they'll have a heart attack but not sure if it's hamsters that happens to.
Click to expand...
Guinea pigs do pretty well with travelling, just put hay in the carrier and take slices of cucumber to keep the pig hydrated. Out of all the pets ive had, my old dog was the worst at travelling
 
Black piggies said:
Many thanks Wiebke, I'd say it has doubled in size. I live 50 miles from Northampton. I always feel anxious taking the pigs far as they're so scared, I only do it if I need to travel for out of hours vet. I worry they'll have a heart attack but not sure if it's hamsters that happens to.
Click to expand...

Take a deep breath - guinea pigs are surprisingly good travellers! :tu:

I am travelling pretty regularly both on the train and by car to the same clinic, which is a good hour's journey from door to door and have more than once come back home with a freshly operated piggy and their companion on the train; with a freshly neutered Llelo only 3 weeks ago on the train. And I have never lost one! Llelo was eating and rumbling away soon after his arrival home...
I've never lost one even though I have made much longer journeys (over 3 hours on the train with some changes) to pick up adopted piggies or helped to transport piggies in between rescues with piggies aged between 7 weeks and 9 years. At the end of November I have travelled home by train from East Kent to the West Midlands via London (and a walk between London stations to avoid the underground) with two girls. They have survived their ordeal just fine!
Simon (the Northampton vet) sees dental piggies from as far as Edinburgh (which is an 8 hour journey each way) and all the way from the Southwest. You are comparatively local, which is why I am suggesting him.

Here are our travelling tips: Travelling with guinea pigs
 
Wiebke said:
Take a deep breath - guinea pigs are surprisingly good travellers! :tu:

I am travelling pretty regularly both on the train and by car to the same clinic, which is a good hour's journey from door to door and have more than once come back home with a freshly operated piggy and their companion on the train; with a freshly neutered Llelo only 3 weeks ago on the train. And I have never lost one! Llelo was eating and rumbling away soon after his arrival home...
I've never lost one even though I have made much longer journeys (over 3 hours on the train with some changes) to pick up adopted piggies or helped to transport piggies in between rescues with piggies aged between 7 weeks and 9 years. At the end of November I have travelled home by train from East Kent to the West Midlands via London (and a walk between London stations to avoid the underground) with two girls. They have survived their ordeal just fine!
Simon (the Northampton vet) sees dental piggies from as far as Edinburgh (which is an 8 hour journey each way) and all the way from the Southwest. You are comparatively local, which is why I am suggesting him.

Here are our travelling tips: Travelling with guinea pigs
Click to expand...

Wow that's a lot of guinea pig travelling! Maybe I'll take the pigs on a short drive to build up to a little vet holiday to Northampton. Thanks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top