Lumps on Ginger

[Deleted member 157166]

Hello,

I’ve found 2 lumps on Ginger, a big one on her belly quite big, you can move it and squish it and a smaller harder one near her privates. I am absolutely terrified that it’s lymphoma (and I’ve got a gut feeling that it might be ) She is only quite a young pig at 1 year and 8 months old
I felt it when i was doing my checks. These weren’t there yesterday.

I’m going to try and book her in for an emergency appointment tomorrow morning.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Viennese Furbabies]

I'm very sorry! Hope the vet can get to the bottom of these lumps.
All fingers and paws crossed that it's not lymphoma.

 

[Wiebke]

Fingers very firmly crossed that your fears don't come true.

Please be aware that lumps of all sorts can come up very quickly to quite a size. We see regularly posts about 'How could I miss a lump like this? - No, you are not a bad owner, they really happen as fast as that.

 

[Deleted member 157166]

Fingers very firmly crossed that your fears don't come true.

Please be aware that lumps of all sorts can come up very quickly to quite a size. We see regularly posts about 'How could I miss a lump like this? - No, you are not a bad owner, they really happen as fast as that.

I’ve found a few more smaller ones near her genitalia. I’m absolutely devastated

 

[larnanoomia]

I’ve found a few more smaller ones near her genitalia. I’m absolutely devastated

Hope you are ok and the piggy has some positive news at the vets . So worrying when they are not well x

 

[Deleted member 157166]

Hope you are ok and the piggy has some positive news at the vets . So worrying when they are not well x

I’m expecting the worst and hoping for the best. She is acting herself, eating, drinking, and going to the toilet. Running around. If there’s any pain, she’s hiding it very well indeed

 

[larnanoomia]

I’m expecting the worst and hoping for the best. She is acting herself, eating, drinking, and going to the toilet. Running around. If there’s any pain, she’s hiding it very well indeed

That's very positive. Hopefully piggies can have lumps and bumps and carry on as normal and be benign. A lady who cut my guinea pigs nails for me had a pig with a very large mass under his chin, it was benign and caused him no problems and if i remember correctly he was around 5 years old

 

[Wiebke]

I’ve found a few more smaller ones near her genitalia. I’m absolutely devastated

Please be aware that lymphoma is cancer of the lymph nodes, i.e. it is only the lymph nodes that are swelling up. You have those lymph nodes nicely dispersed all over the body but not in clusters.

What you are dealing with is either a cluster of lipomas (harmless fatty lumps) or - if you are very unlucky - cancerous lumps (but not lymphoma).

Please take a deep breath and, if possible, have somebody else come with you to the vet, who can take all in what is being said and who can repeat it to you and give you moral support.

Pet Owners Anxiety - Practical Tips For Sufferers and For Supporters

 

[Deleted member 157166]

Please be aware that lymphoma is cancer of the lymph nodes, i.e. it is only the lymph nodes that are swelling up. You have those lymph nodes nicely dispersed all over the body but not in clusters.

What you are dealing with is either a cluster of lipomas (harmless fatty lumps) or - if you are very unlucky - cancerous lumps (but not lymphoma).

Please take a deep breath and, if possible, have somebody else come with you to the vet, who can take all in what is being said and who can repeat it to you and give you moral support.

Pet Owners Anxiety - Practical Tips For Sufferers and For Supporters

I always take someone as they can think clearly and act on my behalf if I can’t especially in times of distress. I’m hoping it’s lipomas then

 

[Wiebke]

I always take someone as they can think clearly and act on my behalf if I can’t especially in times of distress. I’m hoping it’s lipomas then

Good!

Please do your breathing exercises and your 5-4-3-2-1 to calm down a bit. Right now there is nothing you can do until you see your vet.

Chasing all the worst case scenarios in your brain won't help either Ginger, who'd rather not have you stressing out over her, nor you; especially, since it usually comes very differently to what you think or expect. But looking after yourself so you can be strong for Ginger's sake tomorrow is something very useful you can do now.

 

[Deleted member 157166]

*update*

The vet stuck a needle into it and said it aspirated. She said it could be an abscess as it’s red. The results of that should come back to me within a few hours and then we will figure out a game plan depending on what it is. If there’s any sort of cells she will send it off

 

[Wiebke]

*update*

The vet stuck a needle into it and said it aspirated. She said it could be an abscess as it’s red. The results of that should come back to me within a few hours and then we will figure out a game plan depending on what it is. If there’s any sort of cells she will send it off

Fingers still crossed. That big loose sitting lump in the armpit is definitely not lymphoma because your lymph nodes are firmly attached to your body.

 

[larnanoomia]

*update*

The vet stuck a needle into it and said it aspirated. She said it could be an abscess as it’s red. The results of that should come back to me within a few hours and then we will figure out a game plan depending on what it is. If there’s any sort of cells she will send it off

One of my boys pikachu developed an abcess when he was neutered. His op went fine and recovery seemed fine until around 4 weeks later I picked him up to check his wound and felt a noticeable lump by his healed wound site. That ended up being an abcess which he had surgery to remove. I was concerned about him going under anaesthetic twice in a short period of time but after the 2nd surgery I brought him home and I couldnt believe his immediate recovery he was walking about eating like nothing happened! That was around 14 months ago & he is still thriving hope your pig is the same x

 

[Deleted member 157166]

Fingers still crossed. That big loose sitting lump in the armpit is definitely not lymphoma because your lymph nodes are firmly attached to your body.

There’s one on her belly (in the centre) and a smaller one near her groin

 

[Deleted member 157166]

The vet got back to me, they think it’s an abscess. The sample they took earlier was full of bacteria. She’s on antibiotics now for a while. She just said that if the antibiotics don’t help then it will be a surgical thing but shes sure it will

 

[Deleted member 157166]

I need some advice on this abscess.

So she has done her first 24 hours on her antibiotics

So like I mentioned the vet used a needle to aspirate the abscess and collected some gunk that was found. She examined it and found bacteria. She gave me at least a 2 week dose of enrobactin 25mg at 2.5ml, twice a day. You have to mix with water. I know it can take 2 to 3 days to see a difference (maybe more with an abscess)

The abscess itself is not dark, slightly red but skin coloured mostly. It has no head or anything and doesn’t seem to be bothering her. Not too large where it’s protruding off her stomach and causing discomfort, it’s like a slight bump. It moves around so it’s not anchored in her body and is soft to the touch. I’ve read about people flushing the abscess for weeks or getting it removed. I’m not sure if just being on antibiotics is the best method for this or if I’ve managed to catch it early. It wasn’t there Tuesday morning but was there Tuesday evening, when I found it.

She is acting normal, eating, drinking and going to the toilet etc. maintaining weight well. I’m giving her probiotics (fibreplex) 2 to 3 times a day as well (a gap of 1 to 2 hours after antibiotics)

Am I doing the right thing here? I’m always second guessing whether the care is right.

 

[larnanoomia]

I need some advice on this abscess.

So she has done her first 24 hours on her antibiotics

So like I mentioned the vet used a needle to aspirate the abscess and collected some gunk that was found. She examined it and found bacteria. She gave me at least a 2 week dose of enrobactin 25mg at 2.5ml, twice a day. You have to mix with water. I know it can take 2 to 3 days to see a difference (maybe more with an abscess)

The abscess itself is not dark, slightly red but skin coloured mostly. It has no head or anything and doesn’t seem to be bothering her. Not too large where it’s protruding off her stomach and causing discomfort, it’s like a slight bump. It moves around so it’s not anchored in her body and is soft to the touch. I’ve read about people flushing the abscess for weeks or getting it removed. I’m not sure if just being on antibiotics is the best method for this or if I’ve managed to catch it early. It wasn’t there Tuesday morning but was there Tuesday evening

She is acting normal, eating, drinking and going to the toilet etc. maintaining weight well. I’m giving her probiotics (fibreplex) 2 to 3 times a day as well (a gap of 1 to 2 hours after antibiotics)

Am I doing the right thing here? I’m always second guessing whether the care is right.

When pikachu had his abcess he had no symptoms. The exotic vet I used said guinea pigs don't respond to antibiotics for abcesses as the pus is so thick it doesnt break down so surgery was the only option for him. I'm not a vet myself and only have the one bout of experience. Hopefully someone else can come along and offer more guidance than me. Do make sure though that your vet is an exotic vet. I have to drive out 35 mins for an exotic vet. Hope you get some answers x

 

[Deleted member 157166]

When pikachu had his abcess he had no symptoms. The exotic vet I used said guinea pigs don't respond to antibiotics for abcesses as the pus is so thick it doesnt break down so surgery was the only option for him. I'm not a vet myself and only have the one bout of experience. Hopefully someone else can come along and offer more guidance than me. Do make sure though that your vet is an exotic vet. I have to drive out 35 mins for an exotic vet. Hope you get some answers x

Mine isn’t exotic as exotic ones are quite far away. They usually have a cavy savvy vet in but she was away and had to have a standard one. She did mention that is the antibiotics didn’t help then it would be surgery. I may take her back in to the cavy savvy one on Monday. Especially if I don’t see a difference. I’ve noticed the redness has gone down slightly though

 

[larnanoomia]

Mine isn’t exotic as exotic ones are quite far away. They usually have a cavy savvy vet in but she was away and had to have a standard one. She did mention that is the antibiotics didn’t help then it would be surgery. I may take her back in to the cavy savvy one on Monday. Especially if I don’t see a difference. I’ve noticed the redness has gone down slightly though

Maybe give the cavvy savvy a call on Monday to see what they advise
They may advise otherwise

 

[Wiebke]

Mine isn’t exotic as exotic ones are quite far away. They usually have a cavy savvy vet in but she was away and had to have a standard one. She did mention that is the antibiotics didn’t help then it would be surgery. I may take her back in to the cavy savvy one on Monday. Especially if I don’t see a difference. I’ve noticed the redness has gone down slightly though

Please give the antibiotic a chance; antibiotics usually take at least five days to build up to full efficiency.

If the baytril is not doing the trick, then next step would be an operational removal or lancing/marsupialising (stitching open the opening for regular drainage) if the abscess is too close to the skin. Which method is chosen depends on how close the abscess is to the skin and how familiar the treating vet is with various ways of treatment.

 

[Deleted member 157166]

I think I will. I will continue antibiotics as requested until then and I’ll see if there’s difference until Monday. If there is no difference, ill have to book one in

 

[Deleted member 157166]

Please give the antibiotic a chance; antibiotics usually take at least five days to build up to full efficiency.

If the baytril is not doing the trick, then next step would be an operational removal or lancing/marsupialising (stitching open the opening for regular drainage) if the abscess is too close to the skin. Which method is chosen depends on how close the abscess is to the skin and how familiar the treating vet is with various ways of treatment.

I always will, especially if there’s an infection present. I’ll book one in on Monday as it would be 5 days of antibiotics in her system. I just hope I don’t have to go through an operation with her

 

[larnanoomia]

I always will, especially if there’s an infection present. I’ll book one in on Monday as it would be 5 days of antibiotics in her system. I just hope I don’t have to go through an operation with her

Keep us updated, thinking of ginger, glad she is still feeling well . My pikachu went through 2 ops in quick sucession so although surgeries carry risks they are also successful x

 

[Wiebke]

I always will, especially if there’s an infection present. I’ll book one in on Monday as it would be 5 days of antibiotics in her system. I just hope I don’t have to go through an operation with her

Please be aware that Monday is the first day the baytril will start working at full efficiency. That is like your car finally getting up to the full road speed after you started from zero. You only then start travelling at the intended cruising speed. Antibiotics gradually build over several days then run at full efficiency for as long you give them and after that they gradually peter off over the same amount of days they took building up.
They are not like painkillers that work instantly but also stop working very quickly again.

I fully appreciate how hard it is to sit by and wait when you suffer from anxiety because your mind is constantly playing all the worst case scenarios at full volume. Unfortunately, you cannot fast forward natural processes.

 

[Deleted member 157166]

Checked on the abscess today and the redness has gone down a lot. The size hasn’t altered yet. Hasn’t gotten bigger or smaller.

Ginger absolutely detests the antibiotics though. I’ve never seen her hate something so much. I give her a treat and food straight afterwards but she’s still not a fan

 

[Wiebke]

Checked on the abscess today and the redness has gone down a lot. The size hasn’t altered yet. Hasn’t gotten bigger or smaller.

Ginger absolutely detests the antibiotics though. I’ve never seen her hate something so much. I give her a treat and food straight afterwards but she’s still not a fan

Baytril is the most horribled tasting medicine (please don't try it yourself, humans do do not tolerate it even if it is just a drop).

We recommend to give it quickly undiluted (piggies have roughly double the number of taste buds compared to humans), follow up immediately with another syringe with water - ideally on stand by - to wash the taste away and then with a treat in order to ensure that the treat doesn't taste of baytril and you piggy is going off their treat.

You and your vet have to see whether baytril is strong enough to shrink the abscess; it may not be. But there are only two antibiotics officially licensed for guinea pigs.

 

[Deleted member 157166]

Baytril is the most horribled tasting medicine (please don't try it yourself, humans do do not tolerate it even if it is just a drop).

We recommend to give it quickly undiluted (piggies have roughly double the number of taste buds compared to humans), follow up immediately with another syringe with water - ideally on stand by - to wash the taste away and then with a treat in order to ensure that the treat doesn't taste of baytril and you piggy is going off their treat.

You and your vet have to see whether baytril is strong enough to shrink the abscess; it may not be. But there are only two antibiotics officially licensed for guinea pigs.

Don’t worry with Gingers reaction, I don’t think I’ll give it a go

I mixed the Baytril with 1ml of water and did it that way but it takes longer. So I may give this way a go tonight.

I’ll enquire about it on Monday, when I go. I’ve heard Zithromax (or however you spell it) is the best one for a abscess?

 

[Wiebke]

Don’t worry with Gingers reaction, I don’t think I’ll give it a go

I mixed the Baytril with 1ml of water and did it that way but it takes longer. So I may give this way a go tonight.

I’ll enquire about it on Monday, when I go. I’ve heard Zithromax (or however you spell it) is the best one for a abscess?

It is in my own and other members' experience much easier to give it pure in just one feel swoop but every next mouthful gets better. The piggies usually latch on.

 

[Deleted member 157166]

I might have to hold off taking Ginger to the vets on Monday. My other one needs it more. Constant soft poos as of late. Concerned about kidney problems.

 

[larnanoomia]

I might have to hold off taking Ginger to the vets on Monday. My other one needs it more. Constant soft poos as of late. Concerned about kidney problems.

Oh no what a worrying time do they live together ? Could it be gingers poo instead ive read it can be softer on antibiotics