Lumpy guinea pig ... now what

[BlueBird]

Hi there,

About a year ago, I found a lump on my guinea pigs side. She's an extremely nervous guinea pig, I had it checked by the vet who said it was a cyst and that it might be bad, it might not be. I've had guineas in the past where lumps were ultimately benign. So I felt the best decision for her was not to put her through surgery and the associated stress unnecessarily and keep an eye on it.

I felt this was the best decision for her at the time but perhaps it wasn't.

Today I found that she had a swollen nipple which was leaking blood. I could feel a secondary lump nearby which screamed tumour to me. I will take her to my vet in the hope to get these removed but my question is. Is this the beginning of the end? Do I need to prepare myself for the fact that she might not be around this time next year?

 

[Merab]

I am so sorry to hear this.
Finding lumps is always a worry and we make the best decisions we can at the time.

It’s always good to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
None of us know what the outcome of surgery is going to be so please know that you are held in my thoughts

 

[Wiebke]

Hi there,

About a year ago, I found a lump on my guinea pigs side. She's an extremely nervous guinea pig, I had it checked by the vet who said it was a cyst and that it might be bad, it might not be. I've had guineas in the past where lumps were ultimately benign. So I felt the best decision for her was not to put her through surgery and the associated stress unnecessarily and keep an eye on it.

I felt this was the best decision for her at the time but perhaps it wasn't.

Today I found that she had a swollen nipple which was leaking blood. I could feel a secondary lump nearby which screamed tumour to me. I will take her to my vet in the hope to get these removed but my question is. Is this the beginning of the end? Do I need to prepare myself for the fact that she might not be around this time next year?

Hi!

It sounds like you are dealing with a mammary tumour this time; the cyst and the mammary tumour are not connected. Mammary tomours can be both benign or malign but in any case will need removing as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately you can never count on any piggy being around in a year's time; what you need to concentrate on is yo give your piggies as many happy days as you reasonably can - that is how they measure a good life by. You can never control when the end comes and in what form; some illnesses and conditions happen very quickly and seemingly out of the blue and at any age.
But knowing that you have done right what is within your purvue will help your own piece of mind.

Please be strong for your piggy and send it loving, supportive thoughts whenever your own fears start to overwhelm you. Try not to paralyse yourself with what ifs. Love transcends time and you can pack a lifetime's worth of it into just a minute. All the love and care given until now do count a lot in your guinea pig's view. Making any necessary decisions for your piggy's welfare is what you need to concentrate on now; you cannot go wrong in that and you cannot fail it if your piggy's needs come before your own fears and desires.

Sadly in today's world we have pushed dying out of our daily lives which is why the thought is such a frightening one for anybody who has never encountered it and hasn't got the first idea of how to handle it.

HUGS

 

[BlueBird]

I would like to thank you both for you kind words. Especially @weibke. You have very wise words

Just a wee update. We took Bonnie to the vet on Tuesday morning. I think we are all of the opinion that it is a tumour. But the vet sent us away with some antu-biotics. She wants to make doubly sure there is no mastitis. If it is just an infection great if it's infection with a tumour it will be smaller and easier to remove.

A few days in, I think there was indeed some mastitis as the lump seems to have changed texture and shape. But ultimately i think it is still a tumour. I also think the antibiotics has effected her appetite a bit as she's dropped in weight a bit. So I've got her in a sick bay when we aren't around so we can make sure her portion of meals isn't being scoffed by the others. And I'm monitoring her weight daily to make sure she doesn't drop further.

 

[Merab]

Not an easy time for you.
Holding you in my thoughts

 

[Wiebke]

I would like to thank you both for you kind words. Especially @weibke. You have very wise words

Just a wee update. We took Bonnie to the vet on Tuesday morning. I think we are all of the opinion that it is a tumour. But the vet sent us away with some antu-biotics. She wants to make doubly sure there is no mastitis. If it is just an infection great if it's infection with a tumour it will be smaller and easier to remove.

A few days in, I think there was indeed some mastitis as the lump seems to have changed texture and shape. But ultimately i think it is still a tumour. I also think the antibiotics has effected her appetite a bit as she's dropped in weight a bit. So I've got her in a sick bay when we aren't around so we can make sure her portion of meals isn't being scoffed by the others. And I'm monitoring her weight daily to make sure she doesn't drop further.

Hi!

Please step in with top-up syringe feeding with mushed up pellets in an emergency (you need to cut off the syringe tip as shown in the guide) and give additional 'poo soup' (that is the water in which freshly laid poos from a healthy pigy have been soaked. The poos have ideally just popped out in order to transfer some of the still live gut biome and restock your ill piggy's guts. It monitores natural behaviour). Baytril is known for affecting the appetite as it is impacting on the gut bacteria crucial for the digestive process as well as the bacteria it is targeted at.
More information on all these aspects including support care products in our illustrated syringe feeding guide. The more you can keep your piggy's weight up pre-op, the better. You may have to do the same post-op.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Tips For Post-operative Care

All the best!