Mammary Tumor

[Flander]

Hi

One of my daughter's guinea pigs has developed what appears to be a mammary tumour. The guinea pig is a male and, as he is a rescue, we think he is about three years old. The tumour developed quite quickly over the span of a week. Currently, other than the lump and discharge, they seem fine. They are their normal self and moving around fine.

I took him to the vets last week, and they prescribed anti-biotic and anti-inflammatory medication. We have finished giving the course of medication and it has not really shrunk the tumor at all. The vet said if it didn't resolve, to go see a specialist vet about surgical removal.

I regretfully made the poor decision not to get pet insurance for the guinea pigs. This means any treatment is going to be out of pocket. My research seems to indicate this will cost about £800+. Is this accurate?

If this is the price, then it is unfortunately unlikely I will be able to afford the treatment. How long will the guinea pig be able to survive without treatment? Will it be in any pain or suffering in the meantime?

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum.
So sorry to hear about the tumour.
Pet insurance for guinea pigs is not easy to come by and is expensive.
Many of us just save up for vet bills.

Is your vet experienced with guinea pigs ?
I can’t comment on the price but if you really can’t afford the treatment your piggy needs you may want to consider contacting a rescue for rehoming.
The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue in Kidsgrove is one of the closest to you.

Holding you in my thoughts

 

[Flander]

No, I don't think the vet I saw was experienced with Guinea Pigs. It was just a general vet at the local Animal Trust centre.

Would a rescue organisation really take a pig that is poorly and needing expensive treatment? We would hate to see them go, but it would be better than seeing Spot go without treatment and then Goldy be left on his own.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear this

It would be a good idea to call around vet practices for their advice and to see if they can give you an idea of price (they would probably want to have a consultation before giving you the actual price though) - prices vary from practice to practice

Mammary tumours are best dealt with promptly as they are then easier to remove.
Unfortunately mammary tumours will just continue to grow, and they can grow large within a couple of weeks to the point that a guinea pig will no longer be able to stand properly, they can then ulcerate and become painful.

I’ve added a guide below which has a section covering this issue

Boar Problems 'Down Below' (Penis, Impaction, Testicles & Neutering, Mammary Tumours & Grease Gland)

 

[The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue]

We have contacted the lady and offered space @Merab xx