Massive Lump On My 7 Yo - Remove Or Not? Please Vote.

[mars]

Hi there,

My guinea pig is about 7 yo. He has a massive lump on his back, now measures 8cm x 5cm. When I adopted him, I was told it was always there, developed slowly from a bean size lump since he was 1 yo, and it was never a problem. Having monitored him closely for some weeks, it's clearly not a fast growing lump, it doesn't interfere his movements, and he doesn't scratch it. I wonder if I should take him to the vet to have the lump removed, only because of his age. Thinking 7 yo for a guinea pig is perhaps 80+ yo for a human. If I get a life threatening tumour when I'm 80+ yo, I wouldn't go for a surgery. But I'm not him. I want to do what is best for him, but he can't say what he thinks.

He's a quite sensitive boy, physically healthy in general (except the lump), but perhaps had some mental trauma from changing owners several times then living with a rabbit in an outdoor hutch for years before I adopted him. He seems enjoying his peaceful life now in his massive cage with open door, having lots of food and treats which he never had before. He absolutely hates any room mate, or any floor or garden time.

Guys, what would you do if you were me? Please vote.

Thanks!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! What is your vet saying?

 

[7squeakers.]

If the lump is not bothering him at all, and he is otherwise strong and healthy, I would leave it alone. Suzie, my avatar, had a small lump on her left shoulder for about two years. It never bothered her, but then it was only the size of a grape at its biggest. Sometimes you can do more harm than good by interfering with these things.

 

[mars]

Hi! What is your vet saying?

He said it would be a massive operation given the size of the lump, and might be hard for piggie to recover from the operation given his age. But if we don't remove the lump, it will burst at some point and cause an infection which is equally life threatening. After all he left the decision to me...

 

[annaa]

So does the vet think it is an abcess rather than a growth/tumor? If he has had it since the age of 1 and it hasn't burst in the previous 6 years why does he think it will burst now?

 

[Wiebke]

He said it would be a massive operation given the size of the lump, and might be hard for piggie to recover from the operation given his age. But if we don't remove the lump, it will burst at some point and cause an infection which is equally life threatening. After all he left the decision to me...

It is a hard decision when you are caught between a rock and a hard place like that, especially in an elderly guinea pig. I have been there with piggies of mine, so I know.

Follow your heart; there is no right or wrong, as long as you make your decision with your boy's ultimate wellbeing upmost in your mind. Whether you argue to give him a chance, however slim, or to let him live out his life as long as he is not ill, but sparing him the stress of a major operation/doubtful recovery is down to you and which aspect is more important for you.
We all feel very individually in that area, as so much also depends on the personality/general health of a piggy etc. I have gone down either way with piggies of mine, depending on what felt right to me for them; neither way is easier and neither way is always the only right one. The most important aspect is that you can live with your decision afterwards, knowing that you have based it on your love for you boy.

HUGS

 

[Lady Kelly]

Hi, have there been any tests on the lump at all? I have a 6+ year old with 2 types of lump, a huge fatty lump which was removed once a few years ago but came back (along with many others which have stayed smaller) and a sebaceous cyst. I have gone for not operating as he struggled a couple of years back with the operation and he has that many other lumps that just removing the biggest isn't going to have a life changing impact for him. Instead, as he became more uncomfortable, he has a small daily dose of metacam until he is ready not to go on. As for the sebaceous cyst I got told to bring him in if it does burst as it will need cleaning out properly to make sure it heals without infection (on the plus side for him its on his back so would be easier to keep clean)

 

[Freela]

What does the vet think that the lump is? Have any tests ever been done? A needle biopsy wouldn't require a general anesthesia and would at least show if it's a cyst or abscess versus a fleshy mass.

Honestly, at 7 years of age with a lump that has been there long-term and is not causing symptoms, I would probably leave it be, but I would try to get a clear diagnosis as to whether it's an abscess, a cyst, a lipoma, some other mass, etc.

 

[Wiggie]

My beautiful piggy had a large burst lump removed last year she died within two weeks. She was always strong. A week after the op it was oozing. I was giving her antibiotics and cleaning the wound. I found her dead. I think she had a systemic infection or something, a post op complication. I think whatever caused the lump that tract still existed.

My vet did not want to remove the lump when it was small. But it got bigger and started to leak. The vet was still not keen. It then got bad, smelly and painful. She was on antibiotics etc. I had no choice the lump would kill her. If I left it I reckon flies would have targeted her, the infected material would have risked her. We had to get it removed.

I wish we got rid of it a bit earlier before it turned nasty. Removing a non infected mass must be a lot safer for the piggy's health.

My piggy was six. I cannot say what I would do in your case. I had a piggy with cysts before and they were not a problem. I would say walnut size is a problem. When the cyst when bad it was like the skin could not stretch anymore. I hope this information helps in a good way.