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Massive Lump Under Piggies Chin

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Nic bee

Nic bee

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hello, my 15mth old boar has a huge lump under his chin, I noticed it yesterday and thought it might just be overeating as it looks like a dewlop (his cage mate is huge) but today it's massive and I can feel it's lump shaped, directly under his jaw but bigger at one side. I'll take him to the vets tomorrow but what should I expect?
Ps I'm thinking I'll take both boys even though they're always grumpy to each other do you agree?
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Nic bee said:
Hello, my 15mth old boar has a huge lump under his chin, I noticed it yesterday and thought it might just be overeating as it looks like a dewlop (his cage mate is huge) but today it's massive and I can feel it's lump shaped, directly under his jaw but bigger at one side. I'll take him to the vets tomorrow but what should I expect?
Ps I'm thinking I'll take both boys even though they're always grumpy to each other do you agree?
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I'd definately get that checked asap.dewlaps don't just appear quickly.

It could be fluid which would feel spongy, or if you can feel lumps id be worried about abscesses or swollen lymph nodes.

If your boys bicker it's probably best not to make them share a carrier on the way to the vet as limited space could cause a fight x
 
Definitely needs checking out! Pigs are quite prone to abscesses under their jaw. Our girl Cuddles passed away from Lymphatic cancer in September, and she had a large lump under her neck. I'll bet this isn't anything as serious but abscesses and stuff can be painful so defo a vet trip :D Good luck tomorrow!
 
Oh no that's so sad.. did they try and operate? How did they diagnose? I'm dreading him being prodded or needing surgery..
 
She was 5 years old so we were worried about her having surgery! Poor little mite was poorly to start with (shed been squeezed which damaged her eyes and lungs, and had chipped teeth, bumblefoot and a broken toe) but She'd recovered so well and was fine for months! She'd been fine up until a few days, but she went downhill so quickly... The vet gave her painkillers but once we got her out of her box she was very weak, although still very cheerful! She passed away in my arms a few hours later at home :(
I'm sure your boy hasn't got anything quite as horrid though! He's young and fit! If it's an abscess they can drain them quite easy so I'm sure he's gonna be ok :) Give him a good luck cuddle from me :hug:
 
Aww handsome chap :love: sorry no advice just wanted to wish him well at the vets tomorrow, hopefully it's an abscess that can be treated/removed reasonably easily.

Healing vibes & a speedy recovery little man.

Ps think i would take him separately if they're not best of buddies to comfort each other.
xx
 
It does sound like it could be an abscess, these are treatable but may require an x-ray to check the size of it. They are treatable with the antibiotics Zithromax (though only exotics vets ten to know about this or use it).
I will keep my fingers crossed that it is nothing serious.
 
Thanks for your replies everyone, tinker has been to the vets today and it was an abscess, bigger than a golf ball.
The vet lanced it and put manuka honey on it? I've got to keep it clean with boiled water and have got some antibs and another check up on Sat.
My poor little guy looks so sad. Not sure how I'll get the syringe on his mouth.
The vet said they can come back so I'm praying it doesn't. He said it was on his lymph glands so not from a tooth problem which is good...
 
Nic bee said:
Oh no that's so sad.. did they try and operate? How did they diagnose? I'm dreading him being prodded or needing surgery..
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Hi! Please see a vet asap!

None of us like having a piggy prodded and operated on, but it has to be done if needs be. This is an issue that cannot wait until you have wrapped your mind around it; if you want to be in with a chance of saving your piggy or at least prevent it from suffering, you need put your own desires on the back burner and act NOW! Lumps can blow up with frightening speed and they will keep on growing the longer you dither.

I am very sorry; I have often enough found myself in the same position.

This is an emergency!
 
@Wiebke i think you have missed some posts further down, the piggie has had abscess lanced today.

@Nic bee glad you could get some treatment and the abscess lanced. What antib were you given? Did you get any anti - inflammatory / pain relief to make him more comfortable? Cleaning the abscess out is really so important and you have to be pretty determined to keep going with. But plenty of us have been in that position so can provide tips if needed.
did vet check other lymph nodes? Or think it was localised neck abscess?
 
lauraboara said:
@Wiebke i think you have missed some posts further down, the piggie has had abscess lanced today.

@Nic bee glad you could get some treatment and the abscess lanced. What antib were you given? Did you get any anti - inflammatory / pain relief to make him more comfortable? Cleaning the abscess out is really so important and you have to be pretty determined to keep going with. But plenty of us have been in that position so can provide tips if needed.
did vet check other lymph nodes? Or think it was localised neck abscess?
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Sorry, I have not been around this weekend and am just wading through reams of alerts.

What medication have you been given, @Nic bee ?

Good that you could have the abscess lanced. Please keep the opening open as for as long as possible and flush 2-3 times daily with a mild antiseptic like saline solution to get all the gunk out that is produced as the abscess heals from the inside out. If necessary, you need to peel any scabs off to do so. that is not a pleasant job, but it s vital. See your vet if the abscess is healing shut very quickly or if it starts coming up again.

I am tagging in our 'Abscess Queen'
@furryfriends (TEAS)

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Poor guy! If the abscess has been lanced and left open, it is important to keep the wound open to flush it, or else it will heal too quickly and fill up again. I used a dental syringe to irrigate with sterile saline (or a wash that I got from the vet.) This allows it to heal from the inside out. I also found that hydrogen peroxide was really helpful in removing any scab that was forming (it will foam up and soften the scab, which makes it much easier to remove without causing pain.) You may also benefit from a good antibiotic to help treat the underlying infection. Hope this helps and hope he feels better soon!
 
Argh not nice! Echo others, keep it open and flush with saline fluid 2-3 times a day and keep putting medical grade manuka honey on. Don't let it heal over! It must heal from the inside out.

They are vile things but with the right care, should heal well.
 
Does anyone know how long i need to keep it open for? Its gone down loads but I struggled to reopen it tonight.. I thought I'd have one last lot of the manuka tomorrow morning as the vet said it wont go down totally for a while as his lymph gland will still be swollen...
 
Just wanted to share that Ginny had an abscess a few months ago, she went to the vet and got it lanced.

Afterwards she was put on "strawberry flavored" antibiotics (I always had to have someone else help me with the syringe in the mouth, she hated it) and was told to put a hot compress on it a few times a day to help it drain/keep it clean.

It hasn't come back since then and she's now a happy healthy pig!

It was so difficult to see her unhappy and uncomfortable. I wish your piggy a healthy recovery :)
 
Nic bee said:
Does anyone know how long i need to keep it open for? Its gone down loads but I struggled to reopen it tonight.. I thought I'd have one last lot of the manuka tomorrow morning as the vet said it wont go down totally for a while as his lymph gland will still be swollen...
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I think that your piggie had their abscess lanced and drained about 4 days ago? If so I would be surprised if that was the end of pus production - would try more like 10days but also be guided by the wound. You do have soften any scab eg with warm saline on non-fluffy cotton wool pad and then clean out under the scab. Use your nose too as the smell of pus is so um, distinctive! If you have any concerns, be ready to go back to vet or vet nurse for them to check. My vets do lots of wound checking, usually as part of procedure.

@Wiebke has just been describing abscess cleaning on another thread so I will see if she can add further?
 
Nic bee said:
Does anyone know how long i need to keep it open for? Its gone down loads but I struggled to reopen it tonight.. I thought I'd have one last lot of the manuka tomorrow morning as the vet said it wont go down totally for a while as his lymph gland will still be swollen...
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Keep it open for as long as possible and if there is a soft scab, peel that off. Some guinea pigs heal a lot faster than other others. Hywel managed within a few days, but thankfully my specialist vet managed to re-open it again with a bit of ruthless manipulating (my local vets wouldn't). Ideally you try to keep a large abscess open for at least 10 days.
 
I have found hydrogren peroxide really helpful to remove scabs. It foams up and really softens the scab and makes it easy to remove.
 
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