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Murrays Lumps A Bit Bigger

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salembinx

salembinx

Adult Guinea Pig
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Checking Murray today and the little lump on his tummy is a bit bigger. I don't want to put him under anaesthetic for no reason . The vet seemed very keen to take the lump away when I took him. It's not fixed and you can move it about. Hes fine in himself it's hard to know what to do really. Want to do best for him .it's not an exotic vet (They will not see him because I still owe them money, although I am paying in installments. but they are highly recommended xx. Anyone had a similar experience xx
 
I have a lumpy male. I first had him operated on 18 months ago when he would have been around 3.5 years old. This was following an inconclusive biopsy. Two of the lumps were sent to a lab for testing and turned out to be just fat lumps.

How old is your boy? And where abouts on his tummy is the lump?

My concern with leaving it untreated would be not knowing what you are dealing with (and if it's not just a fat lump it might be something treatable and the best chance is to treat as early as possible) but then if he is older the GA is not going to be good for him. Peters lump grew back and is now affecting his walking but he's over 5 years old and the vet suspects he also has lymphoma which means I could make things much worse by operating.
 
Lady Kelly said:
I have a lumpy male. I first had him operated on 18 months ago when he would have been around 3.5 years old. This was following an inconclusive biopsy. Two of the lumps were sent to a lab for testing and turned out to be just fat lumps.

How old is your boy? And where abouts on his tummy is the lump?

My concern with leaving it untreated would be not knowing what you are dealing with (and if it's not just a fat lump it might be something treatable and the best chance is to treat as early as possible) but then if he is older the GA is not going to be good for him. Peters lump grew back and is now affecting his walking but he's over 5 years old and the vet suspects he also has lymphoma which means I could make things much worse by operating.
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Thank you for your thoughts. Murray is will be only two in May so he's young his lump is about quarter of the way up from his rear end and quite central. I know I have to do what's best so I'll make an appointment today try and get it sorted. Poor fella lets hope it's just nothing. X
 
salembinx said:
Thank you for your thoughts. Murray is will be only two in May so he's young his lump is about quarter of the way up from his rear end and quite central. I know I have to do what's best so I'll make an appointment today try and get it sorted. Poor fella lets hope it's just nothing. X
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I will keep everything crossed for him. If he's had a GA before and needs one again you will have a comparator to work with to see how he gets on. That said they should be able to look at things like biopsy and ultra sounds or x-rays before looking at a full op. My concern is if it is near his nipples it could be a mammary tumour. Hope you can get an appointment to start seeking answers soon
 
Murrays been to the vets today. I have to say not very happy with the vets attitude at all. The lump is not,near any of his nipples. Bit further up than I said , but,when the vet picked him up, (not properly I might add), the lump seemed the same size as it was nearly two months ago. I asked the vet to check his notes because it was noted down by the previous vet. The look was priceless ,anyway she did and agreed it was the same size. She still,wanted to operate and send it too the lab for analysis. "Ok" I thought at the cost of 240 pounds it wasn't the money that put me off, because I would find it, the fact when I asked had the practise had experience with guinea pigs under GA , she said not much but piggies dont always do well under anaesthetic. Didn't give me much confidence. I thought about it and as it isn't any bigger and he's fine I'll just keep an eye on it.
I do not want to risk loosing him for a fatty lump. Just hope I'm doing the best for him. Her parting words as we left was "he needs to loose wieght". Omg he has since bieng in his big pen , he's always been a big piggy. May reconsider that vets again . Murrays had extra cuddles tonight needless to say , he's my best little fella I want to do what's best. Love him to pieces. x
 
Oh and as for a biopsy she said they are not very conclusive in piggies. So,they wouldn't recommend it x
 
hmm I wouldn't be happy with the vets either and £240 sounds astronomical. I paid no where near that cost for the same operation! Unfortunately I switched bank accounts last year so can't check as to how much I actually paid now but I think it was more around the £100-£130 mark (not including the biopsies beforehand). Yes the biopsies don't always work in piggies, I agreed to them just because if I was lucky enough for them to come back with a definitive result I might have been able to avoid having him operated on.

The only thing I can suggest is calling around a few vets to see about experience and ask for a rough idea of costs. You could try the vet locator on the top bar which will show other members good experiences with vets or maybe the rescue locator and contact the rescue to see who they use? Alternatively, how long will it be before your bill is cleared with your exotics vet?
 
Lady Kelly said:
hmm I wouldn't be happy with the vets either and £240 sounds astronomical. I paid no where near that cost for the same operation! Unfortunately I switched bank accounts last year so can't check as to how much I actually paid now but I think it was more around the £100-£130 mark (not including the biopsies beforehand). Yes the biopsies don't always work in piggies, I agreed to them just because if I was lucky enough for them to come back with a definitive result I might have been able to avoid having him operated on.

The only thing I can suggest is calling around a few vets to see about experience and ask for a rough idea of costs. You could try the vet locator on the top bar which will show other members good experiences with vets or maybe the rescue locator and contact the rescue to see who they use? Alternatively, how long will it be before your bill is cleared with your exotics vet?
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The vets bill will be cleared in about 3 months . So unless nothing changes I could take him then . My other vet I had with my dogs were not much better when Jack was poorly ended going to my local exotic vet, but Jack died and was left with a big bill. I can't work through I'll health so I manage on benefits so it's hard but I will always pay my way, even if it takes time. My piggies will always come first( obviously my children and grandchildren are really first) but yOu know what I'm getting at xx
 
Yes worst case scenario I would wait the 3 months to go to your usual vets, the only alternative like I said is looking around to see if there is anywhere else you could go that is experienced. From what you have said about the vets you have been to today I wouldn't be comfortable with their level of interest in the care of guinea pigs and certainly would not be happy to let them operate. To be honest I'm still reeling from the cost, the most expensive operation I have paid for was around the £200 mark and that was removal of a rather large abscess, a stay the night before and after at an exotics specialist after my usual vets referred me there (my usual vet is a small animal specialist and I've been lucky enough that they have been consistent in having at least one vet that's good with piggies).
 
Lady Kelly said:
Yes worst case scenario I would wait the 3 months to go to your usual vets, the only alternative like I said is looking around to see if there is anywhere else you could go that is experienced. From what you have said about the vets you have been to today I wouldn't be comfortable with their level of interest in the care of guinea pigs and certainly would not be happy to let them operate. To be honest I'm still reeling from the cost, the most expensive operation I have paid for was around the £200 mark and that was removal of a rather large abscess, a stay the night before and after at an exotics specialist after my usual vets referred me there (my usual vet is a small animal specialist and I've been lucky enough that they have been consistent in having at least one vet that's good with piggies).
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I'm so glad you have a good vet to go to. I tend to find it annoying that people don't realise piggies are an exotic species and snigger at you and think you a nut job( I am ) my brother said take him to the rspca to have him put down ! I was devastated to learn he had his budgie put down cos he couldn't be bothered to take it to a specialist vet. Couldn't believe it . Told him I thought he was a heartless person xx some people xx
 
salembinx said:
I'm so glad you have a good vet to go to. I tend to find it annoying that people don't realise piggies are an exotic species and snigger at you and think you a nut job( I am ) my brother said take him to the rspca to have him put down ! I was devastated to learn he had his budgie put down cos he couldn't be bothered to take it to a specialist vet. Couldn't believe it . Told him I thought he was a heartless person xx some people xx
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OMG yea I know what you mean, to me if I am going to take in a pet then they deserve good quality of life and if that can be achieved, or is likely to be achieved, through expensive treatment then I will pay the bills. If its a case that PTS is the best option for them because they are suffering so much then I will pay for that as well but I would never PTS unless it was in the animals best interest. I know I am preaching to the converted on this forum though as everyone on here is the same lol
 
Interesting discussion on your difference between vet fees - when Toffee went in for her operation to remove a lump under her neck I was quoted £360 for the operation plus extra for any pain killers/supportive medication afterwards. I choked a little when they told me how much it was going to be! Sadly she didnt make it through the operation but if your little guy is healthy and strong @salembinx I hope the outcome will be good. x
 
Goth Mummy said:
Interesting discussion on your difference between vet fees - when Toffee went in for her operation to remove a lump under her neck I was quoted £360 for the operation plus extra for any pain killers/supportive medication afterwards. I choked a little when they told me how much it was going to be! Sadly she didnt make it through the operation but if your little guy is healthy and strong @salembinx I hope the outcome will be good. x
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Thanku I'm hoping it's nothing he's absolutly fine not I'll or anything my friend who shows piggies has looked at him and said he'd stake his life that it's a fatty lump. Some of his piggies have got exactly the same. I know two piggies are not the same, but I'm hopeful it's nothing keep a close check on him anyway and see how thing go. Hopefully will be meeting soon at the meet in Brum, iam right thinking you are attending? Looking forward to it x
 
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