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My New Guinea Pig Has A Large Lump In Her Throat Area.

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Maryjames

Maryjames

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Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum and also new to raising guinea pigs. I purchased two pigs three weeks ago. They are the long haired pigs that look like they have permanent bed head. Anyhow....One of them developed a lump in her throat. I only noticed this yesterday and the vet is operating on her tomorrow. Am I doing the right thing? I am scared of her little size being put to sleep for the surgery. I hate to do it but on the other hand I don't want her to have a large abcess under her chin because that can cause more problems for her and she is starting to scratch it. Any advice would be helpful.
 
Maryjames said:
Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum and also new to raising guinea pigs. I purchased two pigs three weeks ago. They are the long haired pigs that look like they have permanent bed head. Anyhow....One of them developed a lump in her throat. I only noticed this yesterday and the vet is operating on her tomorrow. Am I doing the right thing? I am scared of her little size being put to sleep for the surgery. I hate to do it but on the other hand I don't want her to have a large abcess under her chin because that can cause more problems for her and she is starting to scratch it. Any advice would be helpful.
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Hi and welcome!

I am very sorry, what a way to start into your piggy career! :(
Lumps can come up very quickly; some you can literally watch growing. Is it attached to the skin or is it deeper in the body? Is it in the middle of the throat or on the side?

Here are our tips for post-op care. it is rather likely that your piggy is being off its food and may find swallowing difficult. How old is it?
If they are just a few weeks old, you have to be careful to not give more than 1/4 - 1/3 of a syringe in one go (which is about a mouthful) to prevent things from going down the wrong way. You will find our illustrated syringe feeding guide helpul. Your care can really make a difference.
Tips For Post-operative Care
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

As we have members from all over the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details, so we can tailor any advice to brands etc. that are available where you are straight away in order to support you most effectively. Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you!
 
My piggy is about 13 weeks old. She is eating normally and playing. She doesn't seem to be scratching it at all. It is in the center of her throat area and seems to be filled with fluid. The vet wanted to remove it tomorrow but I was nervous about her having surgery at such a young age. Your thoughts?
 
Maryjames said:
My piggy is about 13 weeks old. She is eating normally and playing. She doesn't seem to be scratching it at all. It is in the center of her throat area and seems to be filled with fluid. The vet wanted to remove it tomorrow but I was nervous about her having surgery at such a young age. Your thoughts?
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Unfotunately, it needs treating. It is difficult for us to guess what it is, so we cannot advise on your vet's decision. what kind of vet are s you seeing?
 
He's a vet that I have seen a couple of times in my vets practice and now he moved so I think he's good and have heard good things. Just hate her having the surgery. I know it's for the best but I will be glad when tomorrow is over
 
Maryjames said:
He's a vet that I have seen a couple of times in my vets practice and now he moved so I think he's good and have heard good things. Just hate her having the surgery. I know it's for the best but I will be glad when tomorrow is over
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HUGS!

We all dread surgery, especially if it is emergency surgery! I am keeping my fingers very firmly crossed!
 
That is a poor way to start piggy keeping :( fingers crossed for the surgery, I think you are doing the right thing. Please keep us posted on how it goes. Of course their are risks associated with all surgery but a lot is done to minimise the risk to small furrys. Best of luck !
 
Very strange thing happened today. I went to look at my Pickles and get her ready to have her lump out and her lump emptied out overnight and all that was left of it was a scab. I took her to the vet's and he gave her 10 days of antibiotics and told me he did not want to operate now until it was emptied out. He said he could not tell where the sack was so wanted to wait. I was happy about that because I didn't want my little girl to go through any type of surgery now anyways. She's only 400 grams. Tiny little thing. Does that seem normal?
 
It's good to hear Pickles didn't need surgery.

I note from earlier in you thread that your guinea pig is about 13 weeks old . I also note you have 2 - how much does the other guinea pig weigh? Are they both eating OK ?


We will need to wait for a health and illness guru to answer your question about her weight.
 
PiggyOwner said:
It's good to hear Pickles didn't need surgery.

I note from earlier in you thread that your guinea pig is about 13 weeks old . I also note you have 2 - how much does the other guinea pig weigh? Are they both eating OK ?


We will need to wait for a health and illness guru to answer your question about her weight.
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Pickles is 400 grams and Ali is 510 grams. I have a feeling that Ali is older than Pickles because she is so much bigger. Pickles is eating and drinking and playing and is basically a happy girl. Ali is as well but she is more shy than Pickles but I just love them both so much. I am a dog person but I have completely fallen in love. I'm now a dog mom and a Guinea pig mom. Lol
 
Maryjames said:
Very strange thing happened today. I went to look at my Pickles and get her ready to have her lump out and her lump emptied out overnight and all that was left of it was a scab. I took her to the vet's and he gave her 10 days of antibiotics and told me he did not want to operate now until it was emptied out. He said he could not tell where the sack was so wanted to wait. I was happy about that because I didn't want my little girl to go through any type of surgery now anyways. She's only 400 grams. Tiny little thing. Does that seem normal?
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Glad that the sack has drained by itself! Hopefully it won't refill again and the antibiotics will take care of the risk of infection. Both abcess and cysts can burst spontaneously. Hopefully, you won't need an operation at all.
Please keep an eye on it daily for the next 2-3 weeks and contact your vet promptly if you notice a new lump forming either in the area or in the lymph nodes, or if you notice sudden loss of appetite/weight; the two latter symptoms indicate an infection that has gone into the body. Weigh Pickles daily instead of the regular weekly, ideally before their dinner to minimise the full belly/full bladder weight variance. See your vet promptly if you notice a loss that is more than an ounce/30g from one day to another.

Make sure that you have got first aid stuff/syringe feeding food at home so you can step in asap.
First Aid Kit For Guinea Pigs
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
 
Wow I had no idea. Thank you so much for your helpful advice. I'm a New Guinea pig mom and I can use all the help and tips I can get. I'm so glad I joined this site. The doctor said it probably would fill up but I've heard that isn't always the case. I will weigh her daily. My routine is that I always leave them with Timothy hay and their pellets as well as fresh water. How will I know I am weighing her before she eats. Do you think I should take the food away?
 
Maryjames said:
Wow I had no idea. Thank you so much for your helpful advice. I'm a New Guinea pig mom and I can use all the help and tips I can get. I'm so glad I joined this site. The doctor said it probably would fill up but I've heard that isn't always the case. I will weigh her daily. My routine is that I always leave them with Timothy hay and their pellets as well as fresh water. How will I know I am weighing her before she eats. Do you think I should take the food away?
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No, never take food away from a guinea pig... Capital Boo Boo! :yikes:

Just be aware that the difference between a full/empty tummy or bladder can be as much as 30g/1 oz. I would recommend to feed the pellets in a bowl each per guinea pig rather in smaller portions at mealtimes anyway, so they get eaten in one go and don't get peed on, as some youngsters are prone to; it also means that the top piggy can't hog the majority of them. Up to 80% of the daily food intake should be hay, so they are not going short. ;)
Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet

If it is a fluid-filled cyst as your vet is obviously suspecting, then it is likely that it is going to refill again and that it may need removing in the end. :(
Take heart that in Germany and Switzerland baby boys are being successfully neutered at 200g of weight and that these days, vets are more used to operating on small furries like hamsters. The one thing your youngster has got on her side is that the younger, the more quickly piggies heal.
 
Sounds like an abscess, dealt with two on different guinea pigs, just keep the wound site clean and what ever the vets suggests, and she'll be fine.
My one question to you, is does it smell cheesy?
 
Welcome to the forum. You've had quite an introduction to the Wonderful World of Piggy Keeping. Your vet sounds on the ball. Hope your Pickles carries in doing well.
 
BonBon2010 said:
Sounds like an abscess, dealt with two on different guinea pigs, just keep the wound site clean and what ever the vets suggests, and she'll be fine.
My one question to you, is does it smell cheesy?
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No not at all. I actually think it was liquid because it drained completely and there is no evidence of anything. Really weird and the day after much prayer. Mind you I think I clean out their cage something like three times a day, but I did not notice anything anywhere. The wound now is just a scab and its very clean. The lump is gone and there is just a dried up scab which I am not going to pick I'm going to let it fall off on it's own. Pickles is happy and eating and playing I'm happy to report. I will for sure watch them both and regularly check for lumps and bumps. Gives me a chance to cuddle them. lol.
 
Update to little Pickles. Today her lump is gone and the wound was completely clean and the scab gone entirely. I didn't touch the scab as the doctor told me to leave it alone. I know that she can't lick a wound on her own neck and was wondering if anyone thought that perhaps her cage mate Ali was licking it? Very strange
 
.... or, maybe the scab just fell off ?


Good to know she's OK
 
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