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Nacho has a lump.......

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aalur

aalur

Adult Guinea Pig
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Its on the underside of his neck, in the middle, slightly above his front legs. Its about the size of a large pea. It seems to move if you push it. I can't believe i didn't notice it before. :0
He is eating and drinking normally and is his normal chirpy self.
I'm going to get him in at the vets first thing tomorrow
 
Try not to fret, it may be harmless or something easily sorted, I remember Joanne found a small lump on one of her guineas (sorry Joanne, I forget who now) and she described it much the same, I believe a course of Baytril helped to clear it up. Worth dropping a PM to her and finding out some more from her.

Good luck for tomorrow at the vets, update us soon as you can. :)
 
Ok, the vet has said she thinks it could be a benign tumor, she said its unlikely to be a cyst or abscess as it is quite solid and firmly attached. Its bigger than i originally realised, more like the size of a marble.
She said her main concern is that it is going to grow and cause him problems, due to where it is located.
Other than that, she said he is in good health.

So, she recommended having it removed,but she did stress the risks from the anaesthesia.
It was left that i would phone them tomorrow after i'd had a think about it.

I obviously want it removed, just in case it is anything more sinister, but i'm worried about the anaesthetic :... :...
 
Bless you, it can be such a tricky thing to decide on. Did you manage to get in touch with Joanne and see if there's any similarities between her piggie's lump and Nacho's?
 
I know, my first thought was to book him in for it straight away.....

The thing is, do i leave it,and keep having it checked? as it doesn't seem to bother him, but then it might be something sinister, and obviously the sooner its out the better.
But, it might not grow any bigger, and he could live happily with it for years yet, and if i get it done,it would be risking him anaesthetic wise for something that might not be a problem later on........

He is so happy and otherwise healthy, just looking at him now, he is just being normal Nacho, i really don't know what to do?!?!

I know obviously, no one is going to want to advise me on the decision, but the vet said if he was her pig, she would, but then as my OH pointed out rather cynically, vets make money. what would you do, if it was your piglet?
 
If it was my pig, I'd be asking the same questions and thinking the same thoughts as you! Sorry, I know that's no help at all.

I think in these situations, the strongest feeling I have towards any kind of action is to see how he gets on over the next month or two, make a decision based on close monitoring of the lump over a bit of time as opposed to having only just found the lump and not really knowing anything about it. If it grows or if anything changes with Nacho's general health, then make the decision as and when that happens.
 
How old is Nacho? This is almost exactly what happened to us with Floris, but her little lump was by her ear. The vet felt it would be difficult to operate if it was left because if it grew there would be little skin around the ear to cover the wound. Plus it was in a tricky location, close to her eyes we didn't want to risk her losing her eyesight or it affecting her brain due the lump growing. It was more out of potential harm it could do because of its location that we decided to go for the operation while the lump was still small. It was really successful, Flo made it through perfectly and has never have any further problems or lumps.

It turned out it was just a fatty deposit I think they are called lipoma? So it wasn't at all harmful, except for its location. It is a really hard decision to make though, I worried myself sick because there is always a risk with anaesthetic. After the op, Flo had a black circle around her nose from the gas mask the dear little thing. She bounced back SO quickly though, the little madam was eating as soon as she woke up and a couple of weeks later when the fur grew back, we'd all pretty much forgotten she ever had a lump there!
 
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thanks Laura,

I'm going to give myself a few days to think long and hard on it. I am also inclined to just see how it goes at the moment, but then i might feel differently in an hour, its all so fresh in my mind at the moment. i have to go to work now so will try not to think about it this afternoon, then maybe i'll have a clearer head later on. :)

xx
 
I wanted to add, if it is not a great risk to just leave it for now and it can still be operated on if it does get a bit bigger (this wasn't an option for Floris), then I too would wait and see what happens.
 
fritsthegirl said:
How old is Nacho? This is almost exactly what happened to us with Floris, but her little lump was by her ear. The vet felt it would be difficult to operate if it was left because if it grew there would be little skin around the ear to cover the wound. Plus it was in a tricky location, close to her eyes we didn't want to risk her losing her eyesight or it affecting her brain due the lump growing. It was more out of potential harm it could do because of its location that we decided to go for the operation while the lump was still small. It was really successful, Flo made it through perfectly and has never have any further problems or lumps.

It turned out it was just a fatty deposit I think they are called lipoma? So it wasn't at all harmful, except for its location. It is a really hard decision to make though, I worried myself sick because there is always a risk with anaesthetic. After the op, Flo had a black circle around her nose from the gas mask the dear little thing. She bounced back SO quickly though, the little madam was eating as soon as she woke up and a couple of weeks later when the fur grew back, we'd all pretty much forgotten she ever had a lump there!
Click to expand...

Thanks for that positive story :)
Nacho is about 3, 3 and a half, he's just my most precious of pigs, and he's being incredibly clingy the last 2 days, he just wants cuddles, in the vets he kept coming and snuggling up to me while he was being examined.

As i said in my last post, i'm thinking all over the place at the moment. ?/ :{
 
Thanks Joanne, i had forgotten about that thread (even though i did comment on it more than once rolleyes )
It sounds similar, but the vet said Nacho's is definitely attached, quite firmly.

x
 
just thought i'd update.

I've decided, after thinking it over the last few weeks, that i will go ahead with the op. Nacho has lost a tiny bit of weight, only a few grams, and i don't know if its me being paranoid but i'm sure i can feel the lump more easily than before. He is still eating and drinking but seems down, but then that could be because he is missing caesar.
He's booked in for monday at 8.30 and i've taken the week off so i can give him lots of attention.
 
In view of it's position near his throat and the fact that it is attached, I think you have made a difficult but right decision. The larger the lump to be removed, the bigger the resulting wound, the more problematical it can be to heal.

I have one piggie, Ginger, who following a large lump removal, had a large incision on his tummy that still hasn;t fully healed 7 weeks post op (and that is with 4 weeks boarding and careful nursing from the vets) - yet Willow who had a small infected cyst removed three weeks ago was completely fine two weeks later.

It;s a good job Wilow had no complications as I think following his experience with Ginger (naughty boy didn;t help as he kept ripping out his stitches) my vet was at the stage of banning my guineas from his surgery :))

Good luck for monday to you both

x
 
I was wondering if you'd decided...I think you are doing the right thing, I would do the same. I hope that it all goes really well for Nacho, and that he's back at home with you safe and sound before you know it. :)
 
Well done for making your decision, how is Nacho today?
I hope all goes perfectly well on Monday - it's great that you've taken the week off too, there would be nothing worse than sitting at work worrying about the poor little chap!
Can I ask what vet you go to? Sounds like they're quite considerate and know what they're talking about :) always good for your peace of mind at times like this.
Cx
 
Just thought i'd update.
Nacho is doing really well and has been signed off from the vets, she is really happy with his progress and the wound has healed nicely :(|)
The lump was nothing sinister, just a fatty lump.

Now all i've got to do is persuade him i'm not going to give him baytril every time i pick him up! :))
nacho010.jpg
 
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