Nipple swollen and bleeding

[phillyb_12]

Hello everyone,
I have two females that live in the same cage. They’re about 4 years old. I picked up Rosie last night and she bled on my shirt - about a nickel size of blood (I’m in Canada). When I investigated it seemed to be coming from her bottom right nipple, though it did not continue to bleed so it was difficult to tell. She isn’t acting like she’s in any pain. That was yesterday. When I picked her up today, there was no more blood and no blood spots on the cage. She appears to be totally fine and is eating and drinking but her nipple is still swollen. The colour is normal though. I’m worried as I’m at my parent’s for Christmas in another town and there aren’t any vets here who deal with guinea pigs. Any advice? This has never happened to her before although I guess it could just have been a scratch with a bit of swelling...I’ve attached pictures of the swollen nipple on the right and the other nipple as well to compare.

 

[Lady Kelly]

That doesn't look normal and doesn't look like it could just be a scratch either. Obviously you need to see a vet as soon as possible. When are you at your parents until? It might be worth monitoring weight daily to ensure she is otherwise keeping fine

 

[PigglePuggle]

I think at this time of year if you are away from home and away from the vets the best thing is to get her seen by the vet as soon as you get home. This sounds very worrying and may well indicate a serious condition, but as long as she is still eating and pooping and not in any obvious pain this should wait until next week- this sort of thing doesnt develop overnight and has probably been coming on for months, its just unfortunate you noticed the symptoms first over the holidays. But please try phone ahead and prioritise a vet check as soon as you get home x

 

[phillyb_12]

That doesn't look normal and doesn't look like it could just be a scratch either. Obviously you need to see a vet as soon as possible. When are you at your parents until? It might be worth monitoring weight daily to ensure she is otherwise keeping fine

Yes good idea to monitor the weight. Like I said, she doesn’t at all appear to be in pain, even when I pick her up and touch the nipple. I will be able to have her seen by the vet on Friday but will probably take her to the vet here (even though the vet doesn’t have much experience with smaller animals) if it appears to be worsening...

 

[Bill & Ted]

I would take her to the vets ASAP. Bleeding from the nipple is not normal. My Bill (boy) had two small mammary tumours and when the vet squeezed his nipple it started to bleed. He had them promptly removed and is fine now.
Hope it’s nothing serious but would get it checked out soon as you can x

 

[Bill & Ted]

I was told by my vet Simon Maddock that Mammary tumours in Male piggies are extremely aggressive, more so than in females and can literally appear overnight and grow to the size of golf balls or bigger in a very short space of time. In females it’s less aggressive because of a certain hormone males lack that dampens the cell multiplication. I didn’t notice Bill’s lump until a week before we were due for dentals. These lumps can spring out of nowhere. Him being a Male I didn’t think it would be anything serious, how wrong could I have been!

 

[Siikibam]

Did you manage to get her seen?