Piggie with a lump: need help!

[Immamuffin23]

Okay, so my guinea pig is proned to getting lumps, but the lumps are usually popped and gone with some medicine. This bump appeared when her last one dissapeared and it won't pop, it is warm, red and squishy. She doesn't seem to be in pain, she is still eating and drinking and moving around. I just don't know what to do...

 

[Wiebke]

Okay, so my guinea pig is proned to getting lumps, but the lumps are usually popped and gone with some medicine. This bump appeared when her last one dissapeared and it won't pop, it is warm, red and squishy. She doesn't seem to be in pain, she is still eating and drinking and moving around. I just don't know what to do...

Please see a vet as soon as possible!

Any lump that is interfering with mobility as this one here needs removing. The location is also rather worrying, as it looks like it is in the armpit (lymph node). Heat and redness are signs of an infection; there is also a possibility that it is an abscess resulting from an infection when the previous lump was popped.
We cannot replace hands-on vet examinations and treatment. This lump here cannot be left as it is. We can also not tell you by looking at a picture whether a lump is harmless or not. Any treatment (lancing or operative removal) depends on its nature and location. but this lump is not going away on its own and will only continue to grow.

More information on lumps: Guinea Lynx :: Lumps

 

[Merab]

She needs to see a vet as soon as possible.
Let us know how you get on.
Welcome to the forum

 

[Immamuffin23]

Please see a vet as soon as possible!

Any lump that is interfering with mobility as this one here needs removing. The location is also rather worrying, as it looks like it is in the armpit (lymph node). Heat and redness are signs of an infection; there is also a possibility that it is an abscess resulting from an infection when the previous lump was popped.
We cannot replace hands-on vet examinations and treatment. This lump here cannot be left as it is. We can also not tell you by looking at a picture whether a lump is harmless or not. Any treatment (lancing or operative removal) depends on its nature and location. but this lump is not going away on its own and will only continue to grow.

More information on lumps: Guinea Lynx :: Lumps

That is the thing, we don't have money to take her to the vet..I was hoping it was something simple but it doesn't seem that..I'm scared and don't know what to do..how long will she last?

 

[Wiebke]

That is the thing, we don't have money to take her to the vet..I was hoping it was something simple but it doesn't seem that..I'm scared and don't know what to do..how long will she last?

I am sorry; I can't answer this question as I do not know the nature of the lump.

Please always save up for a vet fund on a weekly or monthly basis right from the start as part of their living cost. The right to medical care and being free from pain is as elementary as being fed and housed. There are no cheap pets; what they cost when you buy them is the least bit in order to lure people in becoming repeat shop customers.

Which country are you in and could you contact a good rescue if you cannot afford vet care outside the UK? Many UK vet clinics have payment plans.
Guinea Lynx :: Rescue Organizations (recommended good standard non-kill rescues with medical care outside the UK)

 

[Merab]

If you are in the UK the PDSA may help or you could ask your vet about paying in instalments.

 

[Immamuffin23]

I am sorry; I can't answer this question as I do not know the nature of the lump.

Please always save up for a vet fund on a weekly or monthly basis right from the start as part of their living cost. The right to medical care and being free from pain is as elementary as being fed and housed. There are no cheap pets; what they cost when you buy them is the least bit in order to lure people in becoming repeat shop customers.

Which country are you in and could you contact a good rescue if you cannot afford vet care outside the UK? Many UK vet clinics have payment plans.
Guinea Lynx :: Rescue Organizations (recommended good standard non-kill rescues with medical care outside the UK)

Okay, thanks for the help. I will start to save up the money, she isn't in pain so that is good.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Wow that’s a big lump! It looks painful, piggies hide pain and illness very well so she’ll likely need some pain relief as well as treatment for what ever it is. I hope you get to see a vet soon, as Wiebke mentioned you may be able to get help from a rescue. It really does need to be seen quickly. Fingers crossed for her!

 

[Freela]

That's quite a lump and there's no way to know what it is without vet investigation. Guinea pigs are prone to abscesses and fatty lumps, but can also develop malignant tumors and other serious problems. The sooner you find out what it is, the easier (and less costly) proper treatment may be. Best of luck and hope you can get in to see a vet quickly.

 

[Immamuffin23]

Wow that’s a big lump! It looks painful, piggies hide pain and illness very well so she’ll likely need some pain relief as well as treatment for what ever it is. I hope you get to see a vet soon, as Wiebke mentioned you may be able to get help from a rescue. It really does need to be seen quickly. Fingers crossed for her!

Thank you so much, like I said in my previous post, she is still eating, moving around, and drinking water. My girl is strong, but she has been through a lot since we adopted her from the shelter...

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Thank you so much, like I said in my previous post, she is still eating, moving around, and drinking water. My girl is strong, but she has been through a lot since we adopted her from the shelter...

I’m sure she is a tough cookie, just be aware that she is suffering in her current situation even if she hides it well. It would be like having a heavy, sore medicine ball sized lump under your arm 24/7. It just can’t wait a couple more weeks before being treated as it it likely very infected or could even be cancerous. It can’t be left.

A vet check up isn’t terribly expensive (the cost of a meal out) so you can always explore the options. It may not even be as expensive as you think but it can make a difference to her life! You could always ask the shelter for help too if it becomes quite expensive?

 

[Immamuffin23]

I’m sure she is a tough cookie, just be aware that she is suffering in her current situation even if she hides it well. It would be like having a heavy, sore medicine ball sized lump under your arm 24/7. It just can’t wait a couple more weeks before being treated as it it likely very infected or could even be cancerous. It can’t be left.

A vet check up isn’t terribly expensive (the cost of a meal out) so you can always explore the options. It may not even be as expensive as you think but it can make a difference to her life! You could always ask the shelter for help too if it becomes quite expensive?

Okay, I did some research and it might just be a fatty lump or a lipomas. The thing is, I don't know if it is me touching her paw or if it is the bump. I think she knows the bump is there, she seems to keep trying to chew at it...I am a little scared...

 

[Claire W]

As others have said, only a vet can diagnose what the lump is and even if it’s ‘just a fatty lump’ one that size will need removing as it will be impacting on your piggies movement and could be painful

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Okay, I did some research and it might just be a fatty lump or a lipomas. The thing is, I don't know if it is me touching her paw or if it is the bump. I think she knows the bump is there, she seems to keep trying to chew at it...I am a little scared...

Yes she’ll chew at it as it’s causing her pain and discomfort. She needs treatment asap, you really don’t want her chewing it open it’s awful. One of my pigs did that over night after an operation and it’s horrific. It will make the problem a lot worse if untreated by a vet.

 

[Bill & Ted]

So sorry for you and your piggie. When animals start to chew at themselves it usually means that that part of their body is in pain. Can the shelter from where you adopted her from give some financial help at all towards the cost of the vets or get a discount from the vets they use for her?

 

[Immamuffin23]

Yes she’ll chew at it as it’s causing her pain and discomfort. She needs treatment asap, you really don’t want her chewing it open it’s awful. One of my pigs did that over night after an operation and it’s horrific. It will make the problem a lot worse if untreated by a vet.

I am distracting her and she isn't touching it now. I just hope the swelling will go down some...

 

[Immamuffin23]

So sorry for you and your piggie. When animals start to chew at themselves it usually means that that part of their body is in pain. Can the shelter from where you adopted her from give some financial help at all towards the cost of the vets or get a discount from the vets they use for her?

I don't think so, when we got her, the people just came in and put her in a box and left her on the counter at the vet. She wasn't really in a guinea pig rescue.

 

[eileen]

I'm sorry,your piggie needs to see a vet as soon as possible.your piggie is suffering at present.you may have a fear of the possible outcome,cost.this is the only recommendation i can give.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

I am distracting her and she isn't touching it now. I just hope the swelling will go down some...

The swelling is unlikely to go down as it’s not being treated.

 

[Betsy]

@Immamuffin23 you asked for help. We are doing just that. You need to take your piggie to a vet. She will not get better on her own you just can't ignore it cos it won't go away. Your piggie is in pain which is why she is chewing at the swelling. When you get a pet you make a committment to look after it.

The 5 freedoms of animal welfare are:-

• FREEDOM FROM HUNGER AND THIRST. by ready access to fresh water and diet to maintain health and vigor.
• FREEDOM FROM DISCOMFORT. by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
• FREEDOM FROM PAIN, INJURY OR DISEASE. ...
• FREEDOM TO EXPRESS NORMAL BEHAVIOR. ...
• FREEDOM FROM FEAR AND DISTRESS.

Sorry to be harsh but your piggy is suffering pain and probably fear and distress cos she doesn't understand why she is in pain.

 

[Claire W]

I have a piggy who has several fatty lumps. I know they’re fatty as my vet performed a fine needle biopsy to diagnose what they were. My vet and us are monitoring them HOWEVER he has one is his armpit that WILL NEED to be removed if it gets much bigger as it will start to limit his mobility and it’s only currently the size of a marble and hasn’t grown in nearly a year. I once had a piggy who had a lump in her armpit and it sadly turned out to be a cancerous tumour. We decided not to operate due to her age and although she was still acting normally eating, drinking and playing etc, we still offered her metacam in case she was hiding any pain. PLEASE see a vet ASAP. You wrote this thread last night asking for advise and still haven’t taken the advise given.

Nobody on the internet can diagnose what it is but if it burst, you could be dealing with a fatality