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Ruby's Lip

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xxaimeexx

xxaimeexx

Teenage Guinea Pig
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A while back i went to the vets about ruby's lip. She'd had a small lump for all of her life, contained in her skin, it was just her wee thing. I went to the vets because it had grown and become slightly raw looking. It has now grown again and looks terribly warty and raw in places. When i took her to the vets the first time they said that because it wasn't stopping her doing anything, or didn't seem to hurt her that they could operate on it but this could be more risky than just leaving it. It's still not stopping her eating or anything, and her weight and other health is good, but i feel like she's catching it with her teeth and maybe thats why it's a bit raw. I know the options with the vets, might take her again if it looks infected or anything. I just wanted to know what you guys thought. I feel like getting it removed would be quite a risky idea.14800269_625509184277641_656361504_o.webp 14803148_625509190944307_39772970_o.webp 14807873_625509214277638_909524979_o.webp 14803056_625509234277636_984071729_o.webp 14795759_625509144277645_1890784742_o.webp
 
that looks nasty, poor girl! She definitely needs proper vet care.
 
Wiebke said:
that looks nasty, poor girl! She definitely needs proper vet care.
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Thank you, it's very worrying, maybe this time they'd try something other than just giving the option of leave it or operation :(
 
This is the second "growth" now, seems to just be adding another bulb to it if you know what i mean. It's such a strange pattern not a fast growth or a slow one. Really horrid - if they give other options at the vets then i'll definitely try something
 
Just realised i never said in first post that I'm going to the vets as soon as i can with her :mal: i have the added issue of having to rely on parents for vet trips :td:
 
Definately see the vet and see what they think about removing it i.e if its covering too large of an area or is too vascular etc which would complicate things. If not, and they think it would be straight forward to remove, and you feel its starting to impact on her quality of life then it may be something you need to consider. If she keeps biting / catching it theres the risk of infection setting in too.

Good luck at the vets x
 
I've not really explained what i was looking for. Really I just wondered if anyone had seen anything similar and what it could possibly be treated with (through vets) so i could maybe talk to them about different things, not just removal. I'd hate for removal to be the only option, i guess i can only see what the vet says about that :(
 
Adelle said:
Definately see the vet and see what they think about removing it i.e if its covering too large of an area or is too vascular etc which would complicate things. If not, and they think it would be straight forward to remove, and you feel its starting to impact on her quality of life then it may be something you need to consider. If she keeps biting / catching it theres the risk of infection setting in too.

Good luck at the vets x
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It's kind of just an extension to the flap of her lip if that makes any sense. it's not impacting her life as far as i can tell(shes going about as normal) its the biting it thing that concerns me, i would hate it to get infected because things could go really wrong then eek.Thank you so much for your reply, x
 
I can't see the picture very well as I'm on my phone, but is it liquid filled as a blister would be or solid skin like a skin tag/wart?
If its fluid filled maybe it could be drained &the removed fluid tested.

Maybe ask if its solid/warty if it could be frozen under light sedation the same as humans can have for warts, so it will just die &fall of like a scab does.
Or see if the vet could safely wrap stitching thread round it to cut off the blood supply to it &again it would just fall off?

No general anaesthetic or surgery required that way to increase the risks.
Just a thought anyway. Xx
 
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It could be a wart or a skin tag (one of my hedgehogs had a skin tag that looked similar to that, though not on her lip. In her case because she was elderly and it was not bothering her, we opted to leave it alone.) Depending on how vascular it is, you could be looking at a surgery for removal. If it's not too vascular, they may be able to tie it off and hope that it falls off on its own once the blood supply is cut. If your vet is experienced with small animal surgeries that would be a big plus!
 
It seems solid but that will be something I'll get the vet to check. at the vets I go to some of the vets specialise in small animals and are available to do surgery. Thanks for giving me something to go on. It's very wart like but it's such a strange growth I really have no idea. Hopefully the results of whatever test/vet trip point to something positive :)
 
Ruby went to the vets on Monday(have only just got round to letting you guys know!), they decided the best option was to operate to remove it as it is quite vascular. She goes in for surgery tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed the anesthetic goes alright and that it can be stitched up nicely. Are there any threads on post op care here? I'll get advice from the vet of course but I'll check here too. The vet said that Connie can come in the carrier too provided they wouldn't fight, is that a good idea? Or should I just leave Connie at home? They never usually fight, just do grumpy noises at each other when they don't want to share! However what I'm thinking is how would Connie react to a drowsy Ruby. I don't know what you guys would usually do with a cage mate when the other piggie is going for surgery. I'm a bit worried about Ruby going tomorrow but I just have to trust the vet and hope it goes smoothly...:(
 
Glad she is getting her lip sorted out bless her. Here is the link to the post op care guide: Tips For Post-operative Care

I think the decision on wether to take her companion would be a judgement call on your part. Would Ruby become distressed on her own? Would she look for Connie if worried? If so, you then need to look at wether the carrier is big enough for two or wether a cramped space may make Connie grumpy. There really is no right answer; every piggy is different. Personally I have never took my pigs to the vet in pairs, my late Mikey and Mallow both went had ops and went solo, fudge and crunchie my current oldies have both had many stays in the vets for procedures and have also always went alone. However if either of my current youngsters needed to be admitted, I would definately send them together as they are very much in their own little bubble together all the time.

I would stay away from any fruits or messy veg until her lip has healed as this could cause quite a sting due to the acidity. If you need to syringe feed her post op, be very careful around her mouth with the syringe.

All the best for tomorrow x
 
Adelle said:
Glad she is getting her lip sorted out bless her. Here is the link to the post op care guide: Tips For Post-operative Care

I think the decision on wether to take her companion would be a judgement call on your part. Would Ruby become distressed on her own? Would she look for Connie if worried? If so, you then need to look at wether the carrier is big enough for two or wether a cramped space may make Connie grumpy. There really is no right answer; every piggy is different. Personally I have never took my pigs to the vet in pairs, my late Mikey and Mallow both went had ops and went solo, fudge and crunchie my current oldies have both had many stays in the vets for procedures and have also always went alone. However if either of my current youngsters needed to be admitted, I would definately send them together as they are very much in their own little bubble together all the time.

I would stay away from any fruits or messy veg until her lip has healed as this could cause quite a sting due to the acidity. If you need to syringe feed her post op, be very careful around her mouth with the syringe.

All the best for tomorrow x
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Thank you, they have a big carrier so since they will spend most of the day there I'll probably put Connie in too.
 
:tu:good luck &hope it all goes ok. i have taken my lot in all combinations, alone together & when grace had her bladder stone done she had the other two for company on the journey there but stayed on her own afterwards, dependent on the guineas personalities, most have preferred a paw-holder though :wub:
speedy recovery ruby. make sure you take some hay/food for when they're at the vets.
...my vets chuckled at me as i took in a packed lunch feast for Grace when she went in:shh:

xx
 
Ruby has had the lump removed and it went well, she's now eating and drinking fine, I'll be keeping an eye on her. She had an injection of painkiller at vet and a syringe feed there, she's loving her veg just now! Only one stitch was needed and hopefully she'll recover well :)
 
It all Sounds very positive! Does she have pain relief and recovery sachets to take home? Better to be equipped in case she needs them x
 
Adelle said:
It all Sounds very positive! Does she have pain relief and recovery sachets to take home? Better to be equipped in case she needs them x
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The vet said she wouldn't need them tonight and if there was any sign of problems with appetite or the wound to go back tomorrow. I've got some critical care and syringe feeding stuff on standby anyway, hopefully nothing extra is needed though!
 
Adelle said:
It all Sounds very positive! Does she have pain relief and recovery sachets to take home? Better to be equipped in case she needs them x
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I'm now concerned about the fact she's not been sent home with pain relief, i have been watching them on and off and just there she sat grinding her teeth for about 30 seconds solid, she didn't do it again but she's also been making noises, a bit like a muffled squeegee on a window? Teeth grinding as a sign of pain is why I'm particularly worried, she can often make the squeegee noise but I'm still not sure about it...
 
Adelle said:
It all Sounds very positive! Does she have pain relief and recovery sachets to take home? Better to be equipped in case she needs them x
Click to expand...
I'm now concerned about the fact she's not been sent home with pain relief, i have been watching them on and off and just there she sat grinding her teeth for about 30 seconds solid, she didn't do it again but she's also been making noises, a bit like a muffled squeegee on a window? Teeth grinding as a sign of pain is why I'm particularly worried, she can often make the squeegee noise but I'm still not sure about it...
 
xxaimeexx said:
I'm now concerned about the fact she's not been sent home with pain relief, i have been watching them on and off and just there she sat grinding her teeth for about 30 seconds solid, she didn't do it again but she's also been making noises, a bit like a muffled squeegee on a window? Teeth grinding as a sign of pain is why I'm particularly worried, she can often make the squeegee noise but I'm still not sure about it...
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If she had a meta am injection she won't need any for 24 hours, that's why you haven't been sent any. They can have it every 12 if they are in pain post op. Maybe call an out of hours vet and enquire? How is her appetite?
 
Everything else is fine, I reckon she's had the metacam so that should be keeping it at bay, it's not normal for her to grind her teeth at all but I am hoping it's just because she's been a bit stressed and is maybe feeling a bit out of sorts.
 
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