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Small lump on male Guinea pig stomach

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Lele2000

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Aug 10, 2024
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Location
Bristol
Hello, I noticed a small lump on my male Guinea pigs stomach. He’s eating and drinking fine and his behaviour hasn’t changed, however I have noticed for about a week that his chin is wet but it typically dries so I thought maybe it was from drinking out of his bottle. However his cage mate doesn’t have a wet chin from drinking. I’ve checked his teeth and his front two aren’t over grown but I can’t see the back ones. He’s 4 in December and he’s been to the vets before because I noticed he was wheezing but was told that he’s nostrils were flaring at same time so isn’t anything to worry about.
I’m going to be taking him to the vets on Monday. However any advice on what this could be would be greatly appreciated
 
Lele2000 said:
Hello, I noticed a small lump on my male Guinea pigs stomach. He’s eating and drinking fine and his behaviour hasn’t changed, however I have noticed for about a week that his chin is wet but it typically dries so I thought maybe it was from drinking out of his bottle. However his cage mate doesn’t have a wet chin from drinking. I’ve checked his teeth and his front two aren’t over grown but I can’t see the back ones. He’s 4 in December and he’s been to the vets before because I noticed he was wheezing but was told that he’s nostrils were flaring at same time so isn’t anything to worry about.
I’m going to be taking him to the vets on Monday. However any advice on what this could be would be greatly appreciated
Click to expand...

Hi

You are doing the right thing in having him vet checked. If his front teeth are even, then odds are that his back teeth are not overgrown and it is just his individual style of drinking from the bottle - it is not instinctive but a learned/developed behaviour. Try and see whether you can watch him drinking sometime tomorrow.
Are you weighing your piggies once weekly together with their body and boar bits check/clean if needed? If his weight is stable, then again I would not worry.
Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths

Is the small lump sitting under a nipple or not? If not, odds are much more likely that it is a harmless fatty lump or cyst. However, it will need a hands-on examination to establish that.

Ps: It is perfectly normal that once you start looking closely, you'll find more things. I would recommend a weekly body and boys' mess check together with a weigh-in.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi

You are doing the right thing in having him vet checked. If his front teeth are even, then odds are that his back teeth are not overgrown and it is just his individual style of drinking from the bottle - it is not instinctive but a learned/developed behaviour. Try and see whether you can watch him drinking sometime tomorrow.
Are you weighing your piggies once weekly together with their body and boar bits check/clean if needed? If his weight is stable, then again I would not worry.
Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths

Is the small lump sitting under a nipple or not? If not, odds are much more likely that it is a harmless fatty lump or cyst. However, it will need a hands-on examination to establish that.

Ps: It is perfectly normal that once you start looking closely, you'll find more things. I would recommend a weekly body and boys' mess check together with a weigh-in.
Click to expand...
He weights 1,220g and typically stays within 1,200-1,300. I check his bits and bum at least once a week and everything is always fine there. The lump is above his nipple on the left side of his stomach
 
Lele2000 said:
He weights 1,220g and typically stays within 1,200-1,300. I check his bits and bum at least once a week and everything is always fine there. The lump is above his nipple on the left side of his stomach
Click to expand...
Hi

Thank you for the background information. We like to make sure. :tu:

Any belly lump that is not right underneath a nipple (mammary tumour) is generally much better news. Boars are more prone to fatty lumps on the belly and some can produce quite a number of them but you'll need a hands-on check for that. Unless the lump is suddenly blowing up (which I don't expect), it is not an emergency.
As the weight is stable and the front teeth are even, the wet chin is likely not connected with an acute dental health issue. Some piggies are more messy eaters and drinkers than others.

I would recommend to have him checked at your convenience during regular opening hours over the coming week or two.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi

Thank you for the background information. We like to make sure. :tu:

Any belly lump that is not right underneath a nipple (mammary tumour) is generally much better news. Boars are more prone to fatty lumps on the belly and some can produce quite a number of them but you'll need a hands-on check for that. Unless the lump is suddenly blowing up (which I don't expect), it is not an emergency.
As the weight is stable and the front teeth are even, the wet chin is likely not connected with an acute dental health issue. Some piggies are more messy eaters and drinkers than others.

I would recommend to have him checked at your convenience during regular opening hours over the coming week or two.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the help 😁
 
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