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Soft Cyst near Guinea's rear

Ajkoiv

Ajkoiv

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Oct 27, 2019
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Location
Laguna Niguel, California
Hello, I'm new to this site, so I haven't posted like this before. Looking for some advice as a first time Guinea Pig owner.

About a year ago I found a small lump near my piggy Archie's rear end/lower back. I took him to a local vet clinic to make sure it wasn't something dangerous. She told me it was harmless and as long as it was soft he was fine. He eats fine, doesn't react when I touch it, and overall has the same behavior he's always had so I was relieved. About 6 months later I was paranoid that it had grown. I hadn't really measured it but remembered it being about dime sized and it seemed closer to a nickel or quarter. I took him back to the vet, and she basically said she didn't see much of a difference and that he was still fine. Now it has been another 6 months and I feel like I'm in the same position. It appears to me that it has definitely grown but when I check it and touch it Archie doesn't react, he eats and drinks fine, I haven't noticed anything strange about his cage or droppings and his behavior hasn't changed. I'm just concerned about it's growth. But vets in my area are expensive and few see guinea pigs so finding a second opinion is a bit more difficult. I'd rather not throw $80 out the window (college student) for another visit that says nothing has changed. Should I get a second opinion or do you think my guy is okay since his behavior is normal?

Thank you for any feedback, it's appreciated.

-Concerned new owner
 
Hello and :wel:

I’m not schooled on this, but would say it’s a good sign if he’s still eating and pooping as usual. I’d probably go for a second opinion (guinea pig savvy vet) anyway to put my mind at ease, and decide how to move forward after that.

If it’s not grown much then that’s also good.
 
Siikibam said:
Hello and :wel:

I’m not schooled on this, but would say it’s a good sign if he’s still eating and pooping as usual. I’d probably go for a second opinion (guinea pig savvy vet) anyway to put my mind at ease, and decide how to move forward after that.

If it’s not grown much then that’s also good.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much for your response. Being new to guinea pigs, I'm not yet sure what's alarming and what isn't. I appreciate your reassurance. I'll start looking into more Guinea Pig savvy vets near my area!
 
There are a lot of reasons for lumps in guinea pigs, including cysts, abscesses, lipomas (fatty lumps), and more serious causes like tumors. It's really impossible to say without a vet examination. That said, the fact that his behavior is normal and this has been relatively stable for a long time is good news. I do think it's worth finding a vet with experience with guinea pigs because the likelihood is you will need a good vet one day and it's much better to find one for something like this rather than in a dire emergency. In North America, most vets that also treat small animals like rodents bill themselves as 'exotic vets.' So looking into vets that bill themselves as exotic vets might give you a starting point for vets who are knowledgeable about guinea pigs, both to check out this lump and in case of any future issue. Good luck!
 
Hope he's feeling better soon.
Hope it is nothing serious. If you need to keep a record of the lump take a picture on your phone, that way you have a record and a reference point of it, if it is growing.
Sending hugs.x
 
Ajkoiv said:
Hello, I'm new to this site, so I haven't posted like this before. Looking for some advice as a first time Guinea Pig owner.

About a year ago I found a small lump near my piggy Archie's rear end/lower back. I took him to a local vet clinic to make sure it wasn't something dangerous. She told me it was harmless and as long as it was soft he was fine. He eats fine, doesn't react when I touch it, and overall has the same behavior he's always had so I was relieved. About 6 months later I was paranoid that it had grown. I hadn't really measured it but remembered it being about dime sized and it seemed closer to a nickel or quarter. I took him back to the vet, and she basically said she didn't see much of a difference and that he was still fine. Now it has been another 6 months and I feel like I'm in the same position. It appears to me that it has definitely grown but when I check it and touch it Archie doesn't react, he eats and drinks fine, I haven't noticed anything strange about his cage or droppings and his behavior hasn't changed. I'm just concerned about it's growth. But vets in my area are expensive and few see guinea pigs so finding a second opinion is a bit more difficult. I'd rather not throw $80 out the window (college student) for another visit that says nothing has changed. Should I get a second opinion or do you think my guy is okay since his behavior is normal?

Thank you for any feedback, it's appreciated.

-Concerned new owner
Click to expand...

Hi!

Please keep a close eye on the growing cyst or fatty lump. Any lump can suddenly start growing very quickly and burst or fill with fluid; they can also become cancerous. In these cases, they need operative removal promptly.

Here is a link to recommended vets in your state: Guinea Lynx :: GL's Vet List
 
Hi just sharing an update for anyone who may be curious.

Thank you so much for the responses, everyone! I ended up taking him to a new vet this morning for a second opinion after all. They took a sample from the cyst just to make sure it wasn't anything too bad. But it was what we thought, a sebaceous cyst. I'm relieved that the consensus is the same, and will continue to keep my eye on him. The vet will be emailing me an estimate for surgery in case it gets worse. Archie is still pretty young, so she said if it did need a removal, the procedure shouldn't be too hard on him. Otherwise I was told he appears to be a very healthy boy and they couldn't stop gushing at how cute his is haha. Thanks, again!
 
That’s a good update and glad the ‘new’ vet has an ‘in case of’ step set up.
 
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