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Strange Fleshy Lump In Mouth..can't Find Any Information Anywhere

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Pinki

Pinki

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi
So I just noticed a strange lump today in Tulsi's mouth. I've never come across this before. I phoned some people who know about these things and from the poor quality photo only one said it might be her ducal pad coming forward and another said it could be her tongue trapped...I don't think it is, her tongue is free. Also a polyp was suspected. I find no mention of oral polyps here but that is what I'm beginning to suspect because the lump has flat, almost square sides, which polyps do. It is attached to an area inside her lip running back into the mouth down the side.
She has normal straight front teeth and is eating normally and chewing normally and is in no pain and in general good health. Her mouth is free and with normal movement so I don't think her back teeth are growing over.
I'm loathe to take her to the vet as they cannot look inside her mouth with a general anaesthetic. I will take her to The Cavy Trust when I can as it's not urgent and they will be able to look without an anaesthetic.
Anyone got any ideas?

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Firstly great photo - piggie mouths can be tricky!

I am not an expert, but I would think she needs to see vet asap.
Her bottom teeth look very overgrown, although that could just be the angle of the picture.
But piggies can go downhill so quickly if their eating is affected, so I think anything mouth related would be considered quite urgent.
How is she eating?
How is her weight?
 
Thanks
Yes I mention her eating is normal and yes the angle of the photo makes her bottom teeth look too long but they're fine.
She is super well and eating voraciously!
 
Just had another look..it's loosely attached to the inside of her lip. Very strange. Also checked teeth..all good. No malocclusion.
 
Pinki said:
Hi
So I just noticed a strange lump today in Tulsi's mouth. I've never come across this before. I phoned some people who know about these things and from the poor quality photo only one said it might be her ducal pad coming forward and another said it could be her tongue trapped...I don't think it is, her tongue is free. Also a polyp was suspected. I find no mention of oral polyps here but that is what I'm beginning to suspect because the lump has flat, almost square sides, which polyps do. It is attached to an area inside her lip running back into the mouth down the side.
She has normal straight front teeth and is eating normally and chewing normally and is in no pain and in general good health. Her mouth is free and with normal movement so I don't think her back teeth are growing over.
I'm loathe to take her to the vet as they cannot look inside her mouth with a general anaesthetic. I will take her to The Cavy Trust when I can as it's not urgent and they will be able to look without an anaesthetic.
Anyone got any ideas?

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I am tagging @furryfriends (TEAS) for you. Please see a vet; it could be a growth of some sort that may need to be rmoved.
 
Thanks Wiebke will do. I'll report back when we figure it out as I've read all the literature and searched all the forums and there is no mention of polyps in the mouth but that is what I'm starting to suspect. Either that or she's had a bump and bitten her lip and its turned into a lump of flesh barely attached. Very strange, in my years of guineas never seen it before. Always learning!
 
I've never seen anything like that before... it doesn't look inflamed or infected at all. One of my hedgehogs developed a benign growth in her gum... it looked similar in that it was not inflamed or red and just looked like normal tissue in an atypical location, but that's the closest I've come to anything like that. It's good that it's not interfering with eating. Hopefully if it's barely attached it would be easy to remove if it were getting in the way.
 
Do you weigh her? A pig can actually be eating less and lose weight without you actually noticing. The veg can still be cleared like usual since it's so tasty but they can be eating less hay and pellets.

If you don't weigh her, I would start doing so, then you can monitor if/when this starts to affect her eating.

How long has she had it and how quickly has it grown? Its good it's attached to her lip and not actually from inside the mouth as it should be easier to treat.

Definately see a vet however. Good luck!
 
Freela said:
I've never seen anything like that before... it doesn't look inflamed or infected at all. One of my hedgehogs developed a benign growth in her gum... it looked similar in that it was not inflamed or red and just looked like normal tissue in an atypical location, but that's the closest I've come to anything like that. It's good that it's not interfering with eating. Hopefully if it's barely attached it would be easy to remove if it were getting in the way.
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Yes that's it, thanks, it's not inflamed or infected at all. The vet has looked at the picture and thinks it's a polyp. So, as it's not interfering with eating at all, I'm going to monitor the situation and will get it removed if it becomes a problem. As the mouth is so sensitive in a guinea it may make her chew on one side more than the other in which case there will be problems and I'll have to get it removed. So strange that no-one's come across this before in a guinea!
Thanks everyone. :)
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
I am seeing Simon Maddock later today. I will show him the pic and see what he thinks. For information, Simon can examine guinea pig mouths and do dental work, without the need for GA.
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Oh thank you so much...I really appreciate that..:)
 
Simon had a look at the pic. He said he would need to see where it is growing from and how it's attached, to have more of an idea what he would suggest you do. He said if it is growing, then you really should get it removed, as even if it isn't causing an issue now, it could become a problem if it gets bigger. He said the piggy could find it gets in the way when eating and it could potentially cause a dental issue. Would you be able to get your guinea pig to Northampton, to be seen by Simon Maddock? x
 
Thank you so much!
That is helpful. I am on the other side of the UK but I have a vet here so I will treat her here. Much appreciated! Best wishes :)
 
Pinki said:
Thank you so much!
That is helpful. I am on the other side of the UK but I have a vet here so I will treat her here. Much appreciated! Best wishes :)
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Simon said it is hopefully only connected to the gum with a small stalk and would therefore be easy to remove. Find a good, guinea pig savvy vet. Please don't take her to the CCT.
 
Been a member of the CCT for many years and had many guineas saved by them so we'll have to agree to differ on that one if that's OK :)
 
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