Sintheya
Junior Guinea Pig
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Swollen nipple
- Thread starter Sintheya
- Start date
Hi
Please have her vet checked promptly for either an infection or - if there is a lump underneath the nipple - for a potential mammary tumour. They can be benign or malign but they since they never stop growing, they will require a removal operation.
I am very sorry; but this needs to be taken seriously. Have you also checked her genitalia for any potential swelling/feeling hot to the touch in case it is an infection of the reproductive tract/womb (pyometra)?
This guide here will explain more:
Wheekallweek
Adult Guinea Pig
I agree. Definitely a vet visit in order ASAP!
Good luck - I hope it's nothing serious
Good luck - I hope it's nothing serious
Sintheya
Junior Guinea Pig
I checked her genitalia it's ok not swollen or feeling hot . And there is no lump I mean I can't feel anything there . Just the nipple is a little bit hard and swollen . Please Pray for her I'll take her to the vet .Hi
Please have her vet checked promptly for either an infection or - if there is a lump underneath the nipple - for a potential mammary tumour. They can be benign or malign but they since they never stop growing, they will require a removal operation.
I am very sorry; but this needs to be taken seriously. Have you also checked her genitalia for any potential swelling/feeling hot to the touch in case it is an infection of the reproductive tract/womb (pyometra)?
This guide here will explain more:
Fingers firmly crossed that it is just a local infection that can hopefully be cleared with an antibiotic.
Good luck at the vets.
Sintheya
Junior Guinea Pig
I manged to take an appointment after 2 days . Is there anything I can do to keep her comfortable?
Just check her daily for self-biting (pain) or any abrasions. All the best. See the vet sooner as an emergency if she suddenly stops eating and looks off.
Sintheya
Junior Guinea Pig
Thank you very much . I had one last inquiry. Could it be abscess? It looks like there is puss inside
You have to ask that to the vet. Without access your piggy it's not something we can answer but pus is pointing towards an infection of some sort or other (an abscess is an encapsulated infection). At least it sounds local and not like a mammary tumour or pyometra, which are the two big ones to worry about. .
Wheekallweek
Adult Guinea Pig
Good job getting her a vets appointment! Hope it's nothing serious 
Sintheya
Junior Guinea Pig
I took her to the vet and he said he's not sure what it could be precisely. So he prescribed antibiotics and told me to take her again after two days . He pressed the nipple and blood came out . But today when I went to clean the nipple looked like a little bit of sack and nothing came out . I'm a little bit worried
HUGS
My fingers are firmly crossed. Some tumours can be blood filled. I hope that the antibiotics do work.
What has she been prescribed and for how long? Please contact your asap if you notice changes that point towards it refilling and growing.
Wheekallweek
Adult Guinea Pig
Hope she's going to be OK!
How long has she been prescribed the antibiotics for?
How long has she been prescribed the antibiotics for?
Sintheya
Junior Guinea Pig
There is no growth but the nipple feels a little bit hard now . And she doesn't let me touch that part . Doctor prescribed antibiotics for a week but I need to recheck her tomorrow. But she's eating fine and playing .
Sintheya
Junior Guinea Pig
A week
I am keeping my fingers crossed and thinking of you. Please be aware that antibiotics build up over several days until they reach full efficiency and then take several day to fade away gradually.
But please contact your vet if you have concerns and if there are changes. Just don't stop the antibiotic.
Wheekallweek
Adult Guinea Pig
Sounds good. Sometimes it can take a bit longer depending on the antibiotics but hopefully 7 days will do the job
Sintheya
Junior Guinea Pig
Here is a little bit update . I took her for follow up and the vet said she's doing better than before . And he told me to complete the course and go for final decision. And she's doing well . But I have a concern that he thinks it's not a tumor but he says he might need to cut the nipple off and the operation is risky . The nipple doesn't seem to bother her . So should I proceed with the operation?Sounds good. Sometimes it can take a bit longer depending on the antibiotics but hopefully 7 days will do the job
Wheekallweek
Adult Guinea Pig
Try not to overthink it - I'd finish the course of antibiotics first and go from there.
It's good there's been an improvement!
It's good there's been an improvement!
Sintheya
Junior Guinea Pig
So the dose completed the day before yesterday and I have an appointment tomorrow. But as the dose completed I didn't give her the antibiotics yesterday. And today the nipple is bleeding again . Like few drops . She's eating and maintaining the same weightTry not to overthink it - I'd finish the course of antibiotics first and go from there.
It's good there's been an improvement!
Sintheya
Junior Guinea Pig
Vet thinks her blood vessel is ruptured there and idk why he says he have to cut off the nipple . I'm so worried because no vet here is expert on guineapigs and there is a possibility the operation will be a failure . She's on antibiotics still now and this is her situation now . Her weight is 900gm and she's eating well.I am very sorry. It rather sounds like a potential tumour to me.
Attachments
Your vet cannot just cut off the nipple but he can operate it out as well as anything that is sitting underneath. It's the same procedure as removing a mammary tumor. Please clarify whether he is cutting the whole nipple out (correct) or cutting just a part of the nipple off (not correct). That may help to clear some unnecessary confusion.
Having my first guinea pig operated on over 40 years ago, I do understand your concerns. Could you book a telephone appointment with your vet to answer all your questions you have around an operation?
PS: My boy survived his operation and lived to 6 years.
Here is our care guide for operations and post-op care. All the best. Unfortunately, the risk of fatal sepsis developing is too high if the nipple is left on its own. It is not a nice way to go. There is sadly no easy way out for you.
Sintheya
Junior Guinea Pig
I'm sorry that I created confusion. He is cutting the whole nipple out . Acc to him the nipple got infected somehow but he thinks it's not tumor as there's no growth . But I'm scared about the anesthesia part .Your vet cannot just cut off the nipple but he can operate it out as well as anything that is sitting underneath. It's the same procedure as removing a mammary tumor. Please clarify whether he is cutting the whole nipple out (correct) or cutting just a part of the nipple off (not correct). That may help to clear some unnecessary confusion.
Having my first guinea pig operated on over 40 years ago, I do understand your concerns. Could you book a telephone appointment with your vet to answer all your questions you have around an operation?
PS: My boy survived his operation and lived to 6 years.
Here is our care guide for operations and post-op care. All the best. Unfortunately, the risk of fatal sepsis developing is too high if the nipple is left on its own. It is not a nice way to go. There is sadly no easy way out for you.
That is always the tricky part. The operation itself has actually got a pretty good recovery rate since your vet doesn't have to go deep into the body and can hopefully get it done straigh forward. The shorter a piggy is under the smaller the risk of complications.
Bill & Ted
Forum Buddy
Good luck, I hope it goes for her and she makes a full recovery. My Bill had a mammary tumour (it was a very tiny little lump) my vet squeezed the nipple and it bled, he operated that very same day. He made a full recovery