Two lumps under chin

[Furries]

A two-year-old female guinea-pig (Jen) we rescued back in January from a lady who could no longer look after them due to being wheelchair-bound, has two lumps under her chin - one either side of her throat. She has lost a lot of weight but is now slowly gaining it and is being treated for cystitis and diarrhoea. We have only just noticed the lumps, despite her being handled daily. Could they be anything serious? Other than being thin, she is her still fairly chirpy (but not her usual self).

 

[Sarah from Chucklebunnies]

Could these be lumps in glands? Are they soft and easily moved or hardish? Does she show any signs of pain when they are touched/moved around?

Personally I have now seen two sets of cancerous lumps and in both cases they occured in glands, were fairly hard and caused discomfort on manipulation. The piggies didn't show any other signs of illness, trying to appear healthy. I caught the cancer early in Columbine - who is now recovering. Columbia (RIP) had cancer for nearly two years in all, too many lumps for an op by the time we realised it was there, living a pretty full and active life right to the end and dying at nearly 6 yrs old. So cancer is not necessarily an immediate killer, but if the lumps are hard and painful then the vets is by far the best option.

I am very sorry if this is a scary post, I tried to say that cancer really can be lived with for ages in a piggy.

Wishing your piggy all the best, I hope it is just cysts, Sarah

 

[Laura-CCC4]

It sounds like it could be the lymph nodes or glands that are enlarged, simply because there is one lump either side of the throat. This can happen in relation to infection. Worth having the lumps checked out to be sure, I know you'll already be keeping a close eye on them.

 

[Furries]

Thanks for your replies - I appreciate them. I took her to the vets this morning and the vet thought they might be tumours (and although she asked for a second opinion from another vet at the practice, I can't say I was convinced by her diagnosis). She tried to aspirate the lump but Jen wouldn't let her. I requested some Baytril on the off chance that it's down to an infection and I'll see how she goes on. All the vet said was the lumps would continue to grow (they are large now), and she'll eventually become unwell and need to be PTS.

I find it highly frustrating paying out for vet treatment when I'm unconvinced by the vet's knowledge.

I wish I lived closer to Cambridge - I contacted Vedra, but obviously she can't give me a diagnosis without examining her and it's too far to drive down.

 

[Sarah from Chucklebunnies]

I do hope the baytril works and it is just an infection, I admit I didn't think of that. Fingers crossed for your two year old.