• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

What to do about a lump ?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Midge&Panda

Midge&Panda

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Jun 2, 2010
Messages
2,128
Reaction score
294
Points
620
Location
Plymouth, Whitleigh
Midge is a fit and healthy 4 1/2yr old. About a year ago we found a pea size lump in her dewlap, she went to the vets to get it checked out, nothing was done but advised to keep an eye on it. The lump has now grown to about 3/4in in size. She was taken back today and we have some choices to make. In the vets opinion it could be a tumour, fatty lump or an enlarged lymph gland. With this imformation we have been given the options to Leave it, take a sample via a biopsy or have it removed. My first choice would be to have it removed but I'm concerned about her age and a G.A. If the biopsy shows it's a tumour then removal or making Midge's final day painfree and comfortable would be the options. Or leaving it for a couple more weeks to see if it increases in size then making the choice as to what to do. At the moment she is eating well, active and doing as she should. Any ideas advice or if any of you have been in a similar situation please let me know. Thanks.
P.S about 3mths ago she was spayed due to having cystic ovaries. I'm not sure if this would have any relevance to the growth of the lump.
 
My advice is do a GA and get a biospy done. Not a needle aspirate as they can often come back inconclusive or suggestive of a condition with no guarantee's and then you rely on the vets differential diagnosis. years ago cancer was incorrectly diagnosed from an aspirate and patholigits are a lot more hestatn to diagnose without a biopsy.
If I had know that the needle aspirates are so unreliable I would have got a bioposy done as he was too ill for another GA by the time we got the results etc back.
Fatty lumps are common, Theo had a fatty lump for about 6months before his death from lymphoma and it caused him no issues what so ever.

In the initial GA get as many tests done as possible, I would suggest bloods and anything else, teeth check and full examination. Its easier to treat when you know what your dealing with. A lump in the dewlap is not a common place for lmphoma to be diagnosed they tend to be in the neck and hind legs.

I do hope the results are good, lymphoma is a horrid horrid disease. However fatty lumps are far more common.
Is there any other symptoms?

Lots of heeling vibes xxxxxx
 
Thanks for that, Midge has no other symptoms at all. We (daughter and me) Midge is hers have talked things through. We are going to give it 2 weeks. If the lump shrinks we wont do anything. Other than that I will book her in for an op to remove the lump. If while under they discover it is cancer than I will ask them to let her go quietly. I would rather her go while there is no pain or distress than to see her suffer and then have to make that final decision. This happened a few years ago with Sherbet and I delayed making it the worse thing I ever did.
 
I woudnt put time on it. To to be frank if its cancer and you do nothing you will have between 1 week and 4 before passing away. Cancers can take animals so quickly and steroids can help with the symptoms and extend life suffering free. If its an absesss it will burst and be harder to treat, *** required lancing and drainign and a lot of discomfort for your piggie.
If its a fatty lump you wont need to worry. But generally these dont keep growing. Given that its grown so much already I personally would not be leaving her chances to fate.
 
Poor Midge, as advised by Hazeyg, I would get the tests done. Hope it turns out to be something not sinister. Lots of love to Midge
 
I truly think you have made the right decision. I hope the test come back with good news! Keeping all our fingers and paws crossed x
 
I will have everything crossed for you for a happy outcome. Keep your chin up if you can.
Sending love and wheekie prayers. Nicola x
 
One of my girls had a small lump on her abdomen that I got checked a while ago and the vet said to leave it unless it grew to the size of a 50p. It has got pretty big now so I'm thinking I may have to take her back for a biopsy or removal, but it doesn't bother her at all and she healthy other than that. I just don't want to cause her undue stress but it does worry me :(. She's just turned 3.

I hope Midge is ok and the lump is nothing serious. Good luck with the results.
 
I think you are doing the right thing, rather than put her through 2 GA's, it's better to just get the lump removed there & then, get a biopsy done after then take one step at a time. Good luck for Tuesday, I'm sure she'll be fine :)
 
Scoffer was diagnosed with cancer shortly after turning five.

I took him to the vet about the large lump on his abdomen, and the vet gave me the same three options. She said she could feel smaller lumps in his armpits and groin, so even if she removed the biog one, it would be almost impossible to get the others. She reckoned it was cancer, but couldn't be certain without the biopsy. She said if it was cancer, he'd seem fine for weeks or months and then go downhill really quickly.

We decided to leave it and let it take its course, due to Scoffer's age. Six months later, he's still as perky as ever and the lumps are the same size.
 
Just an update on Midge. She's just come back from the vets fortunatly the lump was not as bad as we had feared, she had an abscess in her dewlap. So it's been opened and drained, she has had a shot of antibiotics and painrelief and is on a 10 day course of antibiotics. She is currently nomming down a big pile of grass with dandelion and plaintain added. We would like to say a very big thankyou for all your healing wheeks and good wishes. xx
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top