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Confirmed Lipoma. Advice on next steps, please?

AbbieMiddleton

AbbieMiddleton

Junior Guinea Pig
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I'd appreciate some advice, please.

One of my babies, Bumble, has a fatty lump on her stomach. Just to the right of her right nipple, slightly closer to her side than her stomach. As soon as we both noticed it we sent her to have it tested at the vet. Upon examination the vet was 99% certain that it's a Lipoma. Test results have also now confirmed that it's a Lipoma. However, the vet has also implied that very, very, very, very, very rarely they can become cancerous and that we should monitor it; which I'm doing anyway, of course! The location did concern me as I suspected a tumor but that was ruled out with the three needle samples taken and tested.

The alternative is getting it surgically removed where he's advised that a small percentage of rodents don't survive the anesthesia or aftercare.

I don't know what to do. I'm really lost and stressed out. She's nearly 4 and seems to be behaving normally and undisturbed by the lump. It's about an inch in diameter and not painful. No leaking. The skin looks slightly tighter than normal but not stretched in an aggravated way.
I don't know if it's safe to wait and see or safe to have it surgically removed in a, possibly unnecessary, panic.

I've already asked for help from multiple people/groups and the general advice is that I leave it alone, keeping an eye on it. I'd just like to get as much feedback as possible because I'm really mentally and emotionally struggling with this.


Thank you in advance.
 
If you doubt your vets advice then I would recommend seeking a second opinion.

If however your vet is a good experienced exotics vet and you trust them, then I would adopt a watch and wait policy.

Personally given that you’ve had the tests and it’s a lipoma I would leave well alone for now. If it changed in any way then I would reconsider. But that’s just my opinion.
 
VickiA said:
If you doubt your vets advice then I would recommend seeking a second opinion.

If however your vet is a good experienced exotics vet and you trust them, then I would adopt a watch and wait policy.

Personally given that you’ve had the tests and it’s a lipoma I would leave well alone for now. If it changed in any way then I would reconsider. But that’s just my opinion.
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It's not a vet we've met before but he seemed very accurate and knowledgeable. I think I'm just more stressed about it than I should be. I barely heard "Test results have confirmed it's a fatty lump." all I can focus on is "Very, very, very, very, very rarely they can become cancerous."

Edited to also say thank you for your advice!
 
That’s fantastic news! It sounds like you’ve done all the right things by your baby so try not to worry too much (I know, it’s an impossible thing to ask haha). I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you both that it stays as it is, although an operation will likely go swimmingly it’s always good to avoid them if you can! I’m hoping my lot can avoid operations now that Tonks is almost healed from her lump removal. My nerves and pockets would be grateful :))
 
Cavy Kung-Fu said:
That’s fantastic news! It sounds like you’ve done all the right things by your baby so try not to worry too much (I know, it’s an impossible thing to ask haha). I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you both that it stays as it is, although an operation will likely go swimmingly it’s always good to avoid them if you can! I’m hoping my lot can avoid operations now that Tonks is almost healed from her lump removal. My nerves and pockets would be grateful :))
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I really appreciate you saying that. I feel like any decision I make will always feel like the wrong one and I'll question it regardless. That's largely why I'm trying to gather as many impartial opinions as possible. I've not experienced anything like this before.

One of my girls once had hay in her eye which ulcerated. That was cured fine with gels, drops and removal of the foreign body. They've both had respiratory infections twice over the last four years too. Again, treatment was administered and they got better. This feels like a ticking time bomb to me but if I opted for surgery and she didn't survive I'd hate myself! Particularly if it was unnecessary.

Oh, the cost and the stress..... Good job they're the cutest things in the entire world!
 
My eldest Jemima has several quite large fatty lumps. She has had them for years and they have never bothered her. It must be genetic with her, her mum had them too. Just keep an eye on it, check back with the vet if anything changes.
 
Honestly, I would be reassured that it's a lipoma and monitor it for growth and to make sure it's not bothering her by dragging on the ground, becoming irritated, etc. If it's growing or interfering with her having a normal piggie life, then I would be more inclined to have surgery. I know that it's a scary prospect... for what it's worth, several of my pigs have been under anesthesia and have done fine (do make sure it's a practice that is used to working with small animals, you want experienced hands!) If it comes down to it, the odds are in favor of a successful outcome, but there is always risk and I think it's very valid not to take it unless you have to.
 
AbbieMiddleton said:
I really appreciate you saying that. I feel like any decision I make will always feel like the wrong one and I'll question it regardless. That's largely why I'm trying to gather as many impartial opinions as possible. I've not experienced anything like this before.

One of my girls once had hay in her eye which ulcerated. That was cured fine with gels, drops and removal of the foreign body. They've both had respiratory infections twice over the last four years too. Again, treatment was administered and they got better. This feels like a ticking time bomb to me but if I opted for surgery and she didn't survive I'd hate myself! Particularly if it was unnecessary.

Oh, the cost and the stress..... Good job they're the cutest things in the entire world!
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I think we all feel like that, the “what ifs” and all that. If you’re concerned about the likelihood of it developing into something more sinister you could always seek a second opinion just to put your mind at ease :)

I often tell my lot they’re lucky they’re cute :))
 
Thank you all for your replies. I'm going to try and look on the bright side and appreciate that it's been confirmed as a Lipoma and nothing more. I'll be measuring it daily. I've got a small one myself and I've never been bothered by it. It's just so different when it's your baby! I'm very reassured that so many people, yourselves included, have agreed that you'd monitor it first.
 
I’m always relieved when it’s just a fatty lump. Several of mine have had them and they have come to nothing. On a risk/benefit ratio the risks of surgery and post surgical complications are much higher than the risk of leaving it and watching it so it makes sense to leave it alone for now.
 
Modern healthcare, be it for animals or people can be so complicated. In days gone by they would have said “all fine, fatty lump, off you go” but now that there is a move toward information then it becomes “fatty lump, probably ok, tiny risk of complications, what do you want to do” and it becomes much harder. I do really believe sometimes less can be more with information! Of course I’m a bit tongue in cheek but the caveat of possibilities is because they have to say it.
I’d also probably not measure daily tbh, you can’t see differences very well if you do things like measure too often as itsso subjective, you’ll drive yourself mad. Maybe weekly?
 
My Edward has several fatty lumps that were tested with a fine needle biopsy. He has one in his armpit that my vet said 'may' need removing in the future 'if' it starts to effect his movement so for now, his lumps are just being watched and thankfully they haven't changed since he got them a year ago. I completely trust my vets judgement and she isn't one to suggest surgery unless it is absolutely necessary.
 
Tigermoth said:
Modern healthcare, be it for animals or people can be so complicated. In days gone by they would have said “all fine, fatty lump, off you go” but now that there is a move toward information then it becomes “fatty lump, probably ok, tiny risk of complications, what do you want to do” and it becomes much harder. I do really believe sometimes less can be more with information! Of course I’m a bit tongue in cheek but the caveat of possibilities is because they have to say it.
I’d also probably not measure daily tbh, you can’t see differences very well if you do things like measure too often as itsso subjective, you’ll drive yourself mad. Maybe weekly?
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You're absolutely right. I do believe the warning was just to cover their own backs. Which of course I understand because there's always a slight possibility it'll change and we do seem to live in a compensation based society..... 🙄

I already feel like I'm going mad checking it! I must check it two or three times a day and depending on what position she's squirming in it feels vaguely different every time. If it stays as it is I'll leave it there. It's not dragging on anything or stopping her moving freely. She still trots quickly with a clear gap between the ground and her wobbly belly. (God, I love their leathery little matchstick legs!)
 
Claire W said:
My Edward has several fatty lumps that were tested with a fine needle biopsy. He has one in his armpit that my vet said 'may' need removing in the future 'if' it starts to effect his movement so for now, his lumps are just being watched and thankfully they haven't changed since he got them a year ago. I completely trust my vets judgement and she isn't one to suggest surgery unless it is absolutely necessary.
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That's super comforting, thank you. I feel much better finding so many people with similar issues and positive outcomes.

Slightly unrelated but one of my girls has extra toes and I heard all sorts of horror stories of them being accidentally ripped off and I agonised over whether or not to get them surgically removed etc. Nothing ever came of it. She's nearly 4 and she's absolutely fine with them. She toddles slightly differently to other pigs and my stress was for nothing. I'm hoping for the same again now. Pointless stress! 😂
 
I’ve just found 2 fatty lumps on one of mine, she’s a rescue and we’ve had her since July but we’re not sure how old she is. I’m now trying to work out what to do as we’re due to go on holiday for 3 weeks and I don’t want my neighbour to have any problems whilst we are away.
 
Piggy foster mum said:
I’ve just found 2 fatty lumps on one of mine, she’s a rescue and we’ve had her since July but we’re not sure how old she is. I’m now trying to work out what to do as we’re due to go on holiday for 3 weeks and I don’t want my neighbour to have any problems whilst we are away.
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Hi there!

If it's of any help to you, Bumble's lump hasn't changed in the last six months at all. It's still exactly the same size and shape and not causing her any concerns. She did recently develop a second, smaller lump which we're also monitoring but the general advice I've received is to simply measure them for any change in size. Providing there's no change, scabs or weeping, I'd leave them alone until you get back off holiday, at least. I mean, if you have time before you go away to get a professional opinion then I'd definitely recommend doing that but I certainly wouldn't make any drastic decisions when you're about to leave her in the care of somebody else.
 
Thanks for that reassurance. Last time we went on holiday another guinea pig we were fostering developed a cyst under his chin and I was worried it would burst whilst we were away. It did eventually burst but after we got back thankfully. We took him to the vet but he didn’t need any treatment, it dried up on its own. I’m beginning to think our piggies don’t want us to go away.
 
I find that usually happens when pets or children are involved! Something always goes wrong just before a holiday. I think it's an unwritten rule! I'm sure your little one will be ok. As I suggested, if you can grab a quick vet appointment before you go then I certainly would advise a biopsy for peace of mind but a fat lump probably isn't going to cause any concern for the piggy-sitter while you're away.
 
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