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Liquid filled lump under face?

HenryRalph

HenryRalph

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Nov 29, 2014
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Location
Littlehampton, West Sussex
Hey everyone,

I’m panicking right now :( Henry has seemed fine, eating and drinking like normal, and this morning I noticed that he has a massive lump like a double chin, it’s full of liquid (feels like a water balloon or something) and he’s struggling to get his poops out.

My regular vets is closed today so I’m having to take him to the only one nearby that’s open at 3pm today.

I have no idea what this could be but feel like I would love some idea before going in as I get nervous seeing a new vet.

henry is 6 so quite old now and I’m so terrified of the worst happening 😭😭

here’s a pic where you can kind of see where it is and the size...

I don’t want to lose him :(
 

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HenryRalph said:
Hey everyone,

I’m panicking right now :( Henry has seemed fine, eating and drinking like normal, and this morning I noticed that he has a massive lump like a double chin, it’s full of liquid (feels like a water balloon or something) and he’s struggling to get his poops out.

My regular vets is closed today so I’m having to take him to the only one nearby that’s open at 3pm today.

I have no idea what this could be but feel like I would love some idea before going in as I get nervous seeing a new vet.

henry is 6 so quite old now and I’m so terrified of the worst happening 😭😭

here’s a pic where you can kind of see where it is and the size...

I don’t want to lose him :(
Click to expand...

Hi!

Please have him seen as soon as possible; it can be a an abscess or another lump that is blowing up. The sooner it can be lanced and drained the better; that will take the pain from the pressure off.

Keep up with syringe feeding support if necessary. Don't focus on your fears, concentrate of Henry and put his welfare first; stay strong for him. Any sudden serious issue at any age is very frightening and upsetting. ;)
 
Wiebke said:
Hi!

Please have him seen as soon as possible; it can be a an abscess or another lump that is blowing up. The sooner it can be lanced and drained the better; that will take the pain from the pressure off.

Keep up with syringe feeding support if necessary. Don't focus on your fears, concentrate of Henry and put his welfare first; stay strong for him. Any sudden serious issue at any age is very frightening and upsetting. ;)
Click to expand...

I’m taking him to the vets in half an hour so atleast not long to wait :( it’s crazy how last night he seemed fine and this morning this has just appeared and all gone down hill.

Having lots of cuddles now before his appointment :(
 
HenryRalph said:
I’m taking him to the vets in half an hour so atleast not long to wait :( it’s crazy how last night he seemed fine and this morning this has just appeared and all gone down hill.

Having lots of cuddles now before his appointment :(
Click to expand...

Fingers very firmly crossed!

I have had several piggies over the years with runnaway lumps, including jaw/chin/dental root abscesses or blowing up cysts, fatty lumps or a mammary tumour. It is always a race to get them to the vets.

If it is an abscess, it will need lancing and can be treated with antibiotics and twice daily flushing with saline solution, which you can make at home in a pinch; not a pleasant procedure, but the longer you can keep the hole open and allow any bit of infection to come up, the greater your chances of a good recovery. In this case relief will be immediate. Please make sure that your checks the mouth in case it is a dental root or jaw abscess. Abscesses heal from the inside out, hence the flushing and draining.

PS: My Hafren required a large burst cyst (which had promplty burst while my piggy savvy vet was on holiday) removed a month short of her 7th birthday. she made a good recovery.
 
Wiebke said:
Fingers very firmly crossed!

I have had several piggies over the years with runnaway lumps, including jaw/chin/dental root abscesses or blowing up cysts, fatty lumps or a mammary tumour. It is always a race to get them to the vets.

If it is an abscess, it will need lancing and can be treated with antibiotics and twice daily flushing with saline solution, which you can make at home in a pinch; not a pleasant procedure, but the longer you can keep the hole open and allow any bit of infection to come up, the greater your chances of a good recovery. In this case relief will be immediate. Please make sure that your checks the mouth in case it is a dental root or jaw abscess. Abscesses heal from the inside out, hence the flushing and draining.

PS: My Hafren required a large burst cyst (which had promplty burst while my piggy savvy vet was on holiday) removed a month short of her 7th birthday. she made a good recovery.
Click to expand...

thank you!

That’s reassuring to know - fingers crossed.

As it only came up this morning i’m hoping there will be more chance of sorting it. Also I’m working from home atm so would be easier to keep an eye on him 24/7.

awww I’m glad she made a good recovery!

I will let you know what the vets say - thank you x
 
Went to the vets and he tested the fluid and said it’s saliva - and said he’s never seen this with a guinea pig before, only cats and dogs. He said the gland gets blocked and saliva gets built up and usually with cats and dogs the gland is removed but he’s not sure if the same operation can be done on guinea pigs but he’s speaking to a specialist to see if the operation can be done or not. He’s given me metacam and baytril to see if it helps with the inflammation but if it’s built up again in 24 hours then they will need to sedate Henry and put a stitch where it is so it will help it drain it. So I guess that’s the next step :( poor boy.
 
HenryRalph said:
Went to the vets and he tested the fluid and said it’s saliva - and said he’s never seen this with a guinea pig before, only cats and dogs. He said the gland gets blocked and saliva gets built up and usually with cats and dogs the gland is removed but he’s not sure if the same operation can be done on guinea pigs but he’s speaking to a specialist to see if the operation can be done or not. He’s given me metacam and baytril to see if it helps with the inflammation but if it’s built up again in 24 hours then they will need to sedate Henry and put a stitch where it is so it will help it drain it. So I guess that’s the next step :( poor boy.
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Thank you for your update!

To be honest, we have never come across this on here, either; and we see thousands of enquiries in a year...
But you must be relieved that it is not something that will require a big lumpectomy or anything.
 
Wiebke said:
Thank you for your update!

To be honest, we have never come across this on here, either; and we see thousands of enquiries in a year...
But you must be relieved that it is not something that will require a big lumpectomy or anything.
Click to expand...
Definitely relieved - I’m just praying that the anti inflammatory helps this to avoid him having to have anything done at all! But it’s already starting to fill up again so will see how it is in a few hours once they’ve kicked in. When he’s drinking he sounds like he’s struggling to swallow it too :(
 
HenryRalph said:
Definitely relieved - I’m just praying that the anti inflammatory helps this to avoid him having to have anything done at all! But it’s already starting to fill up again so will see how it is in a few hours once they’ve kicked in. When he’s drinking he sounds like he’s struggling to swallow it too :(
Click to expand...

The antibiotic will usually take a day to kick in.
 
Just an update.. I took him back to the vets yesterday and because the lump has moved down more towards his chest they’re now thinking that maybe it’s a cyst. He’s still taking the meds until Sunday to see how he responds to them as it’s gone down by 2cm but she said if it doesn’t get any smaller then it will be surgery to remove it, but she said that as he’s 6 she’s not sure if it’s even worth putting him through that. He seems so full of life the past 3 days, I know the lump is annoying him as he keeps trying to bite it, but he has seemed so happy and lively. I don’t know what to do it it comes down to having to make that decision 😭 can they live with a cyst if it’s not affecting their quality of life? Or can this cause complications?
 
Another update. Henry randomly took a turn for the worst yesterday.. when I woke up I found him on side so got him out thinking that was it and he seemed to spring back to life. I made a vets appointment for later that day to get him checked out but he got worse again in the afternoon, I gave him hours and hours of cuddles under the duvet and he passed away in my arms 😭😭😭 I’m so heartbroken, I wasn’t expecting this at all. He obviously had something else going on that the vets didn’t find 😭 I’m gonna miss him so so much but he’s now with his brother in Guinea heaven ❤️❤️❤️❤️ xx
 
HenryRalph said:
Thank you everyone 😢❤ xx when everything has blown over I’m going to adopt a couple of rescue guineas. I still have so much guinea love to give and will miss the company and being a guinea mum xx
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Hello, Sorry for such a late reply. I lost my guinea pig in January due to the exact same thing. Just like you, the vets said there wasn't much they could do and administered a lethal injection at my discretion. He died in my arms as well. I'm very sorry for your loss, and I hope our guineas are playing together up there.
 
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