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Lump in guinea pig neck

Lydi.aimee

Lydi.aimee

New Born Pup
Joined
Jul 11, 2019
Messages
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Location
West Bromwich
Hi everyone
Over the Christmas period my guinea pig pippin was looking quite lethargic doing my weekly health check I noticed he had I lump in his neck and we presumed it was a abscess so we took him to the vets and that is what our vet concluded and said surgery is best He has given a 7 day course of batryl to make sure he is as healthy as possible. However the lump feels hard and is quite deep and I’m worried it’s something else. Also he has lost a lot of weight as he was close to 1.3kg before and now he is 1.14kg but the vet said he is still a healthy weight and that he never had a record of him being 1.3kg (pippin had a mammary gland tumour removed one April and the last time he saw him was after his op so of course he will have put weight on- it really frustrated me I felt undermined) I have been giving him critical care and feeding him separate to his cage mate milo. I don’t know whether this is me panicking or something else might be wrong. Can anyone give me some advice he has another appointment on Tuesday and I know a vet is the best person to go to but I thought there is no harm getting a second opinion

many thanks
 
If your vet has diagnosed an abscess and especially if it is quite deep then surgery to remove it intact before it gets larger or bursts sounds like the best option. Surgery is always a worry but an abscess wont go away on its own and will only get bigger, the only other option to removing it would be to open it up and leave an open wound that needs flushing out every day- not nice for piggy or for you and for a deep anscess may not even be an option.
Vets will rarely suggest surgery if there is a better option, or if they arent confident that your piggy is in good health to have the anaesthesia. 1.14kg is still a healthy weight and quite possibly the abscess has been making eating painful which would explain the weight loss.
You could get a second vets opinion on the abscess, but if it is an abscess then getting it removed surgically sounds the best option x
 
I agree with @PigglePuggle
Surgery is always a worry but with a deep abscess is the best solution.
Jemimah had an abscess surgically removed and has never looked back since.

Hope all goes well for you
 
Thank you both for your replies and advice I completely agree that surgery is the best option, he still has the urge to eat I think he’s finding it uncomfortable hence the extra Critical care thank you for reassuring me he recovered so well last time from surgery I hope it will be the same again

Love and best wishes to you and your piggies xx
 
Has the lump been tested for anything like cancer? I had a guinea pig that had 2 hard lumps in the neck, they hung with his chin flappy skin, so wasn't noticeable until they were pretty big, and he was an abysinian guinea pig which didn't help. My boy lost weight gradually
 
I'm thinking when you say weight loss and lump in neck, it could point to lymphona, especially if your boy is eating well still.. hopefully not though, just don't want you to get an op done and it isn't worth doing. The first thing my vet done was test too see what the lumps were
 
would it not be worth removing a tumour? I don’t know how they would test for that it wasn’t mentioned
 
Lydi.aimee said:
would it not be worth removing a tumour? I don’t know how they would test for that it wasn’t mentioned
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They took a sample of it through a needle into a syringe then sent it off to a lab for testing, then put my Guinea pig on a course of antibiotics, incase the needle puncture in the skin got infected. If you're vet hasn't mentioned cancer then just get it removed, I'm just hoping that it isn't anything more serious snd then your boy doesn't have the strength to recover from the op.i hate being so negative, I probably shouldn't have mentioned it.

It wouldn't be worth removing if anything serious has already spread. In my opinion, but I'm not a vet
 
Lydi.aimee said:
would it not be worth removing a tumour? I don’t know how they would test for that it wasn’t mentioned
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They can do a needle biopsy (stick a syringe in the lump and suck stuff out) did they do that already to confirm an abscess? But if its quite deep and in the neck I can see how it might be risky to do that without an anaesthetic, and if you are giving anaesthesia anyway which is the risky bit of the procedure then probably best to take the whole lump while piggy is asleep and send it to the lab later.
I would get the lump out if it can be removed safely and concentrate on getting piggy recovered from the surgery before worrying about the what-ifs x
 
PigglePuggle said:
They can do a needle biopsy (stick a syringe in the lump and suck stuff out) did they do that already to confirm an abscess? But if its quite deep and in the neck I can see how it might be risky to do that without an anaesthetic, and if you are giving anaesthesia anyway which is the risky bit of the procedure then probably best to take the whole lump while piggy is asleep and send it to the lab later.
I would get the lump out if it can be removed safely and concentrate on getting piggy recovered from the surgery before worrying about the what-ifs x
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That's where I would worry, is the pig strong enough to get through the recovery stages if something was more serious. Before our vet Simon dived in, he tested to see exactly what was wrong first. Saved alot of money aswell, apart from the testing costs
 
Lydi.aimee said:
Thank you both for your replies and advice I completely agree that surgery is the best option, he still has the urge to eat I think he’s finding it uncomfortable hence the extra Critical care thank you for reassuring me he recovered so well last time from surgery I hope it will be the same again

Love and best wishes to you and your piggies xx
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Wishing you all the best! It very much depends on the nature of the lump and whether it has spread or not if it is a tumour and not an abscess or something else. Anything that can be removed cleanly will give your piggy the chance to live and is worth going through if your vet is confident enough that they can pull it off.
Your vet will discuss the pros and cons of any decision with you before you give your consent; you always have the right to ask questions - and the ultimate decision is always yours.
 
He did try to see what the lump was with a needle but thought it was too deep and unsafe hence why he is having surgery let’s hope it’s an abscess I can’t imagine him not being here Tonight he was so much brighter and ate alit more without encouraging I’ve been giving him CBD cream to help him and probiotics while he is on the antibiotic
 
Wiebke said:
Wishing you all the best! It very much depends on the nature of the lump and whether it has spread or not if it is a tumour and not an abscess or something else. Anything that can be removed cleanly will give your piggy the chance to live and is worth going through if your vet is confident enough that they can pull it off.
Your vet will discuss the pros and cons of any decision with you before you give your consent; you always have the right to ask questions - and the ultimate decision is always yours.
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Thank you I do trust my vet as he works with a Guinea pig and rabbit rescue near me who use him for all their neuters and things and he also removed a mammary gland tumour that pippin had before and tbh I have never seen a guinea look as well as pippin did after surgery he uses a light anesthetiser. I just hope everything is okay I’m not ready to lose him and he still seems so happy he’s climbing up me for cuddles and sleeps on me also for his cage mate milo they love each other so much
 
I was just relating it to what my vet done to my pigs lumps, which were also hard like described in this thread, I hope its nothing too bad in the end. I was just answering the question, could it be something more serious. 👍
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
I was just relating it to what my vet done to my pigs lumps, which were also hard like described in this thread, I hope its nothing too bad in the end. I was just answering the question, could it be something more serious. 👍
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Thank you very much for your help I appreciate it because the lump is deep he said it will be best to have a surgery to remove it (also a cyst on his bum as he said it was better to cut it out) I hope everything is going to be okay and that it is an abscess thank you for your advice
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Needle aspiration, for suspected abscess is not recommended, as it can result in pus from the abscess leaking under the skin and forming pockets of pus.
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That's helpful to know @furryfriends (TEAS) I know Tallulah had this done to confirm her abscess but probably there was no need really as the lump appeared right under a deep bite wound a week later, sounds like in this case for @Lydi.aimee surgery is definitely the best option!
Best of luck and healing wheeks for your piggy @Lydi.aimee there's never a good time for surgery but if your piggy currently seems quite happy and well then that's all the better for good recovery prospects x
 
Lydi.aimee said:
Thank you I do trust my vet as he works with a Guinea pig and rabbit rescue near me who use him for all their neuters and things and he also removed a mammary gland tumour that pippin had before and tbh I have never seen a guinea look as well as pippin did after surgery he uses a light anesthetiser. I just hope everything is okay I’m not ready to lose him and he still seems so happy he’s climbing up me for cuddles and sleeps on me also for his cage mate milo they love each other so much
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Any procedure under anaesthetics is always a leap of faith when the chips are down; you are never ready for a loss!

You have to make the decision whether you want to buy your beloved one the chance at a better and longer life with the risk that it may not come off or whether to call it shots there and then. It is never an easy decision and always an anxious time. as long as you make the decision with Pippin's wellbeing and interests foremost in mind before your own fears and anxieties, you cannot go wrong. Whatever happens, you will ultimately feel easier in your mind because you haven't failed Pippin - whichever way you decide and whatever the outcome.

I have learned this from losing a few piggies in operations over the years, most of them being make-or-break ops, and having to cope with the fall-out. However, more piggies of mine have actually made it through; and I have had the satisfaction of knowing that I have been able to buy them more time to live a happy and good life - in some cases a respectable number of years! it is always so much more difficult when you have lost another pet in an op not long ago or come up against a diagnosis that you have lost one before.

HUGS
 
Lydi.aimee said:
Thank you very much for your help I appreciate it because the lump is deep he said it will be best to have a surgery to remove it (also a cyst on his bum as he said it was better to cut it out) I hope everything is going to be okay and that it is an abscess thank you for your advice
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No problem, it wasn't much help to be fair, i tagged furryfriendsteas in because she knows her stuff, I just have been in the same situation you are in now, and I just felt like I needed to warn you. If you're vet has felt the lump and wants to remove it then as I've found out since my last post, it's probably not anything cancerous. Keep us updated hope everything turns out OK. 👍
 
Hello, I just thought I’d add my support. I’ve had my fair share of piggy lumps and bumps in the last few months.

@SkyPipDotBernie mentioned lymphoma. I lost Harry to this in November but he had multiple lumps in his neck and armpits not just a singular lump. They came up very quickly and the first sign of unwellness was a UTI that wouldn’t go away and weight loss.

We also have a piggy with “abnormal” lumps on his cheek and armpit but they have not grown so we’re exercising watchful waiting with those.

I also have two boys currently under treatment for abscesses. If an abscess is suspected, could you maybe have a chat with your vet about switching to a stronger antibiotic like Zithromax to see if that makes a difference?

Where is the lump located? I also had an old boy with a lump in his throat and thyroid was another possibility.

I hope you get some answers soon as to what it might be. X
 
PigglePuggle said:
That's helpful to know @furryfriends (TEAS) I know Tallulah had this done to confirm her abscess but probably there was no need really as the lump appeared right under a deep bite wound a week later, sounds like in this case for @Lydi.aimee surgery is definitely the best option!
Best of luck and healing wheeks for your piggy @Lydi.aimee there's never a good time for surgery but if your piggy currently seems quite happy and well then that's all the better for good recovery prospects x
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I was recently talking to Simon about abscess treatments and he said he's seeing more and more second opinions, where vets have just stuck a needle into an abscess and drawn off the pus and then prescribed baytril (not the best antibiotic for dealing with an abscess). He said not only does this mean the abscess will immediately re-fill, with no chance for the owner to flush it, but that by the time they arrive with him, the abscess has leaked pus, resulting in pockets of pus all around the area and the situation has been made very much worse, leaving not just one capsule to deal with, but all these additional pockets.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
I was recently talking to Simon about abscess treatments and he said he's seeing more and more second opinions, where vets have just stuck a needle into an abscess and drawn off the pus and then prescribed baytril (not the best antibiotic for dealing with an abscess). He said not only does this mean the abscess will immediately re-fill, with no chance for the owner to flush it, but that by the time they arrive with him, the abscess has leaked pus, resulting in pockets of pus all around the area and the situation has been made very much worse, leaving not just one capsule to deal with, but all these additional pockets.
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Oh dear that sounds awfully bad practice from the original vets, when Tallulah had a needle aspiration of her abscess it was just to confirm the diagnosis, that was a saturday afternoon and she was then given baytril and metacam but was also booked in for the first surgery slot at 9am monday morning to take the whole thing out!
 
PigglePuggle said:
Oh dear that sounds awfully bad practice from the original vets, when Tallulah had a needle aspiration of her abscess it was just to confirm the diagnosis, that was a saturday afternoon and she was then given baytril and metacam but was also booked in for the first surgery slot at 9am monday morning to take the whole thing out!
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So many vets don't remove or marsupialise, but just draw pus off and then give baytril and that's it! When it re-fills the advice is put to sleep! You wouldn't believe some of the stories I hear, when people ring or email asking for help x
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
I was recently talking to Simon about abscess treatments and he said he's seeing more and more second opinions, where vets have just stuck a needle into an abscess and drawn off the pus and then prescribed baytril (not the best antibiotic for dealing with an abscess). He said not only does this mean the abscess will immediately re-fill, with no chance for the owner to flush it, but that by the time they arrive with him, the abscess has leaked pus, resulting in pockets of pus all around the area and the situation has been made very much worse, leaving not just one capsule to deal with, but all these additional pockets.
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Simon did this to sky my old boar, before we knew it was lymphona, but like you said @furryfriends (TEAS), he must have knew it wasnr something he coud operate on, he didn't tell me that though at the time. Sky was put on zyrhromax after the bysopsy, just incase. Then a few days later, I had the news, 7 weks tops until expect to let go, and it was 7 weeks.

Sky had two lumps, the size of a average conker each ( horse chestnut) they hung under the skin and were rock hard.
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
Simon did this to sky my old boar, before we knew it was lymphona, but like you said @furryfriends (TEAS), he must have knew it wasnr something he coud operate on, he didn't tell me that though at the time
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How long ago was it? I think years ago Simon would do a needle aspirate, to confirm a diagnosis, but has since learnt that it can be quite dangerous to do so.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
How long ago was it? I think years ago Simon would do a needle aspirate, to confirm a diagnosis, but has since learnt that it can be quite dangerous to do so.
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About 7 weeks before I joined the forum, I joined when he had died. So around early June of 2018, not long before you had dot for our wedding day.

Weight loss although eating well, and muscle mass loss were the 2 signs of him going downhill, despite syringe feeding aswell. Plus diarrhea on and off
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
About 7 weeks before I joined the forum, I joined when he had died. So around early June of 2018, not long before you had dot for our wedding day
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Ah right! Simon has seen so much damage done by vets doing this recently that he won't do it now. However, back then he may have done so for diagnostic purposes. He would never treat an abscess like that though. You need to open them up and stitch open, or remove completely.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Ah right! Simon has seen so much damage done by vets doing this recently that he won't do it now. However, back then he may have done so for diagnostic purposes. He would never treat an abscess like that though. You need to open them up and stitch open, or remove completely.
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It must be just an abscess then, we hope anyway. He did feel it first but I don't remember everything he said. Sky had a non aggressive cancer.
 
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