Lump on abdomen

[Aidanb]

We have a male guinea pig just over 1 year old. The day before yesterday we noticed he had quite a large lump (large grape to small plum) on his abdomen - about half way along, about half way between the middle of his side and the middle of his belly. It's not really noticeable unless he's in the right position, so it might have been there for a while and we have no idea how fast it's growing. It doesn't seem to hurt him at all (even when touched) and he's eating, drinking and moving around normally.

He's just been to the vet who said it appeared to be a growth rather than an abscess (because he tried aspirating with a needle and there was no liquid). Our choices are to leave it - but it's likely to keep growing and become a serious health risk at some point, or for it to be removed (in the next week or two). He said that because he was in good health he would probably survive surgery, but it might come back if every scrap wasn't removed, and guinea pigs didn't tolerate surgery as well as cats or dogs.

Having googled a bit more, it sounds like it might be a fatty lipoma. Just looking for any feedback on what his chances are - at the moment we're thinking that it would be best to go ahead with the surgery and hope for the best, on the other hand, if he's susceptible to them and he's had one at such a young age, is he just going to go down with another one, and the surgery will have put him through a lot for little benefit.

Any advice/experience would be appreciated.

 

[Claire W]

Hello and welcome. Your vet could do a fine needle biopsy to see if it is a fatty lipoma in which case, it can be left alone unless it is growing fast and affecting his mobility. My Edward has several of them including a ping pong balled sized one in his neck and Elizabeth has several small ones on her belly. If it is something more sinister, then removal is the better option

 

[Aidanb]

Thanks, I'll ask about the biopsy tomorrow morning.