Lump on cheek

[alice0]

Hi
Got some new guinea pigs a week ago (6 months old) and one of them has a large very solid lump on it's cheek below the skin (the size of a grape). She doesn't seem to react when I press or massage it which would indicate it's not painful. But just slightly concerned about what it could be. I have tried to open her mouth to look but as theyre still quite shy it ended in me getting bitten.
Can guinea pigs store food in their cheeks?
Will take to the vet on Monday but wanted to check first that this isn't something normal.
Thankyou in advance. Any advice is helpful!
Photo in avatar as won't let me add here.

 

[sport_billy]

Hey

Piggies don’t store food unlike hamsters they nom it straight to the endless pit (their belly)

This needs checking out for sure, could be fatty lump, dental issue perhaps - but I suspect there’d be pain involved there and if she is eating that a good sign.

Vets visit needed so great you have one as needs looking at - It is not normal. Not reacting to it been touched is a good sign though!

Alice is lovely

Please let us know how you get on

 

[alice0]

Hey

Piggies don’t store food unlike hamsters they nom it straight to the endless pit (their belly)

This needs checking out for sure, could be fatty lump, dental issue perhaps. Vets visit needed so great you have one. It is not normal. Not reacting is a good sign though!

Alice is lovely

Please let us know how you get on

Thankyou. Reassuring but will get it checked out for sure

 

[sport_billy]

Yes, needs to be looked at. Is Alice eating okay? How long have you had her and noticed this?

 

[sport_billy]

Welcome to the forum btw

 

[alice0]

Yes, needs to be looked at. Is Alice eating okay? How long have you had her and noticed this?

Yes. Eating fine. Doesn't seem to affect her at all. I've had her a week and think she has had it the whole time when I've looked back in photos. It's just particularly obvious today. Maybe slightly larger in size. At first I just thought she had a droopy cheek but only today noticed it was a solid lump.

 

[sport_billy]

Well spotted, we have a recommended vet locator should you need it

 

[alice0]

Welcome to the forum btw

Thankyou! I have never owned guinea pigs before so hoping I can learn from people on here

 

[sport_billy]

They are wonderful pets, it takes a while to earn trust as they are prey animals but are amazing.. but we would say that here lol

You are doing the right thing

Our guide section is here Guinea Pig Care & Information Guides but any questions just ask

 

[alice0]

So been to the vet today. They think it has an abscess and say without surgery it may keep coming back. They have drained it. But it's £130 to have it operated on (I am a poor student!). Just wondering if they can go away by themselves and whether to leave it a few days now it's been drained and see what happens? Unsure of what to do next.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

An abscess needs to be removed completely (whole capsule removed) or marsupialised (stitched open, so it can be flushed, a couple of times a day). Abscesses heal from the inside, outwards and will continue to produce pus, that needs to be removed by flushing and cleaning. In addition to the flushing, a good antibiotic will be needed. You say the vet thought it was abscess! How did they drain it? Is it still discharging pus?

 

[alice0]

Yeah they did it through the cheek. She's now been and had it operated on. She seems a bit quiet but it was only yesterday so hopefully she will perk up soon! Thankyou all for your advice. She's eating already which I'm quite happy with too!

 

[DM0605212]

We got two new piggy's in February, only 4 months old. Stella and Maisy. I noticed a lump on Maisy 2 days ago and took her to the vets and she has an abscess so is having an operation on Tuesday, I was giving them a cuddle this morning and noticed two big new lumps come out of nowhere on our other piggy Stella so back to the vets this afternoon. I think they are both going to need an operation, £300 each for the op and meds! They are both eating and seem happy other than these huge grape sized lumps that have come out of nowhere poor little things. I am so worried, my daughter is 13 and I have taken her out of school for severe bullying and her mental health is not good so we got these little piggy's as friends for her and she absolutely loves them to bits, she is going to be utterly heart broken if anything happens to them. They are such little cuties. The vet said it is usually caused by biting but they both get along so well and there is no outside wound so I am really confused. Maisy has pain meds and antibiotics now and then hopefully Stella will get the same this avo. Hate the thought of them being in pain. I don't know if it is something I have done or not done as they both have them. They have a huge C&C cage with fleece liners and are cleaned every day. The vet asked if they had spikey hay, I wonder if timothy hay is too spikey or something? So you are not alone Alice0. I am glad you little piggy seems to be on the mend xx