Lump on my Guinea pigs neck

[Cara-milk]

Hello, I’m new to this forum and was wondering if anyone could tell me about a lump I found on my Guinea pig’s neck?
I recently got him from someone needing to rehome him, and he’s been lifting his head up every time he stops. He walks, stops and, unless he’s holding it down, his head goes up. We suspect tight muscles (can they get tight shoulder/neck muscles?) and this morning when I was rubbing his neck he squeaked like I hurt him. I felt around his neck and found a lump, it seems to be sitting under his skin but when I rub it it seems to hurt him.
Unfortunately we cannot get him to a vet and I can’t find anything useful online..

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear this.

He is going to need to be taken to a vet particularly if the lump hurts him. Any lump always requires a hands on check for diagnosis and treatment - there are many things lumps can be from the harmless to harmful requiring painkillers, antibiotics and sometimes surgery. We cannot tell you what the lump is sight unseen. We aren’t a vets and you won’t be able to find anything online given it requires a hands on check for diagnosis.
Please do not draw a conclusion of tight muscles - it’s not a likely or safe conclusion. (Piggies do just their head to sniff the air but we can only make guesses based on your words which again is unsafe.)

Please ensure you weigh him regularly (weekly as part of ongoing care but daily weight checks if you have health concerns) as this is the only way for you to ensure he is actually eating enough hay and to be able to step in with syringe feeding a recovery feed if he is losing weight.

I hope he is ok

 

[Cara-milk]

I’m sorry to hear this.

He is going to need to be taken to a vet particularly if the lump hurts him. Any lump always requires a hands on check for diagnosis and treatment. We cannot tell you what the lump is sight unseen. We aren’t a vets and you won’t be able to find anything online given it requires a hands on check for diagnosis.
Please do not suspect tight muscles - it’s not a likely or safe conclusion. (Piggies do just their head to sniff the air but we can only make guesses based on your words which again is unsafe.)

Please ensure you weigh him regularly (weekly as part of ongoing care but daily weight checks if you have health concerns) as this is the only way for you to ensure he is actually eating enough hay and to be able to step in with syringe feeding a recovery feed if he is losing weight.

I hope he is ok

Ok thank you..
I'll keep an eye on his weight

 

[Piggies&buns]

Ok thank you..
I'll keep an eye on his weight

This is our weight management guide. If He loses 50g or more then you need to step in.
Weight - Monitoring and Management

Do be aware that he may not lose any weight and may be eating ok but the lump still needs to be checked out.

Does he live with another guinea pig? Piggies are highly social animals and should not be kept alone.

 

[Cara-milk]

Currently he is alone but I will be trying to bond him with another male very soon...
He came alone but he will have a companion by the end of this week

 

[Piggies&buns]

Currently he is alone but I will be trying to bond him with another male very soon...
He came alone but he will have a companion by the end of this week

Do you have another piggy at home with you?
Please note that two piggies have to be character compatible to be able to bond so you can’t just put two piggies together and assume they’ll get on. always make sure you have a plan b if they fail and they need to live in separate side by side cages.

Make sure to follow the correct neutral territory bonding procedure (guide below). Also ensure the cage is 180x60cm for two boars.

At this stage it’s more important he gets to a vet to have the lump checked.

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

 

[Cara-milk]

Yes I do have other piggies, so I should be able to find him a suitable companion

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes I do have other piggies, so I should be able to find him a suitable companion

Don’t forget as he has come from what seems to be a private rehoming, then he should be quarantined for two weeks in a separate room prior to bonding if he is over four months of age.
If you don’t quarantine then any contagious medical issue or parasite could transmit and you’d need to treat both piggies.

 

[Cara-milk]

Ok, Unfortunately I don't know his exact age but he seems like he would be over 4months..
Would he need to be in a separate room to my other piggies? Or just in his own cage?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Ok, Unfortunately I don't know his exact age but he seems like he would be over 4months..
Would he need to be in a separate room to my other piggies? Or just in his own cage?

Ideally a separate room. If that isn’t possible then in a separate cage in the same room but as far away from the others as possible.

 

[Cara-milk]

Ok I will do that, thank you

 

[weepweeps]

Hello, I’m new to this forum and was wondering if anyone could tell me about a lump I found on my Guinea pig’s neck?
I recently got him from someone needing to rehome him, and he’s been lifting his head up every time he stops. He walks, stops and, unless he’s holding it down, his head goes up. We suspect tight muscles (can they get tight shoulder/neck muscles?) and this morning when I was rubbing his neck he squeaked like I hurt him. I felt around his neck and found a lump, it seems to be sitting under his skin but when I rub it it seems to hurt him.
Unfortunately we cannot get him to a vet and I can’t find anything useful online..

Hello and welcome to the forum. I hope he’s ok.

 

[fluffysal]

Welcome to the forum, I hope it turns out to be nothing serious.