Lump on the neck area. Seems soft, but it's kinda big already. Questions arise.

[Basti & Dulce]

Hello,

I joined this forum days ago to ask advice about Bastiana, my female that keeps rumblestrutting non-stop. Thought it could be an ovarian cyst or something, took them both (Bastiana and Dulce) to the vet and exams are being conducted. Poop exam detected a little parasitosis, but something very slight (said the vet) and that will be easily taken care of. Bastiana is still going to be ultrasound checked in a few days.

However, today I was checking Dulce and found out this big lump in her neck area. Strange enough, it's just a week since they went to the vet and I'm finding it hard to believe that he didn't see that. So...I did some research on it and saw that it's most probably a cervical lymphadenitis, saw some videos of Saskia (LA Guinea Pig Rescue) doing some draining and saying that antibiotics can work if the lump is detected soon enough. Otherwise, draining + antibiotics.

So, I'm hoping it's not something that dangerous (but I'm taking her to the vet tomorrow, again). I just wish to know some things:

1) Is there anything we could do to avoid this from happening (or happening again)?
2) Is this something really common and out of our control (as owners), or can it be triggered by something we may not be doing properly?
3) How fast does these lumps take to grow? Days? Weeks? Months? I mean, is it possible that she was just fine on the vet and this lump grew within this past week?

I thank you all in advance and any help is appreciated to give me some peace of mind. : (

 

[Lady Kelly]

Without knowing what the lump is I wouldn't criticise the vet. It is not uncommon for lumps to appear in the neck and often this spring up seemingly overnight. It could be an abscess, cyst, tumour or swollen lymph node so you will need to see the vet for an accurate diagnosis and the correct treatment.

Hope the vets visit goes well and it's nothing sinister

 

[Betsy]

My Rainbow Piggie Lenny had a huge abcess appear and burst on his neck within 24 hours. One morning there was nothing there and the next morning yellow smelly gunk over his neck and all over the hutch. As @Lady Kelly has mentioned, the lump may well not have been there when the vet examined Dulce. I too hope that it's nothing sinister.

 

[Swissgreys]

Also depending on where the lump is it may be a dewlap?
It is hard to say without seeing the piggy.

And like others I have had piggies with abcesses form in a matter of hours, so the vet not detecting this last week is in no way a reflection of their skills.

 

[David Piggie Lover]

I'm going tho a simiular thing with my piggie Florence. Piggie looks like she has mumps Do i need to PANIC..
Hope this helps

 

[Basti & Dulce]

In no way I was doubting the vet skills. Just the opposite. I thought that he would surely see it, if it was there. I just found the thing too big to have grown within a week but, as I mentioned, I have no experience at all with this kind of thing. This is my first time owning guinea pigs and seeing this happen.

Dulce was taken to the vet again, he examined her thoroughly (ultrasound and a puncture to collect material) and said it's surely an abscess. Said that many, many things can cause that, but it's not to worry. She's already scheduled to have it removed next friday.

Good news, tho', as Bastiana was examined and has no ovarian cysts or anything. The rumblestrutting is probably just behavioral. She's been pretty calm lately, as well.

Now my concerns are with Dulce, but he said that the sedation is pretty harmless, the removal is a simple procedure and she'll recover fast and fine. I'm hoping for the best.

Thank you all for these replies! This community is amazing. <3