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Lump under Jerry's rib cage

Elizabeth Beadle

Elizabeth Beadle

Junior Guinea Pig
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My poor Piggie has a lump under his rib cage and I took him to the vets. She is pretty sure it is cancer but he is only two. She said that it would be too risky to operate. We have bought him home. He has lost a lot of weight but is eating a little. Hiding away alot but still runs around the pen every now and again. Do you think we are right to just take the vets word for it. Can we do more? Thank you.
 
I’m so sorry you have received this diagnosis for your young piggy. As he is so young maybe it would be worth a second opinion. Is your vet cavy savy? Did they do any tests to see where it is attached to? Or what it is made of? Someone with more experience of this will be along soon. If he’s losing weight then I would start syringe feeding to keep him as healthy as you can in case surgery is required.
 
Elizabeth Beadle said:
My poor Piggie has a lump under his rib cage and I took him to the vets. She is pretty sure it is cancer but he is only two. She said that it would be too risky to operate. We have bought him home. He has lost a lot of weight but is eating a little. Hiding away alot but still runs around the pen every now and again. Do you think we are right to just take the vets word for it. Can we do more? Thank you.
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Hi and welcome

HUGS

I am so sorry for the bad news - it the kind none of ever wants get! :(

You are always within your rights to ask for a second opinion from another vet.

Please be aware that if he is losing weight, then he is not eating enough and that any cancer may have already spread into the body. I am sure that this will have played into your vet's recommendation to not operate. Major loss of weight in combination with a lump is generally not good news. :(

Here is more information on feeding support and on end of life decisions, which you may find helpful as they will talk through all the involved aspects in more practical detail than we can in a single post:
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs
 
Thank you. We have been syringe feeding him with recovery food. He loved
it at first but now he just eats very little.
 
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