My guinea pig has a mass on her labia. Should I go through with surgery?

[yuhnels]

In the beginning of the year I was out of the country and left my 3 year old guinea pig with my brother. When I came back I noticed her labia was swollen and bleeding. I took her to the vet and they had thought she had poked herself with hay. The antibiotics they gave her worked however her labia kept getting swollen. The second time I went they said it was a lipoma. I was told the surgery would be risky and decided not to do it. Months later it’s gotten bigger, none of the medicine has helped it heal since the skin stretches and becomes a wound. These past two days she started biting at it which caused her to bleed. It’s a very bad sight right now it hurts me to see it. She’s mostly stopped squeaking and just wants to lay down, doesn’t bother eating her favorite veggies now. She’s going to the vet tomorrow early in the morning. If surgery is offered again, should I take the risk?

 

[Betsy]

I'm sorry that your girl is not very well. She is may well be in pain as she is biting the area. Is she on any pain killers?

 

[yuhnels]

I'm sorry that your girl is not very well. She is may well be in pain as she is biting the area. Is she on any pain killers?

Hi, no she isn’t on any pain killers. They’ve only ever prescribed her some antibiotics. Is there any pain killers that you recommend ?

 

[Betsy]

Only a vet can recommend pain killers and what dose and can really tell you whether your piggie is in pain. Mention to the vet that she has been biting the area and you think she may be in pain.

 

[Piggies&buns]

It would be a good idea to discuss the options with your vet but if things are getting worse than leaving it and just using medication doesn’t sound like it’s viable now.
Biting at the area and lethargy may suggest she is in discomfort.

Ensure you switch from the routine weekly weight checks and instead weigh her daily so you can be sure she is still eating enough hay. Hay is the most important part of the diet at 80% of their daily food intake but you cannot judge intake by eye. It can also be the first part of the diet which is dropped when a piggy is not feeling well and you will quickly see weight loss if a piggy isn’t eating enough. Those weight checks are vital to tell you whether she is still eating enough hay and if she isn’t then you need to step on with syringe feeding a recovery feed to stabilise the weight. Being in discomfort can stop them from wanting to eat enough.

I hope she is ok

All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

 

[weepweeps]

Good luck at the vets.

 

[Wiebke]

In the beginning of the year I was out of the country and left my 3 year old guinea pig with my brother. When I came back I noticed her labia was swollen and bleeding. I took her to the vet and they had thought she had poked herself with hay. The antibiotics they gave her worked however her labia kept getting swollen. The second time I went they said it was a lipoma. I was told the surgery would be risky and decided not to do it. Months later it’s gotten bigger, none of the medicine has helped it heal since the skin stretches and becomes a wound. These past two days she started biting at it which caused her to bleed. It’s a very bad sight right now it hurts me to see it. She’s mostly stopped squeaking and just wants to lay down, doesn’t bother eating her favorite veggies now. She’s going to the vet tomorrow early in the morning. If surgery is offered again, should I take the risk?

Hi and welcome

The fact that she is biting herself bloody means that she is in serious pain. Something more significant than a minor infection seems to be going on if the medical approach has completely failed. Please be aware that painkillers will only help with the discomfort somewhat but they cannot address the underlying progressing issue. An operation would certainly remove the source of her pain for good once the hopefully still confined area has healed up.

We cannot tell you what to do - only you as an owner can make that decision.
But if it was one of my own piggies, I would certainly consider discussing operative removal with my vet if that is still an option and if you can afford it. You will have to make any decisions based on your vet's findings and assessment during the examination and on what - sadly now much fewer and likely not every appealing - alternatives they can offer, which may very much come with their own downsides since the problem is by now much more advanced.

I feel for you; these between a rock and a hard place situations are always very gutting to make for any loving owner.

Here are some links to practical care information, which you may find helpful:
Signs of Pain in Guinea Pigs
Tips For Post-operative Care
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

Wishing you and poorly girl all the best!

 

[Wheekallweek]

Aw, good luck at the vets, hope she is feeling better soon!

 

[yuhnels]

It would be a good idea to discuss the options with your vet but if things are getting worse than leaving it and just using medication doesn’t sound like it’s viable now.
Biting at the area and lethargy may suggest she is in discomfort.

Ensure you switch from the routine weekly weight checks and instead weigh her daily so you can be sure she is still eating enough hay. Hay is the most important part of the diet at 80% of their daily food intake but you cannot judge intake by eye. It can also be the first part of the diet which is dropped when a piggy is not feeling well and you will quickly see weight loss if a piggy isn’t eating enough. Those weight checks are vital to tell you whether she is still eating enough hay and if she isn’t then you need to step on with syringe feeding a recovery feed to stabilise the weight. Being in discomfort can stop them from wanting to eat enough.

I hope she is ok

All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

thank you she had a vet visit this morning! she was prescribed pain killers (Gabapentin) only however I expected her to also be prescribed an antibiotic for the actual wound, I’ve read about owners using Neosporin on their piggies but I’m not sure if it’d be good for a wound like hers?

 

[yuhnels]

Aw, good luck at the vets, hope she is feeling better soon!

thank you

Hi and welcome

The fact that she is biting herself bloody means that she is in serious pain. Something more significant than a minor infection seems to be going on if the medical approach has completely failed. Please be aware that painkillers will only help with the discomfort somewhat but they cannot address the underlying progressing issue. An operation would certainly remove the source of her pain for good once the hopefully still confined area has healed up.

We cannot tell you what to do - only you as an owner can make that decision.
But if it was one of my own piggies, I would certainly consider discussing operative removal with my vet if that is still an option and if you can afford it. You will have to make any decisions based on your vet's findings and assessment during the examination and on what - sadly now much fewer and likely not every appealing - alternatives they can offer, which may very much come with their own downsides since the problem is by now much more advanced.

I feel for you; these between a rock and a hard place situations are always very gutting to make for any loving owner.

Here are some links to practical care information, which you may find helpful:
Signs of Pain in Guinea Pigs
Tips For Post-operative Care
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

Wishing you and poorly girl all the best!

Hello thank you for your reply! She was prescribed Gabapentin for the pain but she wasn’t prescribed an antibiotic. I’m hoping the pain killer at least helps her stop biting. As for the surgery I’m going to take that chance after I get a second opinion from another vet.

 

[yuhnels]

Good luck at the vets.

thank you very much

It would be a good idea to discuss the options with your vet but if things are getting worse than leaving it and just using medication doesn’t sound like it’s viable now.
Biting at the area and lethargy may suggest she is in discomfort.

Ensure you switch from the routine weekly weight checks and instead weigh her daily so you can be sure she is still eating enough hay. Hay is the most important part of the diet at 80% of their daily food intake but you cannot judge intake by eye. It can also be the first part of the diet which is dropped when a piggy is not feeling well and you will quickly see weight loss if a piggy isn’t eating enough. Those weight checks are vital to tell you whether she is still eating enough hay and if she isn’t then you need to step on with syringe feeding a recovery feed to stabilise the weight. Being in discomfort can stop them from wanting to eat enough.

I hope she is ok

All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Hi, today she started eating more hay than the past days. However I’m going to start syringe feeding her tomorrow. She also got a pain killer today at the vet. I’m going to go through with the surgery after getting a second opinion from a different vet.