• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Rather Large Lump On My Guinea Pigs Back/rear End

M

Milliexox

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jan 2, 2018
Messages
12
Reaction score
2
Points
55
Hello I was wondering if anyone could help me/give me some advice.

I have three guinea pigs all of which are sisters and will be turning 3 this year.
One of them has a rather large lump on her back/bum towards the right. I noticed this on Saturday just gone, they are each very regularly held and groomed therefore I think this has come up rather quickly as I would have noticed it weeks before when I clean them out if it had already been there.
It doesn’t appear to be hurting her and she is completely fine in herself, eating, drinking and running around as normal. However I was obviously very shocked and concerned so I took her into the vets today to get her checked over.
Although the lump is hard it’s also sort of soft when you squeeze it, as if it was a cyst or something so my initial thought was that it could be drained/syringed.

Well the vet was absolutely useless, she was so rude and did not reassure me at all or answer any of my concerns. She basically told me I either needed to send her for surgery to get the lump removed (for around £120 - she had no idea how much exactly) or to get a sample of it sent off (for around £84) to see if it is dangerous or not.
Although it is not about the money, it did seem that this is all she wanted out of me. She never tried to ‘drain’ the lump or look into other things it could be, neither did she confirm it was a tumour, although she told me it seemed like it was.
I am stuck on what to do, I understand if it is a tumour she will get ill sooner or later but I also know there are a lot of risks with putting a small animal through surgery/anesthetic, I would hate to potentially end her life by getting a lump removed that potentially is binine. If anyone can advise me or has been in a similar situation with their own guinea pig, then I would be really grateful.

Millie
 
Snap ! , my 4 year old guinea pig has a lump on just over her eye and my vet was the same as your vet ! ,so I have just wrote a letter to my vets practice manager with pictures because I was not happy what the vet said
It not good is it ? When vets are like that
 
Aw sorry to hear that, I hope you get her sorted soon.
I might do the same actually I was disgusted at how she spoke to me.
I am thinking about taking her to another vets to get a second opinion as I’m not convinced the vet today had a clue what she was doing and it’s only left me more concerned
 
My girl developed a lump in the summer (sounds like a very similar location too) and my vet shaved a little patch over it and took some needle aspirations and had a look at them under a scope. She said they’d only need to send it to the lab (they have one on site) if she thought it looked dodgy. Fortunately it was ‘just’ a cyst. It burst a couple on months later and they drained it for me. (Didn’t even charge a full consult fee!) and it’s now healed and is not showing signs of re filling yet.
Sounds like you need a different vet to me! It’s such a shame they’re not all good with small furries
 
I’m hoping this is just a cyst and I can get it sorted it would be such a shame for it to be anything else, especially when she seems so happy and fine in herself at the moment.
I definitely do need to see a different vet I was not at all impressed!
Did the lump your guinea pig have feel hard?
The vet today told me she doesn’t think it is a cyst due to how hard it is but neither did she mention it therefore being anything worse.
 
Firstly, that vet seems awful! She seems very rude, try find a different vet.
Could you try send us some pictures?
Is there any fur covering the lump?
It sounds quite possibly a cyst.
Was it hard?
And has your piggy been showing ANY side effects, even the tiniest odd behavior, since piggies are very good at hiding illness.
 
3 Musketeers said:
Firstly, that vet seems awful! She seems very rude, try find a different vet.
Could you try send us some pictures?
Is there any fur covering the lump?
It sounds quite possibly a cyst.
Was it hard?
And has your piggy been showing ANY side effects, even the tiniest odd behavior, since piggies are very good at hiding illness.
Click to expand...


I will be taking her to another vets tomorrow for another opinion as I was not at all impressed!
I can upload some images tomorrow as I don’t currently have any.
Yes there is fur covering the lump it’s like completely underneath her fur and just looks like a bump on her back/bum.
It is very hard and I haven’t noticed her acting differently although they are all in the shed now for winter so I don’t see them as often as I do in the summer when they’re in the garden to be able to monitor her behaviour. I haven’t noticed anything different with her when I have cleaned their hutch or held her or when I took her to the vets today etc
 
It was kind of firm, but not really ‘hard’.

Hope you have better luck with a new vet!
 
could it be a bite from some insect?
it could just be a bump from falling or something.
Best of luck with new vet,they know tons more then i do!
 
3 Musketeers said:
could it be a bite from some insect?
it could just be a bump from falling or something.
Best of luck with new vet,they know tons more then i do!
Click to expand...

Hmm I think it’s a bit too big to be just an insect bite or an injury, but thankyou!
 
If you take her to a different vet @Milliexox then they should take a closer look at it for you. My vet usually has a good feel of it and will use a syringe in it to find out what is inside if need be.
 
Milliexox said:
Hello I was wondering if anyone could help me/give me some advice.

I have three guinea pigs all of which are sisters and will be turning 3 this year.
One of them has a rather large lump on her back/bum towards the right. I noticed this on Saturday just gone, they are each very regularly held and groomed therefore I think this has come up rather quickly as I would have noticed it weeks before when I clean them out if it had already been there.
It doesn’t appear to be hurting her and she is completely fine in herself, eating, drinking and running around as normal. However I was obviously very shocked and concerned so I took her into the vets today to get her checked over.
Although the lump is hard it’s also sort of soft when you squeeze it, as if it was a cyst or something so my initial thought was that it could be drained/syringed.

Well the vet was absolutely useless, she was so rude and did not reassure me at all or answer any of my concerns. She basically told me I either needed to send her for surgery to get the lump removed (for around £120 - she had no idea how much exactly) or to get a sample of it sent off (for around £84) to see if it is dangerous or not.
Although it is not about the money, it did seem that this is all she wanted out of me. She never tried to ‘drain’ the lump or look into other things it could be, neither did she confirm it was a tumour, although she told me it seemed like it was.
I am stuck on what to do, I understand if it is a tumour she will get ill sooner or later but I also know there are a lot of risks with putting a small animal through surgery/anesthetic, I would hate to potentially end her life by getting a lump removed that potentially is binine. If anyone can advise me or has been in a similar situation with their own guinea pig, then I would be really grateful.

Millie
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear of your bad experience at the vet.Have you looked on the vet locator to find a cavy savvy vet?
 
Jaycey said:
If you take her to a different vet @Milliexox then they should take a closer look at it for you. My vet usually has a good feel of it and will use a syringe in it to find out what is inside if need be.
Click to expand...

I’m planning on taking her tomorrow. I’ve had a guinea pig before in a similar situation and they used a syringe then, at the same place I went to today, don’t see why this was any different.
Thankyou
 
Milliexox said:
I’m planning on taking her tomorrow. I’ve had a guinea pig before in a similar situation and they used a syringe then, at the same place I went to today, don’t see why this was any different.
Thankyou
Click to expand...

Some vets aren't as confident as others with guinea pigs unfortunately. At a guess I would say the vet may not have been very experienced with pigs, especially with them saying that they would only be able to work out what it is from taking a sample to be tested.

Good luck at the vet tomorrow. Fingers crossed that it's just a cyst and the vet can clean it up for her.
 
Jaycey said:
Some vets aren't as confident as others with guinea pigs unfortunately. At a guess I would say the vet may not have been very experienced with pigs, especially with them saying that they would only be able to work out what it is from taking a sample to be tested.

Good luck at the vet tomorrow. Fingers crossed that it's just a cyst and the vet can clean it up for her.
Click to expand...


Thankyou!
 
Milliexox said:
Hello I was wondering if anyone could help me/give me some advice.

I have three guinea pigs all of which are sisters and will be turning 3 this year.
One of them has a rather large lump on her back/bum towards the right. I noticed this on Saturday just gone, they are each very regularly held and groomed therefore I think this has come up rather quickly as I would have noticed it weeks before when I clean them out if it had already been there.
It doesn’t appear to be hurting her and she is completely fine in herself, eating, drinking and running around as normal. However I was obviously very shocked and concerned so I took her into the vets today to get her checked over.
Although the lump is hard it’s also sort of soft when you squeeze it, as if it was a cyst or something so my initial thought was that it could be drained/syringed.

Well the vet was absolutely useless, she was so rude and did not reassure me at all or answer any of my concerns. She basically told me I either needed to send her for surgery to get the lump removed (for around £120 - she had no idea how much exactly) or to get a sample of it sent off (for around £84) to see if it is dangerous or not.
Although it is not about the money, it did seem that this is all she wanted out of me. She never tried to ‘drain’ the lump or look into other things it could be, neither did she confirm it was a tumour, although she told me it seemed like it was.
I am stuck on what to do, I understand if it is a tumour she will get ill sooner or later but I also know there are a lot of risks with putting a small animal through surgery/anesthetic, I would hate to potentially end her life by getting a lump removed that potentially is binine. If anyone can advise me or has been in a similar situation with their own guinea pig, then I would be really grateful.

Millie
Click to expand...

Hi! I am very sorry for your experience. A lab test will cost you about that much, and the operation cost is also not the most expensive.
You are however welcome to seek a second opinion if you wish to. Lumps can come up very quickly, whether that is cysts, abscesses or more deep seated tumours.
Here is our list of recommended vets: Guinea Pig Vet Locator
 
Wiebke said:
Hi! I am very sorry for your experience. A lab test will cost you about that much, and the operation cost is also not the most expensive.
You are however welcome to seek a second opinion if you wish to. Lumps can come up very quickly, whether that is cysts, abscesses or more deep seated tumours.
Here is our list of recommended vets: Guinea Pig Vet Locator
Click to expand...



Thanks.
 
Milliexox said:
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Whether a vet is recommending an operating or lancing, depends on how deep the lump is seated, whether it is just loose on the skin or going into the body and what your vet thinks of the feel and structure, whether she rather feels that it is pus-filled or rather fluid or blood filled. Experienced vets can often tell by the feel and structure.

If the lump is very fast growing, please do not wait long with an operation; whether a tumour is benign or malign is moot if it is in danger of bursting; that is something that can be tested once it is out of body. I am however sorry that your vet doen't have good bedside and communication abilities.
Tips For Post-operative Care

I hope that helps you a bit more?
 
Wiebke said:
Whether a vet is recommending an operating or lancing, depends on how deep the lump is seated, whether it is just loose on the skin or going into the body and what your vet thinks of the feel and structure, whether she rather feels that it is pus-filled or rather fluid or blood filled. Experienced vets can often tell by the feel and structure.

If the lump is very fast growing, please do not wait long with an operation; whether a tumour is benign or malign is moot if it is in danger of bursting; that is something that can be tested once it is out of body. I am however sorry that your vet doen't have good bedside and communication abilities.
Tips For Post-operative Care

I hope that helps you a bit more?
Click to expand...


Thankyou for being so thorough and helpful.
It hasn’t gotten any bigger so far since I first noticed it but of course I will keep a very close eye on her and hopefully get her seen to by someone else’s tomorrow.
Thankyou once again
 
Wheekallweek said:
Good luck at the vets! It’s such a shame your vet is so rubbish; we’re lucky enough to have a really good guinea pig savvy Vets4Pets near us! :)
Click to expand...

Thanks!
It is a shame especially when they have been so helpful before. I will be taking her somewhere else tomorrow
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top