Tummy lump removal - any tips?

[Bertie & Jelly]

My skinny pig is a lumpy boy and I have largely taken a ‘watch and see’ approach. However he has had a lump on his tummy which has grown from flat and about 0.5cm to the size of a small plum 3-4cm in the past few weeks. I opted for a fine needle aspiration but the cell samples came back mostly necrotic and therefore inconclusive although possibly a fatty lipoma. Vet said it doesn’t seem to be ‘attached’ to anything internally. He’s eating, drinking and behaving normally (for him ). He is nearly 4 so I am very reluctant to put him through a general anaesthetic but if the lump keeps growing, it will impede his walking so reluctantly he is booked in for Monday. I am agonising over this. Has anyone had any experience of tummy lump surgery or surgery with tummy stitches? I want to make his cage as comfortable as possible for post-op healing so have re-configured and removed the ramp/loft. Also have some vet bed ready although he is on fleece and bobble bath mats anyway. Any tips or advice gratefully received to ease my mind. Thank you.

 

[weepweeps]

I don’t have any experience of this but I wish him well on Monday and a speedy recovery.

 

[Swissgreys]

Fingers crossed for a successful operation and a speedy recovery.
It certainly sounds like removing the lump is in his best interests.

You might find these guides helpful
Tips For Post-operative Care

 

[Bill & Ted]

Hope everything goes well with the op and he makes a speedy recovery. My Ginger had an op to remove a cyst on her back. She recovered really well and so did my Bill who had a mammary tumour removed
I’ve sent you this photo of Ginger a few days post op, so as you can see what to expect. When Bill had his tumour removed I was quite shocked by the size of the wound, Hope this helps

 

[AngryPenguin]

Please do not have plans to eat if you're going to watch this, nor perhaps the best idea to watch this if you've just eaten, but this is a great video to learn about this potentially relevant surgical procedure:

 

[Bertie & Jelly]

Hope everything goes well with the op and he makes a speedy recovery. My Ginger had an op to remove a cyst on her back. She recovered really well and so did my Bill who had a mammary tumour removed
I’ve sent you this photo of Ginger a few days post op, so as you can see what to expect. When Bill had his tumour removed I was quite shocked by the size of the wound, Hope this helps.

Thank you. Glad to hear Ginger and Bill recovered well from their respective ops. Very helpful to see potential wound size

 

[Bertie & Jelly]

Please do not have plans to eat if you're going to watch this, nor perhaps the best idea to watch this if you've just eaten, but this is a great video to learn about this potentially relevant surgical procedure:

Oh my. Gross! What a good piggie - mine would have been out the door and away Must have been a huge relief to have that removed.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Oh poor little piggie, I never knew they did local ops like that, but I suppose it’s safer than aesthetic

 

[Merab]

In terms of tummy ops I’ve had sows spayed for ovarian cysts.
As well being bald and sporting impressive scars the girls recovered very well.
I used towels as a base in the cage to try and keep the wounds clean.
Hope all goes well.
Try to relax and trust your vet.
Will be holding you in my thoughts on Monday

 

[Bertie & Jelly]

In terms of tummy ops I’ve had sows spayed for ovarian cysts.
As well being bald and sporting impressive scars the girls recovered very well.
I used towels as a base in the cage to try and keep the wounds clean.
Hope all goes well.
Try to relax and trust your vet.
Will be holding you in my thoughts on Monday

Thank you. That’s reassuring.