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Mumsnet does not check the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you're worried about the health of your pet, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Small pets

Guinea pig with large lump under chin

21 replies

Zigby · 05/09/2013 11:09

One of our guinea pigs has been off some foods for a couple of weeks. He is no longer interested in cucumber and carrots etc but seems to eat other food.

I have just noticed a large lump under his chin. Its not that easy to notice with his tufty fur but is actually quite big.

He is about 4 years old so very old for a g-p.

I can't afford unnecessary vet bills.

Any ideas what it could be?? Could is just be him coming to the end of his life or should I get to the vets??

I am not callous but he is an old guinea pig and I cannot justify huge bills that will not result in much improvement.

OP posts:

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wiganwagonwheelworks · 05/09/2013 11:15

a tooth abscess? Vet can say for sure.

thwinka · 05/09/2013 11:26

How big is the lump? It might be an abscess? Cyst? One of my Boars recently developed a lump under his chin and it turned out to be a tumour? But the vet linked to the CCT removed it and he's fine now.
What does it feel like when you touch it/squeeze it slightly? It could be something he can live with but if he is going off his food then he probably needs to be seen by someone. Where about do you live? PM me if you prefer as one of my Boars was very ill for a while and vets charged me a fortune. I found a Rodentologist who is fantastic with Guinea pigs and will be able to diagnose for you.
They charge peanuts(although a donation is always nice to the charity)
They are linked to the 'Cambridge Cavy Trust' who are worth their weight in gold where piggie health problems are concerned and can perform surgery via there own vets. If you can't travel to them, then often there are members that can help?
And 4 isn't always ancient for a guinea pig!!! They can average between 5-8 years

Sawdust · 05/09/2013 14:33

One of my pigs had a very large lump that turned out to be a tumour - it was drained and she's fine now.

tywysogesgymraeg · 05/09/2013 14:34

Our hamster had a lump like that which got bigger and bigger, and it turned out to be cancer.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 05/09/2013 19:40

Difficult situation but yes, a trip to the vet to find out what it is.

If it's a fatty lump then it will probably not inconvenience his day to day life if he can still eat. He's given up some things but there's plenty other things he can eat.
(My old sows had large fibrous smooth lumps in their saggy chin skin. Not attatched the deeper tissues, you could move them but no pain )

If it's a dental abscess then it will stop him eating and the infection would be potentially fatal if it spread.He'd need it draining, antibiotics and his teeth looked at. Dental problems can affect a guinea-pigs eyes too.

If it is malignant- then you'd have to decide with your vet what the next step is. Would you want to subject your middleaged pig to surgery. What's the risks involved with surgery and recovery.

At least if you have a consultation, you'll know what's the way forward.
But the not eating is IMO a sign that a pig isn't well. They don't starve themselves willingly.

Good Luck Piggie

guineapiglet · 05/09/2013 20:21

Hi all. Yes i would agree with everything said. Guineas only go off food if something is wrong, so sadly a check up will help find out what it is.. Has he lost weight? Is he drinking? Let us know how you go. Many guineas live to the grand old age of 6 or more so he has time yet... Hope he gets on ok. :)

Sawdust · 05/09/2013 20:42

I said tumour - I meant abscess, of course! I know you can't drain a tumour

Zigby · 06/09/2013 09:57

Thanks for the advice. He has survived the night and we are off the the vet later.

OP posts:

Sawdust · 06/09/2013 16:34

Good luck!

thwinka · 06/09/2013 17:01

Good luck zigby Fingers crossed for your piggy:)

fortifiedwithtea · 06/09/2013 20:07

Good luck. You are going the right thing

fortifiedwithtea · 06/09/2013 20:08

doing

Zigby · 07/09/2013 09:10

We went to the vet and sadly the outlook was quite poor as he didn't think treatment would actually help, especially due to his age. Unfortunately the best thing to do was to put him to sleep so I gave him a last cuddle and he went to sleep.

Poor little piggy. His brother will miss him. Children quite upset too.

Thanks for the advice.

OP posts:

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 07/09/2013 09:28

poor Guinea.
It's a tough call isn't it, but his age does tip him into guinea-pig-middle-age so the risks are higher.
And if he's not been eating well then his general health might not allow him to survive an anaethestic.

Keep a close eye on brother pig, He might go a bit meh and depressed. Lots of cuddles and treats.
Will you get him a new cagemate? Difficult when he's 4yo but there's lots of options.

for your DC too.
The GPs little bodies feel all light and floppy too when they die.
(Make sure you bury him properly. Blasted foxes )

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 07/09/2013 09:31

Did the vet say what he thought it was?
Abscess or tumour type lump. They wouldn't know for definate without investigating and I don't think I'd like to have one of my guineas post-mortemed.

Sawdust · 07/09/2013 09:38

So sorry to hear that

FernieB · 07/09/2013 10:38

Sorry to hear that. Hope his cage mate is feeling okay.

noyouhavehadawee · 09/09/2013 13:36

sorry about your piggy.

smileyjo37 · 27/09/2013 22:32

I adopted two guinea pigs from Pets at Home 3 days ago. I let them settle in for two days, as suggested, and now on the third day, whilst giving them a cuddle, I notice one of them has two big lumps under its neck. Could this be an abscess? They are about 4 months old according to P@H. Do Pets at Home have any responsibility over adopting out sick animals or have I just been unlucky? Will they pay towards any vet fees?

Fozziebearmum2be · 27/09/2013 22:40

I had a guinea pig who had a lump under her chin years ago (1997)

The vet had to remove it - they had no choice but to do that in case it was a tumour, turned out to be a fatty lump and she was fine afterwards. It cost £20 for the op-but this was back in 1997.

The vet told me that vet charges for cats/dog operations are much higher for the same thing as their costing structure is higher as cats/dogs are worth more

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 27/09/2013 22:41

Tricky but whatever you do, do it quickly
P@H have a ludicrously short guarentee on their animals.

But- if you gave them their 2 days settle period then really today is the first day you could have handled them.

Were they vet checked before you got them?
Did you get the chance to examine them before you took them?

An abscess could flare up in the space of a couple of days. Your pig might have had a bite from his cagemate.
He/She might have teeth problems
Or , from some of these threads of late it could be more serious.

I'd be back there tomorrow morning. Take the GPs to their vets and see what they intend to do about it. (If it;s a bite wound then that's not their responsibility TBH. But it would be easier to treat than alot of other things)

Bear in mind, they might refund you and take the guineas back..........

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