Hard lump under chin, soft poop as well?

Gracemackenz · Post » Mon Jun 06, 2016 8:12 pm

My Guinea pig Rosie is a few months old, and I noticed a hard lump about the size of a grape under her chin. She seems to be energetic and her happy self, but I can't help but worry. I also noticed just today that her poop is very soft and sticky? Some liquid also came out with it.. Here's some images:
IMG_9877.jpeg
IMG_0835.JPG

I don't know if they'll show or not, but I'm so scared it's something serious! My family can't afford much, and we want to avoid surgery.. My mom thinks we'd have to put her down, but I really don't want to do that, seeing as she's only a few months old.

Does anyone know what it could be? I have a vet appointment on Thursday, but I'm really curious and scared.

bpatters · Post » Mon Jun 06, 2016 9:47 pm

It's possibly cervical lymphadenitis. See http://www.guinealynx.info/lumps.html for more information.

Post » Mon Jun 06, 2016 10:26 pm

Meanwhile, start weighing her daily. Read gl/diarrhea.html and gl/handfeeding.html

If your pictures are crisp and clear, you can email them to me. Click on the REPLY link for my address. Include your board name and a link to your thread.

Gracemackenz · Post » Mon Jun 06, 2016 11:39 pm

I don't know if this would help at all, but the lump is under her skin...

Post » Tue Jun 07, 2016 8:26 am

If it's in her dewlap, more likely to be something like cervical lymphadenitis, as bpatters mentions.

Here are your pics. I think the liquid with the poop is just urine:

Gracemackenz · Post » Tue Jun 07, 2016 11:33 am

This is a stupid question, but what's dewlap?

bpatters · Post » Tue Jun 07, 2016 2:28 pm

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=dewlap

Gracemackenz · Post » Tue Jun 07, 2016 5:23 pm

Thank you! And I saw her poop; it wasn't coming from the dewlap..

Gracemackenz · Post » Tue Jun 07, 2016 6:47 pm

Sorry! I didn't read that thoroughly! The lump is in her dewlap..

Talishan · Post » Wed Jun 08, 2016 5:10 am

Does the lump appear to be getting larger?

It's possible it's a harmless fatty lipoma: those often form in the dewlap, but usually on older pigs.

Please make sure the vet you take her to is cavy-knowledgeable. Most neighborhood dog/cat vets aren't. Guinea pigs, rabbits, and other small mammals are known as 'exotics' in vetspeak, and their care requires specialized training and knowledge that the vast majority of 'normal' vets don't have.

http://www.guinealynx.info/records/viewtopic.php?t=251

http://www.exoticpetvet.com/

Please keep us posted on how she's doing.

Gracemackenz · Post » Wed Jun 08, 2016 3:57 pm

From what I can feel, it seems the same size, maybe even a little smaller because her skin is now looser in that area. The vet is specialized in Guinea pigs and other small animals, so I think it should be okay. I will update you on what it is tomorrow or Friday, because her appointment is tomorrow. Thank you so much for all your help! I'm hoping what she has will end up being harmless.

Gracemackenz · Post » Wed Jun 08, 2016 4:16 pm

I just felt it again and it doesn't seem any bigger. She hasn't lost any weight either..

ph08fhf · Post » Wed Jun 08, 2016 4:37 pm

First a disclaimer that I recently had an experience with a tooth abscess so I may not be the most objective person.

Having said that, this sounds reminiscent of Roxy with her abscess. Is the lump movable? Does it feel like it is under the skin? Is she painful when it is manipulated? Does it feel hard and spherical? Or squishy?

Tooth involvement would be consistent with eating less and thus with change in poop output and consistency - though you note that she doesn't seem to be losing weight.

Weigh daily! That's really important.

Gracemackenz · Post » Wed Jun 08, 2016 7:25 pm

The lump is hard and spherical, and it's barely moveable. If you really tried to move it, you could, but Rosie doesn't like being touched in that area and pushes me away. I don't know if that's because of disliking being touched, or from pain.

ph08fhf · Post » Wed Jun 08, 2016 9:01 pm

When Roxy had her abscess, a large (we are talking 1.5-2 inch), hard, spherical lump developed under her chin seemingly over night. She was still eating pretty well. I got her in to see the vet the next day and they operated the day after.

Others who have more experience can weigh in on whether a tooth abscess sounds possible (or whether my thoughts are coloured by my recent experience). I'd say she really needs to see a vet asap, so it's good that you have an appointment for her. They may well want to do some imaging of the area.

Keep us posted on what the vet says. Wishing you both the best.

bpatters · Post » Wed Jun 08, 2016 9:08 pm

If it's in the dewlap, it's not at all likely to be tooth abscess. Tooth abscesses are along the jaw line.

Talishan · Post » Thu Jun 09, 2016 4:45 am

Moki's abscess origin was along the jawline, but could be felt under the chin.

I think it's a possibility. Maybe not the likeliest one if the lump is further down, but a possibility.

Please let us know what the vet says. Best wishes and good luck to her.

Gracemackenz · Post » Thu Jun 09, 2016 7:25 am

Thank you so much for all your help! Her vet appointment is at 1:30 (it's 6:30 now). I can't be there because I have finals all day, but my mom is keeping me posted. I'll definitely catch all of you up on what it is!

Gracemackenz · Post » Thu Jun 09, 2016 3:17 pm

Rosie has an abscess. She is getting it drained today and we have to do a lot to keep it clean, but that's to be expected. Thank you so much!

Post » Thu Jun 09, 2016 3:27 pm

Will you be flushing it with a sterile saline solution? Will they put in a drain to help keep it open while it heals? Will they be giving antibiotics too?