Socks' Lumps
Socks is a six-year old Guinea pig. She has two lumps on her flanks, one on each side. My son discovered the one on the left side a few months ago. Recently, we noticed it was getting bigger and we took her to the vet. The vet found the other lump when she examined her. The one on the left side is very firm and flattened and about 1/2 an inch square. The lump on the right side is much smaller and not did not feel the same though this could be due to its size. We opted for a needle biopsy of both lumps. Unfortunately, the results did not give us much information as the samples did not contain many cells. The vet shared the notes from the cytologist with us which said that growths that do not give up cells easily are likely to be cancerous.
We are not sure what to do next and would like some advice. One option is to have both lumps surgically removed ($500). Socks is otherwise healthy: eating normally, maintaining her weight, no change in behavior. She does sleep a lot, but I attribute this to her age. I am nervous about surgery and the risks. If I knew the lumps were cancerous, I would do it. I do not know how to evaluate the comment from the cytologist. I read the information about lumps and Socks' growths are different than any described here. I would appreciate any information that may aid in my decision-making process.
We are not sure what to do next and would like some advice. One option is to have both lumps surgically removed ($500). Socks is otherwise healthy: eating normally, maintaining her weight, no change in behavior. She does sleep a lot, but I attribute this to her age. I am nervous about surgery and the risks. If I knew the lumps were cancerous, I would do it. I do not know how to evaluate the comment from the cytologist. I read the information about lumps and Socks' growths are different than any described here. I would appreciate any information that may aid in my decision-making process.
- Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
Have you looked over lumps.html ?
I somehow think removing the lumps really is the right thing to do. Many in that location just get bigger and the larger they are, the more difficult to remove. The lumps in that area that I remember guinea pigs having have not been cancerous. I take it these are not lymph nodes.
I somehow think removing the lumps really is the right thing to do. Many in that location just get bigger and the larger they are, the more difficult to remove. The lumps in that area that I remember guinea pigs having have not been cancerous. I take it these are not lymph nodes.
Thank you for your reply, Lynx. I am inclined to remove them though I am concerned about her getting through the surgery. No, they are not lymph nodes. If I can take a picture of the larger one I will post it tomorrow. Socks is half Peruvian and there is a lot of hair in the way!
- Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
Oh, and when I wrote " Many in that location just get bigger and the larger they are, the more difficult to remove. " what happens is the lump is so large to remove, there is less skin to pull over the incision area. So if she is otherwise healthy, I would go ahead before they get too large (size does of course depend on what is going on).
Surgery is really the best option I had a male who had mastectomy (I believe that is the one for breast cancer) at the age of five and came through like a champ and yes he did have cancer and still lived to the ripe old age of 13 unfortunately he was euthanized as it had metastasized into his spine and lost all function to his hind end in the span of three days.
I could not take a picture of the lump without shaving Socks' fur. The larger lump is just anterior to her left hip and a bit to the left of her spine. The vet said it felt like it was limited to the skin layer. The lump on the right side is in a similar location but further away from her spine. Though they are not quite symmetrically located, it seems odd that they are in such similar places.
Lilpiggyplaypen, thank you for sharing your experience. It makes me feel more comfortable with the surgery option. I have never heard of a 13-year old Guinea pig!
Lilpiggyplaypen, thank you for sharing your experience. It makes me feel more comfortable with the surgery option. I have never heard of a 13-year old Guinea pig!
Socks developed a third lump near her left hind leg and nipple. It was about the size of a ping pong ball. Today, I discovered it must have burst. She has an open wound on her abdomen. The vet cannot see her until tomorrow. I cleaned the area with a cotton pad and warm water. What else can I do to clean it and possibly cover it until tomorrow? Tegaderm? Any antibiotic wash or ointment?
- Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
Do you have anything you could flush it with? If you can get it fairly clean, you might not need any ointments.
There are some products I used for Nina's feet, like non-adherent pads and gauze. You might want to look over the bandaging page:
www.guinealynx.info/bandaging.html
There are some products I used for Nina's feet, like non-adherent pads and gauze. You might want to look over the bandaging page:
www.guinealynx.info/bandaging.html
I have some syringes with long, curved tips. I could try saline solution. I also have some of those non-stick gauze pads. The wound actually does not look as dirty as I thought it would though it is deep like a puncture wound.
It doesn't appear to be I infected unless the pus is deep inside and can't be seen from the surface. I guess that is a possibility. I am puzzled as to what this "ping pong ball" was. When I took her to the vet after I discovered it, she did not think it was an abscess. Socks has been behaving normally the whole time. I hope to find out more when I take her to the vet tomorrow.
Thank you for the advice.
Thank you for the advice.
I took Socks to the vet this morning and the vet flushed out her wound and shaved the area. We decided to put silvadene in the opening and cover it with tegaderm (which I did myself at home). I did not want to give her antibiotics, especially since there was no evidence of infection. I will monitor it and if the tegaderm stays in place and the wound looks like its healing, I may not do anything else. I can also flush the wound with clorohexidine and reapply the silvadene and tegaderm periodically.
The wound is in the skin layer and the vet thinks the mass was also punctured, fluid leaked out, and the wall of the mass healed and closed. It is a mystery how the mass and skin ruptured. Possibly, the area was abraded by contact with something until the skin and mass opened up. I have been bathing her in the sink to keep her clean and I didn't notice anything unusual when I cleaned her last Friday. The only abrasive thing I think of that she could have rubbed it on is the cut edge of the coroplast at the opening to the hay pen. Maybe she chewed herself because the mass had gotten big and uncomfortable.
So far, she hasn't shown any interest in the tegaderm and is behaving normally.
The wound is in the skin layer and the vet thinks the mass was also punctured, fluid leaked out, and the wall of the mass healed and closed. It is a mystery how the mass and skin ruptured. Possibly, the area was abraded by contact with something until the skin and mass opened up. I have been bathing her in the sink to keep her clean and I didn't notice anything unusual when I cleaned her last Friday. The only abrasive thing I think of that she could have rubbed it on is the cut edge of the coroplast at the opening to the hay pen. Maybe she chewed herself because the mass had gotten big and uncomfortable.
So far, she hasn't shown any interest in the tegaderm and is behaving normally.