Hay causing abscess?

[3'sCompany]

Hello

I’ve been feeding my piggies hay, which I purchased from a local farmer. The hay is timothy hay. Although the hay is fresh and the piggies really enjoy eating it, I’m concerned about the texture and color of the hay. The store bought hay I used to feed them is much greener and softer. I’ve read that hay can sometimes cause abscesses in guinea pigs if it scratches their throat. It’s been one month since I’ve switched from the softer greener store bought hay to the rougher local farmers hay. Last week I began to notice loose hanging skin under one of my piggy’s throat. At first I had thought it was nothing more than weight gain, but now I’m thinking it might be an abscess due to the change in hay texture. I pressed around the area, but it felt soft-no hardness or bumps.

I’ve seen pictures of abbesses and they look nothing like what my piggy has. The abscesses I’ve seen look like pea size bumps…Caramel has loose hanging skin. Could this be an abscess as well? I’m getting very worried. Today I heard her make a strange noise that sounded like someone blowing their nose, not as loud of course, but it’s something I have not heard before, and so I’m thinking it might be related to the loose hanging skin. I will be taking her to see a vet, but I’m anxious right now and interested in hearing some of your opinions on what could be causing this. I hope it’s nothing more than weight gain. She is about 7 months old and has put on a few pounds in the last month.

Regards,
3’sCompany

[3'sCompany]

Picture of Caramel

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...Caramel004.jpg

[VoodooJoint]

It's weight gain and natural development. No need to worry. In rabbits it's called a dewlap. I'm not sure if that's what that 2nd chin is called in GPs though.

[twinkies]

That definitely looks like a lump. I am glad you have a vet appt. I would go ahead and switch their hay back to the softer one, just to be on the safe side.
She is very pretty, I love her colorings.
When is her vet appt.?

[twinkies]

But what do I know...sorry. None of my piggies ever had looseness there at their necks. It just looks like it to me.

[aqh88]

Looks like a dewlap. Most eventually get that as they get older. Abscesses feel completely unnatural and almost always hard. Occasionally you get a squishy abscess but you can still tell that the area feels swollen and not just loose skin.

[Ly&Pigs]

Originally Posted by VoodooJoint

In rabbits it's called a dewlap. I'm not sure if that's what that 2nd chin is called in GPs though.

Yep, called the same in pigs.

With stemmy hay, it is possible they could get a piece stuck in their throats or it could poke them in the cheek and cause an abscess. Remove any stemmy pieces of hay from what you feed them. In your case though, it's just a dewlap.

[Jennicat]

I've got to agree with the others. My pudgy(ish) piggie Mogwai also has a dewlap. I'm sure it has nothing to do with how he pulls the pigloo on top of the pellet bowl.