Weight Am I worrying to much?

[Meowmg]

I might sound paranoid, but I don't know if my guinea pig is sick.
He is a lone boar, around 4 years of age, as his cage mate passed away in January. We didn't want to get a new piggy as we feared that it may start a cycle as my guinea is older and not really friendly (hence we would have to get him a younger boar or a female but he is not sterilised).
We play with him regularly, I know it's not the same, to make him feel comfortable (he even sleeps in the same room as me and is free to roam about at all times).
He has a healthy appetite though he is eating slower now (I live in Delhi, India and in summers it gets really hot here. even though we have the AC on at all times, it's still a bit hot). He eats almost anything.
Now the reason for my concern is that even though he weighs the same (around 1.090 kg), he looks a bit thinner around the front.

Also, some months back we found that his nipple was enlarged and got it checked and found that it was filled with fluid(clear, no blood) and got it drained. Our vet (or any vet in this state) is not exactly an exotic vet, even though he does perform small surgeries and check ups on exotic animals but nothing big, so I didn't really want him to get a surgery or biopsy (might be more dangerous, I believe).

Please tell me do I have a reason to be concerned?

Also I am thinking about getting him a younger friend [as it's easier to bond older makes with younger ones, speaking from personal experience; once of my other guinea pig(he passed away) was almost bitten very badly by a boar around the same age] but am worried what will happen to the younger piggy after my minho.

 

[wheekermommy]

Unfortunately I have no idea about your health concerns, hopefully another member can chime in. Since he is not losing weight though, that seems like a good sign to me.

Since it is hot make sure you are consistently refreshing his water with cold water. I am in the states with A/C but I still empty and refill with cold water every day.

4 years old is still pretty young for a guinea pig, I would consider getting a friend. Do they have rescues that you could do proper introductions with and see if they get along? Also how big is your cage?

 

[Meowmg]

Unfortunately, there are no rescues that look after guinea pigs here. I can buy him a friend from a shop because usually people give back their pets to the shop they bought it from instead of a rescue or NGO.
I cage that he currently lives in is 2*3ft. It was the largest size that I could find in the shop but since minho is a big guinea, he occupies most of the space and hence we keep the cage door open (always) so that he can roam around in the room. (Don't have to worry about him peeing or pooping around the room, he is pretty intelligent, comes back to the cage to do his business)

 

[bpatters]

I wouldn't try to put another male in with him in a cage that small. Even if that's only where they go to eat and sleep, you're bound to have squabbles.

Can you build a larger cage? I don't know where you are, but cubes and coroplast make great cages, as does closet shelving.

 

[Meowmg]

I am getting really getting worried about his enlarged nipple. I saw few pictures that look exactly like his enlarged nipple and the diagnosis was mammary tumor. I want to get him the necessary treatment and surgery but the vets around here are not cavy save or even exotic vets. Even my vet is not a specialist regarding exotic animals like guinea pigs but can perform smaller surgeries and procedures. I am worried that Minho might not wake up after the surgery or if something goes wrong during or after it.
He still has a healthy appetite and is maintaining a weight of around 1090gm. His teeth are fine and he does not show any sign of distress or pain (i.e. He is behaving normally.)

Also, I have started working on getting him a custom wooden play / living area, much larger than his cage and have started looking for a cage mate (but all the other guinea pigs in the shop right now are much younger males and females).

P.s. money isn't a problem as I have been saving some money, the only thing I am worried about is his health.
Please remember that he is 4(approx).

Do you think I should get that his nipple removed?

 

[bpatters]

You definitely should have the lump examined by a competent vet, and if surgery is necessary, then go ahead with it. Mammary tumor removal isn't a particularly bad surgery. There's no invasion into the abdomen, and recovery is pretty straightforward.

However, I'd want an exotic vet if at all possible, since pig anesthesia can be tricky.

Where are you? City/state, not your actual address. We might be able to help you find a vet.

 

[Meowmg]

I live in Delhi, India.

 

[bpatters]

Sorry, no info on vets in Delhi.

Is there a zoo you could call and ask if they could recommend someone who could work on a guinea pig?