Lump Pedro's Lump

[ellisa]

Well, it has been a very tough week.
A few months ago I noticed a lump on the right side of Pedro along his ribs. We went to the vet and she did a fine needle aspiration. The lump turned out to be a lipoma. I was very glad to hear it wasn't cancer! We decided at that time not to remove it. It wasn't affecting his mobility so we thought we would leave it and not put him through another surgery. Pedro is also 7(ish) years old so we wanted him to enjoy his golden years. Well, the past few weeks we've noticed it is getting bigger. Now it is a bit bigger than a golf ball. He's still eating, drinking, and being his usual chipper self. He hasn't lost any weight but has lost some muscle mass, which the vet said is normal at his age.
So, we went to the vet today so we could discuss the lump and what to do. The vet and I agree that it should be removed now. It is starting to affect his mobility and I don't want it to get any worse. At his age I know being put under can be a risk but I trust our vet 100% and she has never lost a guinea pig on the table. She said she will do an x-ray first to make sure it isn't attactched to anything and that it can be safely removed. If the x-ray looks good she will go ahead and remove it at that time. If it looks like it can't be done safely she said she won't attempt it at all. She's pretty sure that it can be removed, but there's always a chance. I'm just so happy that she thinks it can be removed with no problems. I've been a nervous wreck the past few days. The soonest she can remove it (if the x-ray looks good) is October 27th. I really hope the lump doesn't grow more between now and then. We also got put on a cancellation list so hopefully he can get it done before then (fingers crossed!!).
Does anyone have any experience with lipoma removals? Is there anything else I should ask the vet about prior to the surgery? Thanks so much! Sorry about the length!

 

[bpatters]

Lipomas are just fatty tumors, not cancerous, and they usually move freely. Most of the time, they come out really easily because they're just under the skin, and not involved with any muscle tissue. So it's not a terribly bad surgery, nothing like going into the abdomen.

Is your vet a good exotic vet? I'd want to know how much experience she's had with surgery in guinea pigs, whether she's willing to give him adequate pain medication afterwards (he'll need it so he'll eat), and how many guinea pig surgeries she's done.

Good luck to you and Pedro -- let us know how he gets along. Seven's a great age for a guinea pig.

 

[ellisa]

Yes, I was so glad to hear it was just fat instead of somethimg more serious. My dog had lipomas when he got older. We live in a small town so she doesn't get a bunch of guinea pigs but she has done surgeries on them before and other small animals such as rabbits, rats, hamsters, etc. A few months ago she removed a benign growth from his cheek. He did extremely well with that removal and he doesn't have a scar or anything and he healed up great. I trust her with him more than anyone else. I'm a bit more worried about this one though because it's a bit more invasive and I don't want him to bug the incision. She said she uses stitches under the skin so there will be nothing for him to chew on, but he might lick it.
Thanks, bpatters, I will for sure let everyone know how it all goes

 

[ellisa]

The vet called earlier in the week about a cancellation so Pedro got to have his surgery yesterday! He did very well and most of the lump was removed. He's been eating veggies and a bit of hay, but hasn't had much water, so I've been giving him some watery veg also. He's pooping and peeing like a champ though. The vet sent us home with an antibiotic, Chloramphenicol Palimate (1 ml every 12 hrs.), to make sure his incision heals up nicely because it's a pretty big incision (about 3 inches). I'm so paranoid that he'll stop eating on this. She also gave us Critical Care to supplement him with. Should he have BeneBac or some sort of probiotic also? He had his first dose of Chlor Palm this morning and he's still eating. The vet also told me to give him 80 mg of Asprin every 24 hrs. for pain. Does this seem frequent enough? 24 hrs. seems like a long span of time to me. I don't want him to get too sore. Thanks for any replies! I'm so thankful to have that horrid lump gone! Yesterday was also my birthday and getting his lump removed was the best gift ever!
Maybe I should post this on GL also?

 

[ellisa]

My poor baby and his incision

 

[bpatters]

If he doesn't have any problems with the antibiotic, he may be all right without the probiotics, although they certainly won't hurt him. Just watch him carefully for any signs of digestive upset (bloat, acting like he's in pain, diarrhea, unwillingness to eat, etc.).

Aspirin generally isn't the first choice for pain for guinea pigs, but Guinea Lynx says you can give 50-100 mg/kg by mouth every four hours. So I'd certainly give it to him more often than every 24 hours. How would she like to have surgery and be told to take an aspirin once every 24 hours for pain? But bear in mind that I am not a vet. Still.... poor piggy.

 

[ellisa]

I noticed that on GL too and that's why I'm so worried. I personally think he should get it at least every 12 hrs if not more. Would that be too much on his system though, with the antibiotic? I don't want to overdo this little system also, but I don't want him in pain. My vet is closed for the day but I can try to get ahold of her on the emergency line. Should I do that? It's Thanksgiving weekend in Canada so a lot of places aren't open the usual hours this week. Should I try to contact her or just go ahead and give him more asprin? Thanks so much bpatters!

 

[ellisa]

I really, really want to give him some more, so I think I may just go ahead and do that. He's being so brave but he doesn't want to venture out of his hidey house and I think it's because he's sore.

 

[pinky]

I'm sending lots of positive thoughts and good wishes to your sweet little Pedro. He looks so sad in his photo.... poor baby...

 

[ellisa]

Thanks Pinky. That was taken last night when he got home. I felt so bad for him. He was so out of it and confused. He has perked up in the last half hour. He had some hay and is in a cozy relaxing now. I'm still not sure about the asprin. I called a different vet and he said to wait 22 hrs in between dosing, because it thins the blood, but why does GL say every 4 hrs? I've been sitting here with him the whole day watching him and I think I'm going to put him on a heating pad because I think the warmth will help him relax more. My poor baby. I'm so proud of him though! He's being such a brave little boy!

 

[ellisa]

Pedro has been doing very well since my last post. I just gave him his asprin and he had a second dose of chlor palm a few hours ago. He's eating his veggies very well, but hasn't been eating a huge amount of hay and he's still not drinking water on his own. I've been offering him his bottle and he'll drink from it then. I gave him some critical care, but he doesn't like it that much. I tried dipping some veg in it, but he's so stubborn and turns his nose up at it. I'm not too worried though, since he's eating veggies and some hay. He loves the heating pad! It totally relaxes him. He slept on my floor on top of it for the longest time! I'm so proud of him! Fingers crossed for a peaceful night!
Here he is relaxing on the heating pad (please excuse the poop!):

Here's my dog, Bosley, worrying about Pedro. My dogs have been very concerned about him. They love Pedro very much!

 

[ellisa]

Now that Pedro's incision is starting to heal, it's getting itchy. Does anyone know what I could do to keep him from wanting to scratch it with his back paw? The incision looks great and I really don't want him messing about with it! Poor wee boy looks like a dog chasing his tail because he wants to know what it is!

 

[kathlaaron]

I just wanted to pipe in and say that I too...am sending him some healing wishes, and for a speedy recovery !! Your baby looks too darn cute in those photo's...LOVE love the spike hairdo and your dog....DOES look very concerned, like a "worrisome Pappa" if you will. ( Though dogs and cats that close- nearby any piggie, is a bit disconcerting..you know..from other people's stories on the dreadful sudden attacks they experienced with pets they believed meant no harm to their piggies..)

Billie sure is a "wealth of information" isn't she ?! We all are SO lucky to have her, for sure ! Good luck with your boy, and give him some kisses from me !

 

[bpatters]

If you can sew, you can make one of those collars that keeps them from being able to scratch -- I have no idea what they're called. They're the ones that get put on after an animal has surgery and you're trying to keep them from bothering the incision. You can buy them, but those are stiff and heavy and hard for piggies to manage. But if you use interfacing, it's light enough to not drive the pig crazy. You do have to handfeed, though, as the collar keeps them from being able to eat normally.

 

[CavyMama]

If you can sew, you can make one of those collars that keeps them from being able to scratch -- I have no idea what they're called. .

I believe they are called Elizabethan collars or more commonly "e-collars". They use them for dogs mostly but I havent heard of any that are successfully used on g'pigs.

Perhaps your vet has some idea about a topic cream that might work to help it itch less.

 

[bpatters]

Someone, somewhere, on some forum I've read, has made and used the e-collars with guinea pigs. Darned if I can remember where...

 

[kathlaaron]

I remember that post too about someone using one...it was made from wet suit type material ( the material scuba divers wear) I believe ! I will do some looking to see if I can find it....

 

[kathlaaron]

Here is another type of bandage to use for keeping a surgery site safer...

https://www.guinealynx.info/forums/viewtopic.php?t=54819

 

[ellisa]

Thanks everyone! I will have to look into that! He hasn't tried to scratch in a bit, but I thought I should ask because bedtime is soon and I hate having emergencies during the night!
Kathlaaron, I totally understand about other animals and guinea pigs! I had Pedro before I got my dogs so I taught them to be totally submissive to Pedro. They sometimes flip on their backs when he's around them because I taught them that he is the King and must be treated like so! I don't trust any other animals around him though!! I will also ask the vet tomorrow about what to do about the itch!
ETA: that sock looks great! If he tries to scratch some more I will have to make one of those!

 

[kathlaaron]

Here is a better e-collar made with interfacing like bpatters was talking about, below:

https://www.guinealynx.info/forums/viewtopic.php?p=1350546#1350546

Now I am wondering where in the world I got the notion about "wet suit material" being used. I know I read it somewhere, but don't remember where. Anyhoooo this I believe, would work quite nicely, is flexible, breathable, and easy to make.