Strange guinea pig behaviors, lump on chin.

[raptorzx3]

Hi! i'm new here, but mainly because i would like some help regarding my guinea pig. This is stressing me right now, and i don't know what to do, and going to the vet would have to be on my mother's expense because i have little money for this...

Ok here's the thing.

I noticed about a week ago that my guinea pig, Mooshi, wasn't feeling well mainly because i noticed he wasn't eating and drinking much, in fact very little, as i changed his water once and the water didn't go down much after a few days.

I always give him more food when the bowl is somewhat empty. I use the Martin brand. And i always give him water.

Then a few days later my mother got me some baby carrots and i gave him some, and since then he seem to eat more and seem to feel better now. I do give him 1-2 baby carrots sometimes.

But then, since that day, i noticed he's being more noisy than usual (the squeeking noises a guinea pig do), but then when i wanted to scratch his chin gently to calm him, i went further than usual and found a bump/lump on the skin, i thought it was something stuck on his fur but it's not, i tried squeezing it a little and my guinea pig didn't reacted.

I really hope it's not cancerous or painful to him...but with what i wrote here, i would like you to help me if it could be cancerous or not.

I know vets tend to get off work soon during the day here, and i have an appointment already for Monday at the denturologist, so this is why i would need help to see if there are chances it's not painful or cancerous, i really hope it's not...

please help me, i really need it.

thank you.

[Teebers]

It's impossible to say from that description, raptorzx3. How big is the lump? Is it within the skin or beneath it? Is that the only lump in that area present - is there a lump of equal size on the other side of his neck? Have you noticed any dribbling or difficulty chewing by your pig? Also, does he have regular access to hay?

I would be recommending taking him to a vet - that will be the only way to get a proper diagnosis. Good luck!

[raptorzx3]

how big? hmm...i would say maybe a bit bigger than a green pea? it's only 1 lump, and it doesn't seem to be painful to him when i press or squeeze it gently between my fingers.
It seem to be mildly firm, and it doesn't have a completely round shape, it seem to be a more "flattened" shape on the sides, like where i squeezed originally. For example, take a little ball of Play-doh and squeeze it gently between your fingers to give it a flatter shape on both sides.

I did noticed lately that he seem to be more noisy, especially when someone else is around, he wasn't like that before. He do eat and drink more, and by himself.

Tell me, how much does a vet cost generally for a guinea pig for this kind of "lump" treatment?

[3piggles]

Hello and welcome!

I really can't help with the lump, as only a vet can address that. Hopefully it's not a major problem, and can be treated easily or left alone.

Is Mooshy getting unlimited hay. His diet should be at least 80% hay. He needs that to move the food he eats through his digestive system. Pellets should be 1/8-1/4 cups per day, though you can put out more, just watch how long it takes him to eat it. Fruits and veggies should be treats, not his main diet.

Pulling for the vet to have a good report on the lump!!!

[raptorzx3]

i have very little money for the vet...so i might let it like that for now. I know it may sound cruel...but life is cruel even for humans, i have to check my money for my own food and bills. I asked my mother and even her doesn't have that money for the vet.

So far he seem to drink and eat alright, this lump doesn't seem to bother him much. i'll ask about the hay.

But this is why i wanted to ask about that lump, are there big chances it might just be harmless lump of fat or skin?

I wish i had more money to spend for a vet, just the appointment seem to cost 55$, and x-ray is 80$, and even more if he need surgery...plus the taxes here.

[Teebers]

We can't give you any firm guidance on what the lump may be - it may well be cancerous. It's your responsibility to take him to the vet and really, you shouldn't own a pet if you can't afford basic health care for it. Incidentally that is a dirt cheap quote for an xray!

[raptorzx3]

the thing is i wasn't the one who bought the guinea pig. My then girlfriend did, we were able to take care of it, and if anything would have happened then, i'm sure she would have paid for it, because she have a job, and i don't.

But then when we broke up, about a year later she gave it to me saying "i can't take care of it anymore, it's you or i go to the vet for euthanasia"... I didn't wanted her to do this, so i decided to take care of him instead. So this was somehow forced on me.

The thing is most peoples here would spend that much money for a dog or a cat, but not for cheaper smaller animals, they only look at the "initial" value of the animal, often saying "i won't spend 150$ for an animal i bought 30$", so...i'm stuck in thinking that way because of the lack of money, otherwise i would bring him to the vet for a checkup to see what's that lump.

But so far, my guinea pig doesn't seem to suffer. Lately he's been insistant on vegetables, something he never did before, like looking at me and gripping the cage bars while squeaking quickly. I should buy some hay at the pet shop, since we, and i, have it, i never gave him hay, and everybody say you have to give that to your guinea pig. So as soon as i can, i'll guy that, and some apple-flavored wood sticks.

[3piggles]

I think your boy is trying everything to get his digestion working. He definitely needs the hay, not the veggies. Western Timothy hay is themost effective, but if you need to buy a cheap bail of field hay from a local farm, it's better than no hay at all.

Also, pigs need exercise. Most people keep them in cages way too small, so if he's in a small cage, try to get him out for exercise on the floor. You can use whatever you have to block off an area where he can run around and play. Cut holes in cardboard boxes so he can play through them, or cut an extra hole in the back of a paper bag. Cover the floor to protect it from the pee. Anything waterproof will work, or put him on a waterproof floor.

Adding the hay and getting him some good exercise will really help his health, and not cost much. I really appreciate you giving him a chance to live, when your girl friend would have killed him. I hope you can get him to the vet, but until then, keep a close eye on him and the lump. If the lump grows, or if he starts acting differently, get him to a vet. That is an incredibly low price for Xrays, and some vets will let you pay over time. Good luck!

[raptorzx3]

it's maybe a low price for the vet and x-ray, but i can't afford it, unless i sell more stuff that i have for sale here, or find a job, which isn't easy to do around here for some reasons...

I'll try to have my mother's car to go there, i called her and asked if she could stop there when she come back to my house. I definitely want to help him the best i can...

I just noticed he's eating the bedding (pine shavings) in the cage sometimes...so like you said, it must probably mean he need hay. We, and i, never gave him hay, so i guess this is the time he must really need it, and i'll continue giving this to him afterward, hoping he'll like it.

[3piggles]

My guess is he needs the fiber to help his digestion. Good luck with the vet. If nothing else, get a basic exam to tell if the vet thinks X-rays or anything else are needed. Talk to the vet about your money problems. Maybe you could work out a payment plan.

[raptorzx3]

i got some hay, but on the package it's written "Alfalfa and Timothy". It seem to be a local brand, called "Ferme Picardie". It smell good.

And the food i usually give him is the "Martin" brand, the "little friends" kind made for guinea pigs.

[3piggles]

Alfalfa is actually a legume, not hay, but Timothy is great. It should help him get his digestion moving.

[raptorzx3]

it does look dry and lengthy, it does smell nice, and he seem to like it. So i should give this to him more often than pellets?

this is the pellets i give to him:
www.martinmills.com/small_pets_guinea_pig.php

[3piggles]

The first ingredient in the pellets should be Timothy hay, not alfalfa. That food is fine if it's all you can buy. Some areas simply have very little choice in guinea pig products. Again, the pellets are made from alfalfa, which is recommended for nursing, very young or sick pigs. Otherwise, it's kind of like eating foods high in sugar; too much energy and makes them fat.

So only give him 1/8 cup of those pellets, as they are super high energy pellets. Give him endless hay. He shouldn't run out. It takes a lot of trial and error to find the right way to provide the hay so they don't run out, but you also don't waste a lot. Best to put the hay in a container of some sort to save money on wasted hay, but if you can only put the hay on the floor of the cage, add a bit of fresh hay periodically, as they pee on the hay.

[raptorzx3]

i noticed that he doesn't seem to touch those pellets much lately, and everytime i hear him squeek at me (he usually do turn to look at me and like i said, climb a little on the cage bars) i tend to give him the hay.

So this alfalfa and timothy mix should be the primary food for him? i think this is the only kind of "hay" they have at this pet shop.

Next time i have access to a vehicle, i'll try to go to a pet shop and look for pellets which have timothy in the first ingredients. I did bought the "Hagen" brand (the yellow bag) once because i wasn't able to buy the Martin brand. But is the Hagen brand contain more timothy?

[Whimsy]

I'm just wondering where you live?

[raptorzx3]

i live in Montreal, Quebec, the complete opposite of where you are, Whimsy...

Is it possible that my guinea pig may be a little bit more annoying because he might be in the right time to mate with a female?

Sometimes when i give him veggies like a baby carrot, he's doing those purring sound as he "steal" it from my fingers and go in his small house.

I found that the Safari animals center near my home sell the Oxbox products, and someone told me on the phone that they do sell Western Timothy hay packs:
www.oxbowanimalhealth.com/products/animal/detail?object=1568

[3piggles]

No, guinea pig boars are always ready to mate Puberty, when they become sexually active, is between 2/3 to 10/12 months. Baby boars can and will impregnate their mothers and sister by 4 weeks old, so have to be removed from the cage at 3 weeks.

If he is an only pig, you are his whole world. He looks forward to any attention you pay to him. Add tasty veggie treats, and you have a happy pig. Pigs are very social animals. I know you don't have the money for a second pig, but he would love to have a piggy friend to pal around the cage with. Without that, you are his BFF

[raptorzx3]

Maybe, but when i want to pet him, i use a dry towel that i wrap around him. he doesn't seem to like it because he do some whining sound, so sometimes i pet him very slowly and do soft "ssshhhh" noises trying to comfort him, but sometimes i stop petting him so he slowly stop whining. Sometimes he doesn't though.

I think he's like that since i washed him gently in the bathtub, poor him...i didn't think it would do that. Hopefully this can change.

[3piggles]

Most pigs complain about being picked up. Morty has to tell me a whole long complaint, then he'll settle down and enjoy being petted. Instead of wrapping him in a towel, which may make him feel restrained, try putting some fabric, even a towel, in a box, basket or overturned piggy house, and lifting him out in that. Let him stay in the carrier while you pet him, or come out if he wants. His feet will always been on something firm, so he won't panic. It could help him enjoy being taken out to visit with you!

Few pigs like baths, but it doesn't do them any harm. If he seems upset long after the bath, or seems extremely bothered when you pet him, he may have mites. Try picking him up in a carrier, first. That's often all that's wrong.

Also, there are certain angry or threatening sounds and movements pigs do. Chattering their teeth, raising their heads to seem bigger, etc. The purring sound like a vibration is a happy sound. Combine the deep purr with a side to side dance called rumble strutting is a sign of dominance. He will show you dominance. It's just an instinctive dominance thing with pigs.

Talk to him. Tell him what you're doing. Use simple words like Treat, Hay, Vacuum, and even Hello or something when you enter his world. Establish a rapport with him!

I forgot to say that I'm in New Hampshire, maybe 8 hours from you. It's a pretty direct drive to Montreal, but I haven't been up there since the border rules changed, and I needed to get a passport.