My guinea pig has lumps in his mouth. Are these spots normal?

It may indicate local infection or irritation. You'll need to have Brownie physically examined by your veterinarian for confirmation and treatment. Make sure there is nothing in Brownie's cage or diet that could cause injury when chewed or eaten. Consider a soft diet, such as Oxbow Critical Care for Herbivores, until Brownie sees the doctor. Keep his cage clean, make sure he continues to eat and drink and keep him warm and stress free as possible. Do not forget his Vitamin C supplementation either.

I can see that Lilo has a swelling over her jaw, which may be a sign of a tooth root abscess. This can result in discomfort and difficulty eating. I recommend having this evaluated by a vet as soon as possible, as she may need to have teeth extracted or dental x-rays. In rare cases, this can also be caused by a growth on the bone, either due to a tumor or inappropriate nutrition. In the meantime, you should ensure that Lilo has a well balanced diet and keep an eye on her for issues eating, weight loss, or any nasal discharge. I hope all is well and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thank you for reaching out about Piglet - that is a very cute name. I didn't see how old he was? The reason that I ask is that it is common for older guinea pigs, including males, to have problems occur with their nipples. This can include trauma, masses, and crusting. This can be due to hormonal changes, other systemic disease processes, and cancer. I would recommend one of two courses of action - you can continue to monitor the masses for changes (if this occurs, please take Piglet to a veterinarian) or you can take him to a veterinarian for evaluation now, and get additional recommendations based on the exam that s/he performs. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, I would recommend having Paisley seen by a veterinarian to check the lumps. A lump could be anything from a lipoma (accumulation of fat), a spreading skin infection, or a tumor, which could be either benign or malignant. The best way to find out what a given mass could be is histopathology with a surgical biopsy, but sometimes a needle aspirate can positively identify a tumor type or skin infection. A lipoma would not require any further treatment. A skin infection may be cured with a course of antibiotics. A more serious tumor may warrant x-rays, bloodwork, and ultrasound to be sure it hasn't metastasized extensively before surgery. I think it is absolutely worth investigating the cause of growths in guinea pigs. I hope this is helpful! If you get a diagnosis and have more questions, we will always be happy to answer them! :) Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thanks for reaching out about Teddy and including photos. This could be a sebaceous cyst or abscess. For now, wash the lesions with a mild soap, such as Johnson Baby Shampoo or Dawn dishsoap. If the lesion continue to grow or appears to be bothering Teddy, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Great question! I know that these spots can look white but they are actually pink and they are normal pigment and are very common. There is nothing to worry about with these. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. There is no way of knowing for sure without an examination though this represents a reason to seek veterinary care. This is usually determined with an examination and a fine needle aspirate (FNA) or a biopsy. Treatment depends on the findings up to that point. I recommend you have Teddy evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good day!