My guinea pig has a growing ear bump and hair loss. Is it serious?

This could be potentially rubbing against cornea and in the long term cause both chronic irritation/inflammation (the cornea can get darker than normal) and possibly corneal ulceration. This lump/growth should be ideally examined by your veterinarian to have a definitive diagnosis. Your vet will examine it and possibly perform with an FNA (fine needle aspiration) or a biopsy. Differentials would include skin cyst, infections or benign or malignant type of tumors. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Thanks for reaching out about Meeko and including pictures. This appears to be benign growth called a trichofolliculoma. These are tumors of the skin with very low likelihood of metastasis but likely to recur if not surgically removed. Hair should be gently clipped around the mass in an attempt to decrease bacterial contamination. Clean cotton tipped applicators can be used to gently remove the debris from inside the lesion. Gentle flushing with sterile saline can help irrigate the lesion, then allow to heal on its own. As previously stated, these are likely to recur. Do not apply any topical antibiotics such as Neosporin or triple antibiotics since guinea pig gastrointestinal tracts are very sensitive to antibiotics. Good luck.

Hello! Masses near the breast area of a guinea pig could be a few different things. My first thought is a mammary tumor, which is common in rodent species, especially as they get older. Mammary tumors in rodents are usually benign, but rarely they are malignant and could spread to other parts of the body, so most vets generally recommend surgical removal of these masses if the guinea pig is healthy enough for surgery. The mass could also be a fluid-filled cyst or an abscess. All of these diagnoses will require the help of a veterinarian to confirm. At the vet, they will give Lola a complete physical exam, and they will most likely collect a small sample of cells from the mass to look at under the microscope with a small needle. This is called a fine needle aspirate, or FNA. The type of tissue or liquid that comes out, as well as what those cells look like under the microscope, will determine the recommended course of action. If it's a tumor, they may suggest removal. If it's a cyst, they may just drain it and ask you to watch for recurrence. If it is an abscess, it will also likely be drained, and Lola will probably be put on antibiotics. I strongly suggest that you make an appointment with Lola's regular vet, or, if you don't yet have one, with an exotics specialist. Here is one that is nearby: Northwest Exotic Veterinary Clinic 572 S Bartlett Rd, Streamwood, IL 60107 (630) 540-2490 Good luck, and I hope Lola recovers well!

Thanks for reaching out about Charlie and including photos. By the pictures, it could be an infection or abscess. You should not remove it at home and allow Charlie's immune system to combat. Cleaning with warm soapy water might help a little. Good luck.

This is likely an abscess which will need to be seen and treated by a veterinarian. The vet will need to lance the abscess and flush it. Since it may be involving the teeth, your vet may want to x-ray the head to see the extent. Kuri will need antibiotics. If you have financial concerns, investigate the possibility of getting care credit (www.carecredit.com), make a few phone calls to some pet charities in your area and talk with your vet about a payment plan.

Thanks for reaching out about Sprou and including pictures. By the history and pictures, the most likely answer is a dermal (sebaceous) cyst. This condition is very common in middle aged guinea pigs. Keeping it clean as you did, is a good start. Clipping the hair around the edges to prevent further contamination is important. Ideally a veterinarian should be seen to have the cyst surgically removed, else it is likely to come back, over and over. Secondary infections of the open wound are also possible. Good luck.

Thank you for your question, and thank you for the photos - they are very helpful. The area in the photo is a normal structure, and it is a nipple on your guinea pig's belly. There should be one on the other side if you part the hair. These will be present on both sexes of guinea pigs (males and females), and there should be two of them. In the photo that you provided, the nipple and surrounding area do not look inflammed or irritated, and the skin appears very comfortable. I saw that you mentioned that your guinea pig had been itching - mites and lice are very common in guinea pigs, and these could be potential sources of the itchiness that you are seeing. If the itching continues, I would recommend seeking out a veterinarian to evaluate for parasites. If they find them, s/he can prescribe an anti-parasitic medication to treat your guinea pigs. Please do not give your guinea pigs any human medications at home, as many of them can be harmful to our furry friends. I hope that helps, and thank you again for including photos!