My guinea pig's neuter site is swollen and hard. What should I do now?

I am sorry to hear about your guinea pig. A photograph may help us better evaluate the area. If you are certain the area looks swollen (meaning you have viewed the area previously and it now appears altered) I would recommend a visit to the vet for your guinea pig. If you aren’t positive the gender of your guinea pig it’s possible this is a male starting to sexually mature. You can read about determining gender at http://www.guinealynx.info/sexing.html

It is hard to tell from the photo but the swelling may just be his testicles they can retract them, so sometimes you won't see them. If there are 2 swellings then it will be tested, if not or you are unsure best to have it checked at the vets.

Poor Quentin! From what I can see in the photo, it does look like he has some swelling and discoloration of the scrotum, and a small amount of bruising around the incision site itself. These issues can sometimes happen after a neuter - they're more common if the dog has been too active (I know this is hard to avoid sometimes!), but sometimes they just happen as a result of the surgery itself, just like post-op swelling and soreness in humans. If your pup is still eating and drinking normally, and seems alert and otherwise okay apart from being sore and reluctant to move around much, then it would be reasonable to wait until Monday to have him checked out by your regular veterinarian. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medication, as there are no OTC human options that are safe for use in dogs. In the meantime, you can use a warm compress on the area (a washcloth soaked in warm water, and then wrung out) for 5-10 minutes once or twice a day if he'll let you - this can help some with the soreness, and help the swelling resolve more quickly. I would also restrict his exercise as much as possible (crate rest would be best), since the more he moves around, the more he will aggravate the swelling. Make sure he isn't licking the incision or his scrotum at all, as this will also make things worse - use an e-collar (plastic cone) if needed to prevent this. If you feel that the swelling and bruising is continuing to get worse over the course of the weekend, or if your pup is not eating or acting extremely depressed/lethargic, then the safest bet would be to have him seen at your nearest emergency clinic to make sure there's nothing more serious going on.

Thanks for reaching out about Chim Chim. The pet store should be contacted as if the swelling is on the ventral neck, it is likely an enlarged lymph node and a condition termed "caseous lymphadenopathy" or strangles. Systemic antibiotics are needed, possible lancing of abscess. It is contagious to other guinea pigs. A veterinary visit is recommended, soon, before he stops eating.

Thanks for reaching out about Basil. If there is swelling around the genitals and he is already neutered, a veterinary visit is highly recommended as soon as possible. If he was castrated recently, there is a concern over an abscess or seroma in the scrotum or a hernia. A hernia could be a medical emergency, if intestinal tract has herniated. Monitor appetite, defecation and urination. Good luck.

Poor guy...that does look uncomfortable. It may be infected, but I would suspect a discharge at the incision or a fever, lethargy. It is more likely that this is a scrotal hematoma. These typically do resolve in their own, but it can take weeks. Keep his activity level as low as possible to discourage more swelling, continue the anti inflammatory medication, make sure he cannot bite or lick it by using a “cone” if needed. It can provide some relief if he will allow you to do a cold compress on the area. Try wrapping an ice pack with cloth and apply to the area for 15 minutes..three times daily. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This does sound concerning for Terry. He probably has a skin infection and possibly an infection in this prepuce/penis from the hair matting. I would recommend taking Terry in to the vet to be checked out because he will probably need some antibiotics to help clear up the infection.