Something is wrong with my guinea pig

[Floriferous]

Okay, so to start out, a couple of months ago, me and my mom found a lump on my guinea pig's side. We were worried, but it was one of those things that we just sort of ignored. (Which I seriously regret now)
But just a couple of minutes ago I noticed her plucking hair away from the bump with her teeth.
I know that when guinea pigs are pregnant they pluck hair from their butt or something to get ready for the baby, but I know that's not it because she isn't ever around any boy guinea pigs.
And plus, she's pretty much bald there. I think she just did it today because I definitely would've noticed that if she was doing it before.
Worst part of it is I can't even tell my mom right now so we can try and find the source of it and hopefully stop it before it gets even more serious because she's asleep right now. I'm afraid that when I wake up tomorrow the bump will be completely exposed and I won't even be able to look at her without crying, it's hard enough typing this, let alone seeing it happen.
Does anyone know what this could be? I've tried Google, but there aren't results that sound remotely like what's happening to my poor baby girl.

[Nicole!]

Sounds like it could be a cyst, a tumor, an abscess, or a growth. It could also be something like mites or dry skin. Did you bathe your ginea pig recently?
Is it possible to take her to a vet soon?

Maybe try looking around here?
http://www.guinealynx.info/medical_guide.html

[Floriferous]

No, I haven't bathed her recently.
My mom said that the soonest that we could get her to the vet was after this Friday, so we'll be able to take her to the vet in about a week. (Which I would like to go sooner, but as long as we get her there relatively soon I think it would be alright.) Right now we're focusing on giving her other stuff to chew on whenever she starts plucking, like more hay and those little chew blocks. Hopefully that'll be okay until next week.
I looked at that website and it was very helpful. I think she might have one of the non-cancerous tumors that they talked about on there because their picture looked a lot like her bump, but you can never be too sure, so I'll just have to wait it out and see what the vet says in a week.

[Nenya]

Hi there, sorry to hear about your guinea pig and I hope it all goes well at the vets.

The hair pulling out could be caused by mites but if it's only in one area where your guinea is doing this then it's unlikely since mites would cause it all over the body.

If it looks similar to the picture of the non-cancerous tumour then that could be the cause and cancer is rare in guinea pigs so it's unlikely that it would be a malignant tumour. If this is the case then I'd say the hair pulling would be due to it irritating her, I think giving her toys is a good idea since then it may take her mind off of it.

Take care, and once again I hope the vets goes okay next week

[snakewhisperer28]

hey im a guinea pig foster.. here is the site for my foster group.. they r really knowledgeable about guinea pigs. send them an email explaining the problem and im sure they can giv u advice. http://cavyhaven.org/

[Floriferous]

Originally Posted by Capt'n Cara

Hi there, sorry to hear about your guinea pig and I hope it all goes well at the vets.

The hair pulling out could be caused by mites but if it's only in one area where your guinea is doing this then it's unlikely since mites would cause it all over the body.

If it looks similar to the picture of the non-cancerous tumour then that could be the cause and cancer is rare in guinea pigs so it's unlikely that it would be a malignant tumour. If this is the case then I'd say the hair pulling would be due to it irritating her, I think giving her toys is a good idea since then it may take her mind off of it.

Take care, and once again I hope the vets goes okay next week

Thank you hopefully everything goes well. I'm really nervous about taking her just because it is the first time that I've had to take her. Even though I've been going to that office for forever with the family dog and even once for my old hamster. (Which I think she actually did get mites and that's what we went there for, but it was a few years ago, so I don't remember completely.)
Yeah, she's definitely been enjoying her toys. xD We got her a little mirror a while ago and I completely forgot about it until my mom mentioned doing that and I'm like, "Well that might distract her..." She's been sitting in front of it all day. I don't think I've ever seen such a vain guinea pig in my life. xD Since she was so distracted with that I just put a small pile of hay and a little block by her just in case.

Originally Posted by snakewhisperer28

hey im a guinea pig foster.. here is the site for my foster group.. they r really knowledgeable about guinea pigs. send them an email explaining the problem and im sure they can giv u advice. http://cavyhaven.org/

Thanks, I'll make sure to email them. =)

[blumemusik♫]

Hi, everyone's said pretty much what I thought, but I just wanna say I hope it all goes well ^_^
I loved both my guinea pigs, sadly they passed away, but I may be getting a new one soon

Good luck! <3

[Floriferous]

Originally Posted by blumemusik

Hi, everyone's said pretty much what I thought, but I just wanna say I hope it all goes well ^_^
I loved both my guinea pigs, sadly they passed away, but I may be getting a new one soon

Good luck! <3

Thank you
I'm sorry about your guinea pigs, at least you might be getting another one though.

[Peppermint Tea.♥]

Hey, I'm sorry this is happening. I know exactly how it feels.
I wanted to add something, despite everyone else covering it, because I went through this.
I discovered a lump on my guineapig. I took her to the vets and because she was still young it was removed in an operation. However, she's a little older now so too old to go through another op and has more lumps. She's still alive, though, and happy.
If the lump isn't growing quickly, then it shouldn't be too much of a problem. A trip to the vets would allow any specialist support.
So long as it is benign, the only problem would be with the lump growing quickly, leading to an ulcer, which can be very dangerous, so keep monitoring how big it is and if it's growing rapidly, definitely take the piggy to the vets.

[Floriferous]

Thanks
I'm sorry that your piggy went through this and is still going through this too. It's great that she's alive and happy though. =)
Yeah, I don't really think it has grown much (At least not that I've noticed when I'm holding her.). So it could've grown a little bit, but not so much that I've really taken notice of it.
We're taking her to the vet this weekend to get it checked out.

[Peppermint Tea.♥]

Good good, I'm glad your taking her to the vets. Good luck with everything, and I hope everything works out.

[Floriferous]

Thank you =)