Strange lump on kit

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bikegurl

bikegurl

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Hi, I'm new here, though I've enjoyed lurking for a couple months... ;) I have a question about one of my 3 1/2 week old Silver Fox/ American Chinchilla kits. Yesterday I noticed a smooth firm lump under its skin behind its foreleg. It could be an abcess, but I can't find any break in the skin that would indicate an old injury. The doe was pretty neurotic when they were born, and killed two by trampling. (she did have 11). Should I just cull it, or wait and see, or something else...? Any ideas? Thanks!
 
That does sound like an abscess, but you said there is no scar?Maybe it is a growth? Possably a tumor? Is it free floating or does it seem to be attached to muscle? If you can post a couple of pictures..I'm sure someone will be able to offer advice.
 
You could do a needle aspirate of the lump- you'll need a large gauge needle (16g would be good) because rabbit pus is really pasty.

It might also be an enlarged lymph node- but those are in the "armpit"...
 
I tried taking a picture, but its fur is so long, it didn't look like anything. It is towards the center back of the ribcage, and attached. I'm thinking more like a tumor now, since it is not perfectly round. I just discovered, in this inspection of the kit, that it also has a soft spongy area on its shoulder. The lump and/or spongy area hinder its movement. It is growing at the same rate as its siblings though...
 
I could be wrong on this, but wouldn't an abscess feel warm to the touch? :shrug:
A cancerous tumor would, I believe, feel hard and bumpy, or at least not perfectly spherical.
A benign tumor would feel somewhat soft.

These are just my guesses though...
 
Yes! I would be interested in seeing the pic. If it is an enlarged lymph node, what would be the next course of action?
 
Here's one of my overly-swollen behind-the-foreleg lymph node pics.

The rabbit pictured had been euthanized prior to taking the photo, because a genetic predisposition towards lymphoma(cancer) was suspect. The entire litter had swollen lymph nodes throughout their bodies.
That type of cancer in rabbits seems to be relatively rare in the US, and may be linked to some of their unusual coat genetics.

There are many kinds of infection that can cause a lymph node to temporarily swell.

A swollen lymph node is just a symptom, so treating it would mean attempting to discover and correct whatever is causing it.

If it is in that area and the kit is showing no other signs of illness...I'd just wait, watch, and let us know how things turn out. :)
 

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Syberchick70":8z4x27ux said:
I could be wrong on this, but wouldn't an abscess feel warm to the touch? :shrug:
Click to expand...

Strangely enough, not with rabbits.

Cats, dogs, people... but I have never felt a hot abscess on a rabbit. :shrug: Anyone else? :need-comments:
 
The lump is not in that area. It is further back towards the tail and closer to the center of the chest. It does feel spongy and slightly swollen in that area though.
 
Unless I shave it, the lumps aren't visible...I already had a go at taking a pic. :( I didn't even find out about it until yesterday and my cousin was playing with the buns, and noticed the lump. I handle them regularly, too.
 
katiebear":2spyb7eg said:
Could it be a bug bite? To come up that quickly would be odd for any kind of growth..I think.. :?
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That's true, if they're outside, it could be a bug bite or bee sting. Or possibly a wound that is irritated.
 
They have access to the outdoors, but I don't think it is a bug bite/sting. I can almost feel around the lump to the back. It seems to be firmly attached to the subdermal tissue, but not a swelling of muscle or skin. The spongy area closer to the foreleg does feel like it could be a swelling of the tissue beneath the skin/on the ribcage. Also, it isn't using the foreleg on that side. I think I should put it out of its misery... :cry:
 
If the lump is soft-ish then it could be fatty tumor, which is non life threatening.

If it is hard and is really not movable then it would lean more towards a cancerous tumor, meaning life threatening.

If the lump is growing at a rate that you can see/feel a difference in it then it has a higher probability of being a cancerous tumor, meaning life threatening.

Either way, if the lump is causing pain, or is causing lack of mobility then I, personally, would put it down and then take the lump to a vet and have test ran. The cause of the lump could be genetic or environmental. Again, personally, I would want to know if I can prevent it from happening again.

Just my 2cents. :lol:
 
bikegurl":3ka6cexd said:
I think I should put it out of its misery... :cry:
Click to expand...

Since it is still eating and growing normally, I don't think it is really "suffering" per se, even if it is not using the leg. But I would cull it anyway, if it was mine.

If it recovers, it would not be a candidate to keep and breed (at least in my program), and if it doesn't and has some kind of abscess or growth I wouldn't want to harvest it for meat either.

This will sound cold, but it isn't worth the feed cost to keep it alive.

If you do cull it, I hope that you will do a necropsy to examine exactly what is going on. If you post pictures of your findings our members may be able to help you figure out what it is.

Whatever you decide, we are here to support you. :)

Glad you finally decided to join the group here, but I am sorry such a sad circumstance brought you out of "lurking mode".
 
bikegurl":r09d5t3b said:
They have access to the outdoors, but I don't think it is a bug bite/sting. I can almost feel around the lump to the back. It seems to be firmly attached to the subdermal tissue, but not a swelling of muscle or skin. The spongy area closer to the foreleg does feel like it could be a swelling of the tissue beneath the skin/on the ribcage. Also, it isn't using the foreleg on that side. I think I should put it out of its misery... :cry:
Click to expand...


:( Sorry your kit isn't well. We understand though.
I don't hesitate to euthanize for anything that causes unnecessary suffering or reduces quality of life.

If you do decide to, would you be able to autopsy and show us what it was,
in case anyone else experiences sometime similar?
 
bikegurl":105rjv2w said:
They have access to the outdoors, but I don't think it is a bug bite/sting. I can almost feel around the lump to the back. It seems to be firmly attached to the subdermal tissue, but not a swelling of muscle or skin. The spongy area closer to the foreleg does feel like it could be a swelling of the tissue beneath the skin/on the ribcage. Also, it isn't using the foreleg on that side. I think I should put it out of its misery... :cry:
Click to expand...

If it isn't using its foreleg on that side, it sounds like the spongy area might be an injury?? :(
I don't know... use your best judgement.
 

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