This week’s segment featured Pingu the 7 year old guinea pig. 🐹Pingu came to us for a large mass on the front left leg. Tumors in guinea pigs are relatively uncommon, but they have been seen in pigs as young as four months. It is more common for tumors to appear after age three. Among older guinea pigs, it’s estimated about 30% can develop tumors. The most common sites for tumors in guinea pigs include their lungs, skin, mammary glands, ovaries, uterus, and blood/lymphatic systems. Unfortunately tumors can develop in any of our exotic species including rabbits, rats, hamsters and even reptiles. It is recommended that your pet come in for a yearly examination for evaluation of any changes that your pet may have. If you notice that your exotic is developing any lumps or masses, we recommend getting them seen as quickly as possible to evaluate the mass and schedule for removal. In exotic species, the smaller the mass is, the easier it can be to remove and have a successful outcome for your pet. Thankfully for Pingu, even with her advanced age, Dr. Emerson was able to remove the tumor completely and Pingu is back to her usual self!