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Post by shadow_girl00 on Dec 17, 2016 2:33:06 GMT
story short my degu coco has a small lump on the top of his head it's about 5mm by 5mm right now and it's not that thick but I need another persons opinion on this.. He has always been a shy little boy but he is very sassy he started fighting with his brother so I put them apart he has been pulling his fur for ages now and I know that it can be so serious but honestly he's fine he mainly does it when he's a little bored or just over grooms because he loves being hygienic but he had a bold patch on his head the centre of the bowl patch has started to grow back which contains the lump now my problem is I can't tell whether it is a cancer lump or if it's where his hair is growing back really thick it's only small and I'm going to monitor this of course. He seems to be eating more then normal and putting on a but of weight but he's still a healthy weight and has been drinking normal but another thing could be that I had a bug problem with the hay and I'm not sure if this could be the cause of the lump his skin, fur (apart from pulling) and ears look perfect and I've done everything to get rid of the mites and I'm 99% sure they are gone but could this be what's wrong or is it the clump of hair growing weird or could it be something life threatening???
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Post by deguconvert on Dec 17, 2016 6:04:30 GMT
Have replied to one of your other posts. Copying it here. Mites/bugs shouldn't be the cause of the lump. If you brush the fur forward can you see any sign of a cut or a scab that would indicate a bite or scratch from the fighting? I am wondering if it could be an abscess. Also . . . are you totally sure that they are both boys? Male and female degus both have what looks like a penis and it is not a distinguishing indication of sex. We have a thread that helps to identify the sex of degus. Here is a link for you. deguworld.proboards.com/thread/13070/degusI have deleted one of the three posts that you made, since they have all contained the same information and question. Since this is the correct board for this question, would you be willing to delete the other post that remains?
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Post by bouncy on Dec 17, 2016 8:54:06 GMT
It's very difficult to say what it might be without seeing it.
As DC says, you'll need to try and get a look at the skin. It's not unusual for scar tissue to form like this following a bite or other injury. Have a look, in particular for any pinkness, heat, and whether it's solid or squishy.
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Post by shadow_girl00 on Dec 17, 2016 12:13:48 GMT
I know I panicked a bit last night sorry for the spam 😂 But it defo is not a bite because cookie isn't a biter and they haven't been together without my full attention and they didn't fight they just got moody with each other so I separated them again. He lets me touch it no problem there is no cut or scab but and that's where I'm a bit stuck it's not swishy or pink or hot but it's a solid small lump on the skin because I can push it around his little head
I'm pretty sure they are both boys cuz I thought they could be before but they have the same thing I think why can it effect what coco has on his head??
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Post by bouncy on Dec 17, 2016 12:23:11 GMT
Like us, degus can get little lumpy growths. It's not bothering them, but keep an eye on it. Has it grown much, or is it a case of you just noticing it?
If it stays as is, I wouldn't worry. If your goo's behaviour or the lump changes, then I'd get to the vet. You mentioned tumours - my experience is that you would notice a change in a few days.
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Post by shadow_girl00 on Dec 17, 2016 12:55:14 GMT
I've only noticed it last night as be doesn't like being picked up at first it's the same size as last night he still is acting the same but I can't see anything on his head still when I was playing vets I could see past the hair where the lump is ill try and work out how to send a picture because it's in the middle of his bald patch where his hair has grown
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Post by bouncy on Dec 17, 2016 14:37:56 GMT
That would be good. It might be something as simple as surface scar tissue/hardened skin from the bald spot!
As ever, we can offer advice, but we're no substitute for a vet if they start to show other symptoms 😉
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Post by moletteuk on Dec 17, 2016 20:17:52 GMT
If he has been involved in fighting then it is most likely to be an abcess on a wound, but there are several other possibilities. He should really see a vet to get the correct diagnosis and treatment.
Mites or other parasites are more likely to cause skin irritation, redness, soreness, tiny pinprick bumps possibly, itching, fur loss etc. I can't think how they would cause a 5mm bump.
Are you hoping to get the boys back together? Post in the fighting and introduction area if you would like help with it.
P.S. I deleted the other duplicate thread because I already got caught out by it and had to move my reply to this active thread.
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Post by deguconvert on Dec 17, 2016 21:06:21 GMT
I didn't ask if you know for sure if they are both male because of the lump you have found on the one, but because you have noticed him eating lots and putting on some weight. That comment made me wonder if he is actually a female and possibly pregnant. Did you look at the link that I posted so you could know what to look for to identify the male and female bits?
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Post by shadow_girl00 on Dec 19, 2016 2:01:14 GMT
I recently started to put my boys back together but whenever I do they are so caring and then coco gets bored and starts being sassy I think it's a problem with just his personality which I'm working on But the lump hasn't gotten any bigger he is still happy and eating although at times I have been finding he will just squeal really load for no reason but the first time I heard the noise was when he got caught it a dangling ladder obviously I took it out but I'm not sure why he's still doing it maybe he wants attention and that's it but could it be to do with the lump They definitely haven't been fighting or anything because I never stop watching when they are together and even if one was a girl they wouldn't be doing that while I'm watching 😂 I've checked then in the past after they hit puberty because my other boy tends to get motherly over wooden balls... But I guess what ever makes him happy makes me happy
I'm still working on the picture because it's not very obvious to the eye and he's hyper
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Post by moletteuk on Dec 19, 2016 19:53:40 GMT
Could you get a pic if you give him some sesame seeds or oats or something to keep him stood in one place while you try to get a good shot?
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Post by shadow_girl00 on Dec 22, 2016 10:40:33 GMT
I can't seem to upload and picture can someone help me with how to do it
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Post by moletteuk on Dec 22, 2016 11:35:58 GMT
You can add one photo under 1mb directly by clicking on 'add attachment' button in full reply mode view at top right. (this photo will have to be deleted after a few months due to forum storage limitations).
Alternatively you can upload photos to a photo storage site like photobucket or flickr. You then copy the link labelled IMG and then paste that directly into your reply on here. You can add as many photos as you like of any size by this method.
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Post by shadow_girl00 on Dec 24, 2016 19:12:35 GMT
Can I do it on my phone or do I need a computer?? Cuz it might be a while till I can get on one
But the lump has gotten a little bigger now he's not letting me touch him much but that normal at times his hair seems to be growing back a lot more which is good but he is still eating loads and emptying his water bottle like normal I'm still unsure what it would be but other then not wanting to be held as much he seems normal
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Post by deguconvert on Dec 24, 2016 21:15:30 GMT
I have not tried with my phone, but I'm pretty sure you can do it.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2016 21:56:23 GMT
Phone works really well.
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Post by bouncy on Dec 25, 2016 1:19:16 GMT
Ditto! I have the Photobucket app on my phone. I just copy and paste the link!
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Post by shadow_girl00 on Dec 27, 2016 0:59:36 GMT
Here is a picture from today and it has gone down quite noticeablely I do believe now that it is the hair growing back because the hair has gotten longer what does everyone think because I'm still not 100%
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Post by deguconvert on Dec 27, 2016 2:41:12 GMT
It is difficult to see if there is a lump because of the hair, which appears to be regrowing quite nicely. So, I guess I'm going to ask if the lump that you have been seeing is one that you felt with your fingers, or did it look like a lump because of the hair growing back?
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Post by bouncy on Dec 27, 2016 12:12:37 GMT
He looks quite normal from here. I'm going with my original suggestion of hardened exposed skin
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