Hard lumps under the skin that don’t grow.

[Gabi]

I found a lump under the skin of my rabbit’s stomach about three months ago (close to his right hind leg), I can move it freely but it’s pretty hard, and is the size of a grape. I went to the vet and she said I should check it regularly to see if it increased in size (it didn’t). The problem is that today I was checking him and I noticed another lump right next to the other one, about half the size. Is it’s possible it is cancer even if it didn’t increase in size (at least not noticiably) after three months? Have anyone been through the same? I don’t want to put him through the stress of getting a biopsy.

He’s 9 years old, male and he seems to be acting just fine.

Thanks!

[kurottabun]

It’s pretty big if the lump is the size of a grape. Did you ask the vet if it could be an abscess? If it is, most vets would recommend removing it – but since your bunny is 9 years old, the decision for an abscess removal surgery won’t be as easy to make as if he were a young bun.

[Bunny House]

Hi !
Did she recommend sticking a needle in it to see what it is? My bun has free hard lumps under her skin but they are benign lipomas from her pen-g shots. It might be cancer but I would lean toward lipomas because usually a tumor would be stuck to something but I might be wrong. You can always talk to another rabbit savvy vet for a second opinion

[Gabi]

Well, she didn’t. I’m worried, but the fact that it hasn’t grown in three months, is pretty round and I can move it a little is probably a sign that it’s not cancer, right? Also I think it’s not a lipoma because it’s not squishy, it’s quite firm! I’m also wondering if it is a cyst, I read they are not an issue unless they get too big, but I also read they aren’t so firm, as for an abscess I think it’s a possibility, but he has shown no fever or lethargy.

I don’t know if it’s relevant, but it’s been two years or so I’ve been noticing lumps on his skin, but those are really small and look more like pimples than anything else (some even desappeared over time!) , I’m worried now because the new ones are pretty big and look to be underneath the skin, but I don’t know if they are related. I also forgot to mention that the big lump seems to be on a muscle or something, because when he moves it seems to change in size. 

Anyway, I think it’s wise to schedule a visit to the vet next week since now there are two big lumps, even though she said I should only be concerned if they got bigger. She’s probably going to send a piece for biopsy, I hope it’s nothing serious.

If anyone has any opinions I’ll be glad to read them. 

Thanks!

[jerseygirl]

I agree with possibilities already suggested. Abscesses can feel hard. The fibrous tissue surrounding the pus is quite thick. It’s possible a second abscess has formed next to it. Abscesses are super common in rabbits.

Also common are (usually benign) fatty tumours as Bunny House mentioned.

Did the vet suggest x-ray or ultrasound if there were changes? I’m not certain if a conscious x-ray would be an option because of the location of the lumps, but worth asking anyway. Usually they only lightly sedate a rabbit for x-rays and they’re not under for long. I do understand your hesitation though – absolutely!

[jerseygirl]

Sorry Gabi, my reply was in response to your original post. Your 2nd was not up when I replied.

[Gabi]

Update: today I called the vet and she said I just have to pay attention to him, and if anything changes, like the lump’s size or if he shows any symptoms or behavior changes she would try to aspirate it with a needle. She told me it’s not necessary to do anything if there are no symptoms. I forgot to mention that the last time she took a look at him was exactly one week ago (because I wanted them to check his teeth because he had a teeth trim in january and he was also sneezing), and I told her (and another vet) briefly about the lump and both said basically what I described in my first post. She also told me to avoid touching the lumps all the time to avoid any possible infection.

As for my rabbit he seems to be fine, he’s eating and pooping normaly and the sneezes have ceased.

I think that if it was a tumor both lumps would grow bigger in three months and both wouldn’t be so round, right? What do you think?

Thanks.

[jerseygirl]

Based on the location you describe and that he isn’t neutered, could it be a testicle? 

They can pull them back up into lower abdomen…

Did both his testicle descend when he reached puberty?

[Gabi]

The lumps are far from the testicles, they are under his right hind leg and are kinda hard to feel depending on his positon. About his testicles, I noticed in january that the right one is bigger than the left one, but my vet and I discarted a tumor because it, again, never got bigger (I check it regularly and looking back at some pictures I took coincidentally in 2016 they both seemed to be about the same size, including the right testicle looking a little bigger :s), unfortunately I didn’t ask if they both descended or not, but when I touch I can feel there’s something in both. Even if it was a testicle in his lower abdomen it would have to be on the left side. :0

Overall he seems to be healthy, yesterday he sneezed again three times but I noticed it happened after I tried to give him hay (he’s never been keen on it ), he also had some soft cecotrophs (way, way more than normal but not diarrhea) yesterday night, but I also suspect it was because I gave him too many fresh greens, he’s pooping normally now. Other than that he seems to be fine, he’s not losing weight and neither is apathetic. I’m almost certain now it’s not cancer or anything bad, at least I really hope so. If anything happens I’ll take him immediately to the vet.

Thanks a lot for all the answers!

[Gabi]

Hey guys, I was thinking lately and I think it could be an abscess…

If the lump is really an abscess, should I get it aspirated ASAP or is it better to leave it if it’s not growing? I’m afraid it could be an abscess, but I also read horror stories on the internet about abscess treatment, especially because my rabbit is already 9yo and I don’t want him to go through a surgery unless absolutely necessary. Is there a risk to leave it there even if there are no symtoms and it is also not growing? (I mean, it is not growing but as I said before I found another smaller lump right next to it).

I really don’t know what to do, I’m afraid I could make things worse by getting it aspirated, especially because he seems to be so healthy now. Do any of you have any experience with abscesses? What do you think I should do?

Thanks!

[Author]

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