Expert: Nicole Bury - 10/27/2009

Question
Hi there,

I have a 3yr old boar that lives indoors and is generally a happy little GP.  Recently I noticed a small boil type growth on his top lip.

When I took him to the vet for a nail trim (I cant do it on my own as he wriggles a lot!), I asked him to check this out.  He said it was a wart.

Over the last month, it has grown a lot and now looks like a piece of excess skin growing downwards on his lip.  At the moment it doesnt seem to be getting in the way of him eating, but I am worried that at some point it will.  In addition, in the crack of his nose the skin looks a bit flaky.  I am bathing it with warm water to keep it clean but this growth looks a bit crusty.

Have you ever heard of this before?  If it is a wart, can it be removed easily?

He is still eating & drinking as normal, and is still playful so I am un-decided as to what to do for the best.  Shall I leave him while hes happy or take him to the vet and put him through a potential operation?

Can you advise please?

Many thanks

Answer
Hello Susan.
Hmmm...
I found a site that has some great advice or a thing called Cheilitis -- Inflammation of the Lips.
If this is it than it has the diagnoses and pictures and a treatment. I suggest bookmarking that page into your favorites becuase it is a wonderful site with great and true information.

http://www.guinealynx.info/cheilitis.html

(PS: FIND A NEW VET, HE MAY HAVE CAUSED YOUR GIUNEA PIG HARM IF YOU HADNT MAILED ME)