Specialist Abcess Refilling 2 Weeks Post Op

[Diddydee]

Peppa had 2 abcesses surgically removed 2 weeks ago.
Antibiotics finished 7 days ago. This am i noticed more puss at suture hole on one scar.
Vet has given 2 more weeks antibiotics but warned piggies dont do well with prolonged antibiotic use. Any advice please ?

 

[Freela]

Was the abscess left open? A lot of the time you will need to continue squeezing out any pus and irrigating/cleaning the wound. They can take a long time to heal from the inside out. Stitching an abscess closed is not the best way to allow it to heal (unless it was removed completely. But if it was opened and irrigated, it's best to leave it open.) Guinea pigs have very thick pus and abscesses generally don't clear with antibiotics alone.

I've been through a couple of abscesses... basically on a daily basis I would get cotton pads and something to irrigate with (saline or antiseptic rinse from the vet generally.) I would use a syringe to irrigate inside the wound, and the use gentle but firm pressure to squeeze out any additional pus. Over time, this allows the abscess to from the inside out- but it can take quite a bit of time, depending on the location and depth of the abscess.

What antibiotic was Peppa given? My understanding is that Zithromax is the gold standard of clearing abscesses, but it's not commonly prescribed in some places (I'm in Canada and cannot find vets that give Zithromax, including exotics vets.) Baytril is commonly prescribed by vets who don't know what else to give, but there are other safe antibiotics that have better track records with abscesses (my vet gives chloramphenicol for abscesses, for example.) As for long term antibiotics being bad for guinea pigs, personally I would dispute that. One of my pigs is on lifelong suppressive antibiotic therapy due to bladder issues. She has been on a low-dose since about the age of two and is now turning five next week. She was also on chloramphenicol as well as Baytril for months following her abscess surgery and did very well with it.

Does your vet have a lot of experience with guinea pigs? The antibiotic comment and the fact that the abscess wound sounds like it was stitched closed makes me wonder how often the vet has dealt with this kind of problem. Depending on where you are, it can be hard finding vets who have experience with guinea pigs, but if you are able to find one, it's well worth your time and will increase the odds of your guinea pig making a good recovery.

Hope this helps a bit!

 

[Diddydee]

It was stitched closed following surgery and the antibiotic prescribed was Baytril.
Re long term antibiotics she said they caused issues with the gut bacteria needed for digestion. Advised me to watch out for diarrhoea and take it back if she developed it. Although she said they could then try probiotics but there wasnt much evidence to suggest they were any help.....vet change needed i think.

 

[flintstones]

Where abouts are you? We have a piggy savy vet locator?

My Fred had a nasty jaw bone abscess we tried numerous antibiotics. In the end we went with Zithromax it's very effective against abscesses. The wound was also left open so I could flush it.

 

[Diddydee]

West midlands..Dudley

 

[Diddydee]

Have found the locator thank you and there are a few vets very very close to me.
Ill ring round and see which ones are prepared to prescribed the zithromax. Thank you

 

[Wiebke]

Have found the locator thank you and there are a few vets very very close to me.
Ill ring round and see which ones are prepared to prescribed the zithromax. Thank you

Best of luck! The wound may need reopening and lancing on top of the antibiotic. You need to keep it open (remove the scab twice daily) and wash it out so the abscess can heal from the inside out, otherwise it will come back. It is NOT going to be pleasant for you and for your guinea pig, I am very sorry to say, but it is the only way to get through it successfully.

In order to prop up the gut flora, please give one pinch of probiotic 1-2 hour after every dose of antibiotic. Additionally you can also syringe poo soup, which you make by soaking the fresh poos from a healthy guinea pig in a little bit of water and then syringe the water. That helps to restock the guts. Guinea pigs generally LOVE it and it mimics what recovering piggies do.
Here is more information: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...vitamin-c-overview-with-product-links.115404/

All the best! Please do not hesitate to ask any questions etc. you may have along the way.

@furryfriends Excellent Adventure Sanctuary

 

[Diddydee]

"Poo soup" yum lol. ..ha can do that easily have 2 more piggies in another pen as they don't get on

 

[Freela]

It was stitched closed following surgery and the antibiotic prescribed was Baytril.
Re long term antibiotics she said they caused issues with the gut bacteria needed for digestion. Advised me to watch out for diarrhoea and take it back if she developed it. Although she said they could then try probiotics but there wasnt much evidence to suggest they were any help.....vet change needed i think.

It's great if there are some more piggy-savvy vets in your area... it can make a world of difference in terms of treatment! It's true that Baytril can cause stomach upset/diarrhea, but I'm not aware that the risk goes up with length of use, and it doesn't affect every piggie this way. Over the years three of my four pigs have taken Baytril at one time or another, and only one of them had stomach upset with it that improved with antibiotics. Luckily, Sundae, the pig who is on it long-term, tolerates it really well. Lots of luck and hope you and Peppa are able to find a vet with a bit more abscess experience to get it cleared!