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abcess

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Valdansam

Valdansam

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hi i just wondered if anyone had had a piggie that had recovered from an abcess, i lost my last one to a abcess that would not heal and now my Ben has a nasal one which as been lanced today..... I'm worried he is not going to heal. he is 5 in April
 
Hi There,

Thanks for tag Helen :).

My Fred had a very nasty jaw abscess, we tried lots of antibiotics initially over a period of 6 weeks, the abscess was lanced and then flushed twice daily at home. After about 5 days the abscess closed but within 2 weeks it returned. We did Xray's and could tell the cause was under his front incisor, Initially the Vet wanted to remove all Fred's incisors (they do this a lot with teeth problems in rabbits). I was very apprehensive about going ahead with this procedure so much so my vet did more investigating and he found a paper that advised in Rabbit's Zithromax has a 94% success rate against Abscesses (Furryfriends- who has a lot of successful results with abscesses recommended Zithromax). My vet agreed to go ahead with the Zithromax instead but Fred did have one incisor removed only because the bone was very damaged and the tooth was wobbling.

The Vet cleaned Fred's abscess out and prescribed Zithromax I believe I gave it for 14 days. Fred's abscess completely cleared and has never returned. I just wish I would have used Zithromax sooner!

Good Luck with your piggy :)
 
I have dealt with a number of abscesses here at the Sanctuary and have had fantastic results. Zithromax is definitely the antibiotic to go for. It works incredibly well and is usually well tolerated too. In addition to using Zithromax, the secret to success is keeping the wound open and flushing a couple of times a day. You will find it scabs over very quickly and you must pull the scab off to stop it healing. It will heal from the inside out and you need to make sure you remove the pus regularly. I find using the round and flat cotton wool pads that are designed for removing make up the best. I squeeze the wound and rub over it with a pad until I can get no more pus out of it. Good luck with your little guy and I hope he is soon feeling much better xx
 
I too have seen how Zithromax can work wonders with an abcess, not in my own pig but a a friend's pig and would always recommend it.
 
I tried to get my vet to prescribe Zithromax, but she decided not to. She did, however, prescribe Bactrim (which I think is usually used for urinary problems) that worked really well on george's foot abcess. Good luck!
 
Thank you for your advice it is appreciated, I've finding it hard because I have to hurt him to clean it! Is cooled boiled water with salt ok to clean it? Also how do you flush it please? The vet prescribed Baytril, do you think I should and ask for Zithromax.
 
My Minky has had 3 abscesses removed this year. It should have been only one but unfortunately I didn't get it removed totally till I changed my vet. A little tip that Gwen from Bunny Burrows taught me is to use Manuka Honey on the wound or drain hole. I asked my new vet and she said it was OK to use. When I was keeping the drain hole open I would apply Manuka Honey to the hole with a cotton bud after cleaning the area with boiled water left to cool. Apparently, honey was used on battle wounds for centuries until penicillin was discovered.
 
Honey is a natural nasty things free antiseptic, its definitely something I would use on a wound if required over more chemical ones in places where they could be licked off thats for sure, just a harmless sugary treat for the animal :-)
 
Just thought I would update you on Ben's progress, I have cleaned the abcess daily and used manuka honey in the wound afterwards, today there was no pus inside the wound! I'm so pleased! Should I keep cleaning everyday until the hole disappears?
 
Yes, Keep cleaning everyday. You want the wound to take as long as possible to heal it needs to heal from the inside out. Don't be surprised if the abscess returns, sometimes abscess can be quite persistant.
Everything crossed, that once it heal's it heal's for good! :) x
 
My Kasper suffered an abscess earlier in the year after being bitten by a housemate. He would not eat at the vets but are out of my hand as soon as I got him home. His abscess meant that most of his cheek was removed. He was fine straight away somehow and the vet was very surprised.
 
I had Tiger who had an absess under his chin due to fight with my George (that was first and last fight as they were promptly separated). I was given antibiotics and told to keep picking off the scab and bathing in boiled and cooled salted water twice daily. He healed nicely within a week if I remember rightly. Fingers crossed for you x
 
thank you so much for your advice and support, I lost my other piggie due to an abcess so was very worried! nice to see it can go the other way also! I will continue with my treatment untill it is completely healed. Thanks again.
 
I'm another advocate of honey and Zithromax. My boy fudge had an abscess on his lower cheek/jaw. Baytril didn't seem to do anything for him and his abscess just filled up again, so after speaking to helen and flintstones (who at the time was having difficulty with poor Freddie boy) I convinced my vet to prescribe us Zithromax, the turn around was incredible. It did take another few weeks of peeling off the scab, flushing and then dabbing on some manuka honey to the hole for the abscess to eventually disappear, but he recovered well and it is showing no signs of returning. Fingers crossed for your little one, I hope he continues to improve daily x
 
thank you Funnehmare (love the name!) Ben is on the Baytril still (I'm surprised its worked)! and honey of course, but I will ask for Zithromax should the situation change, thanks for your kind wishes.
 
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