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Dental Abscess advice please.

piggymad28

piggymad28

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi guys
So for the last 2 months, Ginny has has problems with an abscess under her chin. She’s had bloods taken, had her teeth checked to make sure it’s not a tooth abscess , has had it lanced and then they attempted to remove the whole thing however due to the location they said it’s difficult.

We tried baytril and it didn’t work, so I wonder if there are any other antibiotics I can try. As she still has a slightly open wound from her op, I’m using warm salt water twice a day and also hibiscus scrub to help the abscess drain.

I am aware of how difficult piggie abscesses are. It’s just incredibly frustrating that I put Ginny through two anaesthetics for it to keep returning - they clearly never managed to remove it completely after attempting to lance it.

Other than this abscess she’s happy in herself. She’s eating well, drinking, running around, chatting to Luna.

Any advice is welcomed. She’s due another vet check up in two weeks.

Louise x
 
Hi! Zithromax is usually considered the best antibiotic for abscesses. Many vets don't know it can be used for piggies, and it isn't licensed for guinea pigs, so your vet might ask you to sign a disclaimer before prescribing it.
Best of luck in getting rid of the abscess!
 
Thanks.

I’ll call them tomorrow (unless I get the chance at work!) and ask them if I could possibly get some.
 
Manuka honey (medical grade from the vet) instilled in the abscess cavity can help as well
 
piggymad28 said:
Hi guys
So for the last 2 months, Ginny has has problems with an abscess under her chin. She’s had bloods taken, had her teeth checked to make sure it’s not a tooth abscess , has had it lanced and then they attempted to remove the whole thing however due to the location they said it’s difficult.

We tried baytril and it didn’t work, so I wonder if there are any other antibiotics I can try. As she still has a slightly open wound from her op, I’m using warm salt water twice a day and also hibiscus scrub to help the abscess drain.

I am aware of how difficult piggie abscesses are. It’s just incredibly frustrating that I put Ginny through two anaesthetics for it to keep returning - they clearly never managed to remove it completely after attempting to lance it.

Other than this abscess she’s happy in herself. She’s eating well, drinking, running around, chatting to Luna.

Any advice is welcomed. She’s due another vet check up in two weeks.

Louise x
Click to expand...

Hi! Please give @furryfriends (TEAS) a call during daytime hours. She is currently not able to come onto the forum but has kindly offered to speak to any members with dental or abscess problems. She is running a sanctuary that is dedicated to looking after guinea pigs with chronic dental problems, so she is seeing a lot of abscesses, too. She is our most experienced forum member in that area.
Contact – The Excellent Adventure Sanctuary

If you can, please have your girl seen at the Cat&Rabbit Care Clinic in Northampton; it is really worth paying for the travel! They are the vets looking after the TEAS piggies and the most experienced dental/abscess vets in the country. They piggies from all over the country and see more piggies with dental and persistent abscess problems than other vets in their whole career.
The Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic

PS: I second the zithromax; it is what the Cat&Rabbit are using for stubborn abscesses to cut through them. It has done the trick when my Hywel developed an incisor root abscess under his chin and my local vets were unable to cope. Since it happened while Simon Maddock was on holiday and my husband had to major operations in quick succession, I am still extremely grateful to furryfriends for her generous support during this time. Without Simon Maddock (the vet) and her, Hywel would not have had that extra year of his life.
 
Thanks guys
Getting to Northampton isn’t really an option at the moment, between working and stuff I just don’t have time.

The medical grade honey was suggested but I didn’t realise it could be placed inside the actual cavity itself. I’ll suggest this to the vet along with the different antibiotics.
 
Hope you get the abscess sorted.
It sounds nasty.
I’ve recently finished dealing with an abscess - fortunately only a small one, dealt with by cleaning with Hibiscrub every day.
That was bad enough so I wish you all the best with yours.
 
Oh gosh, is your vet a specialist or perhaps they could refer you to a specialist? Donald had an abscess under his chin in November and when I took him on the operation day to my vets they reassessed and said they couldn't do it as it was nestled between two blood vessels and they weren't confident they could get it all out without doing serious damage. He went off to the local specialist, had the operation and came through really well. He didn't even need the abscess leaving open for cleaning and *touch wood* we haven't had any problems since
 
My vet spoke to an exotic specialist and there’s the option now that Ginny could have surgery there, but I’ve spent so much money on vet fees lately that I just cannot afford another surgery at the moment :( I’ve asked for Zithromax but they seem to want to do surgery.

I’ve been using hibiscrub to flush it and it’s reduced significantly in size but they seem to think surgery will be the only thing that will get rid of it completely. I’m just so annoyed that she’s had two surgeries for it only to come back, because I’m obviously reluctant to put her through it again when it’s not been successful before even if it would be the exotic specialist! Anyway I don’t have the money right now to pay for surgery which just makes me feel like an awful owner.
 
piggymad28 said:
My vet spoke to an exotic specialist and there’s the option now that Ginny could have surgery there, but I’ve spent so much money on vet fees lately that I just cannot afford another surgery at the moment :( I’ve asked for Zithromax but they seem to want to do surgery.

I’ve been using hibiscrub to flush it and it’s reduced significantly in size but they seem to think surgery will be the only thing that will get rid of it completely. I’m just so annoyed that she’s had two surgeries for it only to come back, because I’m obviously reluctant to put her through it again when it’s not been successful before even if it would be the exotic specialist! Anyway I don’t have the money right now to pay for surgery which just makes me feel like an awful owner.
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HUGS!

It is always tough when medical cost sky-rocket well beyond what you can afford to pay. You are not a bad owner, you have done your best. An abscess operation can be the best solution, depending on the abscess. I have been there with a recurring deep-seated jaw abscess of my Hywel's. For the time being, please continue with flushing the abscess.

I am tagging in @furryfriends (TEAS)
 
Please don't feel bad that you can't afford the surgery. My Edward has recently had two biopsies done costing a small fortune. Thankfully my parents have paid so I can pay them back in small instalments. I hope you can come to a solution.
 
Wiebke said:
HUGS!

It is always tough when medical cost sky-rocket well beyond what you can afford to pay. You are not a bad owner, you have done your best. An abscess operation can be the best solution, depending on the abscess. I have been there with a recurring deep-seated jaw abscess of my Hywel's. For the time being, please continue with flushing the abscess.

I am tagging in @furryfriends (TEAS)
Click to expand...
I’m going to get in contact I think with the vets in Nottingham that was mentioned , I’ll try and get time off work if I have to.
 
The only suggestion I can make is to take your piggy to see Simon at Cat and Rabbit Clinic in Northampton. Has the abscess been marsupialised and left open for flushing? Are the vets suggesting surgery to remove the whole capsule? If you are wanting to get Ginny seen by Simon, you are going to need to phone for an appointment soon, as they are booking up quickly, as he is on leave from 20th July.
 
They tried removing the whole capsule, that didn’t work so now they want it marsuplised.

Admins, can I post a link to a go fund me ive set up for Ginny to have surgery ?
 
piggymad28 said:
They tried removing the whole capsule, that didn’t work so now they want it marsuplised.

Admins, can I post a link to a go fund me ive set up for Ginny to have surgery ?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately that would be in breach of the forum rules that you agreed to on registering.

c) Please don't ask for donations to assist with veterinary fees.
Click to expand...
 
piggymad28 said:
They tried removing the whole capsule, that didn’t work so now they want it marsuplised.

Admins, can I post a link to a go fund me ive set up for Ginny to have surgery ?
Click to expand...

I am really sorry, we can't allow this, the forum would turn into a site of go fund me or donation links. If we break it for one we break it for all.
 
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