Abscess advice

[Espanola18]

Hello,

My almost 5 year old sow developed a very large lump under her chin / chest area last week. I immediately took her to see my vet (guinea pig savvy and is on the approved vet list on this forum). The lump was diagnosed as an abscess, vet didn’t think it was related to dental issues (piggy is eating fine, no weight loss) so most likely hay poke. The vet lanced and drained the abscess under a very light anaesthetic (gas I believe) and she was given pain relief and a course of antibiotics - baytril which I have been given twice daily. I’ve also been keeping the incision clean using hibiscrub (but it has basically healed over after 12 hrs)

A week on and the abscess is much smaller than it was - but it’s still a reasonable size (3- 4 cm) and not decreasing. It doesn’t seem to be bothering my piggy but of course, I can’t (and won’t) leave her like this.

I’m really worried that she is going to need a general anaesthetic to remove this abscess which I really want to avoid. My track record with guinea pigs and GAs is not good!

I read on this forum that baytril is not the best antibiotic for abscesses. She’ll be going back to vets this week so I’m wondering whether it would be worth re-lancing and draining again and treating with a different antibiotic? At my last appointment, I asked the vet about keeping the wound open so I could flush out daily but they said that would require a GA….

I guess I’m looking for advice and also what others experiences have been. I’ve kept piggies for a long time but never dealt with abscesses before.

Thanks

 

[Merab]

The only abscess I’ve dealt with finally needed surgery but all went well.
It would heal but then recur.

I believe there is another antibiotic which is better than Baytril for abscesses but I don’t want to say anything in case I have it wrong.

Just want to offer support.
Abscesses are not nice to deal with

 

[Piggies&buns]

It really depends on the abscess but generally draining can mean it seals back up and refills.
Abscesses usually need to heal from the inside out so that often means stitching it open and with daily flushing.
Baytril can be enough but again, it depends on the abscess. Azithromycin is a strong antibiotic and usually does well against abscesses.

I hope she is ok

 

[Espanola18]

Thanks for your replies. I took her back to vet today - the abscess was re- lanced and drained - got as much out of it as the first time! I asked to try a different antibiotic and asked if they could prescribe Azithromycin and they said they could. Started first dose tonight. She’s been prescribed 1.3ml twice daily - after reading other threads on this forum that seems quite high! Is the dose meant to be once a day? She is a 1200g piggy.

The vet also mentioned it could be swollen infected lymph nodes. I decided to pay for a sample of the pus to be sent off for culture analysis so that the right antibiotics can be prescribed. Maybe that was a waste of money but thought it may be worthwhile! A bit concerned that vet said it could be contagious - really don’t want my other pig getting infected!

Anyway - she is totally fine within herself, eating / moving around as normal although I will be monitoring to check she doesn’t have adverse reaction to these new antibiotics. And have critical care on stand by……

Wish us luck - if this doesn’t work it’s surgery…..

 

[Piggies&buns]

I would double check the dosage with the vet.

Make sure you weigh her daily so you can monitor hay intake and be prepared to step in with syringe feeding. Azithromycin is a strong antibiotic and while some are fine with it but for others it can really hit the appetite hard.

 

[weepweeps]

I have had a 1200g piggy on 0.6 Zithromax twice a day. I hope that helps. Good luck I hope it clears up. My piggy had a 6 week course.

 

[Espanola18]

Thank you! I checked with my vet this morning and they confirmed that my 1200g piggy is to be given 1.3ml twice a day…..I’m still so worried as this dose seems double what other prescriptions on this forum have been….but they are the vet so I just need to get on with it I guess!