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Dental Abscess after dental?

Gemm24

Gemm24

Junior Guinea Pig
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Mar 5, 2017
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Location
Manchester
Hi

I can’t catch a break recently, two of my herd have died within a month and I have another (Alvin) that’s had teeth problems. Please can you help. Alvin had two dentals (one that didn’t work and one that did) a month ago because he had overgrown molars, incisors and an ulcer. Since then he has made steady progress and is maintaining a 1000g weight and is still on metacam twice a day.
Today I noticed a swelling under his chin, he doesn’t seem to be in pain and is eating as normal.
I have an appointment at the vet tomorrow. Do you think it’s an abscess?
 
Also I had some baytril left over from a couple of weeks ago and gave him some tonight.
 
All the best; yes it could be an abscess, but only a hands-on examination will give you the exact cause. Right now your guess is as good as ours.

Poor you; it's not raining but pouring for you... :(
 
Thanks-I will keep you updated. I find the forum really helpful because I have needed all the support I can get this past month. I feel like I am climbing a never ending mountain and it just won’t end. Hopefully it will settle down soon. My Alvin is a strong little guy so hopefully he can get through this.
With abscesses in guinea pigs-can they survive them or should I prepare for the worst. I know it’s probably a silly question but I can’t stop worrying.
 
Gemm said:
Thanks-I will keep you updated. I find the forum really helpful because I have needed all the support I can get this past month. I feel like I am climbing a never ending mountain and it just won’t end. Hopefully it will settle down soon. My Alvin is a strong little guy so hopefully he can get through this.
With abscesses in guinea pigs-can they survive them or should I prepare for the worst. I know it’s probably a silly question but I can’t stop worrying.
Click to expand...

They can survive them with a strong antibiotic (NOT baytril or septrin; ideally zithromax or at least marbocyl) and your good home care if the abscess needs to be kept open and flushed twice daily. I've been there with my Hywel myself two years ago.
 
Hi
So I took Alvin to the vet today and he was diagnosed with a dental abscess. I have been given doxycycline and to keep him on the metacam until Friday when he will have it drained. Fingers crossed everything goes to plan, he has had a rough few weeks but he is a strong little guy.
After he has it drained is it likely to come back?
 
Gemm said:
Hi
So I took Alvin to the vet today and he was diagnosed with a dental abscess. I have been given doxycycline and to keep him on the metacam until Friday when he will have it drained. Fingers crossed everything goes to plan, he has had a rough few weeks but he is a strong little guy.
After he has it drained is it likely to come back?
Click to expand...

You need to flush the abscess hole twice daily with a mild antiseptic (saline solution, hibiscrub or highly diluted F10) and keep the hole open for as long as possible to allow the abscess to heal from inside out and to allow any infection to get out. In the later stages, you have to work off the scab that is forming over the opening in order to get any new pus out.

It is smelly and not at all pleasant, but it is the only way to keep the abscess from coming back.

I've been there with my Hywel in 2016. It was not something I have enjoyed!

@furryfriends (TEAS)
 
Update-Alvin went to the vet yesterday to get his abscess drained. They packed it and stistched it. He is absolutely fine acting as if nothing has happened and eating really well. He is going back next week to get the packing removed and then I have been told by the vet I will need to clean the hole daily with cue tips.
 
Argh I went out today and just come back and Alvin seems to have pulled out half the packing :no: it isn’t bothering him at all but I can’t get him to the vets till Monday.
 
We've never used packing in an abscess. Our vet marsupialises the abscess (stitches to the skin and kept open) and then we flush it twice a day. Were you not flushing it? Just wondered how you were supposed to flush if it was packed.
 
They said they got rid of all the pus from it and did marsupilisation and stitched it but also packed it with a sponge on Friday for 5 days and and then this coming Wednesday they are to remove the packing and then keep the wound open so I can flush it.
 
Gemm said:
They said they got rid of all the pus from it and did marsupilisation and stitched it but also packed it with a sponge on Friday for 5 days and and then this coming Wednesday they are to remove the packing and then keep the wound open so I can flush it.
Click to expand...
Even though they will have got rid of all the pus, at the time, abscesses continue to produce pus, whilst they heal from the inside outwards. Waiting until Monday should be okay. Which antibiotic has been prescribed?
 
Update! I took Alvin to the vets this morning and they said he needs to stay for the day as it was best to take out the packing and move to the next stage. I picked him up this evening and he has a hole under his chin that I will clean twice a day with a solution provided by the vet twice a day and give him doxycycline and metacam. He is absolutely ravenous and has gained weight despite being at the vets. F10F2904-DDDA-42E8-A2A8-787C6238E8CB.webp
 
Another update!
Not the best news this week, I found a lump on Alvina chin where he had the abscess the first time. I monitored him and a couple of days later it was gone but there was pus in his fur(thankfully not a lot). I have bathed it and he has no change of appetite or personality. I’m going to take home to the vets on Saturday to get checked out and have given him what I had left of the doxycycline from before. I’m going back to my local vets but the last time I was there my guinea pig Cleo died. I just hope I don’t get too emotional when I get to the vets but will need to do this for Alvin. Wish me luck!
 
Gemm said:
Hi
So I took Alvin to the vet today and he was diagnosed with a dental abscess. I have been given doxycycline and to keep him on the metacam until Friday when he will have it drained. Fingers crossed everything goes to plan, he has had a rough few weeks but he is a strong little guy.
After he has it drained is it likely to come back?
Click to expand...
After he has it drained, you will need to keep it open and continue to flush it twice a day with sterile saline or another cleaning-type solution that your vet may provide. An antibiotic should be provided and it takes time to allow the abscess to heal from the inside out. Hope this helps a bit! I've been through this before, it can be gross to squeeze the pus and it can be a long road until it completely heals, but pigs can get through nasty abscesses with some tender loving care!
 
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