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Abscess at 9 weeks old...

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If there is any chance you can get to Simon Maddock in Northampton, I would strongly recommend it. As has already been said, Simon is a fantastic guinea pig vet and has successfully treated many piggies with abscesses who have failed to respond to other treatments. Zithromax is the very best antibiotic to use for abscesses, and works where other antibiotics have failed.
 
I will take her wherever she needs to go, thank you I will look in to him x
 
It is worth seeing him; zithromax has saved my Hywel after he developed neutering post op complications earlier this year. I also ended up taking Hywel there.
 
As you're new to guinea pigs I just wanted to add that Zithromax is not widely used in guinea pigs, so don't expect all Vets to prescribe it or even be aware of it being used for guinea pigs. As I understand it, it seems to be a relatively new/unique approach which Simon Maddock has researched and had great success with.

Unlike furryfriends, Wiebke and others on this forum, I have no personal experience of Zithromax myself but if one of my pigs had a serious or stubborn infection/abscess which didn't respond to Baytril or Septrin (the more frequently prescribed antibiotics for guinea pigs) then I would definitely see Simon to discuss Zithromax as a potential course of action.
 
I got zithromax through my own vet by referring him to Simon Maddock, so my vet could get his information first hand (I gave my vet the link with the contact details) in a previous case of a very stubborn URI. However, if you can see a Simon himself, that would certainly be better. He and his wife Kim have the most wonderful bedside manners I have ever come across!
 
Thanks so much everyone - I will be home tomorrow night and making phone calls! In the meantime, here they are.......

Noodle
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and Super
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lovely!
 
Thank you - I assume your avatar is one of yours - SO CUTE!
 
Such cute piggies! I would definitely recommend a trip to a vet who specializes in guinea pigs and other exotics. They tend to be up to date on treatment options far more than the typical 'dog and cat' vets. One thing to do would be to check her teeth to see if there is any cause there for an abscess to form (though the fact that she is eating well is a great sign!) One of my pigs, Frenzy, passed away from complications from an abscessed tooth root last summer. She was having a hard time chewing and developed a lump along the jawline. We went right to the vet (who probably was not as up to date with guinea pigs as he should have been.) He lanced the abscess and prescribed Baytril. When she continued to decline and not to eat, we went back and repeated the process. It turns out that she was unfortunate and had maloccluded teeth (teeth that don't meet properly and thus don't wear down evenly.) The tooth roots likewise overgrow, and her abscess was likely far down in the root of the tooth. Unfortunately the infection progressed into her bone (osteomyelitis) and then into her bloodstream (septicemia) and she died about two weeks after the abscess first showed up. When consulting with another (more rodent-savvy) vet for an unrelated issue with one of my other pigs, I was told that Baytril is not the best antibiotic for deep abscesses, and that there were other potential drugs and surgeries that might have been more effective in treating her early in the course of the illness. From this sad experience, I've learned that I'm going to see exotic vets for exotic pets and not 'settle' so at least I know the info/treatment I am getting is the best it can be. It still bothers me that, had she gotten a different antibiotic at the beginning, it might have changed the course of her illness and she might have survived.

Not meaning to be a pessimist- I know I have read of many other pigs who had large mouth abscesses who pulled through and recovered! I'm just sharing my experience because Baytril generally isn't the greatest antibiotic for abscesses and I had known of this website at the time so I could have done more to advocate for Frenzy!
 
awwwwwwwwwwwww gorgeous pigtures of them both x)x)x)x)

all paws, claws and fingers crossed for little Noodle XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
Sorry to hear that Poppy's Mum :( hope I haven't offended

Ok, Noodle will be seeing Simon Maddock tomorrow evening - thank you all so much, I am so pleased I found you!
 
Catkin said:
Sorry to hear that Poppy's Mum :( hope I haven't offended

Ok, Noodle will be seeing Simon Maddock tomorrow evening - thank you all so much, I am so pleased I found you!
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No of course not, good luck at Simon's, hopefully he will be able to sort it for you :)
 
furryfriends said:
I'm so glad you've been able to get an appointment with Simon. You are very welcome to pop in for a cuppa while you're in Northampton, but understand you may not have time. What time's your appointment?
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It's at ten past five in the afternoon - will be at a friends til then but after?
 
Hi Catherine,
I was just thinking about Noodle and wondering how things went. I hope you're all ok x
 
I have an update!

I went to SIMON MADDOCK in Duston, Northants and he was AMAZING!

He was so nice and kind to both piggies, finding they are both in fact boys (I know I should have known this, but I'm new to these little ones), instead of girls!

He gave Noodle Erythromycin, and probiotic (so, you can give it to youngsters) and had Noodle back this morning - the middle mass has been reduced to nothing and all is well! He has also advised me to consider neutering once they are bigger as Super is rather overbearing.

So, basically I thought I'd give an update, but also I cannot sing this vet's praises loud enough. He was honest, practical and very good with them both - I don't know if you have anywhere where you list all the vets but I can say I will drive 60 miles round trip to him every time now!

Catherine x
 
Catkin said:
I have an update!

I went to SIMON MADDOCK in Duston, Northants and he was AMAZING!

He was so nice and kind to both piggies, finding they are both in fact boys (I know I should have known this, but I'm new to these little ones), instead of girls!

He gave Noodle Erythromycin, and probiotic (so, you can give it to youngsters) and had Noodle back this morning - the middle mass has been reduced to nothing and all is well! He has also advised me to consider neutering once they are bigger as Super is rather overbearing.

So, basically I thought I'd give an update, but also I cannot sing this vet's praises loud enough. He was honest, practical and very good with them both - I don't know if you have anywhere where you list all the vets but I can say I will drive 60 miles round trip to him every time now!

Catherine x
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Lol! Welcome to the boars club! :))

Did he say why he prescribed Erythromycin? I wasn't sure that was suitable for piggles.
 
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AndreaJane said:
Lol! Welcome to the boars club! :))

Did he say why he prescribed Erythromycin? I wasn't sure that was suitable for piggles.
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No, he didn't - he did say there was a risk with gut flora, but that's why I had a probiotic. I know in humans (my current studenting) it gives pretty bad stomachs, but Noodle seems absolutely fine!
 
furryfriends said:
Was it Zithromax (azithromycin) or erythromycin that he prescribed?
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No, you're right it's Zithromax - I heard it wrong then have read it wrong since (I don't have anything to blame it on either). Have just read that erythromycin would be a BAD idea! Deary me, my brain!
 
Dear everyone,

I was NOT prescribed erythromycin - it was Zithromax!

I feel pretty silly "):x:red
 
BRILLIANT NEWS! I'm so pleased to hear that things are going so well! (And glad that you unwittingly chose names which I think are equally just as cute for boars as they are for sows!)

About the neutering...was it suggested that neutering would change their behaviour or have I misunderstood that? It's just that I always understood that neutering guinea pigs does not affect behaviour (just stops their ability to reproduce).
 
Great news! Zithromax has saved my Hywel, too!

Good that you have chosen names that don't need changing!
 
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