Abscess formation one month post neutering.

[hnamrita]

Hello all,
I got my boar neutered one month ago so that he can share his home with three beautiful sows. Immediately after his operation he suffered from abscess formation. I got him treated and his surgical site seem to heal pretty well. However today morning I noticed he had a lump right above his surgical site, while i came back home i found him messing with the site and already rupture the abscess wide open. I have booked vet appointment towmorrow... but am scared regarding d big open wound he has now. He also seemed to have some laceration near his mouth..which is painful to him whn i went to clean it?. wat precaution should i take.?

 

[Wiebke]

Hello all,
I got my boar neutered one month ago so that he can share his home with three beautiful sows. Immediately after his operation he suffered from abscess formation. I got him treated and his surgical site seem to heal pretty well. However today morning I noticed he had a lump right above his surgical site, while i came back home i found him messing with the site and already rupture the abscess wide open. I have booked vet appointment towmorrow... but am scared regarding d big open wound he has now. He also seemed to have some laceration near his mouth..which is painful to him whn i went to clean it?. wat precaution should i take.?

Hi!

I am very sorry about the abscess!

Please ask your vet for azithromycin as an antibiotic; it is not licensed for guinea pigs, but it is safe to give as he strongest possible antibiotic - and that is what you need with a bad abscess. Marbocyl is a stronger version of baytril; both antibiotics can be used together is things are REALLY bad.

Abscesses are pus filled bags with side pockets; they heal from the inside out. this means that you and your vet need to keep the abscess open for as long as possible (5- ideally ten days) so any bit of infection can be drained out by twice daily flushing with a mild disinfectant like saline solution. Ideally you use a needle tipped 20 ml syringe to really get into the abscess.
Your vet may want to stitch back the opening in order to delay it healing shut (marsupialising). For as long as possible, you need work off any scab that has formed over the opening before flushing. It is not at all pleasant but it is vital. Any little speck of infection left inside an abscess means that it will come back again.

Please try to get hold of some recovery formula for syringe feeding in case your boy is losing his appetite from the antibiotic. This can happen with any of them.

The gash by the mouth is looking rather nasty; please disinfect it with saline.
You can make your own by mixing 1 teaspoon of salt into 250 ml/ 1 pint of boiled cooled water or you may be able to get sterile solution from a pharmacy.

Neutering operations: Considerations, post-op care and a successful recovery example

Abscesses are unfortunately the most common post-op complication with neutered boars.

All the best!

@furryfriends (TEAS) @Jaycey @helen105281