Specialist Abscess on face - HELP

[Cherrychops100]

Hi there, my guinea pig had a large lump on her face so we took her to the vet. She examined her and said that she had 2 abscesses, so cut them open to drain the puss and bacteria. She's on antibiotics and we're draining it with hibiscrub to try and squeeze everything out. However there is a large lump in the same location that we though was part of the original lumps so we're trying to squeeze it and nothing is coming out. We had brilliant advice from cavie corner but obviously it's late now and need some advice as I don't know what to do as I've never had to take a piggie to the vet. Could someone give us some advice or help please, thank you in advance

 

[Betsy]

@GPTV has dealt with a Piggy with face abscess so may be able to advise.

 

[Merab's Slave]

I’m not a health expert but my feeling is that another vet trip is needed.
It’s no fun dealing with abscesses and they can take time.
A health expert will be able to give better advice

 

[Wiebke]

View attachment 125253
Hi there, my guinea pig had a large lump on her face so we took her to the vet. She examined her and said that she had 2 abscesses, so cut them open to drain the puss and bacteria. She's on antibiotics and we're draining it with hibiscrub to try and squeeze everything out. However there is a large lump in the same location that we though was part of the original lumps so we're trying to squeeze it and nothing is coming out. We had brilliant advice from cavie corner but obviously it's late now and need some advice as I don't know what to do as I've never had to take a piggie to the vet. Could someone give us some advice or help please, thank you in advance

Hi!

Please leave the large lump alone; it is likely another abscess that may need lancing and draining as well, but this should be done by your vet and not you. Your vet may also want to take another closer look at the area as it is obviously a bit more complicated than expected. Multiple abscesses like this are not quite common.

Try to ring your vet just before or as soon as they open tomorrow to hopefully bag their emergency slot for that first thing tomorrow in view of the weekend coming up.

Please follow the care advice you have been given; it is the one we would give as well. You may need to work the scab off that forms in the coming days in order to flush and drain the abscess for as long as possible. Abscesses need to heal from the inside out and any fleck of infection should come out to prevent the abscess from coming back again. They can be rather tedious to deal with unfortunately and are definitely no joy for you and your piggy!

What antibiotic have you been given?

@furryfriends (TEAS)

 

[Cherrychops100]

Hi!

Please leave the large lump alone; it is likely another abscess that may need lancing and draining as well, but this should be done by your vet and not you. Your vet may also want to take another closer look at the area as it is obviously a bit more complicated than expected. Multiple abscesses like this are not quite common.

Try to ring your vet just before or as soon as they open tomorrow to hopefully bag their emergency slot for that first thing tomorrow in view of the weekend coming up.

Please follow the care advice you have been given; it is the one we would give as well. You may need to work the scab off that forms in the coming days in order to flush and drain the abscess for as long as possible. Abscesses need to heal from the inside out and any fleck of infection should come out to prevent the abscess from coming back again. They can be rather tedious to deal with unfortunately and are definitely no joy for you and your piggy!

What antibiotic have you been given?

@furryfriends (TEAS)

Baytril 0.28ml twice a day and metacam 0.3ml once a day

 

[Wiebke]

Baytril 0.28ml twice a day and metacam 0.3ml once a day

That is very low on both counts! Have you been given dog or cat metacam?

 

[Cherrychops100]

That is very low on both counts! Have you been given dog or cat metacam?

I'm unsure it says 0.5x

 

[Cherrychops100]

I'm unsure it says 0.5x

She only weighs 720g

 

[Cherrychops100]

She only weighs 720g

And she's nearly 3

 

[Wiebke]

And she's nearly 3

Even at 700g the dosage is still very low for an abscess.

Please split the metacam dose into half and give every 12 hours as guinea pigs have a much faster metabolism than dogs and cats.
Ideally you do the same for the baytril. You can give in both cases the prescribed dose safely twice daily if necessary.

How piggy savvy is the vet you are seeing?
Recommended Guinea Pig Vets

 

[Cherrychops100]

Even at 700g the dosage is still very low for an abscess.

Please split the metacam dose into half and give every 12 hours as guinea pigs have a much faster metabolism.
Ideally you do the same for the baytril. You can give the same dose safely twice daily if necessary.

How piggy savvy is the vet you are seeing?
Recommended Guinea Pig Vets

I split the metacam in half and gave twice a day but I've only been given a small amount of medication

 

[Cherrychops100]

I split the metacam in half and gave twice a day but I've only been given a small amount of medication

I've only been given 10ml of each

 

[Wiebke]

You will need to see a vet over the remaining lump anyway, so you can discuss medication levels then, especially with an even larger lump still lurking.

General vets not familiar with guinea pigs tend to scale down from cats, but guinea pigs need higher dosages in comparison because of their faster metabolism.

 

[Cherrychops100]

You will need to see a vet over the remaining lump anyway, so you can discuss medication levels then, especially with an even larger lump still lurking.

General vets not familiar with guinea pigs tend to scale down from cats, but guinea pigs need higher dosages in comparison because of their faster metabolism.

Ah I live in Hampshire, is there anywhere you could recommend?

 

[Cherrychops100]

Ah I live in Hampshire, is there anywhere you could recommend?

I've just looked at the vet list

 

[Wiebke]

Ah I live in Hampshire, is there anywhere you could recommend?

Look at the green link in one of my previous posts.

 

[Cherrychops100]

Look at the green link in one of my previous posts.

Ah yes thank you

 

[Wiebke]

Ah yes thank you

If you add your county to location in your account details (accessed by clicking on your username on the top bar), it makes it appear with every post you make and allows us to tailor any recommendations to what is available/relevant where you are straight away.

 

[Cherrychops100]

If you add your county to location in your account details (accessed by clicking on your username on the top bar), it makes it appear with every post you make and allows us to tailor any recommendations to what is available/relevant where you are straight away.

I'm going to the vets tomorrow and I don't want it to be a wasted visit again so is there any advice on what to say/ask

 

[Wiebke]

I'm going to the vets tomorrow and I don't want it to be a wasted visit again so is there any advice on what to say/ask

Please discuss the faster metabolism of guinea pigs with your vet and what that means re. antibiotic and painkillers.
The general course of treatment with flushing/draining is correct.

How the large lump is going to be dealt with depends on how close to the surface it is. Abscesses near the skin are generally treated by lancing and if necessary marsupialising (stitching open) the hole of deeper and larger abscesses to allow flushing and drainage for as long as possible.
Deep sitting encapsulated abscesses are generally operated out.

PS: When my Bedo had some abscessed bite wounds on his face after he'd wiggled into another husboars cage, his medication levels were much higher, and that is allowing for weight.