Abscess surgery advice

[MichP82]

Hi, I previously posted about a lump on my piggy, Wiggles. He had antibiotics and anti inflammatory meds, which shrank the lump (this was late April). In the past week the lump has grown really big again. Been back to the vet who believes it is likely an abscess which requires surgery. He’s booked in, in a couple of weeks and we have meds again until then. Just wanted to hear others experience/advice on how to take care of him after. I’m pretty squeamish and heard the flushing of the wound can be quite gory! Also, should I be worried about the surgery itself? He’s only 9 months old, poor thing

 

[Freela]

Where is the lump located?

There are a couple of ways to tackle abscesses. The first is to remove the entire abscess capsule and then stitch the area up again. This is a more definitive cure, but there needs to be a certain amount of laxity in the skin to be able to stitch everything closed again. The good news is that this is pretty much a definitive solution and there's no real aftercare, the abscess doesn't reform because the capsule walls have been removed completely. One of my pigs had this procedure done on her lower back and it was the simplest abscess I've ever had to deal with!

The other method, which is necessary in circumstances where it's impossible or unsafe to remove the entire abscess capsule, is to open the abscess up, drain it, and have you continue to drain and flush it until it heals from the inside out. I've been here too with facial abscesses. I wouldn't say it's 'gory' per se, but abscesses are gross, pus smells terrible, and it's a process to irrigate and drain in a couple of times a day for potentially weeks or more. Ask your vet to show you the aftercare required, but my experience mainly was irrigating the hole with a disinfectant and then gently expressing any new pus twice a day, while giving antibiotics alongside.

Surgery always comes with some risk, largely because of the anesthesia. Vet will generally use a gas anesthetic with small animals, which is safer for them, and this will probably be a pretty quick surgery for him.

All the best and please come back if you have any questions in the aftermath, most of us have probably dealt with an abscess or two so there is some good guidance available!

 

[MichP82]

Where is the lump located?

There are a couple of ways to tackle abscesses. The first is to remove the entire abscess capsule and then stitch the area up again. This is a more definitive cure, but there needs to be a certain amount of laxity in the skin to be able to stitch everything closed again. The good news is that this is pretty much a definitive solution and there's no real aftercare, the abscess doesn't reform because the capsule walls have been removed completely. One of my pigs had this procedure done on her lower back and it was the simplest abscess I've ever had to deal with!

The other method, which is necessary in circumstances where it's impossible or unsafe to remove the entire abscess capsule, is to open the abscess up, drain it, and have you continue to drain and flush it until it heals from the inside out. I've been here too with facial abscesses. I wouldn't say it's 'gory' per se, but abscesses are gross, pus smells terrible, and it's a process to irrigate and drain in a couple of times a day for potentially weeks or more. Ask your vet to show you the aftercare required, but my experience mainly was irrigating the hole with a disinfectant and then gently expressing any new pus twice a day, while giving antibiotics alongside.

Surgery always comes with some risk, largely because of the anesthesia. Vet will generally use a gas anesthetic with small animals, which is safer for them, and this will probably be a pretty quick surgery for him.

All the best and please come back if you have any questions in the aftermath, most of us have probably dealt with an abscess or two so there is some good guidance available!

Thanks for replying. The lump is on his neck, under his chin. When we first went to the vet they withdrew some cells which suggested it wasn’t an abscess or cyst, so we had further tests to check for cancer. This came back kind of inconclusive I guess so he had the medication which shrank it right down but then it has grown again.

The vet who will do the surgery said they will likely not know what it actually is until they get into it. It’s quite strange. But they did said if it was an abscess it would need to be left open. Hoping it won’t keep returning! It doesn’t seem to bother him at the minute, which is good

 

[Freela]

Thanks for replying. The lump is on his neck, under his chin. When we first went to the vet they withdrew some cells which suggested it wasn’t an abscess or cyst, so we had further tests to check for cancer. This came back kind of inconclusive I guess so he had the medication which shrank it right down but then it has grown again.

The vet who will do the surgery said they will likely not know what it actually is until they get into it. It’s quite strange. But they did said if it was an abscess it would need to be left open. Hoping it won’t keep returning! It doesn’t seem to bother him at the minute, which is good

I'm glad it's not bothering him, at least! They should send you home with a syringe to keep clearing it out. Let us know how he does, hopefully it's a quick fix for him!

 

[weepweeps]

Hello. I’m sorry the lump has returned. I’ve had a piggy with a tooth root abscess. It was u see his chin too and was very large. He had to have it landed and stitched open as abscesses need to heal from the inside out.

What antibiotics did he have last time? Zithromax is a very good one for abscesses. He needed a long course of it. 6 weeks in total. And also a good amount of pain meds.

I’ll attach his thread here.
Dental? Pepper is off to the vets tomorrow

Page 5 has a photo of the wound.
Page 7 has a photo of flushing the wound.

I didn’t mind flushing the wound and it didn’t seem to hurt him either. You’ve got to try and pick off any scabs that try to close it up.

Good luck. Feel free to ask any questions.

 

[MichP82]

Hello. I’m sorry the lump has returned. I’ve had a piggy with a tooth root abscess. It was u see his chin too and was very large. He had to have it landed and stitched open as abscesses need to heal from the inside out.

What antibiotics did he have last time? Zithromax is a very good one for abscesses. He needed a long course of it. 6 weeks in total. And also a good amount of pain meds.

I’ll attach his thread here.
Dental? Pepper is off to the vets tomorrow

Page 5 has a photo of the wound.
Page 7 has a photo of flushing the wound.

I didn’t mind flushing the wound and it didn’t seem to hurt him either. You’ve got to try and pick off any scabs that try to close it up.

Good luck. Feel free to ask any questions.

Thanks for the info! Read through your thread, sounds like you had a rough time. I’m dreading it! We’ve only had them since April so still feel quite new to guinea pigs in general.

Not sure what antibiotics he’s had to be honest. I’m pretty squeamish so not looking forward to it at all. He doesn’t really like being held either. Have tried to attach a couple of pics. It feels huge now! Hoping the meds he’s on now will help to shrink it a little like last time. Worried I won’t be able to do it!

 

[weepweeps]

Do you have someone to help you? It’s always easier and quicker with two. Good luck. I’m sure you will be fine. Pepper didn’t seem to mind me cleaning it. He was more annoyed with the syringe feeding.

 

[MichP82]

Do you have someone to help you? It’s always easier and quicker with two. Good luck. I’m sure you will be fine. Pepper didn’t seem to mind me cleaning it. He was more annoyed with the syringe feeding.

Yeah my boyfriend should be able to help. I just worry way more than he does so know it’s going to stress me out. Feel sorry for Wiggles. He’s just a baby still

Thank you. Just checked and he’s currently on Baytril, think he had that last time too

 

[weepweeps]

It seems that the first course of Baytril helped but as it’s now come back you probably need a longer course. Every bit of bacteria needs to be killed or it will just refill.

I think your options are:
Try a longer course of baytril
Try another antibiotic. Zithromax is a good one for abscesses.
Operate to open it up and stitch it open and allow it to heal from the inside out. Also with antibiotics.

Are they on pain medication? And eating ok?

 

[MichP82]

It seems that the first course of Baytril helped but as it’s now come back you probably need a longer course. Every bit of bacteria needs to be killed or it will just refill.

I think your options are:
Try a longer course of baytril
Try another antibiotic. Zithromax is a good one for abscesses.
Operate to open it up and stitch it open and allow it to heal from the inside out. Also with antibiotics.

Are they on pain medication? And eating ok?

Yeah he is booked in for the surgery on 12th so hopefully the antibiotics have helped to clear it up a bit by then. He’s also on anti inflammatories as well I think. He’s eating ok yeah, loves his food (at the min anyway) so that’s good that it doesn’t seem to be hurting him. It’s just so big! Vet said she’s hoping it doesn’t burst before then. Also, checked the list of approved vets on here and she is on it, which is reassuring!

 

[weepweeps]

That’s great. Hope everything goes smoothly.

 

[MichP82]

So, Wiggles abscess has burst today! Managed to get an appointment with the vet tomorrow. He’s been covered in stuff, looks more watery than anything else. Have tried cleaning it a bit but he really doesn’t like it. Doesn’t like being held at the best of times! Any tips for cleaning? Also wondering if he will still need surgery?

 

[Merab]

Poor boy.
I would suggest gently cleaning with Hibiscrub if you have some. That’s what I used for abscess cleaning.
If it’s possible for you to get to your vet today they may sell you Hibiscrub as it’s not a prescription drug.
I’m not a health expert so am reluctant to suggest anything else.
Sorry you’re in this situation

 

[weepweeps]

Just clean it as well as you can until tomorrow. Good luck at the vets. Can you gently squeeze it to see if you can clear some of it out? If not don’t worry. The vet can do it tomorrow.

 

[MichP82]

Just clean it as well as you can until tomorrow. Good luck at the vets. Can you gently squeeze it to see if you can clear some of it out? If not don’t worry. The vet can do it tomorrow.

Have been trying to clean it with cooled boiled water, done it 3 times since it happened at lunch time. Can’t even see where is burst or any coloured pus or anything. Just so hard to do when it wriggles so much, poor thing. Yeah hoping the vet can give him a good clean tomorrow. Just concerned I won’t be able to do it very well myself after that and it may get infected

 

[Hath]

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your piggie. One of my boys had big abscess under his chin, seems like a same place.
Ruled out teeth issues, he lived with another male that would pick on him. I separated them and couple of days later found the lump. It grew fast from there whilst we waited for surgery day.
Seems like he got bitten before I moved him out.

We opted for surgery. His op site did break down, so we had to switch to healing it from the inside. Multiple vet checks to debride and me cleaning it twice a day. ATBs and Metacam. He did heal well and only issue I noticed was he struggled drinking. I think it was due to the angle his water bottle was, so I would offer him water after syringe feeding.
This was almost 2 years ago and never came back. I am guessing the fact they removed the whole thing, cleaning the site and heading from inside out was what worked. But we were at vets every 3 days. The cleaning is something vet has to show you as it was very specific.

Hope all goes well, my boy was then neutered and lives happy life with his wife!

 

[Hath]

Also, the cleaning and visibility will improve once vets clip the fur around. So don't worry too much, the things we're able to do because we have to for the sake of these babies.
Your vet should show you what to use and the technique. I found dental syringe easier to use to get the angle right.

 

[Merab]

Have been trying to clean it with cooled boiled water, done it 3 times since it happened at lunch time. Can’t even see where is burst or any coloured pus or anything. Just so hard to do when it wriggles so much, poor thing. Yeah hoping the vet can give him a good clean tomorrow. Just concerned I won’t be able to do it very well myself after that and it may get infected

Don’t stress yourself.
You are obviously doing a good job and piggies are notoriously uncooperative at times.
A vet showed me how to make a piggy burrito to keep said piggy confined for her treatment.
That helped.

Hope everything went well at the vets today.

 

[KK327]

Hi

Wishing your piggy a speedy recovery and good luck with everything

 

[MichP82]

Thanks everyone! He seems to be doing ok. The vet cleaned him up and cut the fur around. She said to just leave it and let it dry out. We have a pre op appointment on Tuesday to review it and see if he still needs surgery or not. There is still a small hard lump there (which is what it was originally), which she said may actually be a lymph node. Don’t need to clean it for not unless it looked messy. Still taking his meds and doing well with them. Hoping we won’t need the surgery will update again after Tuesday - wish us luck

 

[CTWC]

Best of luck

 

[weepweeps]

Good luck

 

[Merab]

Hope all goes well on Tuesday