can anyone tell me more about how to treat them and things that can go wrong because of them? xx
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Abscess
- Thread starter KingBoris&HisFollowers
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Laura-CCC4
Senior Guinea Pig
In my experience, I feel the golden rule about abscesses is letting them heal from the inside out. The infection could get trapped inside again and cause the abscess to refill if the skin heals over, blocking your "access" for emptying any infection and cleaning it out. Ideally you'd want to keep an abscess open for at least 2-3 days after it's been lanced/burst - or, perhaps to be more accurate, at least a day after the pus has stopped filling up in the cavity.
While it is open, you will need to squeeze all around the area at least 2-3 times daily, to check for any new build ups of pus. It can be helpful to flush the cavity after squeezing as well; a 1ml syringe filled with saline is the easiest. I remember when Charlie had an abscess on his lower jaw, I was given a syringe of Metronidazole (Flagyl, an antibiotic) to flush with.
This is just what I've learned through my experiences of treating a few abscesses in my pigs, so I am sure others will have far more information to share with you.
While it is open, you will need to squeeze all around the area at least 2-3 times daily, to check for any new build ups of pus. It can be helpful to flush the cavity after squeezing as well; a 1ml syringe filled with saline is the easiest. I remember when Charlie had an abscess on his lower jaw, I was given a syringe of Metronidazole (Flagyl, an antibiotic) to flush with.
This is just what I've learned through my experiences of treating a few abscesses in my pigs, so I am sure others will have far more information to share with you.
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I can only give you my experience of them which is to say there very very annoying. The main thing is to keep it clean, don't panic (they look nasty) and to keep a watch as they can return. I'm sure there are different kinds for different reasons so the vet will be the best help.
alcesterpigs
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The universal rules for treating an abscess are, in order of importance:
1 Remove the cause, if known.
2 Establish drainage.
3 Give antibiotics , if needed.
Pus is the result of an infection. not the cause. If you flush the cavity with an antibiotic you are not treating the infection as such. Sterile saline solution is ideal, however it is preferable not to put it into the cavity under pressure from a syringe, there is a risk of spreading the pus deeper into healthy tissues. The same applies to squeezing out the abscess, this must be done with the finger pressure applied behind the abscess.
A deep seated abscess will probably need surgical intervention, this can be performed under a local anaesthetic.
This is not a procedure for those without the necessary training and experience.
1 Remove the cause, if known.
2 Establish drainage.
3 Give antibiotics , if needed.
Pus is the result of an infection. not the cause. If you flush the cavity with an antibiotic you are not treating the infection as such. Sterile saline solution is ideal, however it is preferable not to put it into the cavity under pressure from a syringe, there is a risk of spreading the pus deeper into healthy tissues. The same applies to squeezing out the abscess, this must be done with the finger pressure applied behind the abscess.
A deep seated abscess will probably need surgical intervention, this can be performed under a local anaesthetic.
This is not a procedure for those without the necessary training and experience.
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thanks for the help everyone,
Cooper has a small abscess and i was quite sure my vet told me the wrong thing so i wanted to check,he is almost recovered now as its only the size of my smallest fingernail and we are dlushing it with debrisol which the GP rescue over here recommended to me.
Cooper has a small abscess and i was quite sure my vet told me the wrong thing so i wanted to check,he is almost recovered now as its only the size of my smallest fingernail and we are dlushing it with debrisol which the GP rescue over here recommended to me.
Kira
Adult Guinea Pig
glad to hear that it has almost gone =D
Cavy2009
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My recent experience with Chocolate involved a trip to the vets where they lanced the abscess and flushed the wound out.
I was then told by the first vet nurse to wash the ound regularly and try to prevent it healing for a couple of days to ensure infection has gone.
However, a different vet nurse showed me how to 'clean' the wound by gentle massaging around the opening to flush out infection.
Chocolate was on antibiotics too bless him.
But I am now still checking the area to make sure that there is no further build up.
I was then told by the first vet nurse to wash the ound regularly and try to prevent it healing for a couple of days to ensure infection has gone.
However, a different vet nurse showed me how to 'clean' the wound by gentle massaging around the opening to flush out infection.
Chocolate was on antibiotics too bless him.
But I am now still checking the area to make sure that there is no further build up.
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