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Abscesses in Guineas...

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caviesmum

We're quite experienced with rabbit health but now have a problem with fudge- our one year neutered male.
Noticed this morning he had a large lump on the left side of his jaw area.
A visit to the vet has confirmed a suspected abscess and he is booked in tomorrow morning for an op to remove/clean out abscess and inspect his teeth with a view to removing any teeth that may be infected or causing him problems.
He is still his usual happy go lucky self and still eats well on all his usual things with his two lady friends.
has anyone any experience with abscesses in guineas and what sort of problems are we likely to encounter in the future?
We are pretty certain, like in rabbits, that when they've had one, they usual keep getting them- just looking for some advice, tips etc etc.
fingers crossed!
thanks
 
I'm not very familiar wth abscesses in piggies but as far as I'm aware usually an abscess is lanced and any fluid removed from the lump is sent off for inspection for any nasty things. I think this is done without anesthetic but can't be certain. The negative aspect with abscesses is the possibility of them filling back up again once lanced which is the same with rabbits I think. There are a lot of people on here with a lot more experience than me but hope this info and the link helps.

http://www.oginet.com/pgurney/abcess.htm
 
It is unnesessary to aneasatize and remove a neck abcess.It needs to be lanced and backflushed.These abcesses are fairly common in gp`s and are unlikely to affect the teeth.They can get dental abcess but this would cause the gp to stop eating,and there would most likely to be puss in the mouth.There would probably be a smell from the mouth as well.
What your piggy has is most likely to be just a common abcess.You will need to keep the wound open for a few days by backflushing,2 to 3 times a day.The vet will show you how to do this easy task.Diluted Hibitane/Hibscrub is the best thing to use.You could pack some high potency manuka honey into the wound after cleaning.
A course of Baytril will help stop the abcess reforming and a vitimin C supplement will also help.
Most times the abcess will not re occur.
 
I have had occasions of two abscesses in my pigs.

The first was on Sally, who has since passed away but I hasten to add not in connection with the abscess - just old age. She had an abscess under her jaw line which was probably caused by a piece of hay lodging in her gum. It did burst ... which I have to say was not very pleasant ... but after some antibiotics, she never suffered from one again.

The second time it was on Shaun. It was caused by bites on his back done by his brother Stuart, I guess when puberty hit. The bite got infected and I had antibiotics for it, but unfortunately the wound healed over before the infection had completed gone. Hence, several weeks later, the abscess erupted again ... and I mean erupted! :...

Basically, then I had to keep the wound open and let it heal from within first. Again, I have not had a problem with Shaun since. By the way, they are both castrated and living separate lives now.

I am sure that with the right treatment, everything will be fine.
Keep us posted.
 
After comments you guys have made and a couple of guinea experts we've spoken to on the phone, we've decided to cancel tomorrows op as we're not too pleased about the diagnosis from the vet we had and are going to travel a bit further and see someone who we have more confidence in.
The vet we saw today didnt look in his mouth, said he had to go under general anesthetic and took no samples of the lump.
Because of our experience with bunnies and also speaking to a really knowledgable lady on the phone who rehomes guineas, we decided to check the lump ourselves by inserting a needle and syringe(after hibiscrubbing- its like a mini vets in our house anyway).
We got pus out (which we felt was good as it confirmed an abscess rather than a tumour) and despite alll this, he is still really tucking into his cucumber,hay,a bit of carrot andvarious other guinea delights without any problem which as you guys so rightly say, pretty confirms its not a tooth related problem.
We'll update everyone tomorrow on how fudgerooney gets on but in the meantime, thanks for all your help.

P.s. He's the plain tan coloured one in our avatar...the one in the tube and the one nearest the camera are his girlfriends......
Altogether now.....Ahhhhhh^)
 
Hopefully you get a better result with the new vet you are seeing. They look like such a happy family - aaahhh ^)
 
:)p thanks to everyone who replied to this...as i speak he is under going surgery with the original vet...as we took him to a different vet first thing and they said it was his teeth,that he didnt get enough vit c?!
he wanted to do the same as the other vet plus a xray for alot more money.
we talked about it and decided that the first vet was our best hope?!
does he get enough vit c? the 3 of them get either a large carrot, piece of red pepper, 3rd of a satsuma each a day plus obviously green stuff.
ie kale ,romaine lettuce,cauli and leaves,spring greens, broccoli etc.
i was told that this is enough to give them their daily vit c..
now i feel like ive been harming them as the 2nd vet said that his teeth were wobbly and missaligned due to not enough vit c..is this right?
what do you give yours to ensure the right daily amount?
humans dont make their own vit c ,we eat veg and fruit, i dont take supplements!?we have the peter gurney book on guineas and it says just to make sure they have plenty of fruit and veg with vit c in.surely he knows best?
HELP!:{
 
From what you have said it does sound like your piggie is getting plenty of what he needs and also most dry food now has a good quantity of vitamin c in it as well. I hope the op goes well and he is home with you and his cage mates soon xx
 
Vets see animals as money making objects, I feel.
I have a Shar-Pei and as soon as I walk into the local clinic I can see the £££ signs come up in the Vets eyes.
I would have done the same as you and checked the abcess first, as you have done. Make sure to open the wound up at least twice a day and check for puss, I have a boar that has been fighting and I would let that wound heal just yet as its quiet a deep one, keep flushing it every day.

My thoughts are with where has the abcess come from? Does his girlfriends bite him or has he been between them fighting?

Regarding the Vit C and lack of vets only get a basic training on small rodents and if anything is wrong with them its to do with lack of Vitamin C. I had a sow with swollen front legs and the vet thought it was to do with Rickets!
Guinea Pigs also dont need to be under anaestic to do teeth either like a lot of small rodents, I know that the CCT will do general teeth care without an anaestic.

Emma x
 
I have dealt with abscesses three times and once gone, they have not returned.
 
Well, He's back and looks abit of a mess as it was a big abscess but fingers crossed it doesn't come back.
We're going to flush it two or three times a day to help ensure nothing nasty stays in there.
The vet did say though that she looked at his teeth whilst he was under and there are some serious issues that will have to be dealt with later,once he has recovered and got over this abscess bit---it would appear many of his back teeth are a bit "allover the place" and need a good sorting out.
She did however say itwould have to be done under G.A. so we will probably hunt down a better Guinea vet in Kent- don't care about the travelling!.
Thanks for all your help and advice folks

kellie x
 
Hopefully he'll be feeling more himself soon. I don't understand why the vet didn't tidy the teeth up while he was under anesthetic if they were in need of trimming?/
 
she said they were not that bad at the mo but would need to be done in 2- 4 weeks?! we will be going to the meopham vets as someone on here said that they were good.....will phone first to make sure they will be able to do him without g.a.
where the hell are decent vets in kent??we have had soo much trouble with incompetent ones..
thanks to everyone again who has helped with the advice..
i thought he was getting enough vit c.!
we will take all the guineas to the meopham vet to get a check on the teeth front..:(|)
 
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