• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Barney's Cyst Refilled - How Much Salt To Put In Water.

Status
Not open for further replies.

AbiS

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Jul 20, 2013
Messages
3,706
Reaction score
3,967
Points
1,225
Location
Chester le Street, Durham
I took Barney to the vets a couple of weeks ago with a lump and he was diagnosed with a cyst that the vet squeezed loads of pus out of. I was to wash it with salty water and squeeze out any more pus twice a day for the next 10 days or so. However after the vets trips I was not able to get any more pus out at all so on day 3 I stopped because he was getting really stressed with me. I have just checked it again now and it has refilled so I will start squeezing it a couple of times a day again. But with the genius memory that I have I cant remember what the concentration of the salt water should be. I'm sure the vet said 1tspn in 3/4 pint cooled boiled water. Does that sound about right?

I feel so sorry for Barney because I am clearly hurting him when I squeeze it but there is no other option. If I manage to get it all clear this time and it refills I will take him back to the vet but just want to give it my best shot of clearing it before we have to start with antibiotics or surgery. It is not infected at the moment so I feel I have a few days to play with.
 
I got the recipe at 1 teaspoon for 1 pint of boiled cooled water, but it is roughly in the kind of ball park you are thinking off. You can also get sterile saline from pharmacy. Poor boy, it is not pleasant! Bedo has still not quite forgiven me for squeezing his abscess.
 
Thank you. Will get that made up tonight for tomorrow. Am I ok to put it in a glass bottle and use it for a few days or do I need to make fresh each time? I think he will be getting an awful lot of carrots and baby corn over the next few days - it is the only way I can get him to stay in one spot while I do it. Even though he still keeps jumping and trying to kick me :eek:
 
I would make it up fresh every couple of days if it is homemade. You can halve the recipe.
 
Poor lad, lots of healing vibes x
 
I'm really sorry that you and Barney are dealing with this :( Get well soon Barney.
 
Poor guy! You can also buy sterile saline at the pharmacy (I have it anyhow, as I use it to rinse contact lenses with.) It will cost a bit more but will save you the time of boiling the water over and over again. I hope he feels better soon!
 
I got saline pouches (like little tubes) for flushing out my old mare Chrizzy's leg abscess, much easier with a wiggly pig or stamping cross pony!
 
Poor little guy! Hope you can get rid of the nasty thing without taking the next step!
 
I hope it all goes well @AbiS don't hesitate to take action and go back to the vets if you suspect it is infected or Barney is going downhill though.
Is it a sebaceous cyst? Or cervical lymphadenitis (I have obviously not spelt that right) or something else?
 
I hope it all goes well @AbiS don't hesitate to take action and go back to the vets if you suspect it is infected or Barney is going downhill though.
Is it a sebaceous cyst? Or cervical lymphadenitis (I have obviously not spelt that right) or something else?

Ummm I have no idea - vet just said cyst although it does remind me of when MrS had a sebaceous cyst. Such a hard time with him this morning - it obviously hurts him when I squeeze it - even with a face full of food he was still trying to get away from me and trying to kick me! I felt so guilty!
 
Oh I just hate, hate, HATE doing it. Just tried again while he was having his tea. He just will not sit still - cant blame the poor boy - but it means I am not able to squeeze it enough to make sure there is nothing there. I feel totally useless. When I spoke to my mum earlier she said would it not be easier just to go and have it removed - I really don't want him to have a GA but if I am unable to empty it fully then it is just going to keep filling up. I have got a horrendous week at work this week so will keep checking it but I think we might have to go back to see the vet the week after. Wish he was human - I would just tell him to stop acting like a girl, man up and sit still. But he is just a little piggle and I love him but I have to keep hurting him :soz:
 
I'm so sorry for you both :( But you have to think of it like a baby that you have to give a vitamin K injection to or something. Its horrible but for their own good :(
 
I'm so sorry for you both :( But you have to think of it like a baby that you have to give a vitamin K injection to or something. Its horrible but for their own good :(
I know, you are right. Would be fine if he didnt keep jumping so much. I just manage to get in position when he jumps out of the way! He forgives me straight away though bless him! Thank you for the support x
 
He is ok - I was still struggling but discovered that if MrS holds him while standing in the kitchen and we give him carrot (barney not MrS) then he will stay still for a little while. Didn't get anything out of it last night so will try again tomorrow. It feels much smaller so fingers crossed it is on its way.

Thank you so much for asking x x x
 
Poor Barney is being such a brave boy. I have been squeezing his cyst every day for nearly 2 weeks and there is still pus being produced. He had been so good although it is a 2 person job. I am going to phone the vet tomorrow because i think we have to admit defeat and get some antibiotics. It still does not appear to be infected which is a good thing.

Should he have probiotics regardless of type of antibiotic or is it just if he is given Baytril?

Does anyone know which the best antibiotic is for cysts?
 
Poor Barney is being such a brave boy. I have been squeezing his cyst every day for nearly 2 weeks and there is still pus being produced. He had been so good although it is a 2 person job. I am going to phone the vet tomorrow because i think we have to admit defeat and get some antibiotics. It still does not appear to be infected which is a good thing.

Should he have probiotics regardless of type of antibiotic or is it just if he is given Baytril?

Does anyone know which the best antibiotic is for cysts?
For Sweep (and Haven) when they had a cysts (although Havens was very small, my vet did a swab each time to see what type of bacteria was in the cyst. In Havens case she had Baytril and that was fine, but in sweeps case it was a baytril resistant bacteria so he had to switch from baytril to Zithromax. :) Hope this helps :)
 
Thanks Jenny. Did you give probiotics as well? If so what is the timing? Is it 2hrs apart with antibiotics first?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top