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Benjamin has an abscess...and I'm about to cry...

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if your having trouble with salt water you can use what i do for Boris's wounds.
Aloe vera,i brought mine in a spray bottle so that its quick,easy and minimal annoyance to the piggy,i just cover his face and spray,just thought i would let you know as it may help a little xxxxxx
 
If you want to get Benjamin seen at the Cat and Rabbit Clinic on Monday, you are going to need to say it's urgent as I can almost guarantee they will be fully booked all week. Some appointments are kept back for emergencies. It's always really busy there, but when Simon has had a week off people tend to wait for him to return rather than see the locum, so he comes back to a totally full schedule. The Zithromax is fantastic for abscesses, as Lucinda has discovered, but so few vets prescribe it.
 
Yes, I can't recommend it highly enough.

It is not licensed for pigs so you may have to sign a consent form, but I am sure Rocky would not be here if it weren't for the Zithromax.

Are you flushing with Hibiscrub?
 
Day 4 with Baytril. Ben seems almost his normal self. In fact, he could be his normal self...I'm just seeing him as more delicate as he has his 'wound'. Talking of the wound, it appears to be healing OK. On Tuesday the vet said that he couldn't see any remaining pus or anything so that was a good sign. He said to just bathe with salt water which I have been doing. I have also been sniffing him a little (Ben, not the vet!) and that horrible smell has all but gone now. So, I am hoping he is heading in the right direction. Still doesn't like taking his medicine, but I think I'm getting most of it into him so he'll be learning! Eating and pooing is fine so hopefully the little man will soon be better!:)
 
Emma, I'm so sorry to read this! I've only been able to come on with wap so not been able to look properly. Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry. He sounds like he's healing well though. He antagonizes dave then? sounds like my maggie-may and pheobe, I swear they wind the others up on purpose! well i bet he's learnt his lesson now! hope he's ok, and everyone else in your tribe and you!
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Baytril tastes absolutely horrible, whatever you try, and I have yet to hear of a piggy that will take it willingly! At least your Benjamin is too much of a gentleman to bite your fingers...

I am so pleased to hear that his wound has cleared and he is (nearly) well again!
 
Claire - thanks for your message...Benjamin is the biggest wind up merchant going! He knows he's boss pig and despite Dave being just as big a personality, he knows that he won't overstep the line. But does he leave well alone? Does he heck! However, he's been a good boy the last few days in the run with Dave so maybe he's learned his lesson...time will tell!rolleyes

Vickyt said:
Baytril tastes absolutely horrible, whatever you try, and I have yet to hear of a piggy that will take it willingly! At least your Benjamin is too much of a gentleman to bite your fingers...

I am so pleased to hear that his wound has cleared and he is (nearly) well again!
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Tell me about it! I had to wedge the syringe sideways in my mouth (not hygienic I know!) in order to lift him onto my lap properly after he wriggled out of my grasp...the vague hint I got of it wasn't pleasant! However, he does seem to know that it's doing him good as he hasn't tried to tear me limb from limb! I do have a chunk of cucumber to shove in his mouth when he's done too so I'm trying my best! Almost distracted him from the salt water thing too...just clamped a bit of wet cotton wool to his bum while he was munching...didn't struggle too hard!

He still has a scabby bum, but the wound looks much less fierce than it did. 24 hours til the next vet's visit so will see what they think then.
 
Just a piccy of the little man...he'd just had his medicine - took it all in one go tonight...he's getting very good!:)

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He's looking good, bless him! All your boys have such character, you can just imagine what Ben is thinking in that pic, he has such sweet expressions! Glad he's taking his meds more easily now. It is not the easiest of tasks when you or the piggie aren't used to it.

When I first had to syringe medicine to a guinea pig (this was 6 years ago now) it took three people to get the stuff into him! One to hold his body, one to hold his head still, and one to syringe the meds in. I'm mortified by it all now! Needless to say I have improved a bit since then - practice, after all, makes perfect. At least until you come across a really, really stubborn guinea. :))
 
I think he's figured out it's quicker just to take it now! I have him on my lap with his back against my stomach, his front paws rest on my hand which I use to cup his chin and attempt to keep his head in one place!:)) Not the most dignified position for him, but it seems to work!
 
Just back from the vets...and I'm ever so pleased! Woo hoo! The vet had a good look and feel of the scab and is satisfied that there is no more infection under it. It is healing well and she has kept him on antibiotics for another week and wants him to go back in on Saturday just for a follow up to make sure it's all gone.

Relieved? Not 'alf!-c
 
Oh, what good news! Ben must be happy and you even happier!

I love that pic of him! He has a presence, hasn't he?

I know more about trying to get baytril repeatedly into the wiggliest biter imaginable than I ever wanted - usually I was pleased if I got about half into hre mouth and not her fur, and tickled if the determined lady in question took it out mainly on the syringe and not on my fingers/arm... At least, compared to her, any piggy is "easy" now!
 
Harley we noticed had a big lump under her chin, but it didn't hurt her to touch it. We took her to the vet on Wednesday and it was an abscess. They had to lance it and get the pus out. Now it's still a big bump and hard and I'm flushing it (did the first at home flush last night, the second tonight). Is it normal for the area to be still a firm and hard? I'm worried that it has multiple chambers or something. I'm so happy to hear though that your little boy is doing much better. I hope Harley recovers equally as well. She is on twice a day baytril and the evening flushes with a betadine solution. This is my first encounter with a guinea pig abscess. I had a rat years ago that had one on the top of his head (tried to force his way under a door and scratched his noggin). It was small and I handled it at home easily by myself. I'm so nervous about Harleys that I'm looking for any and all advice from you experience piggie parents.
 
You must not expect too much to soon. Sometimes an abscess can take a few weeks to resolve. Keep flushing it out as often as you can, ie more than twice a day if possible. You do not want to let it heal over, which can happen in less than 24 hours.
I wonder if there is a known cause for the infection/abscess?
 
Gina told me they are often pasteurella.

I am still getting pus out of Rocky. Scarby's took about 2 months. They are a long haul.
 
Harley-Quinn said:
Harley we noticed had a big lump under her chin, but it didn't hurt her to touch it. We took her to the vet on Wednesday and it was an abscess. They had to lance it and get the pus out. Now it's still a big bump and hard and I'm flushing it (did the first at home flush last night, the second tonight). Is it normal for the area to be still a firm and hard? I'm worried that it has multiple chambers or something. I'm so happy to hear though that your little boy is doing much better. I hope Harley recovers equally as well. She is on twice a day baytril and the evening flushes with a betadine solution. This is my first encounter with a guinea pig abscess. I had a rat years ago that had one on the top of his head (tried to force his way under a door and scratched his noggin). It was small and I handled it at home easily by myself. I'm so nervous about Harleys that I'm looking for any and all advice from you experience piggie parents.
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This is my first time dealing first hand with an abscess really. By my reckoning, Ben must have been bitten on Friday or Saturday and by the Monday morning, the abscess had formed and burst. If you are worried about anything, then I would ring the vet and get them to look at Harley to put your mind at rest.

alcesterpigs said:
You must not expect too much to soon. Sometimes an abscess can take a few weeks to resolve. Keep flushing it out as often as you can, ie more than twice a day if possible. You do not want to let it heal over, which can happen in less than 24 hours.
I wonder if there is a known cause for the infection/abscess?
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With Ben, the abscess wasn't deep as far as we can now see. When we went to the vets on Monday and then Tuesday, the vet reopened the wound. Distressing to watch, especially when your piggy is looking up at you squeaking his head off. Despite bathing Ben's wound, there's nothing I could do to stop it from healing over.

Lucinda said:
Gina told me they are often pasteurella.

I am still getting pus out of Rocky. Scarby's took about 2 months. They are a long haul.
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I guess it depends how deep they are really. I am confident that Ben is shaking off his infection now - the vet said he was one of the biggest pigs she had seen and the fact that he was otherwise healthy and a strong boy has clearly worked in his favour. Bit like us humans I suppose - with a week immune system, any creature is more susceptible to anything.:) I had an ear infection that went on for over 9 months and tried 15 different antibiotics to get rid of it so I can appreciate what a pain in the neck infections can be!
 
I am fearing a set back...Ben has had a little bump next to where his wound was for the last couple of days. I've been prodding and poking and it didn't seem to bother him at all. However, tonight I was giving it a poke and it produced a bit of pus around where the scab was. (Apologies if anyone is eating and reading this!). The scab was no bigger than my little finger nail and with some salt water and a bit of persuasion, it came off. Underneath there were just two very small almost healed holes, one of which was where the pus was coming from. So, I squeezed all round the wound and more stuff came out. Poor Ben was chewing away at my arm but I think I got as much as I could out and the 'bump' isn't there anymore. Ben is at the vets on Saturday morning at 9 so I will see what they say then. In the meantime, I'll carry on as normal.
 
What i have heard on the board is that abscesses can be very obstinate and can come back... Even the tiniest bit of infection left can trigger it off again!

Sorry about you and gorgeous Ben!
 
Abscesses are rotten ailments to cure. They can have several 'pockets' of pus which wait until the skin has just about healed over before appearing. Poor old Benjamin!
 
Well, we're off to the vets again in a few minutes. His wound is now bigger again than it was, although it isn't technically 'open'. You can see pus around the plug in the middle though...I've tried bathing it to soften it, but nothing happened. Will let the vet manhandle him a bit rather than me! The bump hasn't reappeared so I'm hoping that's a good thing...

I've been whittling on to a vet friend of mine on FB...he has his own practise in America...has calmed be down a bit too!
 
We have to go back to the vets in two weeks (my birthday...fabulous!). She has given me some pevidene to use to flush the wound with (any tips on how best to do this would be great!). She has upped his dose of Baytril slightly too. Said Ben had lost a bit of weight (although the other vet didn't wait for the scales to settle) but not enough to worry about. I did mention the Zithromax and she said that if I want to try it for Ben I can but because it's not something they would normally prescribe for small furries, I would need to sign a disclaimer. Lucinda - I will be in touch for more information!
If he is no better in two weeks, she said I need to go and see the 'exotic specialist' at their sister surgery who would assess Ben and see where to go next. Surgery has been mentioned again, but only as a last resort and I really don't want to go down that road just yet.

He's still eating and pooing fine. Still running around as usual. I think we'll just sit tight for this week and see how he goes. If there's no improvement then I think we'll try and get some Zithromax and see how he gets on with that.

Ben's bum today, newly shaven, which will explain the hair! Poor boy...
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On a lighter note, a more relieved Ben in his box on the way home from the vets...
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