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Burst Sebaceous Cyst on "Sid"

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dochunt

dochunt

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Hello,

We have two beloved piggy's called Sid and Keith who are around five and a half years old.

We noticed on Wednesday night that a lump above Sids leg had burst, the hair was all gone and there was a gash which about 3/4 inch long by about 1/4 inch, under the gash was a thick yellowy substance which would pop out when squeezed then return. (sorry if anyone is eating while reading this).

We rushed him to the 24 hour vet who cleaned out (flushed) the wound and made an appointment at his vet the next day to pick up anti-biotics ("Baytril).

I should mention that the procedure left a large gaping and bleeding wound at the site.

We had been giving him the antibiotics twice daily and feeding lots of vitamin C rich foods until his vets appointment for a check up today. Frustratingly, last night the wound seemed to have crusted over and we were fairly confident that by this morning it would be fine but he must have bit at it overnight and it had opened up again.

The vet asked if we would like to go ahead with a removal under GA but we are extremely worried about doing this at his age and asked that this only be considered as a last resort as he is eating and drinking fine and behaving normally. I should mention that he has had a similar procedure done under GA and turned out fine but was considerably younger at the time. We were given extra anti-biotics to give twice a day, "Activon" (honey) to apply to the wound once a day and told to give a vitamin c supplement come back for an appointment in a week.

My questions:
1. Should we be flushing out the wounded area with salt water or anything else?
2. Is there no way a "lampshade" collar could be fitted to stop him getting at the wound to allow it to heal (the vet mentioned this was impossible with piggies)?
3. Is there anything else we can do to help him?
4. Is five and a half too old for undergoing GA procedures?

thanks in advance for any replies,

two very worried piggy lovers
 
Correction to the above: the trip to the piggy A&E (24 hour vet) to flush out the cyst was on Monday night.
 
Sorry I have no advice, just wanted to wish him well. Hopefully someone with some knowledge will be on shortly to help.
 
Is there anyway of covering up the wound, with a bandage or tubegrip type thing, to prevent him scratching or biting it?
 
Could you contact Suzygpr on here or another one of the excellent rescue owners for advice ?
I've seen piggies with skin conditions wearing a tubigrip bandage to prevent them scratching etc. so maybe something along these lines may help the wound heal...?/
Lots of hugs and healing vibes to Sid x>>
 
Thanks very much for your replies and concern, the wound does seem to be closing up but he keeps biting at it over night so its one step forward.......

He has an appointment at the vets tomorrow to figure out what to do next, I am really only considering GA as an absolute last resort because of his age and because (except the wound) he is fine and is eating and just seems his normal self.

I asked the vet about some kind of way of covering up the wound but was advised that because of the position he would have it removed in no time.

Thanks again for your replies and fingers crossed for tomorrow.
 
Hello all,

We decided to hold off on the GA route because of Sids age (5 and a half) and have been giving him antibiotics twice a day and vitamin supplements with his dinners. We have also been putting Manuka honey on the wound daily.

As of today the wound seamed to have healed over and the swelling was right down so we were hoping that the vet would be happy with everything and pretty much give him the all clear. Not so, to my horror when the vet squeezed the area a load more puss came out of what we thought was healed and also out of a couple more areas around the wound.

Our options given from (different) vets: 1. keep going the way we have been with antibiotics, Manuka honey etc and monitor (empty the cyst) regularly.
2. Have him put under GA and get the cyst completely removed and stitched up.

At the moment he seams absolutely fine (except the cyst) and is eating normally, playing with his brother and just his usual self. This is my dilemma, at the moment he is very healthy so should be able to cope with the GA (which he has had done before to remove a similar cyst). On the other hand why risk the GA on a (otherwise) healthy piggy?

Thanks in advance for any advice all of which is appreciated.
 
I should add that we live in Glasgow but would be prepared to travel any distance for treatment.
 
dochunt said:
Hello all,

We decided to hold off on the GA route because of Sids age (5 and a half) and have been giving him antibiotics twice a day and vitamin supplements with his dinners. We have also been putting Manuka honey on the wound daily.

As of today the wound seamed to have healed over and the swelling was right down so we were hoping that the vet would be happy with everything and pretty much give him the all clear. Not so, to my horror when the vet squeezed the area a load more puss came out of what we thought was healed and also out of a couple more areas around the wound.

Our options given from (different) vets: 1. keep going the way we have been with antibiotics, Manuka honey etc and monitor (empty the cyst) regularly.
2. Have him put under GA and get the cyst completely removed and stitched up.

At the moment he seams absolutely fine (except the cyst) and is eating normally, playing with his brother and just his usual self. This is my dilemma, at the moment he is very healthy so should be able to cope with the GA (which he has had done before to remove a similar cyst). On the other hand why risk the GA on a (otherwise) healthy piggy?

Thanks in advance for any advice all of which is appreciated.
Click to expand...

I think you are right to hold off. Also if they remove the rest of the cyst they will need to stitch him up and he will still be able to get to the wound right? I don;t see how the vet thought you would be better off?

If he is leaving it alone more and more and they air is getting to it then that's a good thing.

It's possible to use a thin bandage and micropore tape i suppose but he could have a nibble at that.

Personally it sounds like you are doing it right to me.
 
I have just gone through neally the same thing and decided to go down the general anesthetic route, read my thread "swollen face" she was fine before but now she is very ill with post op complications, I think you need to weigh up your options based on your circumstances which with every pig is different. I didn't have a choice and took the vets advice, it hasn't gone well but not having the op wouldn't have helped either. If you can get rid of all the puss and see if it will go away with antibiotics while your piggy is fine then that is what I would personally do, but if your piggy is suffering in anyway or if the puss keeps coming back I would then resort to surgery. Just like with your own children, mother usually knows their piggys better than anyone and can make the right choice!
Hugs and wheeks from usxxxx
 
Hello,

Thanks for your replies. We have arranged a consultation at the surgery with the vet who would be carrying out the procedure and are using this as a second/further opinion.

It is the same surgery where he last had a cyst removed under GA and the results were flawless although it was on his back and he could not reach it.

To be honest we are leaning towards getting the cyst removed under GA in the hope of a permanent fix, but will wait to see what the vets thoughts are tomorrow.

Thanks again for your replies and your kind words.
 
Sid is on the left (ginger) of the photo by the way, hogging the food bowl from Keith.
 
Firsty - is this actually just a cyst or is this in reality an abcess? - the description sounds more like an abcess to me as whilst material can be squeezed out of cysts (and guineas can live with cysts for years with no problems) the gunk is generally more granular and often grey/white. Cysts do not extrude pus - that is indicative of an abcesses/infection and is normally yellow or green in colour (and stinky :)>>>)...and requires a different "risk analysis" when considering options.


If you don;t opt for surgery then normally it is a daily process of squeezing/flushing the area with either salt water or dilute hibiscrub (again it will depend upon whether this is a cyst or an abcess).


Both types of lump normally have a capsule around them which is why it is difficult to ever eliminate/stop more gunk being produced, why many antibitoics given orally cannot reach the site of any infection and why surgical intervention is often the best route for abcesses where there is a risk of the infection spreading throughout the body if the capsule breaks down under the pressure of being squeezed regularly.


It IS possible to put a collar on a pig to stop them nibbling - please see Little Pigs thread (although the photos have been removed)....
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=74774&page=7

..there is the problem however that a collar prevents grooming and eating of caecotrophs which you will have to help the piggie with whilst the collar is on


Given that this has been going on for some time now and it may actually be an abcess rather than a cyst, it may be a good idea to get second opinion - Glenn at Apex Vets in Denny is used by a lot of forum members as he is very good with piggies (especially anaesthetics) and I believe he is seeing one forum member's piggie today for abcess removal.
http://www.apexvets.com/home

Finally if it is an abcess, then it might be worth doing a culture to test which bug is causing the problem and whether it is resistant to the antibiotic you are giving. Zithromax antibiotic is used by Simon Maddock at Cat and Rabbit clinic in Dunston Northampton with very good results for stubborn abcesses
Simon Maddock
Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic
1 Limehurst Square
Northampton

Telephone 01604 478888
http://www.catandrabbit.co.uk/

Edit: forgot to say, normally the GA will be gas rather than injectable and means provided your piggie is given a clean bill of health pre-op in terms of lung/heart function by the vet, even at his age there shouldn;t be a problem providing your vet is experienced with piggie GA's

HTH
x
 
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Whilst I can't offer advice on what's best for Sid, I just wanted to add to Pebble's suggestion about abscesses. I've had a pig with a sebaceous cyst (on her side) and a pig with an abscess (on the lower abdomen) both at the same time! rolleyes

Boris' abscess was very similar to what you describe - lots of stinky yellow pus. This appeared from nowhere and burst before I could get him to a vet too. Pippa's cyst though, did not bother her for months and was lanced by the vet at the same time Boris was treated. The contents of this were a similar consistency to cream cheese - very thick, but kinda grey in colour with no smell.

For my two, the treatment was almost identical, I had to flush the wounds at least twice daily with a dilute hibiscrub mix and squeeze out all pus/other stuff to allow it to heal from the inside out. They both had a course of antibiotics too. Boris' abscess cleared quite quickly and the wound soon became too small to fit the syringe in and *touch wood* he has been fine ever since. Pippa's cyst still doesn't bother her, but it healed in such a way that it created a 'plug' and a small gap was left open. I'm actually glad of this, as it has refilled, but is now easy to expel!

Good luck to Sid, finger's crossed he makes a quick recovery, whatever you choose x
 
Hi all, I am fairly certain it is a cyst as it had been noticed by the vet and was recommended to be left alone unless it grew. When it "burst" it was the odourless thick cream cheese stuff that came out (same as today when squeezed by the vet).
 
Hi there,
If you can get there, or phone them, the Dick Vet in Edinburgh has an exotic department which is very good at this sort of thing. I had a foru year old piggie who was attacked and had open wounds which they dealt with without a GA. They can (I think) use a local for older piggies, or very light GA (gas) which will let them clean it out properly. Mine didn't need it because he was so chilled he would let you do almost anything without wriggling.

The Dick Vet has a primary care service, so you can just phone them up (ask for Jo Headley or Emma Keeble) or you can be referred by another vets. I'd opt for the first though, as second opinions referrals can be might expensive...

Hope this helps!
Kate
 
Hiya - I was in the middle of composing a reply to your email earlier when visitors arrived - now that i have some time to give a full reply I see that Pebble has given you a superb answer.

I have a pig that has perennial sebaceous cyst that is inoperable due to it's location and I empty the cyst weekly as needed. If a perennial cyst is located in a site with good skin margins so the wound can be closed safely it is the option I would go for.

I have also used zithromax successfully where other antibiotics have failed to clear a very difficult abscess.

HTH

Suzy x
 
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