Difference between cyst and abcess?

[PiggiePal]

Just wondering what the difference is and what people recommend to do for cysts?

 

[flips]

I have no experience of these myself but a similar question was asked recently and might be useful to you.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=53394&highlight=cyst

 

[PiggiePal]

oooh good on you Flips for being so up to date with the forum - you obviously spend alooooot of time on here @) x

 

[flips]

oooh good on you Flips for being so up to date with the forum - you obviously spend alooooot of time on here @) x

Far too much! |)

 

[Little Piggles]

I currently have two piggies; one with each

Boris' abscess came from nowhere and developed into a very large lump in just 24 hours. It burst before we could get it attended to and was full of lots and lots of smelly yellow pus. Surprisingly, it doesn't seem to have affected him at all and he is still bouncing around rolleyes

Pippa's cyst, on the other hand, developed very slowly and didn't seem to cause her any trouble at all. The vet had to pop a needle in it to confirm that it was a cyst. The stuff which came out was very, very thick and a grey colour, but did not smell at all. He advised that the sebaceous gland had 'gone into overdrive' almost and so this 'stuff' had just built up over time.

Both are being treated with baytril to kill any infection and having the wounds flushed to clear out any yuckiness which remains inside

 

[Laura-CCC4]

Exactly the thread I was thinking of Sharon!

I'll quote "myself" so's its on record here as well:

I too find that odour is often an indicator; abscesses are pockets of infection containing thick pus, whereas the contents of sebacous cysts is sebum, which is typically odourless. Also, swelling - if the lump is a more general swelling within the skin, as opposed to a lump that appears to be on otherwise healthy skin, then it's more likely to be an abscess. I have only come across one sebaceous cyst on a guinea pig, but plenty on dogs, and a few abscesses in guinea pigs, and in my experience there is a difference with regards to the lumps and any associated swellings. If that makes sense!