• 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

Eek - Willow Has A Lump!

Status
Not open for further replies.
You can wipe her tummy with a warm damp cloth and wipe dry. Avoid any bedding that will make her wet I case it gets on her wound.

It's a good idea to give probiotics 1-2 hours after each antibiotic dose as baytril is harsh on the gut flora- do you have any at home? Pro-c, avipro plus, fibreplex, bio lapis?
 
@Adelle Ive removed the pig sofa (tbh if I was a pig I'd just want to not move from it!) and popped in the Carrot Cottage (she was on the pig sofa but under a fleece - the cottage gives her the shelter she's wanting) but I've put the food just outside. She can see it, its to encourage her to move a bit for it.

I don't have any probiotics, but I will bear that in mind. However, she's on a teeny dose (0.13ml twice daily) but then she is a teeny pig (360g)!

Also, she's in the indoor play pen, away from Marble, because a) she's not fully mobile and b) I'm not willing to risk Marble 'interfering' (even with the best intentions!) just yet. So I think they're missing each other, or at least both noticing that this is strange as they've never been alone before :(

Hoping a good night's rest will help Willow 'shake off' the after effects of today, I have to remember that this is a major event for a baby pig and it might take some time for her to recover :hug:
 
Tiny said:
@Adelle Ive removed the pig sofa (tbh if I was a pig I'd just want to not move from it!) and popped in the Carrot Cottage (she was on the pig sofa but under a fleece - the cottage gives her the shelter she's wanting) but I've put the food just outside. She can see it, its to encourage her to move a bit for it.

I don't have any probiotics, but I will bear that in mind. However, she's on a teeny dose (0.13ml twice daily) but then she is a teeny pig (360g)!

Also, she's in the indoor play pen, away from Marble, because a) she's not fully mobile and b) I'm not willing to risk Marble 'interfering' (even with the best intentions!) just yet. So I think they're missing each other, or at least both noticing that this is strange as they've never been alone before :(

Hoping a good night's rest will help Willow 'shake off' the after effects of today, I have to remember that this is a major event for a baby pig and it might take some time for her to recover :hug:
Click to expand...
If she's that little I'd be even more inclined to get some probiotics. It's easier to do that than to have to deal
With an upset gut :-)

She sounds like she's doing well! If she seems to be pining for er companion at any point then I'd try them back together, as comfort from her buddy can only help her recovery :-)
 
Thanks for the tips :)

Had to do a 3am check (of course, neurotic mama ahoy!) and all is well. She was outside the cottage having a forage and looked a lot perkier (sitting on back legs). I'll reintroduce them tomorrow under supervision, I'm more confident that Willow will be able to move away if Marble gets a bit too interested :)
 
I wouldn't keep them seperate any longer, she will recover much better if she is with her friend, plus the wound is under her chin is that right? That would be hard for the other one to access anyway. Make sure their cage is nice & clean & pop her back in with her friend, just make sure she is active & eating etc & weigh her daily at the same time :)
 
Thanks @Poppy'sMum :)

She went back in with Marble this morning, I just wanted her to get through the night alone (so I could better monitor pees/poops/eating).

I'd say she's now about 70% back to being herself, she's a bit skittish and nervy and although she is eating, she's nibbling more but I guess big mouth movements may cause pulling on the surgery site? She's already been on top of the carrot cottage, so is back to full mobility, but she does then take a little rest and hides away. We're just shy of 24 hours though, and I'm aware it could be a few days until she's recovered from the anaesthetic. However, the more cautious eating aside, the wound doesn't seem to bother her, and Marble's not been overly boisterous so I feel it's going very well. :)

Tbh, the fact that the lump was only discovered on Wednesday afternoon and then removed on Friday, plus she's a young and otherwise very fit piggie makes me hopeful that she's got the best prognosis :)
 
That's great it sounds like she is well on her way to recovery :) Lumps can be common in young ones, I had a 5 month old piggy that had an op to remove an abscess on her rump & it didn't take long for her to get back to normal. Do you have any pain relief from the vets? She might need a little bit for a day or two, just monitor her eating/pooping/weight & I am sure she'll be fine.
 
We have Baytril and Metacam, both twice a day for a week. Yesterday evening she took them without a fight, today she's been really squirmy so at least she has her energy back! ;)
 
Hi @Tiny Can I ask how old willow is? she sounds like she's doing great! well done you! I had my two checked over at 4mths old and I have to say although the vet was lovely and said she was guinea pig OK it seemed such a quick yes they are fine goodbye . ... so I'm sure if they had lumps or even have them they would have been missed in the very quick check up they had.
CAN I pry into your vet bill though if you don't mind. are you under any plan for all this or did you have to pay up front? only cos if there was anything out there I could start up besides saving money back each month I would take it.... my general check up and medication for lice cost me enough so I can't even imagine what you have had to pay. I know we just find it cos we have to but any help us always a big plus. so glad she seems to be on the nend
 
She's just a baby - 2 months old! The bill is *ahem* substantial, haven't added up the bits and bobs exactly but it's over £200. I'm under the understanding from here that there's only 1 UK insurer of guinea pigs but I have substantial savings aside for 'rainy day' things just like this. Have also heard horror stories from other pet owners (not pigs, rabbit and dog mostly) about insurers either dragging their feet or contesting payouts so decided to avoid that route. I don't have kids, a car, or any expensive hobby, so I see this as part and parcel of responsible ownership, however, it's just unfortunate that they'd been with me for less than a week when this happened! I think I was also very fortunate with my 4 pigs in the past in that they never needed this level of vet care, so it's been a very busy/frightening few days!
 
Jojessgaz said:
Hi @Tiny Can I ask how old willow is? she sounds like she's doing great! well done you! I had my two checked over at 4mths old and I have to say although the vet was lovely and said she was guinea pig OK it seemed such a quick yes they are fine goodbye . ... so I'm sure if they had lumps or even have them they would have been missed in the very quick check up they had.
CAN I pry into your vet bill though if you don't mind. are you under any plan for all this or did you have to pay up front? only cos if there was anything out there I could start up besides saving money back each month I would take it.... my general check up and medication for lice cost me enough so I can't even imagine what you have had to pay. I know we just find it cos we have to but any help us always a big plus. so glad she seems to be on the nend
Click to expand...

Definitely worth getting a quote for insurance, I have spent nearly £4,000 on an uninsured piggy in the past, that was for several operations & treatment for urinary tract infections etc. I use Exotics Direct & they are excellent when it comes to paying.
 
Absolutely! I did briefly look at a quote that was around £15 a month for each pig... my initial thought was "Over £300 a year? I've never spent anywhere near that over any of my pig's lifetimes!"...
 
Tiny said:
Absolutely! I did briefly look at a quote that was around £15 a month for each pig... my initial thought was "Over £300 a year? I've never spent anywhere near that over any of my pig's lifetimes!"...
Click to expand...
That's cheap, I would do it :) I never had any big vet bills until my last three..............you might be lucky though lol :)
 
Well, I have been up until now :))

I'm not sure if Willow's abscess would make the premiums more expensive (I imagine it would, just by thinking about 'people' insurance :))) but as I say, I'm not in a bad position for this kinda stuff and I do top up the 'rainy day'/piggy fund when possible :)
 
No it won't stop you insuring them or make your premiums higher, I have one who has had an abscess removed & it didn't make her premiums more :)
 
It's one of them . ... you just don't know if you will need it.... but if you don't you can bet you get a sick piggie so doing it may well give them a healthy life!:yahoo:
 
:btt:

Went out to see fireworks tonight, initially umming and ahing about going, but Willow has been fine and Marble's been fine with her so went, came back, through the door and Willow's wheeking for food :))

I was concerned with keeping them feeling safe with the fireworks, covered the cage with a towel and popped Radio 6Music on, Willow's bounded over to the edge of the cage as if to say 'who turned out the lights, mum? This is not on and I'll only forgive you if you bring food!'

This is fine until next Baytril/Metacam time where she'll squirm and hate me :))
 
IMG_2224.webpOh dear, had a really squirmy pig on my hands at syringe time! We get through it (and I've mixed it with juice... doesn't seem to make things any easier!), but she's so wriggly! I'm not experienced in syringe feeding, and don't want to 'pin' her as she's so small. It doesn't take overly long, perhaps only 5 minutes, and she's not tried to nip or bite, but she's an expert in syringe avoidance :))

Looking like a little lioness with shaved neck (I used that massive leaf of greens to persuade her to pose; it worked, her appetite is fully restored :)))
IMG_2231.webp

Playing tug 'o' war with Marble :)
IMG_2224.webp
 
Update: back to the vets for a post op check, Willow's neck was a little swollen apparently (it's hard for me to gauge, she's always been chunky in her short time with me :/). The vet tested it with a needle - cue major squeals of displeasure - and confirmed it was just post op swelling and because the abscess removal leaves a cavity it can fill with a clear fluid (she did say the name of it, sounded like miasma/shiasma?!?) but there's no signs of any recurrence of the abscess.

I need to be ultra vigilant with the Baytril and Metacam as that'll help reduce any swelling, and we're going back on Thursday for a post post op check :))
 
Seroma! That's what it is!

Willow's neck is massive :(. Saw the vet on Tuesday morning and it had swollen right up by that evening so I rang the vet to see if I could bring her in this morning, she said it's to be expected and as long as she's eating, pooping, is active etc then not to worry and to bring her Thursday as planned. Thing is, Willow is behaving exactly as you'd expect a piggie her age to, in every way! She's very vocal when it comes to food, is excitable, does the usual baby pig popcorning and zoomies...

I just hope we can see some resolution to this soon - she's too young to be going through so much :(
 
Awww... poor little love! Get well soon Willow :hug:
 
Hi, Willow here!

Mum's been really worried about me (she told the human she calls 'vet' that she was "in bits" but I don't understand what that means cos there was just one mum-shaped lump of her like usual). I don't like this vet man, he sticks a needle into my neck and squeezes until I squeak really loudly - that's not the proper way to cuddle!

Anyway, the only good thing about him is he says I'm OK and just have post op swelling that will go down on its own soon but it helps to drain it. 'Drain' is a short way of saying 'poke and squeeze me til I shout' :(

Mum asked him loads of questions and I think he was very patient with her just being a neurotic mummy! To overcompensate for my traumas (I'm an impressive squealer!) mum gives me loads of my favourite salad leaves after we see vet so it's not all bad! To show my appreciation I christened her, which I think she loved, especially my excellent positioning!
IMG_2316.webp
 
Update!

Took Willow back for her check up today. The lump (seroma) hasn't got any bigger, if anything it may have shrunk a little (though I don't like prodding her too much unnecessary). Vet had a check, is confident it remains nothing more than the post-op fluid build up, felt he didn't need to drain it (which I was relieved at; feel so sorry for Willow when she's had this done!). No more Metacam, continue with the Baytril (at a slightly higher dose as she's putting on weight), go back in a fortnight!

I can't help but admire this little dude, she's such a trooper! To have this at such a young age and to just take it all in her stride is fantastic. She's really shown her brave little personality through this, she's really sweet and trusting despite all the prodding and pokery (and my initially chaotic attempts at syringing meds - I'm a pro at it now, which can't be said for the haircutting!). I cleaned out the cage earlier and did a quick hoover after, Marble hid in the carrot cottage but Willow was really non-plussed, she's completely fearless :cool:

I've been to the vets seven times with her in a fortnight - I think this is more than all my previous animals combined in their lifetimes :yikes:
Wouldn't have it any other way though to make sure my fluffballs are healthy :hug:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top