Eric has an abcess

[Zofia]

I took Eric to have his teeth done on Friday. The vet had to sedate him because he was trying to eat the file. While he was sedated she noticed he had an abcess. She said that it looks like he's had an allergic reaction to the sutures used in his castration. She drained it as best she could and gave us baytril to give him.

I've taken him in again today and they're going to anaesthetise him to drain the abcess and remove the old stitches. I'm really worried because she said that it could spread into his abdomen and if it does he could die.

Has anyone else had this? It's just one thing after another at the moment.

 

[Glynis]

No i'm sorry i've not experienced this
But wanted you to know that i'm thinking of you both, mega loves and healing wheeeeeeeks for little Eric xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>
I'm sure one of the other lovely members will help you soon love x

 

[Laura-CCC4]

As long as the abscess is flushed and kept open - to heal from inside out - it should be contained in it's capsule. Personally I feel its a bit far fetched to say he could die from it if it spreads; there is a chance but it's really not as life and death as that.

I have had abscess dealt with in two ways:

1) Lanced and necrotic tissues scraped out. The pus never recurred despite the absess healing over on the outside.
2) Keeping the wound open and flushing with diluted Povidone Iodine / Chlorhexidine Gluconate. Some use Hydrogen Peroxide, which may help in certain situations. In my experience the wound needs to stay open for at least 3-4 days, with flushings being done 2-3 times daily.

The only problem I ever had was keeping the thin incision open; I could only get a 1ml syringe tip in to flush when the abscess burst and left a hole.

I know it is worrying, but it is very possible to overcome this. *Hugs* to you.

 

[Zofia]

Thanks. They drained and flushed the abscess yesterday. They gave him a baytril injection and put Baytril in the wound itself in an attempt to stop it filling up again. They had to put a nylon stitch in each side because they are concerned that, due to the location, there is nothing separating his guts from the outside world.

Last night he was very sleepy from the painkiller they gave him and wasn't eating. I decided to put Babe in with him to see how he responded and he perked right up. I've left her in with him because he's eating now so she's obviously cheering him up. This morning they were doing a pig train around the cage, whereas yesterday he was just lying in his bed looking miserable.

This morning I checked him and the abscess hasn't filled up again yet, although there is a pea sized lump slightly above the original swelling on one side. The vet wants to see him again tomorrow. I'm really impressed with how much effort they're putting into this.

I've got Baytril to give him twice daily and I'm cleaning the wound with salty water twice daily too.

 

[frank]

I would follow the vets advice but the pig should be fine since you caught it soon.

 

[rw3399]

I hope Eric is feeling better soon xx

 

[starla]

hope he is feeling himself soon. Two of mine have had abscesses.

They have both been under the neck, so unfortunately I can't comment on the location, but the first time I didn't realise the abscess was there, it burst on its own so I cleaned it with salt water, took him to the vet (who gave baytril to give orally) and I cleaned around the abscess every day, managing to get out all the thick pus. There is watery, yellowish pus around the capsule, but the capsule itself is thick and hard-ish stuff, this has to be gotten out in order for it to heal.

The second time, I discovered the abscess before it burst, took her to the vet, who lanced and drained the watery pus, and left me to flush/squeeze out the hard pus myself, unfortunately the wound closed up before I had the chance to get it all out, so it came up again. I had the vet open it up again and this time I managed to get the hard pus out (over a number of days!) It seems to be healing now, touch wood.

Good luck with eric

 

[Cookie22]

Yes, i've had this with one of my piggies called Basil. He's dead now. My mum and I noticed a spot like thing on his side one day so we took him to the vet and she said he's got an abcess, so the vet drained it out and he didn't put poor Basil out, he just took him into the other room and i could hear him tweeking. And he then had a whole where the puss had been, and he gave us some medicine to give him. We had to bave it all the time because it kept oozing and it started to smell so took him back to the vet who said it had got infected so he had to have an operation to remove the area where the abcess is and he had a big scar down his side.
He was ok for a couple of weeks and thought he was going to be ok but i think he was in shock of what happened to him so he died.

Hope Eric gets better.

 

[sueonmull]

Have just been reading about post castration abscesses. Apparently they are very common, sometimes as a reaction to the suture material (catgut or chromic)- Vicryl is recommended. Also can occur if the fat pads have been replaced which can cause bruising.
I suspect he's not feeling very comfortable at the moment but fingers crossed he'll pick up shortly. Good luck with the vet tomorrow.

 

[Zofia]

Have just been reading about post castration abscesses. Apparently they are very common, sometimes as a reaction to the suture material (catgut or chromic)- Vicryl is recommended. Also can occur if the fat pads have been replaced which can cause bruising.
I suspect he's not feeling very comfortable at the moment but fingers crossed he'll pick up shortly. Good luck with the vet tomorrow.

Actually, I don't think he's that uncomfortable - he's eating plenty and chasing his new Mrs. round the cage!

Vets is tonight. He feels a bit lumpy but not like before. It could either be that it's filling up again or just swelling from his op. We'll find out tonight, but (fingers crossed) hopefully we're over the worst now.

It was internal dissolvable stitches he's reacted to, I don't know what type these are. I've asked for "Diseases of Domestic Guinea Pigs" by Virginia Richardson for Christmas. Hopefully, having that will make me a better informed owner!

 

[Zofia]

I'm still getting used to learning about guinea pigs, I feel a bit useless at the moment. 3 years of being mum to 8 rabbits have made me a bit of an expert when it comes to rabbit health but I didn't know anything about rabbits to start with. I guess my gp knowledge will pick up in time!

 

[rw3399]

It's a learning curve for everyone so don't be disheartened - everyone needs help as some stage. Hope the vets visit goes well

 

[Zofia]

The vet had a look last night and said that it hasn't filled up with pus again, althought there is some fluid. He said it doesn't need draining and just to keep giving Baytril. he wants to see him again on Monday.

He also said that the other similar abscesses he'd seen tend to come back after a few months and it really depends on eric's ability to fight infection.

I weighed Eric yesterday again. When i got him he was 1450g and the vet said he was v. overweight. At the rescue he'd not had any exercise and just used to sit in his bed. He lost 50g a week for the first two weeks. When he was feeling very poorly with the abscess he lost 50g in 2 days. Since Monday he's lost 25g but he has been in with Babe so has been much more active as they've been chasing each other about. He now weighs 1275g. Should I be worried about this? Or is this normal weight loss because he's more active? I've no idea how fast guinea pigs lose weight when they're fat.

I do know that when Ernie was poorly he lost 300g in a week.

 

[Zofia]

Eric's going back to the vet tonight for a check up. I think he's better though - there's no lumps now and he's put the weight he lost back on. He's back up to 1350g.

Fingers crossed he gets the all clear from the vet tonight. He'll be relieved to be off antibiotics, and he hates the cleaning with salt water.

 

[Zofia]

Eric got the all clear a few weeks ago, but then a week later the abscess came back. It ruptured and we squeezed the pus out. He did not go back on Baytril but a week later it had cleared up.

Eric is now lump free, nice and chubby and seems very happy.

Surprisingly, even though I had to medicate him and clean him when he was sick, he seems to like me more now! I take him out every day and turn him over to check for lumps before giving him a cuddle and then putting him on the floor to play. After I've checked him (which he doesn't seem to mind?) he is quite happy to sit and have his chin tickled for ages. He snuggles right down into my legs and goes to sleep!

I wonder if he knows I helped?

 

[MrsM]

I believe that the bond between the piggy and the carer in times of sickness deepens because you're fussing over them, giving them lots of love and you'll be associated with feeling better... That's sweet...
Glad he's all better!x>>

 

[charlie23]

Hello hunni, Glad hes all better
I just wanted to ask how long was it after the castration you put his mrs back in with him as you should give a 5 week drying out period as the piggy train game you mention sounds like him chasing her trying to mount her! I believe pregnancy can still happen after a castration has just been done through left over sperm

 

[Zofia]

Hello hunni, Glad hes all better
I just wanted to ask how long was it after the castration you put his mrs back in with him as you should give a 5 week drying out period as the piggy train game you mention sounds like him chasing her trying to mount her! I believe pregnancy can still happen after a castration has just been done through left over sperm

His abscess showed 4 weeks after castration and then it was another week before we put them together. They've been together about a month now I think, so there's no chance she's preggers.

 

[frank]

glad your boy is better and that he still loves you

 

[wales1000]

Thanks. They drained and flushed the abscess yesterday. They gave him a baytril injection and put Baytril in the wound itself in an attempt to stop it filling up again. They had to put a nylon stitch in each side because they are concerned that, due to the location, there is nothing separating his guts from the outside world.

Last night he was very sleepy from the painkiller they gave him and wasn't eating. I decided to put Babe in with him to see how he responded and he perked right up. I've left her in with him because he's eating now so she's obviously cheering him up. This morning they were doing a pig train around the cage, whereas yesterday he was just lying in his bed looking miserable.

This morning I checked him and the abscess hasn't filled up again yet, although there is a pea sized lump slightly above the original swelling on one side. The vet wants to see him again tomorrow. I'm really impressed with how much effort they're putting into this.

I've got Baytril to give him twice daily and I'm cleaning the wound with salty water twice daily too.

we had the exact same thing with our Louise - he was chopped, then he had a massive absess on his bottom bits - it cost us £290 to get him sorted as we had to take him to emergency vets, we think it was something to do with the casturation, but he's fine now.