Even more problems with Sookie

[scpiggy]

I thought my girl Sookie was finally out of the woods but it seems I was wrong. Having had surgery to have her kidney removed she's been struggling to get her weight up, she also had an eye infection and got mites. I'd finally got her weight above 800g, both eye infection and mites have been treated and cleared up with no problems. I thought this was the end of all my worries but the past 3 days she's been loosing weight again and it looks like she's developed an abscess where she had the surgery. It's only small, about the size of a pea and when i squeeze it creamy coloured pus comes out.
I've never treated an abscess before, so could anyone give me some advice. I'll be taking her to the vets tomorrow, but is there anything I can do in the meantime? Should I try and clean the pus out myself or should i leave it to the vets? Could having the abscess be causing her to loose weight? Is it likely she'll be given antibiotics for it? I hope not because last time she was on antibiotics she stopped eating all together.

 

[Guinea pig slave]

Oh goodness, poor Sookie
It sounds as though the op site has become infected hence the abscess and will need treatment from your Vet - I have no experience of this so hope someone can come along and advise you further.
What ABX was Sookie on previously ? If it was Baytril, it is the big guns ABX and can cause anorexia in piggies which leads to a whole heap of issues A good pro biotic alongside helps piggies on Baytril.
Zithromax I believe is the better one for abscesses - your Vet will likely drain it leaving an open wound that will need to be flushed.
Hugs to you and Sookie x

http://www.guinealynx.info/abscess.html

 

[scpiggy]

Thanks for the information and the hugs.
She was on baytril before, and the whole time she was on it I was syringe feeding her recovery food which I believe has probiotic in it. I will probably get some more of this to help put her weight up again and in case she goes off her food. I've only ever been given baytril as an antibiotic but I've never seen an animal as miserable on it as Sookie was, when I took her off it she brightened up instantly. I hope if I get given zithromax it goes down better than the baytril.

 

[Guinea pig slave]

How is Sookie today ? Ask for some pain relief for her too when you see your Vet x

 

[Poppy'sMum]

Poor Sookie I have a piggy that seems to be sensitive to antibiotics, she suddenly got diarrhea each time she was given them, both for UTIs. I now ensure she has a couple of syringe feeds each day whilst on them, I also monitor poos like a hawk & at the first sign of any soft ones I stop all veggies for a few days & make sure I syringe feed in place of them, obviously giving lots of hay & dry food is fine too. I'm not sure why this is happening, at the moment she is on Marbocyl, touch wood that seems ok but the last reaction was to Septrin even though she has had it lots of times before. Sookie will need antibiotics so Zithro max is the best for skin problems, definitely ask for that & I would not squeeze or attempt to do anything to the abscess yourself, except maybe bathe gently with a salt solution (1 teaspoon to a pint of warm water that has been previously boiled) You may also want to ask the vet for some Zantac liquid & some Emeprid to keep at home, in case her gut movements slow down you can then start her on those straight away as these things often happen at the weekend!

The other thing is, does she has adequate pain relief? She should be on Metacam too, that will help the pain from post-op & any pain the abscess is causing her.

 

[scpiggy]

Sookie is doing alright today thanks, she has put on a bit more weight since yesterday.

I hope your girl is ok Poppy'sMum, fingers crossed she continues doing well on the marbocyl. Since discovering the abscess i have left it alone, I'll leave it for the vets to deal with. Hopefully the vets will give me some zithro max, I will deff ask for some, they are very experienced so I'm confident she will be in safe hands. She was on metacam after her operation but she has been off the pain meds for about 2 weeks now, I will ask for some more to help the pain the abscess is causing her. Good job she likes the metacam.

 

[scpiggy]

Sookie is back from the vets. She has had the abscess cleaned and been given zithromax, metacam and some more recovery food. I've been told to keep the abcsess open and clean it with salt water that has been boiled and left to cool, at least three times a day. The vet thinks it might have been caused by sookie having a bad reaction to the disolvable stitches they put in, i dont blame her for trying to pull them out now. The vet also seemed confident that because it's so small and so localised that the antibiotics should clear it up with no trouble, lets hope he's right.

 

[piggyfan]

I really hope cookie is well soon.

 

[Guinea pig slave]

That's positive news and poor Sookie hopefully will be herself again very soon.
Lots of healing vibes and hugs for you both x>>

 

[scpiggy]

I'm happy to report that Sookies appetite is still there, she's tucked into some melon and pepper this morning and even told off my youngest who, as always, tried to steal what Sookie was eating. She's gained even more weight and is back up to 800g xx>>>
She really hates me cleaning her abscess though I know it's needed for her to get better again, but I feel awful doing it.

 

[guinea_pig_gal]

I know it's not a pleasant job, but I had a piggy prone to abcesses and had to keep the wound open and squeeze it everyday until it had gone, he was also on an antibiotic and pain relief. I'm glad your piggy is eating. One of mine hasn't been very well and he's tucking into his food now, which has cheered me up so much.

 

[scpiggy]

Great news that your boy is tucking into his food. It is a wonderful feeling to see a pig that has been off their food start eating again.

 

[piggyfan]

That is great!