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Guinea has hole in leg... Advice needed asap please!

C

Cleggy1611

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hi
My Guinea pig is about 7 years old. I noticed a hole about the size of a 5p on his back leg when I was cleaning him out the other day. It was filled with white puss. I bathed him and cleaned the hole. He doesn't seem to be in pain and is eating, drinking and behaving normally.

I took him to the vet yesterday who squeezed a large amount of puss from his leg. She seemed to be in two minds as to whether it was tumourous or a cyst and initially suggested anti biotics. However, after some discussion we decided that the best thing to do was to put him to sleep.

I'm starting to have second thoughts. He's continuing to behave normally and seems to be generally ok. I'm going back to the vets today for the appointment to have him put to sleep but don't want to do this if it isn't necessary. On the other hand, I don't want him to suffer. Can anyone offer any advice?
 
If your little guy is maintaining his weight and happy I wouldn't put to sleep. Is the leg bothering him, how is he coping with it? Is it possibly an abscess if it's refilling?
 
Thanks for the reply. As I say, he's behaving normally and it doesn't seem to bother him.
 
It might be just a cebaceous cyst that burst? Can you post a picture so we can have an idea how it looks?
 
Cleggy1611 said:
hi
My Guinea pig is about 7 years old. I noticed a hole about the size of a 5p on his back leg when I was cleaning him out the other day. It was filled with white puss. I bathed him and cleaned the hole. He doesn't seem to be in pain and is eating, drinking and behaving normally.

I took him to the vet yesterday who squeezed a large amount of puss from his leg. She seemed to be in two minds as to whether it was tumourous or a cyst and initially suggested anti biotics. However, after some discussion we decided that the best thing to do was to put him to sleep.

I'm starting to have second thoughts. He's continuing to behave normally and seems to be generally ok. I'm going back to the vets today for the appointment to have him put to sleep but don't want to do this if it isn't necessary. On the other hand, I don't want him to suffer. Can anyone offer any advice?
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Hi!

It sounds like a burst cyst to me, which is harmless, but will likely keep refilling in time. My Hafren had a large burst sebaceous cyst removed just a month before her 7th birthday. The general vet I saw immediately when the cyst burst and bled quite heavily due to its more unusual fleshy bits walls while my specialist vet was on holiday was worried about a potential tumour but those fears didn't materialise when I had her seen and operated by usual vet.

But as long as your piggy has good quality of life, the cyst is not interfering with his mobility and he is not suffering, there is no reason to put him to sleep yet. Your vet can only give you a recommendation but the decision has to always be yours. ;)
 
If you pig is fine in himself and is still eating and running around like normal and there is no change to his behaviour, then I'm not sure why your vet is considering putting him down.
My Daisy had a subaceaous cyst on her leg which burst and left a hole on her leg and she lived a normal happy life. She was put on antibiotics for a week. It did keep filling up but I just gently squeezed the pus out periodically.
Personally I would monitor him and see how he goes or get a second opinion from another vet,
 
Honestly theres no way I would put a guinea pig down for just a cyst. I would advise getting another opinion from another vet.

I've had piggies in the past with small wounds (including one right now) and she's just fine. My vet said its nothing to worry about (he's piggy savvy). As long as your pet is eating, acting like a normal animal and not puffed up looking depressed I wouldn't follow that advice.
 
Was the pus quite thick and non smelly or was it more liquidy with a very bad smell?
 
Cleggy1611 said:
It was quite thick and smelled bad.
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If it really smelt bad then it is an abscess (I nearly passed out in the vets from the smell of one). Your piggy doesn't necessarily need an operation but will need antibiotics and then you need to keep the wound opened and flushed regularly so that it can heal from the inside out so it doesn't trap anymore of the infection. It might be worth looking at seeing a cavy savvy vet to get on top of it asap
 
Do you know if your vet works at a certified small animal practice and not just a run of the mill cats and dogs practice? It sounds very strange that they have immediately jumped to euthanisation and without making accusations it could be that they just aren't aware that there are other options before that.
 
If your piggy has an abscess they are not pleasant but can be dealt with.
My Jemimah a very nasty abscess which required regular flushing with Hibiscrub.
Unfortunately it kept recurring so last year she had it surgically removed and has been fine ever since.
Hope your piggy makes a full recovery
 
Well done.
Strange vet PTS option
You stick up for piggie all here behind you.
I know 7 is a good age. very
 
Hope your piggie is still with you x Maybe a second opinion would be good from another vet if your first vet only wants to put your piggie to sleep. Abscesses are treatable x
 
Just caught up with this thread. Pleased you didn't opt to PTS. He sounds a happy chappy and he will tell you when he's old and tired and ready for the Rainbow Bridge which isn't just yet.
 
Glad hes been given a chance, just think, some pigs live to about 9 , hes not done yet. Good luck old boar
 
I'm glad you didn't put him to sleep for an abscess that isn't interfering with his quality of life! Keep on cleaning it and allow it time to heal from the inside out. It may be hard to get it to heal completely, but as long as he is eating and behaving normally it's a manageable infection.
 
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