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Help! Just Adopted Our Pigs And One Has A Giant Sore

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Critique

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we just adopted 2 awesome pigs from friends of ours. One had a very swollen hind quarter and yesterday it seems to have burst open.
It is quite vile looking but seems way too big to be an abscess or a cyst.
Not sure what this is or what to do. IMG_0850.webp
 
It could be a cyst or abscess,I've seen them that size. Give it as best a clean as you can, keep it on very clean bedding and take it to the vet tomorrow. They'll check it over and give you antibiotics and pain relief.

If it doesn't stop bleeding or it's really causing pain you might have to take the financial hit and go to an emergency vet tonight.

How is he/she acting?
 
Not really in a place to afford a vet visit.
She acts like it isn't even there. No pain, lets us pet her, eats like a pig.
We use the CareFresh 99% dust free natural paper bedding.
The folks we adopted them from also placed puppy pee pads under to help with cleaning, but we found they tend to pull it up and chew and we figured that wasn't good.
Read something about being able to use human neosporin and some 50/50 mix hydro-something to keep it clean....
If you look close, it looks like a tumor that came out.
Worth noting, there is no odor which we read helps differentiate between abscess and cyst.
 
Oh gosh I would take it to a vet asap. Is there no way someone coukd help you with the cost for now? x x
 
That guinea pig needs to be seen by a vet, no question.
Even if she (he?) is acting fine, the wound needs to be properly treated.
If you can't afford the vet then maybe you should approach the people you got them from.
If you have only had them for 24 hours then the old owners should help with the bill (or pay all of it) as the guinea pig was obviously unwell when you took her on.
 
That does not look good. :no::no::no: Guinea Pigs are very good at hiding pain and illness. Take her to the vets as soon as possible. It needs to be treated properly. It looks like it needs a good flush out too. If left for any length of time it could become very nasty indeed. Is there anyone who could help with the cost?
 
I too would advise a vet visit as the longer it's the left the more costly it could turn out to be and the higher chance of a deterioration in the piggy. Guinea pigs are excellent at hiding pain until it's too late and if they have only recently been adopted then an M.O.T. wouldn't go amiss. Bathing the wound in salt water to prevent infection would be a good step and make sure she doesn't bite or scratch it.
 
@Critique An overall health check, like a car MOT. Pigs are very good at hiding an illness so I always like to take a new pig for a checkup when I get them, and at least once a year, again like a car gets it's MOT once a year.
 
Just a general check up to be sure nothing is amiss. I belive Vets for Pets (though not the most cavy savy) have reasonable prices and I think that they have a free consultation when you first sign your pet up with them. A general health check for a piggy usually costs around £20. It is only expensive when the drugs etc come into it.
 
@Critique Unfortunately something that size is going to need a vet visit even if you don't want to go immediately.

As you adopted the pig in this condition then I really don't think it's unreasonable to ask for financial assistance from the previous owners if you can't afford it yourself.
 
I agree with all the others, she needs to see a vet asap :( If you cannot afford the vet bills then please find a reputable Rescue near you that will take her in & look after her. An infected wound could be fatal to her otherwise.
 
Ouch that really does look quite nasty, I think I even see some bedding in the wound? I agree with the others that it needs a good flush out by a vet and perhaps something to help lessen the chances of infection and aid healing....and pain killers too most likely.

If you are having trouble with the vet fees please discuss possible options with the previous owner. As you only just adopted this guinea pig it would be nice if they can contribute even a little bit for treating this issue. A lot of vets also offer the option to break down a payment into installments to make it easier to manage.
 
Looks like we will be starting with filling a bowl with salt water and giving her a bath to soak out the wound first and see what's under all that nastiness.
I'm sure this won't make many folks here happy, but while we are very responsible pet owners, we weren't seeking pigs. We re-homed my dog when we moved in together a couple weeks ago (after 2 years and hundreds of $$ trying her Doberman was not going to get along with my golden...long story) and the friends that wanted her 'asked' us to take the pigs in exchange. We (and the kids) researched guinea pigs for a week before saying yes and between the 5 of us the pigs are quite spoiled with a very nice cage and tons of fresh vegetables and occasional fruit as well as plenty of floor time and an outdoor playground fence.
My thing is that for a pet that cost $19us at the pet store that we just got a week ago, I'm hesitant to blow hundreds of $$ when I can just get a new one for $20.
Had this been a year from now, I would certainly feel differently...
Anyway, guess I'll wash her off and see if I can get to the skin and see how bad this is and repost.
 
Can you update your profile with your State/Province please if you are not in the UK ? I appreciate that vet bills in the US are extremely expensive :( Unfortunately as the new owner you are responsible for her so to prevent her suffering you need to get her seen by a vet as soon as possible, that wound will either become infected (if it isn't already) or get bigger & will be causing her pain :( As I said, if you are unable to pay vet fees then either get her previous owner to take her for vet treatment as it is unfair of them to expect you to pay the costs, or surrender her to a Shelter/Rescue or at least contact them for advice.
 
I'm sorry but irrespective of the circumstances that Guinea pig needs to be seen by a vet urgently, no ifs no buts. If you cannot afford this then you need to rehome to a suitable rescue for proper care. As for your second to last sentence, I hope I misread/ misunderstood this as I cannot fathom how you can make this statement.
 
Oh my word. A salt bath? May I just suggest you create a nice open wound taking up the majority of your backside then try sitting in a bath of salty water. How painful would that be?

I do hope there is a reputable rescue in your area that you can take this poor girl to. Your last post suggests you consider that she is disposable so I think the best thing you can do for her is to give her to someone that will give her the care she deserves.
 
Critique said:
Looks like we will be starting with filling a bowl with salt water and giving her a bath to soak out the wound first and see what's under all that nastiness.
I'm sure this won't make many folks here happy, but while we are very responsible pet owners, we weren't seeking pigs. We re-homed my dog when we moved in together a couple weeks ago (after 2 years and hundreds of $$ trying her Doberman was not going to get along with my golden...long story) and the friends that wanted her 'asked' us to take the pigs in exchange. We (and the kids) researched guinea pigs for a week before saying yes and between the 5 of us the pigs are quite spoiled with a very nice cage and tons of fresh vegetables and occasional fruit as well as plenty of floor time and an outdoor playground fence.
My thing is that for a pet that cost $19us at the pet store that we just got a week ago, I'm hesitant to blow hundreds of $$ when I can just get a new one for $20.
Had this been a year from now, I would certainly feel differently...
Anyway, guess I'll wash her off and see if I can get to the skin and see how bad this is and repost.
Click to expand...
I'm sorry but how can you call yourself a responsible pet owner when you are not willing to seek vet treatment when she clearly needs it and are saying you could just replace her if the worst should happen?
 
@Critique you may not like what I am going to say but as a staff member on here I feel I must speak very plainly. The piggy in the photograph needs veterinary help. You need to find out whether it is a cyst or an abscess that has burst. The piggy will probably need antibiotics, almost certainly needs pain relief, and may even need the wound surgically debrided by a qualified veterinary surgeon and then sutured. Cleaning with saline is simply not going to cure the problem.
All members posting on this forum are directed to the statement at the top of the page. This includes adhering to the five freedoms. One of these is freedom from pain injury and illness by seeking rapid diagnosis and treatment. Please take this piggy to see a vet. Or surrender the piggy to a shelter where it can get the care it needs.
 
Critque, i am echoing the post of vickiA. You need to seek Veterinary treatment for your guinea pig above. They are your responsibility and so I ask you as one pet owner to another to fulfill your responsibility as a owner and get the guinea pig medical attention - if you are not prepared to do this please surrender them to a shelter or a vet.

recommended vets in the NC area can be found at Veterinarians: North Carolina - Guinea Lynx Records

Shelters and rescues here Guinea Lynx :: US Guinea Pig Rescue and Shelter Organizations
 
Ok, we have decided to suck it up and go to the vet in the morning.... we filled a large tub with lightly salted water for irrigation and worked out about have of the thick nasty stuff. Very surprisingly she showed no signs of discomfort or trying to get away... she even ate a carrot while my fiancé worked the stuff out.
Once the area was irrigated it looks more like a tumor/growth inside than just a cyst cavity or abscess. We shall see what the vet says...
In the interim we have separated her from the other piggie and put her in a freshly cleaned backup cage with food, water and some Timothy hay for the night.
She seems very unaffected by the whole ordeal and is puttering around, eating and drinking as normal.
Will keep everyone posted.
 
@Critique Poor little sausage. Thanks for taking her to the vet tomorrow, I know how expensive the little critters can be, but if needs must we have to find the money somehow. You can guarantee they always become poorly when our finances are that their lowest.

I'd be interested to know what the vet decides it is. I imagine they'll do a more thorough clean with their vet medicated wash stuff and you'll probably get antibiotics.
 
Hope all goes well at the vets tomorrow. Please let us know how she gets on.
 
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