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I Think Maple Has An Abscess :(

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aimzer

aimzer

Adult Guinea Pig
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Just got home from night shift and noticed Maple's chin looked rather large and swollen. Had a closer look and it is hard. She is behaving and eating normally and did not seem to mind me touching it. She had dental work done around 2 months ago where she also had an abscess on her tongue where her back molars had been digging in. She recovered well and is back to her usual self. I am thinking this lump must be an abscess due to her teeth issues. The vet has seen her twice since the op and was happy with her and said her teeth looked fine.

Is the treatment for an abscess surgery? I am so worried about her!
 
I think it usually is, and the wound is left open so it can be flushed daily. The vet I use (Simon Maddock) always prescribes Zithromax too.
 
I have just taken her to the vet and dropped her off to have an lanced and opened up under anaesthetia. This will be her second op in 2 months. She's 5 years old. Really hope she get an OK!
 
Best of luck for Maple, sounds like your vet is cracking on with tackling the abscess which is good. The after care of cleaning out the hole left is really key but plenty of forum people have been through that so can advise if u need. I have had a few 5 year olds have surgical procedures now ( 5 year seems to be the problem year recently!) and they have come through the ops ok, just maybe bit slower to get back to normal compared to a youngster. Make sure you get some take home pain killers as well as AB but am sure you are aware of that if she has been through another op recently. Fingers crossed.
 
aimzer said:
Just got home from night shift and noticed Maple's chin looked rather large and swollen. Had a closer look and it is hard. She is behaving and eating normally and did not seem to mind me touching it. She had dental work done around 2 months ago where she also had an abscess on her tongue where her back molars had been digging in. She recovered well and is back to her usual self. I am thinking this lump must be an abscess due to her teeth issues. The vet has seen her twice since the op and was happy with her and said her teeth looked fine.

Is the treatment for an abscess surgery? I am so worried about her!
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The abscess needs to be lanced and stitched open (marsupialised) to keep it open for flushing with a mild disinfectant for as long as possible. If necessary, you need to work off any scabs forming. The longer you can do that, the better.
Simon Maddack uses zithromax as antibiotic and gives you a syringe with several sharp tips which you hold against the opening (NOT to pierce the skin!) to create as much pressure and get as deep as possible during a flush.

I had this last year with my 6 year old Hywel, who had a recurring abscess and needed two abscess operations. Currently my Nesta has a (hopefully) healing abscess after one of her lower incisors had to be removed two weeks ago.

@furryfriends (TEAS) is our "Abscess Queen" as she specifically cares for guinea pigs with chronic dental problems in her sanctuary.
 
Thank you everyone for your replies. @furryfriends (TEAS) I asked the vet for zithromax after her last dental and they were not keen to give it without trying baytril first.

I have just phoned for an update. Spoke with the reception who read the notes so I assume she is out of surgery and she can be collected at 5.30pm.She said they managed to open it up, didn't go into detail. I asked if she had any dental work done and the receptionist said she had.

I am full of nerves now as I really thought I'd lose Maple after her last dental. She never ate anything for around 3 days and had frequent syringe feeds. I lost almost half a stone in weight with worry!

I am back to nightshift tonight (12 hour shift) so will be unable to feed her through the night :(
 
aimzer said:
Thank you everyone for your replies. @furryfriends (TEAS) I asked the vet for zithromax after her last dental and they were not keen to give it without trying baytril first.

I have just phoned for an update. Spoke with the reception who read the notes so I assume she is out of surgery and she can be collected at 5.30pm.She said they managed to open it up, didn't go into detail. I asked if she had any dental work done and the receptionist said she had.

I am full of nerves now as I really thought I'd lose Maple after her last dental. She never ate anything for around 3 days and had frequent syringe feeds. I lost almost half a stone in weight with worry!

I am back to nightshift tonight (12 hour shift) so will be unable to feed her through the night :(
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Please be aware that not eating immediately after a dental is not at all uncommon, so have the syringe feed ready. All the best for a good recovery!
 
The abscess has been lanced, drained and packed. We are not long home and she is tucking in to some fresh grass :D

I have been given baytril and meteonidazole antibiotics along with metacam and zantac. Hopefully she does a lot better this time than last time. Her teeth has been filed right down and the bottom ones aren't meeting the top ones again. I will keep her separate from Daisy tonight just so I can keep an eye on intake/poops and will top her up with syringe feed.
 
aimzer said:
The abscess has been lanced, drained and packed. We are not long home and she is tucking in to some fresh grass :D

I have been given baytril and meteonidazole antibiotics along with metacam and zantac. Hopefully she does a lot better this time than last time. Her teeth has been filed right down and the bottom ones aren't meeting the top ones again. I will keep her separate from Daisy tonight just so I can keep an eye on intake/poops and will top her up with syringe feed.
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That is good news!
 
Wiebke said:
That is good news!
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I feel a lot more relaxed now. She took a good feed. Around 25-30ml. I have shown my other half how to syringe feed so he will get up twice through the night and give it a go! Shes munching more grass and some leaves :D
 
aimzer said:
I feel a lot more relaxed now. She took a good feed. Around 25-30ml. I have shown my other half how to syringe feed so he will get up twice through the night and give it a go! Shes munching more grass and some leaves :D
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Just let her have as much as she likes in one go. It is going to be more at first, but as long as she is eating on her own, then it is just there as top up. Encourage her to eat as much hay as possible, rather than syringe feed. it is the silica in the hay that keeps the back teeth ground down.
 
Wiebke said:
Just let her have as much as she likes in one go. It is going to be more at first, but as long as she is eating on her own, then it is just there as top up. Encourage her to eat as much hay as possible, rather than syringe feed. it is the silica in the hay that keeps the back teeth ground down.
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Yes,
Wiebke said:
Just let her have as much as she likes in one go. It is going to be more at first, but as long as she is eating on her own, then it is just there as top up. Encourage her to eat as much hay as possible, rather than syringe feed. it is the silica in the hay that keeps the back teeth ground down.
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Yes I've out two turtles Ignatius in her hospital pen so hopefully she nibbles at it.

As the abscess was just lanced and drained, my vet stated I did not need to flush it as they have packed it with anti-microbial cream. Does this sound right?
 
aimzer said:
Yes,

Yes I've out two turtles Ignatius in her hospital pen so hopefully she nibbles at it.

As the abscess was just lanced and drained, my vet stated I did not need to flush it as they have packed it with anti-microbial cream. Does this sound right?
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I would follow your vet's recommendation as you'd otherwise wash out the antimicrobial cream. There are different methods to deal with an abscess. See your vets promptly if you fee it coming up again.
 
Maple is such a trooper! I put her back in with Daisy and she is so happy. She has tucked in to her veg and is now at the hay. She also eaten some nuggets! She even begged at the front of the cage like she normally does so she must be feeling a bit better :D
 
So glad Maple has pulled through the surgery and is feeling better, what a tough cookie!
Little trooper :) xx
 
Aww so glad to hear your Maple (one of my piggies is named Maple too!) pulled through surgery OK. Glad she is feeling better, thank goodness! :) Hugs!
 
OK so, as per the vet instructions I have not been flushing the wound. I have just been cleansing the incision site with hibiscrub to keep it clean. However, I have noticed today that the are seems to be getting hard again. A small lump is developing next to the incision site. I assume this is the abscess coming back?

I am seeing the vet tomorrow for post op check. If the abscess is coming back, would this mean another GA? Just 2 days after the last one?
 
The abscess isn't coming back, it has never gone! Abscesses don't just disappear once they are drained. Abscesses continue to produce pus, which is why they need to be kept open and flushed daily. They heal from the inside outwards, and it isn't a quick fix. I can't understand why the vet has told you not to flush it, as it is important that you do. Has the wound completely closed? It shouldn't have yet. Please pull any scab off that has formed and gently squeeze any pus out.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
The abscess isn't coming back, it has never gone! Abscesses don't just disappear once they are drained. Abscesses continue to produce pus, which is why they need to be kept open and flushed daily. They heal from the inside outwards, and it isn't a quick fix. I can't understand why the vet has told you not to flush it, as it is important that you do. Has the wound completely closed? It shouldn't have yet. Please pull any scab off that has formed and gently squeeze any pus out.
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Ah ok. There are no scabs. Basically they have made a small insicion, squeezed the pus out , packed it with microbial cream and they have not stitched up the incision (but it's tiny). I will get a photo later on. He said this was called "draining and lancing"
He said this was the first step, if doesn't work they would have to fully open it and attempt to removed the whole abscess (he called it a fancy word but I can't remember) but its.obviously a lot more invasive and this is when I would flush it daily and it would be left right open to heal from the inside out. Those were his words.
 
Actually, there does seem to be the tiniest pin head scab! I've tried wiping it off with a wet cotton bud but it won't shift. It is safe to try and pick it off?
 
aimzer said:
Ah ok. There are no scabs. Basically they have made a small insicion, squeezed the pus out , packed it with microbial cream and they have not stitched up the incision (but it's tiny). I will get a photo later on. He said this was called "draining and lancing"
He said this was the first step, if doesn't work they would have to fully open it and attempt to removed the whole abscess (he called it a fancy word but I can't remember) but its.obviously a lot more invasive and this is when I would flush it daily and it would be left right open to heal from the inside out. Those were his words.
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If the abscess is just under the surface of the skin, then you can lance and drain it. If it is deeper, then the vet needs to pull the abscess capsule up to the surface of the skin, stitch it to the surface and then lance into the middle of it. This is called marsupialising the abscess. I am guessing this is what your vet said.

I am currently dealing with two piggies with abscesses that have just been lanced and drained, but I am keeping the wound open, by pulling off any scab as soon as it forms. Abscesses refill with pus so quickly, so it is important to remove the pus as soon as it forms.
 
aimzer said:
Actually, there does seem to be the tiniest pin head scab! I've tried wiping it off with a wet cotton bud but it won't shift. It is safe to try and pick it off?
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Yes, pick it off. You may get pus all over your fingers, but welcome to my world ha ha xx
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
If the abscess is just under the surface of the skin, then you can lance and drain it. If it is deeper, then the vet needs to pull the abscess capsule up to the surface of the skin, stitch it to the surface and then lance into the middle of it. This is called marsupialising the abscess. I am guessing this is what your vet said.

I am currently dealing with two piggies with abscesses that have just been lanced and drained, but I am keeping the wound open, by pulling off any scab as soon as it forms. Abscesses refill with pus so quickly, so it is important to remove the pus as soon as it forms.
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Yes that's the word! He did say we are keeping it open but he didn't say to clean or remove scabs which has annoyed me! I think it's closed up but I'm going to soak it with cool boiled water and pick away although she's putting up a fight!
 
It is easier to keep it open if it has been marsupialised but if you can manage to peel the scab off, it should reopen sufficiently to get any pus out. Don't worry too much if you can't get it off, as you will be seeing the vet tomorrow, but make sure your vet removes the scab.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
It is easier to keep it open if it has been marsupialised but if you can manage to peel the scab off, it should reopen sufficiently to get any pus out. Don't worry too much if you can't get it off, as you will be seeing the vet tomorrow, but make sure your vet removes the scab.
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Got the scab off but only a tiny bit of pus came out! There's also a hard lump/ball further down. Around 1cm from the incision but it's now all soft around the incision and no more pus :/
 
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