Is it an abscess?

[mrs.torres2566]

While doing my daily wellness check on my piggies I noticed Rose has a marble sized lump under her chin. She didn't have it yesterday. I heard it could be an abscess or a tumor. I am praying its an abscess and will pop on its own. I was told by my vet to wait 3 days and if its still there to bring her in to get it lanced. Should I be worried? Is there anything I can do for her?

 

[weesilvie]

Keep a very close eye on her and weigh her daily, make sure she's eating. If she stops eating and/or starts losing weight, take her straight back to the vet.

My Woolly had an abscess last year and after a bit of a long story, she is now absolutely fine

 

[first_time_piggie_mum]

I'm not an expert of abscess'es but I dont think they just burst on their own, and if they do then I would imagine a course of anti biotics to stop the wound getting infected would probably be required.

I believe they also need to be flushed regularly.

I would recommend a trip back to the vet to have it lanced, providing they are a competent piggy vet.

Good luck

 

[Amanda1801]

I'd personally be asking for her to be seen sooner if it's come up in that quick space of time, especially in an animal like a guinea pig that can go down hill quickly.

The vet would most likely pop a needle into it to see what the lump consists of. It's most likely to be a cyst or an abscess, but it's impossible to tell without seeing a vet.

 

[hazeyg]

Hi,

I am the queen of absess piggies. Waiting for them to pop if not the best idea, but it depends very much on excatly where the absess is and how loose it is. if its close to the piggies jaw lancing is probably to better option allowing it to be opened and dry out.
Surgical removal provides the best success and prevents re-occurence removing it like a tumour and Lancing is the next best thing but it requires a lot of after care.
Waiting for it to burst is not great- Ive been told to leave it before and its grown remarkably overnight and burst. This took months to clear, my piggie was on so much antibiotics he didnt eat for who knows how many weeks. I had to clean the area every day and flush it with salt water twice a day. It stunk to the high heavens and for weeks for and more puss came out as the antibiotics were obviously not reaching the right place to kill the infection. He was a dull very depressed unhappy piggie- please go back to the vet and get a second opinion.

 

[hazeyg]

I am the queen of absess piggies. Waiting for them to pop if not the best idea, but it depends very much on excatly where the absess is and how loose it is. if its close to the piggies jaw lancing is probably to better option allowing it to be opened and dry out.
Surgical removal provides the best success and prevents re-occurence removing it like a tumour and Lancing is the next best thing but it requires a lot of after care.
Waiting for it to burst is not great- Ive been told to leave it before and its grown remarkably overnight and burst. This took months to clear, my piggie was on so much antibiotics he didnt eat for who knows how many weeks. I had to clean the area every day and flush it with salt water twice a day. It stunk to the high heavens and for weeks for and more puss came out as the antibiotics were obviously not reaching the right place to kill the infection. He was a dull very depressed unhappy piggie- please go back to the vet and get a second opinion.
Also tumours in piggies are very rare compared to absess's and a fine needle asirate should be able to tell you if there is fluid inside- but bear in mind these arent wholey accurate as piggie absess fluid is extremely thick and hard to get in a fine needle. A good vet should be able to feel and tell you what it is and be 90-100 percent sure.
It really depends how cavvy savvy your vet is with these sort of issues

 

[Wiebke]

Please have her seen by a vet as soon as possible! Abscesses can swell up very quickly and they won't necessarily burst neatly. You will still have to treat a big abscess with antibiotics.

 

[Poppy'sMum]

Totally agree! My piggy had a big abscess grow almost overnight, it was removed surgically by Simon at the Cat & Rabbit clinic in Northampton & she was put on special antibiotics & has made a good recovery. If left the poison can enter their bloodstream. Please see a vet with her as soon as you can