Love my pigs
Junior Guinea Pig
Hi one of my new boys who is around 3 or 4 years old has a large lump under his jaw. It is completely hard and is around an inch in diameter. Going to the vet asap but could this be an absecess? Really worried 
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Large Lump
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flintstones
Senior Guinea Pig
Your already going to the right place. I know abscesses can be daunting but they are also very treatable.
Let us know how things go at the vets.
Let us know how things go at the vets.
helen105281
Senior Guinea Pig
I agree that it does sound like an abscess. If that is what the vet diagnoses, ask them whether they would be happy to prescribe Zithromax (Azithromycin) as it is the most effective for abscesses. Marbocyl is a good alternative if not. Abscesses tend to need to be kept open and flushed daily so they heal from the inside out.
gizzy
Adult Guinea Pig
as already said Vet , ASAP,
Absess Under the jaw is a prime candidate for OM,
OM or ostio mialites is an infection of the bone , the pus migates to the
bone , and it can be difficult to get under controle
Absess Under the jaw is a prime candidate for OM,
OM or ostio mialites is an infection of the bone , the pus migates to the
bone , and it can be difficult to get under controle
It's good that you are going to the vet, and hopefully a vet that is knowledgeable about treating guinea pigs. I've had a couple of pigs with jaw abscesses. How well they did really was down to the knowledge of the vet (and the knowledge of me as an owner understanding what was the standard of care and what aftercare was required.) The pig who got good vet care did very well and made a full recovery, the pig that got shoddy vet care unfortunately developed osteomyelitis and passed away. Luckily, with good treatment, these kinds of abscesses are treatable, so be assertive in making sure your pig gets the right treatment from the vet!
Guinea pigs form very thick pus and are prone to abscesses. Simply prescribing an antibiotic is not enough to clear an abscess in a guinea pig. The abscess will have to be opened, lanced, and drained. It should be left open rather than stitched, and it's very important to flush it out with sterile saline (or a cleaning solution from the vet, mine was kind enough to give me a huge bottle when Sundae had a major abscess opened!) This will help to clear out any pus that is accumulating again, will keep the wound from healing, trapping pus inside and starting the abscess all over again, and will allow it to heal from the inside out. This can take some time, so keep on flushing! It's also important to get a good antibiotic that is effective for abscesses. Baytril is often given to guinea pigs, but really is not much good against abscesses. Some vets will tell you that this is all that is available, but that's not actually the case. Depending on where you live, different meds may be available. Zithromax is supposed to be the best for abscesses, but it's not commonly given in all areas. I hear good things about Marbocyl, and Sundae did very well on chloramphenicol following her abscess op.
Lots of luck and definitely ask questions if needed... I found this forum extremely useful when Sundae went through an abscess operation and credit her recovery in part to the great advice I got here about aftercare!
Guinea pigs form very thick pus and are prone to abscesses. Simply prescribing an antibiotic is not enough to clear an abscess in a guinea pig. The abscess will have to be opened, lanced, and drained. It should be left open rather than stitched, and it's very important to flush it out with sterile saline (or a cleaning solution from the vet, mine was kind enough to give me a huge bottle when Sundae had a major abscess opened!) This will help to clear out any pus that is accumulating again, will keep the wound from healing, trapping pus inside and starting the abscess all over again, and will allow it to heal from the inside out. This can take some time, so keep on flushing! It's also important to get a good antibiotic that is effective for abscesses. Baytril is often given to guinea pigs, but really is not much good against abscesses. Some vets will tell you that this is all that is available, but that's not actually the case. Depending on where you live, different meds may be available. Zithromax is supposed to be the best for abscesses, but it's not commonly given in all areas. I hear good things about Marbocyl, and Sundae did very well on chloramphenicol following her abscess op.
Lots of luck and definitely ask questions if needed... I found this forum extremely useful when Sundae went through an abscess operation and credit her recovery in part to the great advice I got here about aftercare!
Elwickcavies
Teenage Guinea Pig
I agree with the advice already given. If it is an abscess, the worst bit will be keeping it open and flushed out, as this will involve picking off any scabs, something that your piggy will not enjoy, but that it essential, I'm afraid. Let us know how you get on at the vets.
TAN
Adult Guinea Pig
Please make sure that you give a probiotic daily - as Zithromax can affect the good bacteria in the gut - weigh piggy daily and continue to do so for a good few weeks after the antibiotics have finished - just in case there is another underlying problem such as dental disease - sometimes this cannot be determined without an x-ray and just looking at the teeth isn't enough - I am speaking from personal experience as his is what happened to my Noodles - ask the vet to skip the baytril as most of them want to try it first - but it really is a waste of time on abscesses .Good luck - am sure it will all be ok. x
Love my pigs
Junior Guinea Pig
Hey thank you for all the advice! He's not a very happy piggy after the vet today but it was an abscess. The vet lanced and drained it. We were prescribed baytril as she said that was what was given for abscesses but will see how he does. We just have to keep the wound open for 48 hours and keep a close eye on it. It looks 100 times better but will keep a close eye on him! She also check his teeth and said they looked good. Thank you all very much 
Love my pigs
Junior Guinea Pig
He's seems to be doing well. Still a small bump there but has been going down each day. He hates taking the medicine 
Thank you 
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