meet my babies!

[piggiemummy03x]

so guys i thought it was finally time for you to meet my girls!

meet della and luna

they are nine weeks old today!

had a bit of a scare in the week with luna, who started to grow a hard lump on her face / under her neck, we suspected it to be an abscess, and had the vets booked in anyway today for their first health check and it actually popped this morning bless her! shes had it cleaned up by the vet and has been put on an antibiotic called baytril for a week, twice a day and we’ve got a follow up appointment in a weeks time to see how its healing. other than lunas abscess the vet has said they are in great health, normal heart beat, good weight, teeth are good etc which is amazing!

they have come on so much in such a short amount of time, luna is definitely the boss of the two lol! i can’t wait to properly bond with them and give them the best life a guineapig can have!

i would just like to ask a few questions if its okay..
has anyone had a pig with an abscess before that has been put on baytril? iv been told i don’t need to clean it or anything and it should just be fine to give her antibiotics and let it heal itself. do i need to give it to her exactly 12 hours apart? she was given some around 3ish today at the vets and i was hoping to give her her second dose for the day around 8 tonight.. then do it every morning and night around the same time. is there anything i should be aware of while shes on this?

also.. food. i was given a bag of food (as well as some bran) they where on before i bought them home, i have added a picture in the comments because i wouldn’t be able to explain lol! the vet said to just change completely over to the new food (mint burgess excel) and that they may not eat the pellets for a few days but it doesn’t matter as its such a little bit of their diet. is it okay to go completely cold turkey on the old food they love? i’ve been putting in small amounts of the burgess but they just don’t touch it lol, i suppose they will eat it when they get hungry haha, i just feel cruel! should i also carry on with the bran until it runs out?

thanks all and i hope you love my babies as much as i do!

 

[piggiemummy03x]

here is the food!

 

[Tnoz]

Beautiful babies aww sweetie’s I’ve tried excel mint and my 9 not keen but they love the blackcurrant one better, make sure they have plenty of hay, nuggets are not the most important whereas hay is, some veggies will help. I don’t give mine muesli as it can make them picky eaters,
Hay
Veggies
Nuggets
Forage
Have fun

 

[Merab]

What stunning piggies.
When I get new piggies I just mixed a little of their old food in with the Science Selective grain free pellets. Mine love those more than any other pellets.

@furryfriends (TEAS) is the Queen of abscesses so she is the best person for advice.
Certainly when I last had a piggy with an abscess I cleaned it out each day with a diluted solution of Hibiscrub.

@Tnoz has given you a good idea of diet balance and there are also helpful guides to food etc. on the forum.

We do need lots more pictures of those 2 beautiful girls

 

[Piggies&buns]

Hello girls!

In terms if the abscess, generally they need to be flushed daily to remove any new pus forming and so the abscess heals from the inside out.
Baytril is the go to antibiotic. It may deal with the abscess, it may not. There are other types of antibiotics which some abscesses respond better do. You will have to see how that goes.

It’s best to keep it 12 hours.

Baytril is generally easier on the gut, than some other antibiotics and many piggies will not suffer any side effects, but there is the potential for any antibiotic to cause a reduction in appetite/soft poops. If you notice soft poops, then remove veg from the diet and increase hay intake, daily weight checks are also a good idea just to be sure she is eating enough hay and isn’t feeling off. Probiotics can be given as they can help settle the tummy. Something like Pro-c or fibreplex. Syringe it directly (don’t add anything to drinking water bottle) and ensure it is done 1-2 hours either before or after an antibiotic dose.

The food. It’s best to slowly change over. Mixing a little of the new food, but most of the old (while of course onoy sticking to one tablespoon per pig) and increasing the amount of the new food and decreasing the amount of the old food over a course of a week or so. However, the food in your picture, while it does seem to be mostly pellets, does contain things which you don’t want them to have - I think I can see some seeds for example - so I’d want them off of it as soon as possible if they were my piggies. I think, with her being on antibiotics though, then you don’t want to upset her tummy, so I think I would do it a bit slower than cold Turkey!
If they have constant large piles of hay, they will never be hungry! (Although they will do their utmost to convince you otherwise!)

 

[piggiemummy03x]

Beautiful babies aww sweetie’s I’ve tried excel mint and my 9 not keen but they love the blackcurrant one better, make sure they have plenty of hay, nuggets are not the most important whereas hay is, some veggies will help. I don’t give mine muesli as it can make them picky eaters,
Hay
Veggies
Nuggets
Forage
Have fun

aren’t they just okay thanks, ill try them on the mint and if they don’t like it / when it runs out ill try the blackcurrant! i think i would prefer blackcurrant too!
yes lots of hay to eat, tunnel and then completely flatten! haha i love piggies!
yes they love their veggies!
thanks! x

 

[Tnoz]

aren’t they just okay thanks, ill try them on the mint and if they don’t like it / when it runs out ill try the blackcurrant! i think i would prefer blackcurrant too!
yes lots of hay to eat, tunnel and then completely flatten! haha i love piggies!
yes they love their veggies!
thanks! x

Awesome, your welcome x

 

[piggiemummy03x]

What stunning piggies.
When I get new piggies I just mixed a little of their old food in with the Science Selective grain free pellets. Mine love those more than any other pellets.

@furryfriends (TEAS) is the Queen of abscesses so she is the best person for advice.
Certainly when I last had a piggy with an abscess I cleaned it out each day with a diluted solution of Hibiscrub.

@Tnoz has given you a good idea of diet balance and there are also helpful guides to food etc. on the forum.

We do need lots more pictures of those 2 beautiful girls

they really are gorgeous! okay thankyou! oh really thats interesting, i did ask the vet and she said don’t worry about cleaning it, i wonder now if i should clean?
yes don’t worry plenty on the way!

 

[piggiemummy03x]

Hello girls!

In terms if the abscess, generally they need to be flushed daily to remove any new pus forming and so the abscess heals from the inside out.
Baytril is the go to antibiotic. It may deal with the abscess, it may not. There are other types of antibiotics which some abscesses respond better do. You will have to see how that goes.

It’s best to keep it 12 hours.

Baytril is generally easier on the gut, than some other antibiotics and many piggies will not suffer any side effects, but there is the potential for any antibiotic to cause a reduction in appetite/soft poops. If you notice soft poops, then remove veg from the diet and increase hay intake, daily weight checks are also a good idea just to be sure she is eating enough hay and isn’t feeling off. Probiotics can be given as they can help settle the tummy. Something like Pro-c or fibreplex. Syringe it directly (don’t add anything to drinking water bottle) and ensure it is done 1-2 hours either before or after an antibiotic dose.

The food. It’s best to slowly change over. Mixing a little of the new food, but most of the old (while of course onoy sticking to one tablespoon per pig) and increasing the amount of the new food and decreasing the amount of the old food over a course of a week or so. However, the food in your picture, while it does seem to be mostly pellets, does contain things which you don’t want them to have - I think I can see some seeds for example - so I’d want them off of it as soon as possible if they were my piggies. I think, with her being on antibiotics though, then you don’t want to upset her tummy, so I think I would do it a bit slower than cold Turkey!
If they have constant large piles of hay, they will never be hungry! (Although they will do their utmost to convince you otherwise!)

really? i wonder why she said it would be okay to leave it? yes of corse, she did say generally 12 hours between doses but she said you don’t have to get up at 3 to do it, hence why i was going to do it tonight, now as late as possible i think! probably so i can get into a routine in the day maybe! what would you suggest i do?

thanks so much for the info! i was going to slowly transition but saw about doing it over a month! yes good idea, haha yes she loves her hay!

 

[Piggies&buns]

I don’t know why the vet would say don’t clean it.

Id do it as late as possible tonight and then get yourself in a routine from tomorrow.

 

[piggiemummy03x]

I don’t know why the vet would say don’t clean it.

Id do it as late as possible tonight and then get yourself in a routine from tomorrow.

this is stressful maybe i should clean it then?!

so if i did it late as possible tonight (they are outside thought so it will be very cold which is also something i would worry about).. could i then say do it 10am in the morning and then 10am at night everyday, meaning she would have the 2nd dose (12ish tonight?), 9 hours after the first dose this afternoon at 3, then also quite close to the 3rd dose (10am tomorrow morning, 10 hours after the 2nd dose).from then though, it would be every 12 hours.. I'm so sorry for all the questions i’m just really worried

 

[Piggies&buns]

That sounds fine to me

 

[piggiemummy03x]

That sounds fine to me

thanks so much ill do that then! ill also look into cleaning it, will water alone be okay?

 

[piggiemummy03x]

if anyone knows what i can clean it with i would really appreciate it! should this be done at the same time as antibiotics? how should i clean it, i think it’s fairly small!

 

[alpacasqueak]

It can be cleaned with saline that you make at home. Just make it using a teaspoon of salt per 250ml of boiling water from the kettle, then leave it to cool.
I’m looking after my pig Luigi’s abscess at the moment and flushing and cleaning it out 4 times a day, my vet said 2-3 but I’m making sure it’s kept extra clean. I had another piggy with an abscess on his side which I cleaned after his surgery, and also a chinchilla too. I’d definitely give it a clean. If you can take and post pics of your girl and her’s first thing then people on the forum will be able to help out a bit more x

 

[piggiemummy03x]

It can be cleaned with saline that you make at home. Just make it using a teaspoon of salt per 250ml of boiling water from the kettle, then leave it to cool.
I’m looking after my pig Luigi’s abscess at the moment and flushing and cleaning it out 4 times a day, my vet said 2-3 but I’m making sure it’s kept extra clean. I had another piggy with an abscess on his side which I cleaned after his surgery, and also a chinchilla too. I’d definitely give it a clean. If you can take and post pics of your girl and her’s first thing then people on the forum will be able to help out a bit more x

okay thanks! iv also contacted the vet and am expecting a call from 12pm - 3pm (maybe earlier) just to double check and express my concern. i didn’t clean it last night but will definitely start today if people believe it should be done. that’s fabulous thank-you, i don’t know if i should just be patting it with a kitchen roll or what for now? i’m so surprised she’s said it will be okay to leave it, its made me really nervous after reading up about them. i’ll get a picture this morning when i give her her antibiotics at 10am x

 

[alpacasqueak]

okay thanks! iv also contacted the vet and am expecting a call from 12pm - 3pm (maybe earlier) just to double check and express my concern. i didn’t clean it last night but will definitely start today if people believe it should be done. that’s fabulous thank-you, i don’t know if i should just be patting it with a kitchen roll or what for now? i’m so surprised she’s said it will be okay to leave it, its made me really nervous after reading up about them. i’ll get a picture this morning when i give her her antibiotics at 10am x

No problem I use a syringe and needle given to me by the vet to flush it out (basically firing the saline in the wound to get the grotty pus and stuff out) then I use flat cotton wool pads as they’re soft and great for cleaning these things with!
Yes I’m surprised too, it’s definitely something that needs a good clean with the pus that builds up in there etc! Hope she gives you some answers.
Sorry forgot to say last night as so dozy, but your girls are gorgeous x

 

[Merab]

No problem I use a syringe and needle given to me by the vet to flush it out (basically firing the saline in the wound to get the grotty pus and stuff out) then I use flat cotton wool pads as they’re soft and great for cleaning these things with!
Yes I’m surprised too, it’s definitely something that needs a good clean with the pus that builds up in there etc! Hope she gives you some answers.
Sorry forgot to say last night as so dozy, but your girls are gorgeous x

That’s how I used to clean out Jemimah’s abscess too.
My vet gave me Hibiscrub too which is what I used to clean it out.
Don’t forget bribes. I always had a sprig of dill or piece of cucumber as a bribe for her.

 

[piggiemummy03x]

No problem I use a syringe and needle given to me by the vet to flush it out (basically firing the saline in the wound to get the grotty pus and stuff out) then I use flat cotton wool pads as they’re soft and great for cleaning these things with!
Yes I’m surprised too, it’s definitely something that needs a good clean with the pus that builds up in there etc! Hope she gives you some answers.
Sorry forgot to say last night as so dozy, but your girls are gorgeous x

fab thanks! will definitely be asking questions today, i hope that, if i need to be flushing, missing a few flushes won’t be problematic! does your piggie have quite a big open wound?

haha thats okay! i am very biased but they are aren’t theyx

 

[piggiemummy03x]

That’s how I used to clean out Jemimah’s abscess too.
My vet gave me Hibiscrub too which is what I used to clean it out.
Don’t forget bribes. I always had a sprig of dill or piece of cucumber as a bribe for her.

so strange she didn’t recommend anything, i’m now questioning if i should have a look for different vets will see what she says today, i have spoke to one person who has had piggie abbesses and she said shes had one that was small and didn’t need cleaning and other that she had to flush. maybe it depends on the size/type of abscess, i have no idea! good idea!

 

[alpacasqueak]

fab thanks! will definitely be asking questions today, i hope that, if i need to be flushing, missing a few flushes won’t be problematic! does your piggie have quite a big open wound?

haha thats okay! i am very biased but they are aren’t theyx

Hopefully your little one will be ok, but definitely get a few pics for us though (and maybe an extra one of that little face too! ) hopefully we can help.
I won’t put a pic on and wreck your thread but here’s my lad’s thread, a lot of talking but pics of his wound are on there. It’s right in the middle of his dewlap.

Unexpected Luigi op

They’re definitely little beauties! x

 

[Merab]

I don’t know whereabouts in Hampshire you are but I was living in Marlborough when Jemimah had her abscess. I went to Drove Vets in Marlborough, a practice linked with their excellent hospital in Swindon.

 

[piggiemummy03x]

Hopefully you’re little one will be ok, but definitely get a few pics for us though (and maybe an extra one of that little face too! ) hopefully we can help.
I won’t put a pic on and wreck your thread but here’s my lad’s thread, a lot of talking but pics of his wound are on there. It’s right in the middle of his dewlap.

Unexpected Luigi op

They’re definitely little beauties! x

i will do! thanks so much ill take a look now, hope you’re little mans doing okay!

 

[piggiemummy03x]

I don’t know whereabouts in Hampshire you are but I was living in Marlborough when Jemimah had her abscess. I went to Drove Vets in Marlborough, a practice linked with their excellent hospital in Swindon.

i’m in portsmouth!

 

[Merab]

It’s a big county!

 

[alpacasqueak]

i will do! thanks so much ill take a look now, hope you’re little mans doing okay!

He’s ok thanks, just wish he’d eat for himself as he’s a big boy and needs a lot of grub! Typical he’s the naughtiest pig in the house to deal with too

 

[piggiemummy03x]

It’s a big county!

definitely!

 

[piggiemummy03x]

He’s ok thanks, just wish he’d eat for himself as he’s a big boy and needs a lot of grub! Typical he’s the naughtiest pig in the house to deal with too

bless him! its absolutely huge isn’t it!

 

[alpacasqueak]

bless him! its absolutely huge isn’t it!

It was a nice big lump in there poor lad! Guessing your little girl’s isn’t as big then, glad to hear it, she’s so young bless her!

 

[piggiemummy03x]

It was a nice big lump in there poor lad! Guessing your little girl’s isn’t as big then, glad to hear it, she’s so young bless her!

yeah no definitely not! i would say its about the size of a 5 pence piece, maybe even a little bit smaller. its really hard to get a good picture of, when i looked yesterday it doesn’t seem to be as much of a gapping hole as other pictures i’ve seen. shes got her antibiotics at 10 so hopefully have some pictures to follow!