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Mungo and his abscess

Guinea Fan

Guinea Fan

Junior Guinea Pig
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My guinea pig Mungo developed a a swollen, opaque, red eye. I hoped it was (but knew it wasn't) a hay poke, and no its not. Luckily my vet is Simon Maddock and I am also lucky to have Debbie from TEAS to call on. Simon examined him, checked the teeth and he has one long back tooth. He filed that down, and thinks the problem is a dental abscess under that back tooth that is displacing the eye. He has Metronidazole, Marbocyl, Loxicam and viscotears. He has Metronidazole and Loxicam twice a day, Marbocyl, which is a tablet and a right pain, once a day thankfully and the viscotears at least 4 times a day. He started his medication Thursday evening. In himself he seems fine, and this morning he was eating and purring. Tonight he didn't seem as bothered with grass that I picked, although he does have to fight Maud pig for it, but he has been in his house all afternoon and I have bought some Burgess feeding hay with dandelion and marigold, so I presume he has been grazing on that all day.

So that is where we are at, I am worried the antibiotics will make him feel poorly, so am at bit paranoid about his eating.

I will keep you posted
 

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Sorry to hear he isn’t well.
If you weigh him daily, then you will be able to spot any issues with him reducing the amount of food he eats and will be able to step in.
Keep us posted with his progress. I hope he makes a good recovery
 
Guinea Fan said:
My guinea pig Mungo developed a a swollen, opaque, red eye. I hoped it was (but knew it wasn't) a hay poke, and no its not. Luckily my vet is Simon Maddock and I am also lucky to have Debbie from TEAS to call on. Simon examined him, checked the teeth and he has one long back tooth. He filed that down, and thinks the problem is a dental abscess under that back tooth that is displacing the eye. He has Metronidazole, Marbocyl, Loxicam and viscotears. He has Metronidazole and Loxicam twice a day, Marbocyl, which is a tablet and a right pain, once a day thankfully and the viscotears at least 4 times a day. He started his medication Thursday evening. In himself he seems fine, and this morning he was eating and purring. Tonight he didn't seem as bothered with grass that I picked, although he does have to fight Maud pig for it, but he has been in his house all afternoon and I have bought some Burgess feeding hay with dandelion and marigold, so I presume he has been grazing on that all day.

So that is where we are at, I am worried the antibiotics will make him feel poorly, so am at bit paranoid about his eating.

I will keep you posted
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Hi!

Please step in with syringe feeding support. Your piggy is on very strong antibiotics to which there is no alternative, so you have to unfortunately tough it out. It is very exhausting having to syringe feed around the clock for any length of time but it is worth having a go if it can save the eye.
Weigh daily at the same time so you can monitor the food intake and adjust your syringe feeding top-up accordingly. You have to feed more often the less your piggy will accept in one go.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

Please give VERY freshly made poo soup from a healthy companion (i.e. transfer of live gut microbiome; please see and follow 'recipe' in the probiotics thread exactly for best effect) and also get some fibreplex, which you can mix into the syringe feed if your boy doesn't like it on its own to help support the beleaguered gut as much as possible.
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

Having had to do this for piggies with severe borderline eye damage or eye infections in piggies too old for an eye removal op, I truly feel for you! Hang on in there! At least you are in the best and most experienced hands with your particular problem.

If your piggy is continuing to deteriorate and the eye is starting to bulge again, please contact the clinic for an emeregency slot first thing on Monday morning. In this case, the abscess is unfortunately stronger.

All the best!
 
It sounds like he’s doing well! He probably didn’t want too much grass this evening as he’s had plenty throughout the day. The antibiotic combination should be tolerated well. Metronidazole is given for bowel issues too, so much less likely to upset the bowel x
 
Ah thanks Deb. I went and gave him his last Viscotears and he came out and was picking bits up off the hutch floor. I was scared to move as I knew he’d run but I couldn’t stand there all night 😂😂
 
I presume he’d been eating after his meds as his face was absolutely filthy where he has the sticky medicine. I’m going to have to give him a good wash tomorrow
 
Guinea Fan said:
I presume he’d been eating after his meds as his face was absolutely filthy where he has the sticky medicine. I’m going to have to give him a good wash tomorrow
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I love the smell of Metronidazole! I have to sniff it, every time I give Benjamin his meds. Simon told me he likes the smell too! 🤣
 
Poor messy lad! Bless him with all those meds.
You’ve definitely got the best vet around treating him then! Was amazing with my Pedro the chin’s same issue (although he had to have the eye removed sadly). Well he’s always brilliant really!
 
Thought you might like an update.....

Mungo went back to see Simon this evening. He was pleased with his improvement. His eye still has some pressure behind it, and his back tooth had grown again, showing he is still not using it properly. Given how long my dental abscess took to improve that doesn't surprise me. So we have more Marbocyl, which I have now mastered by crushing, mixing with water and syringing up and more Metronidazole and I put the Metronidazole and Loxicam in the same syringe now which again makes it easier. He only has to have the viscotears twice a day with his meds. Best of all his weight was 1080gm exactly the same as last Thursday so he is coping with all the meds.

I am so relieved it looks like he won't lose his eye after all
 
Just to let you know that sadly despite recovering from the abscess, Mungo passed away today. I am stunned at how quickly he went down hill and I honestly have no idea why.

Run Fee little chap
 
Oh no I’m so sorry, hope you’re ok. Poor little chap :(
Sleep tight gorgeous Mungo xx
 
You already know how sad I am that you lost your special boy! I think it becomes even harder, when they've battled through one problem, successfully, only for something else to take them! You gave him a lovely life, Shelley and he was a lucky boy to have found you! I hope Maude's okay? xx
 
Thank you all and it is so hard Deb. I thought he would lose him eye, then was so relieved he wouldn't, but I never expected to lose him. Especially not when Thursday morning he was bouncing around in happy mode. At least he didn't suffer, which is a blessing

Haven't seen Miss Maud yet today, but her breakfast is ready so I will let you know shortly
 
What a shock for you, I’m so sorry :( Hope his lady friend’s ok and enjoys her breakfast x
 
Oh no, just read this! I am so sorry you have lost him, sending you hugs, so sad when he seemed to have overcome that nasty abscess x
Sleep tight little Mungo x
 
Thank you for your kind thoughts. Several people have said Mungo is in guinea pig heaven. Maud wants to make it known that’s where she is as she now gets all the food and all the bed. Not much grieving going on in the hutch, but I miss my happy little chap
 
Guinea Fan said:
Thank you for your kind thoughts. Several people have said Mungo is in guinea pig heaven. Maud wants to make it known that’s where she is as she now gets all the food and all the bed. Not much grieving going on in the hutch, but I miss my happy little chap
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Aww bless her! Glad she's okay though, even if she doesn't show much empathy!
 
Guinea Fan said:
Just to let you know that sadly despite recovering from the abscess, Mungo passed away today. I am stunned at how quickly he went down hill and I honestly have no idea why.

Run Fee little chap
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BIG HUGS

I am so very sorry. How absolutely upsetting for you.

Unfortunately, without a post mortem examination nobody can answer your question except guess as much as you do. But guinea pigs can go downhill with frightening speed; it always leaves you shaken - even more so the first time you experience this. :(

But please do not feel like you must have missed something vital or feel guilty because you should have - you are a caring owner, so you are much more prone to this kind of soul searching that is characteristic for the start of the grieving process. We humans tend to reflect everything back on ourselves.

Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
 
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