'Normal vet rate' for abscess removal?

[SoulfulSpade]

Hi all,

We have found a lump on our PJ’s throat. The vet took a sample and said that it’s an abscess. They said that the surgery will cost £400-£480. We just don’t have that money right now. My partner is in between jobs after a brutal lay-off of his entire department from his company, and I’m only a student, still paying off my student loans. We have no family to borrow money from. It has been a difficult season for us. We normally would be able to pay this but one bad hand after has been dealt to us these past months and are barely making ends meet, and now this with our boys. We cannot express how devastated we are to receive this latest blow to our little family. We are not sure if this is a 'normal vet rate' for this kind of treatment.

We want to get our boy treated and are hoping we can get some recommendations for a vet in London or the surrounding area (for reference we live in KT4) where we can get a chance at getting a more affordable price for the surgery. The abscess is still small, barely the size of a marble, and seems to be growing quite slowly. PJ is only 7 months old and still behaves and eats like he usually does. We're worried that there might be other forms of treatment that we are missing as well, and I'd like to hear about other people's experience with their piggies as well.

Thanks for reading, all feedback is appreciated.

 

[guineamax]

My piggy had one, it grew pretty big in a week, vet said the same thing and surgery is about 400. I couldn't afford it so left it because the vet wasn't worried about it. That was over a month ago and last night it popped, caught it was it happened so cleaned it up and the hole has closed but the cost of removing what's left is still the same, so I think the price is about the same where ever you go but of course it happening this time of year sucks.

 

[BossHogg]

Can't you see if there is a PDSA in your area, they normally charge small amounts for people in your situation.

 

[BossHogg]

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

One of my pigs had a mammary lump removed 4 years ago that cost £300, so with general inflation and the recent huge rise in prices, £400+ doesn't sound over the top.
I wonder if antibiotics (Zithromax is the best for abscesses) would be sufficient to clear it, especially as he is still quite young. @furryfriends (TEAS) is the forum's "abscess queen" , hopefully she can give you the best advice for your situation.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

Zithromax is an excellent antibiotic, but in most cases you are still going to need drainage to resolve it!

Are you sure this is an abscess you are dealing with? How guinea pig savvy is your vet? However, regardless of what it is, it needs dealing with soon, before it gets worse! I think the cost you have been quoted is reasonable, but it is a lot of money!

 

[weepweeps]

Hello and welcome to the forum. I’m so sorry your piggy is poorly. I had a piggy with a tooth root abscess last year. They do start off small but can grow very fast. Peppers was a huge 4cm and had 20ml of gunk removed from it.

Here is his thread. It’s quite long but there is a lot of valuable information in it from everyone on here. It took well over two months before Pepper was “ok”.

Dental? Pepper is off to the vets tomorrow


If you can’t afford the operation maybe a long course of Zithromax may clear it. But maybe not.

Good luck.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all,

We have found a lump on our PJ’s throat. The vet took a sample and said that it’s an abscess. They said that the surgery will cost £400-£480. We just don’t have that money right now. My partner is in between jobs after a brutal lay-off of his entire department from his company, and I’m only a student, still paying off my student loans. We have no family to borrow money from. It has been a difficult season for us. We normally would be able to pay this but one bad hand after has been dealt to us these past months and are barely making ends meet, and now this with our boys. We cannot express how devastated we are to receive this latest blow to our little family. We are not sure if this is a 'normal vet rate' for this kind of treatment.

We want to get our boy treated and are hoping we can get some recommendations for a vet in London or the surrounding area (for reference we live in KT4) where we can get a chance at getting a more affordable price for the surgery. The abscess is still small, barely the size of a marble, and seems to be growing quite slowly. PJ is only 7 months old and still behaves and eats like he usually does. We're worried that there might be other forms of treatment that we are missing as well, and I'd like to hear about other people's experience with their piggies as well.

Thanks for reading, all feedback is appreciated.

Hi

I am very sorry about your situation. Please contact the PDSA re. possible payment support for people on major benefits.
A guide to vets fees, insurance and payment support.

 

[SoulfulSpade]

Appreciate all the support, not sure we would qualify for PDSA support in time as they have to do a means assessment that I think takes a month. We're gonna talk to the vet we've seen and ask about the antibiotics.
Thanks for all your support <3

 

[Posyrose]

You could ask for a payment plan to help spread the cost over weeks or months rather than all at once. I did that for an operation once and they agreed.

 

[Wiebke]

If can't get on the PDSA list, please speak to your vets about payment support.

The option is also in the link in my last post.