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Nutmeg has an abscess.

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halfpenny

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When I was holding Nutmeg last night I noticed he had a lump where his right testicle would have been. I took him into the vet today and sure enough it is an abscess. The vet has drained it and started him on baytril, but what else can I do.

He was castrated 3 months ago, so I'm surprised he has developed one now, or can it have been grumbling away slowly all that time. He is bright within himself and eating and putting on weight.

Abscesses in rabbits are very difficult to deal with, is it the same for guineas.
 
Abscesses can occur this length of time after castration, while it's more common for a reaction earlier on it's not unheard of for them to present at the site months down the line.

They are not the most pleasant or simple of problems to cure in guineas, but they can be overcome; some heal up quite simply while others may be very persistant. Attempt to drain/squeeze the abscess at least 2-3 times daily, the wound needs to be kept open until the pus is no longer building up inside the cavity - it needs to heal on the inside before it can close over without trapping infection in again!
 
The cause of the abscess needs to be eliminated before it can begin to heal.
Great care must be taken when attempting to drain the abscess not to push infected material deeper into the surrounding area.
 
Thanks for the replies.
I took Nutmeg back to the vets a couple of days later because the abscess was bigger. he is now on another antibiotic. I have to try and drain the wound, but not force anything out. The vets think it may have been a reaction to the dissolvable stitches, but aren't sure. Tonight I have found there is another exit site opened below at his 'tail' end, it seems quite big, so I will speak to the vet tomorrow, but assume this is quite a good thing to allow pus out- the fluid is more bloody and less ***** already . The vets are not keen to operate because it is very close to his urinary tract so are keen to treat with meds, if possible.
 
My jive has today come down with the same thing was neutered december 1st hope your piggy has made a full recovery!
 
Nutmeg is doing very well, I need to take him in to check the vet is happy, but I don't think he will need any more injections although I will keep and eye on it.

I hope your pig is Ok too, abscesses are such a worry.
 
My Benny is on his second abscess, following his neutering back in October. Different side this time.
We are treating with Baytril too (and what a nightmare that is to syringe in - I'm sure he hates me now!) but we are also adding a pro-biotic to his water. Lst time we just had the Baytril and he stopped eating and was VERY poorly indeed. All sorts of poo problems and was a nightmare to get sorted. So, if you're not already, ask your vet for some pro-biotics for your piggy too.
Good luck with yours.
 
Nutmeg was on betamox injections, one given every other day. We have found it has been very effective in rabbit abscesses too- must be injected though.

Thanks for replying and letting me know its not uncommon for an abscess to flair up months after the op, i was feeling really bad that I'd missed something.
 
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Nutmeg now has another abscess on the other side now, the last one cleared up really well. Back to injections again, but I very worried that another has flaired up. This has never happen with any of my boys, guinea pig or otherwise.
 
Read my posts in health and illness look for one titled abcess.Lots of people sent very useful advice when my piggie had a very persistent one recently. \thankfully it now seems to have gone .
 
christine said:
Read my posts in health and illness look for one titled abcess.Lots of people sent very useful advice when my piggie had a very persistent one recently. \thankfully it now seems to have gone .
Click to expand...
It is on page three in health and illness section.
 
christine said:
It is on page three in health and illness section.
Click to expand...

Thank you, but Nutmeg's abscesses have fully cleared up and he is a happy boy living with Tansy. I will keep it in mind though as you never know what is going to happen next.
 
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