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Post op abscess, awkward Tonks!

Cavy Kung-Fu

Cavy Kung-Fu

Adult Guinea Pig
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We had our 3 day post op check on Friday and her wound was healing perfectly. I noticed that her wound was swollen and gross last night and it looks like we may have an abscess, sigh.

Of course it would be my most awkward piggy! She’s on a higher dose of metacam and antibiotics now in the hopes that it will clear as the vet has said she’d rather not reopen it as it could cause more issues. We have another appointment for her on Thursday so hopefully it will be clearing up by then.

Any tips?
 
Cavy Kung-Fu said:
We had our 3 day post op check on Friday and her wound was healing perfectly. I noticed that her wound was swollen and gross last night and it looks like we may have an abscess, sigh.

Of course it would be my most awkward piggy! She’s on a higher dose of metacam and antibiotics now in the hopes that it will clear as the vet has said she’d rather not reopen it as it could cause more issues. We have another appointment for her on Thursday so hopefully it will be clearing up by then.

Any tips?
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I am very sorry! What antibiotic is she on?

@furryfriends (TEAS)
 
Thanks guys, feels like it’s a never ending road to nowhere atm!

Wiebke said:
I am very sorry! What antibiotic is she on?

@furryfriends (TEAS)
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She’s on sulfatrim, paediatric suspension, 0.6mls twice a day. She’s taking it quite well bless her.

furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Sorry have been off forum, so not sure why your piggy had op. Where is the abscess?
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No worries :) She had a mass removal and I think mastectomy so it’s in the groin/leg/tummy area. I’ll try and get a picture if she lets me a bit later.
 
I agree with Debbie both re. antibiotic; sulfatrim is not much stronger than baytril. Any abscess close to the surface the skin is best treated by lancing, stitching back the skin around the hole to keep it open (marsulpialising) and then 2-3 times daily flushing to alllow it to drain and to heal from the inside out.
 
Thanks guys, ah okay. Does it make any difference if it’s going to reopen the surgery wound?

My god, Tonks isn’t the easiest to handle at the best of times... having to flush and do all of that is going to be hell both for her and myself. She’s gunna hate me :mal:
 
Cavy Kung-Fu said:
Thanks guys, ah okay. Does it make any difference if it’s going to reopen the surgery wound?

My god, Tonks isn’t the easiest to handle at the best of times... having to flush and do all of that is going to be hell both for her and myself. She’s gunna hate me :mal:
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It depends on where the abscess is exactly located.
 
Wiebke said:
It depends on where the abscess is exactly located.
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Thanks, I’ll try and get a picture when I’m home and see what you guys think. It’s right next to/under the initial surgical wound which is frustrating. It was all going so well!
 
So we’ve been back to the vets since the last post, it’s not an abscess thank god! It appears to be some kind of swelling (I can’t remember what she called it) and there’s no infection. Even though Tonks has chewed at the wound :mal:

She’s also had the test results back and one lump was a fatty lump and the other was benign so I’m a happy bunny! Just need her to heal up now.

Below is the swelling and wound where I think she’s been chewing herself :(

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I’ve been keeping it clean and it seems to be healing now, fingers crossed! :)
 
That’s the one! Thanks, you really do know everything! :)) Is that anything to be worried about?
 
Thanks, it’s reassuring to know that it’ll be alright! Phew, it’s been quite a rollercoaster with these little terrors, I’m actually quite exhausted! During this time I’ve made them a nice new C&C cage and all they have to do is try and get better now :))

You guys are my rocks! :D
 
Sending lots of love to Tonks and a hug to you. Hope she feels better soon x
 
Does anyone know how to stop her chewing herself? I’m keeping it clean but it won’t heal properly if she keeps doing it :(

2511E95F-8A3D-4B2E-BE9F-AC95D161502C.webp
 
I’ve upped her metacam that I hope is helping, it looks dry and clean tonight.

@furryfriends (TEAS) @Wiebke is there any advice on how to stop her chewing her wound? See above for pics from yesterday. I’m treating it with renasan to keep it clean but I worry if she doesn’t leave it be that she’ll end up with infection :(
 
Is she having metacam twice a day or just once? When Donald has his chin abscess he kept scratching it open and I split his dose into twice a day which kept him more comfortable and he left it alone until it healed.
 
Lady Kelly said:
Is she having metacam twice a day or just once? When Donald has his chin abscess he kept scratching it open and I split his dose into twice a day which kept him more comfortable and he left it alone until it healed.
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Twice a day, I’m currently giving about 0.3ml twice daily atm which I think/hope is helping but she occasionally looks like she’s nibbling it.
 
Do you think it is starting to heal, even if only slightly? A couple of years ago I had arrive at TEAS who had a similar problem, which had been ongoing for almost 6 months. Simon put the piggy on Zithromax and within a week it had completely healed.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Do you think it is starting to heal, even if only slightly? A couple of years ago I had arrive at TEAS who had a similar problem, which had been ongoing for almost 6 months. Simon put the piggy on Zithromax and within a week it had completely healed.
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Yea it looks like it’s starting to heal round the edges, fresh pink skin all around the area this morning. That’s how it looked the other day but then it has opened up again.

It looks like she had chewed it while she was in one of the cosies as there was blood in there and it was bloody when I checked the wound.
 
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