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Post-op wound advice please (warning graphic pics)

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Poppy'sMum

Poppy'sMum

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Dear old Blighty UK
Daisy's wound was healing nicely after the removal of an abscess 11 days ago, she has just finished a course of Zithromax because the lower part of the wound was not knitting together properly, which she finished yesterday.

Anyway this morning I caught her nibbling it :... Presumably because it is healing it was itching. She had managed to loosen the scab, which was sticking out, so I had her out to have a look & I could see underneath that she had made it bleed. After I put her back I rang the vets who suggested a salt solution & bathe it but keep an eye on it.

This was it just after the op :
DSCF1102.jpg


Well I just noticed what she's done to it now:
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:...

Should I just clean it with a sterile cotton bud dipped in salt solution? I am using cool boiled water, 1 teaspoon of salt to a pint, is that okay? Will she have enough of the Zithromax still in her system to kill off any germs?

I'm not sure what else I can do, if I separate her from the others she goes nuts, chewing the bars etc & I don't want her to snap her teeth because that will mean more problems :(
 
Ooh poor little Daisy - she's had a good old chew at her wound :(
Hope someone can give you some sound advice as I can't really apart from I would avoid cotton buds etc. as the nasty bits of wool do tend to come off easily - do you have any gauze instead ?/ Pharmacies will sell a small pack.
Healing vibes and hugs to Daisy in the mean time hun x>>
 
Guinea pig slave said:
Ooh poor little Daisy - she's had a good old chew at her wound :(
Hope someone can give you some sound advice as I can't really apart from I would avoid cotton buds etc. as the nasty bits of wool do tend to come off easily - do you have any gauze instead ?/ Pharmacies will sell a small pack.
Healing vibes and hugs to Daisy in the mean time hun x>>
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Yes that's true, I do have some gauze so will use that instead. The others aren't likely to lick it as they won't go near her, poor little lamb :( It's just if she licks/nibbles it, I assume it may get infected, so I think keeping it clean is important. I don't know what else to do, she is a darling & a munchkin all rolled into one :)
 
Oh Poor daisy...!

Are you sure it's her chewing it...? No ones helping her out...?
It's in such a akward place you can't really cover it...
Bathe it in the salt solution like you've said... Two or three times a day...
Have you got any of the meds left...? Might be worth while keeping her on them untill it's closed up... If you haven't try phoning the vets and asking for some to pick up...?
x
 
Can you get cones for guinea pigs to stop her chewing? It would probably be okay if she left it alone and you kept it clean with salt water etc I'm not an expert though. Did the your local vets not get back to you before 11 30 then? Could you email Simon the photos and talk to him on the phone?
 
claremw92 said:
Oh Poor daisy...!

Are you sure it's her chewing it...? No ones helping her out...?
It's in such a akward place you can't really cover it...
Bathe it in the salt solution like you've said... Two or three times a day...
Have you got any of the meds left...? Might be worth while keeping her on them untill it's closed up... If you haven't try phoning the vets and asking for some to pick up...?
x
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No it's definitely her doing it herself. I only have a teeny amount of Septrin left from her first course. I can't pick anymore up as it's a 3 hour round trip! :)

AndreaJane said:
Can you get cones for guinea pigs to stop her chewing? It would probably be okay if she left it alone and you kept it clean with salt water etc I'm not an expert though. Did the your local vets not get back to you before 11 30 then? Could you email Simon the photos and talk to him on the phone?
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I managed to get through on the phone, she said to bathe it & keep an eye on it & ring them Monday if it looks worse.

furryfriends (Excellent Adventure Sanctuary) said:
I would just bathe with salt water and keep uncovered so it can dry out. Keep an eye on her to make sure she isn't chewing it. Do you want me to show the pic to Simon on Monday evening when I'm there?
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Thanks Debbie that would be great if it's not too much trouble for you. Can you get the photo off here or do I need to email it to you or something? :)
 
I can show him the forum on my phone. Although it doesn't look very nice I really don't think its anything too much to worry about. Obviously infection could be a problem but if you keep it as clean as possible and bathe it regularly I am sure it will soon start to look a lot better. Will let you know what he says.
 
furryfriends (Excellent Adventure Sanctuary) said:
I can show him the forum on my phone. Although it doesn't look very nice I really don't think its anything too much to worry about. Obviously infection could be a problem but if you keep it as clean as possible and bathe it regularly I am sure it will soon start to look a lot better. Will let you know what he says.
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Thank you! If I need more antibiotics is there some way I can send the money to him or you rather than do another trip as next week is going to be really difficult for me to get there unless it is a dire emergency. As I said I have a tiny bit of Septrin left if I have to use it, I can send enough to cover postage etc if he would accept that?

Oh & just to add, there is no sign of the scab in the cage so she must have eaten it! Will that harm her as it was a huge piece?!
 
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oh bless her that does look sore. All you can do is keep it clean. I am sure eating the scab wont hurt her, she was just tidying up! I was telling my OH about Simon, so if Bertie is ever ill (fingers crossed he wont) I will definitely go there.
My vets is so costly! and not rodent friendly. I took a rat there years ago it had a chest infection. The lady vet obviously didnt like rats! I took both rats with me. She didnt know if the sick one was under weight, so I suggested weighing the well one and comparing. I had to get them out the cage. The meds worked though. When I was paying one of the male vets came out and was in raptures over my rats and after asking permission got them both out for a cuddle. You would have thought they could have made the appointment with him!
 
furryfriends (Excellent Adventure Sanctuary) said:
Have taken pic into vets and Simon will ring you. xx
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Oooo okay! Hope he didn't mind me putting the pic on here, it is drying out really well, no sign of any infection hopefully, but she is still following her mum around for her poops :( I don't know how long that will go on for though?
 
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