Recovering From Stone Surgery

[Liland87]

Hey there

One of my boys went in for bladder stone surgery on Monday; the stone was found to be at the very bottom of the ureter (not the urethra!), and was successfully removed. He has been separated from his friend for recovery (by c&c grids in their 2x4 cage), is on white towels, hay, filtered water and veggies. His appetite is very good, and he's drinking about 40ml of water a day. He is peeing and pooping just fine.

I'm really pleased with his recovery so far, but there is a bulge underneath the wound (which is glued shut). Like a little pea sized lump. There's no smell, and it doesnt seem painful, so I'm wondering if this is likely to be common swelling related to having his bladder cut open, or if it is likely to be infection?

Thanks for any help in advance!

 

[doglovinpiggylover]

I have no answer sorry, but i just wanted to say i hope your boy has a fast recovery x

 

[Jerrybelly]

I've had two guineas go through bladder surgery (one successfully, one unfortunately not) and neither developed a lump underneath their wound. I'm not experienced enough to say whether this is common, but given the circumstances I would ring the vets, and if advised, take your boy in to be looked at as soon as possible. It could be an infection which would need to be treated straight away. Better to get it checked out, even if it's to rule out an infection. Is he currently on antibiotics?

 

[Liland87]

He is currently on Baytril, and has been since a few days before the surgery (we had to wait for the guinea pig vet for the surgery). The baytril ran out today though. He's also on metacam.

I will call the vet tomorrow, she did say she wanted him back on Thursday to check the wound anyway. I was just trying to avoid taking him there unecessarily, he gets very scared and stops eating when he visits. I suppose it's the best thing for him though.

 

[Jerrybelly]

Hopefully it's not an infection. Fingers crossed for your little man

 

[Liland87]

Thanks I do feel for him, it's always him who's sick! He also has a heart problem and a cyst, and he's only 2.5 years old.

Hopefully it's just swelling. I cant believe how much he's eating though, his appetite has about tripled from before the surgery, I dont remember him ever eating near as much hay as his buddy pig like he is now! He's much less grumpy too

 

[sport_billy]

No advise, can only say to get him checked over by a vet. Lots of healing vibes to him, hope he makes a speedy full recovery.

 

[Amanda1801]

It could be an abscess. My sow had something similar after her spay which turned out to be a reaction to the suture material. Her wound became lumpy and it turned out that it was a build up of very thick (almost solid) pus, despite her already being on antibiotics.

If you're concerned, call your vet and bring his check up forward

 

[WDMMBT]

Yes, get him back to the vet. I've had two operation cases recently. Billy and Whizz, both of whom developed swelling after their operation.
Whizz's was small and just routine after the huge operation he went through.
Billy's however, did turn out to be a whole load of thick green pus. This all had to be squeezed out and went all over my hand. But that's not the point, if there is any possibility that it could be infected, get him to the vets straight away!

 

[Liland87]

Thannkyou, you're all right of course. I just had a little poke at it, and the skin with the incision moves freely across it from side to side (should you wish to manipulate it). The lump does not move, is firmly installed on his insides.

I will find out when my piggy vet is in again when they open. What do they do for abcesses / internal infections?

 

[Amanda1801]

Thannkyou, you're all right of course. I just had a little poke at it, and the skin with the incision moves freely across it from side to side (should you wish to manipulate it). The lump does not move, is firmly installed on his insides.

I will find out when my piggy vet is in again when they open. What do they do for abcesses / internal infections?

With cameo (my aforementioned sow), it was just a case of squeezing the pus daily and cleaning. This was one of her many post op complications but she made a full recovery!

 

[Liland87]

Thanks, that's reassuring! We're going to the vets in a minute to see my piggy vet and get some more antibiotics, so hopefully they'll have some answers and a solution for it.
Soon I'll be able to call him the £1000 pig (unlike his buddy who is a very cheap pig to run lol)!

 

[Liland87]

Back from the vets, she said Tesla is healing really well, and the lump is actually the knot in the internal stitches! Apparently it's more visible now because the swelling has gone down.
Have more Baytril to keep giving him until Saturday just in case, and I'm to wean him off the metacam (0.3ml daily) over the weekend too, making sure he's not in pain.

So it's all looking good!

I'm thinking of reuiniting him with his friend at the weekend, to make sure he can hold his own. They're pretty boisterous together, and I dont want him getting damaged or worn out!