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Rusty has a surgery booked on 25th for an abscess removal. I have a few questions

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Sarah-sore

Sarah-sore

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So, I've made a few posts about this already and I have a very sick little piggie on my hands :( After a bunch of research I think it is safe to say Rusty has an abscess on her rear end. I booked an appointment to get it removed I just have a few question.

How well do piggies respond to antiseptics, how do you stop piggies from pulling on their stitches? Am I taking a large risk with her having this surgery? I just did a bunch of research and when I talk to my vet next the first question I am going to ask is if he is experienced with this sort of thing(which I do believe he is.)

I think that's all the questions I have for now, thank you everyone for reading.
 
what makes you think it's an abscess? Have any samples been taken for cytology? It could be a number of things if it's a lump - it could be an abscess, it could also be a lipoma, a tumour or a cyst
 
The reason I say abscess is because she kept pulling at it and cut it open and a bunch of white, toothpastly like stuff came out and it had a very unpleasant smell. I read up that those are sings of abscess, I could, of course be wrong.

I can take a picture of it if that would help? I just cleaned it out earlier so right now its an open wound and a lot of the white it is gone but there's still a little bit. In a few more days I can take another picture to.

Another reason I say abscess is because I've already cleaned it out twice, well, the vet cleaned it first and then my parents and I today.
 
I've had one piggy have an abscess removed from the neck area & another one had a sebaceous cyst removed from the hip area. Recovery was pretty much the same in booth cases but the wound too longer to heal with the cyst. Another problem in both cases was the other girls wanted to remove the stitches themselves. This resulted in the wound taking longer to heal with the cyst because it opened. With the abscess, when I took her back to the vets one stitch was completely gone another one party bitten away & the other two ok. I would advise to keep her by herself for 2 or 3 days after the op unless you can be there to supervise. It's probably nothing malicious on the other girls part but they probably think they're helping.

In both cases they've now made full recovery.
 
Also, the vet called me back with a quote on how much the surgery would be so I asked the technician if the vet had done anything like this and I guess last week he took lumps off a couple of rats and they are doing amazing recoveries right now, which really took a weight off my shoulders, and they also told me that Rusty can get booked in a bit earlier, so Rusty is going in this Monday! Which is a full week earlier. :))
 
Has anyone looked at the contents of this lump under a microscope? Is she on any antibiotics/pain relief? If its an open wound, she should be on both, particularly if its an abscess.

Where exactly is it on her body?
 
My girl had a lump on her rump, she nipped it and it had grey paste inside (because her skin is black). It's a sebacious cyst not an abcess. There is no blood, but every 6 weeks I soak it with warm water and gently remove the crust on top and VERY gently express the pastey gunk out. I use cotton buds and my (clean!) finger edges. I never take out too much in one go, if it feels flat stop. Never dig inside to get stuff out because if you poke around and cause it to bleed you can start a real infection! you just want to releave a little pressure so piggy doesnt itch it and make a mess of it.

The hole on Leeland is permanent because I dont think it is worth the surgery to remove the membrane lining the cyst which produces the sebum. It's more like a 3.5mm crater, not a hole leading to muscle tissue. It tickles her when I help out, and she can get crotchety about me fiddling near her bum, and although she can turn round to get at it, she mostly lets me get on with it if I'm adament! I spend no more than 3 or 4 minutes on it at a time.

Abcesses will need lancing, meds and serious care, cysts are just a bit yucky but more benign (unless secondary complications arise like barbering/hair ingestion or infection). Hope this helps.

Oh and for preventing stitch picking, ask your vet if there is anything which can be used topically on the skin which the pigs will find distasteful but is antisceptic, non toxic, ingestable, and not a source of microbes and grime. it's essential to keep it clean, airy and pain free!

Most stitch picking happened in DT when she was next to healed. By which point she wouldnt have had open skin. It might be easier to use something like vinegar or lemon juice at this point because it wont sting.... but they are suggestions. I havent tried them and I'd seriously get a second, third and fourth opinon before trying it out.

Hope that helped a tiny bit!
 
No it had not been looked at under a microscope, but she is on meds. Here's a picture of it.

[*]*WARNING IT IS AN OPEN WOUND, IF ANYONE IF UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT PLEASE LOOK AWAY*[/*]
 
What does it look like? :...
She's on baytril 50mg and I have to give her 1/4 tablets a day
 
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