Sebaceous Cysts

[Hank288]

One of my girls Flash has had a small lump on her back for a few months after a bite wound healed. I had been keeping my eye on it as it hadn't been causing any problems and it did not hurt her even when you touched it.
Recently it got bigger and I suspected a cyst and was getting ready to take her to a specialist vet as thought it may require surgery.

Fast forward to today when I was grooming Daisy my long haired and saw what I thought was dry skin on the top of her leg area, so wiped it away only to realise it wasn't skin and was actually a pussy waxy fluid. I pressed slowly on it and more came out, she did not squeal at all so it did not cause her any pain. I got all of it out before rushing to call the vet. Got both of my girls to the vet today. They did nothing more for daisy than check her over. With flash they put a needle into her cyst and squeezed all the yucky stuff out of it. The poor little critter cried so much (so we had carrots for tea).

They are now both on baytril for a week, Daisy 0.4ml per day and Flash 0.6ml. I was told to keep an eye on Flash's to make sure it doesn't fill up again. I asked about flushing but she said there was no need.
Do I need to flush or clean them everyday or are they best left alone? Also why would they have got them? I have never had a pig with one of these and now to have 2 from the same hutch seems odd. Am I doing something wrong?
My girls also wooed everyone in the vets, they had all the vets and vet nurses cooing over them. Flash also had everyone in the waiting room wondering what they were doing to her!
Sorry for the long post.

 

[Hank288]

Also forgot to ask do I need to give them probiotics as well? Or do I only need to do this if they go off their food? I have the pro-biotics they sell at pets at home and usually dilute a pinch in some water and then syringe feed the pigs some water with the pro-biotics. Thanks

 

[Swissgreys]

I am replying here to push this to the top so one of the health experts see it.
To be honest I am slightly confused (although that's not unusual!) as I thought sebaceous cysts didn't need antibiotics, only abscesses did. And if they both had an abscess you would know about it from the smell when they were emptied.
But maybe the vet gave antibiotics to stop the wounds left from the cysts getting infected?

And again I am not an expert but it doesn't sound like you are doing anything wrong. In fat it sounds like you are taking great care of your girls and were just unlucky to have two similar problems crop up at the same time.
I hope the carrots helped with the recovery!

 

[Hank288]

Yes the antibiotics were for the open wounds left by the cysts. Flash doesn't really have an open wound left as her cyst was so big, she just has some floppy skin left over. Daisy however has a small open wound on her back leg and a lovely short haircut round it so she looks ridiculous. I think that the antibiotics were more of a precaution which I don't mind in the slightest. Also saved some money because they both went in together.

 

[pig in the city]

Sebaceous cysts will recur if they have not had the capsule of the cyst removed. You can keep squeezing the gunk out but if they are young healthy pigs its better to have them completely removed. If your vet is not experienced in this perhaps try and find a more piggy knowledgeable vet locally? I have had several piggies with cysts and they all recovered well after surgery

 

[Lady Kelly]

Sebaceous cysts will recur if they have not had the capsule of the cyst removed. You can keep squeezing the gunk out but if they are young healthy pigs its better to have them completely removed. If your vet is not experienced in this perhaps try and find a more piggy knowledgeable vet locally? I have had several piggies with cysts and they all recovered well after surgery

If they are a reasonable age and fit I would opt for the operation. Pete's burst last year when the vet was already of the view he was on borrowed time. It is an absolutely disgusting job squeezing it out and I had to do it another 2-3 times after the initial burst as it kept refilling

 

[Hank288]

Sebaceous cysts will recur if they have not had the capsule of the cyst removed. You can keep squeezing the gunk out but if they are young healthy pigs its better to have them completely removed. If your vet is not experienced in this perhaps try and find a more piggy knowledgeable vet locally? I have had several piggies with cysts and they all recovered well after surgery

I did originally assume that Flash would require surgery as hers was very large, but my local vet pierced it with a needle and a lot came out and it went flat. I have squeezed it again today and more stuff has come out of it. Gave her carrots as a bribe! I will keep an eye on her and see what happens. I will take her to Ashleigh vets in manchester if it requires surgery. I do not have a clue how old she is but I think she is around 3 years old (possibly a little bit younger), would she be ok under surgery?

I do not think that Daisy's will fill up again as I have checked it today and there is no lump anymore and it has completely scabbed over so is already healing. Hers was very very tiny on her leg.

Is there a particular reason that they get these cysts?

 

[pig in the city]

I did originally assume that Flash would require surgery as hers was very large, but my local vet pierced it with a needle and a lot came out and it went flat. I have squeezed it again today and more stuff has come out of it. Gave her carrots as a bribe! I will keep an eye on her and see what happens. I will take her to Ashleigh vets in manchester if it requires surgery. I do not have a clue how old she is but I think she is around 3 years old (possibly a little bit younger), would she be ok under surgery?

I do not think that Daisy's will fill up again as I have checked it today and there is no lump anymore and it has completely scabbed over so is already healing. Hers was very very tiny on her leg.

Is there a particular reason that they get these cysts?

If flash is healthy there is no reason why she shouldn't have surgery. Glad Daisy is ok.
The cysts arise from sebaceous glands in the skin, humans get them too! They are most common in areas where there are a lot of glands, near the bottom, but can occur anywhere.