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Shippou: cyst on neck

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Carcharias

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Hi, I have a 5 year old intact boar named Shippou. He's a short hair tricolor. About 1.9lbs.

About six months ago he developed a lump on his neck in the jowl area. It grew quite large about walnut sized. He was put on antibiotics and the lump shrank. When the antibiotics were discontinued the lump started growing again.

Then we had it aspirated and drained by a vet and she managed to pulled 38cc of a dark red fluid out of him. The vet said the fluid was old dead red blood cells and that the lump was a cyst. She prescribed him Baytril.

What is this cyst? Why is it filled with blood? Will antibiotics do anything for it?
 
Thank you so much for your quick reply. I am also a member of Guinea Lynx as well. ") I have not had any luck with their mods, they just keep referring me to the lump page which I have read many many times. :(
 
Lumps that shrink on admin of anitbioitic suggest a bacterial involvement.

Lumps of this kind in the neck region strongly suggest lymphadenitis....strep is the main cause.

Ideally your vet should have aspirated the lump and done a bacterial culture....have they done that?..... and what was the result?..(bear with me...please read on as my thought processes develop)

OK so that "aspiration" happened.....but your post just says dead blood cells...YET BAYTRIL WAS PRESCRIBED....ERRMMMM sorry not logical....were any bigs found?

So my advice is: Find yourself a vet who is prepared to prescrbe either oral azithromycin (or at the very least Tetratcycline Long-Acting single injection) ...the two best antibioitis to resolve neck lump abcesses (for those vets in the know) .........(oh and also me who has said several piggies down with this horrible condition...ie my bona fides)

Any problems come back..tell us where you are and we will try find a local cavy-savvy vet for you who will prescribe appropriately

Sorry can;t help any more/further at this stage but really appreciate your frustration and worry
x
 
No, she didn't do a culture. She just made a slide to determine what the fluid was. It was dark red so it definitely looked like blood and there was no pus.

Since he's been on the Baytril there hasn't been any improvement. The cyst seems to be filling back up instead.

It doesn't seem to bother him and he eats, drinks, and poops fine. I just worry about it since it grew so big before.

Thank you, I'll ask my vet about azithromycin and tetratcycline.
 
My only experience of a cyst is a sow I have a little while ago. She had a sebacious cyst on her neck. The lump was filled with white goo, looked a bit like toothpaste, and I squeezed all of this out. Vet gave me baytril in case of infection and I gave probiotics alongside this. The 'hole' is still there but scabbed over and I just monitor this. Laura was very helpful, so I am sure she can give you some good advice. xx
 
Hmmmm... we've had some pigs with lumps, but they always contained either obviously infected gunk (abscess) or thick, cheesy white cyst gunk. I've never experienced one containing blood. If it's filling back up, I would suspect an infection that the antibiotic is not taking care of... Baytril isn't really the best drug for abscesses. One of my pigs was on chloramphenicol for an abscess (though I don't think it's prescribed in all areas- it's a banned drug in humans but okayed for veterinary use in Canada where I live.) I've also heard great stuff about Zithromax for abscesses.
 
He was on chloramphenicol before and responded to that. We switched vets and the new one gave us the Baytril.

Should I ask for Chloramphenicol again?
 
Carcharias said:
He was on chloramphenicol before and responded to that. We switched vets and the new one gave us the Baytril.

Should I ask for Chloramphenicol again?
Click to expand...

If it worked, I would ask for it again. Sometimes vets who aren't super-familiar with guinea pigs think that they can only give Baytril. I know my vet (who is a small exotics vet) has said that she doesn't even bother giving Baytril for abscesses as it's generally not effective.
 
Okay, so the Baytril hasn't seemed to do anything. Shippou's lump is still getting bigger. Our vet appointment isn't until next week.

However, he's been acting weird lately. He seems really hyperactive and rambunctious. He's running around, pacing back and forth and generally acting crazy.

Also he seems to want food a lot. I give him all the pellets and hay he wants but he barely touches the pellets and instead eats mainly hay and whatever fresh veggies I give him. I tried giving him pellet mush but he didn't want any.

What's wrong with him?! 8... I'm so worried, what should I do?
 
So I've been told his strange behavior sounds like pain. :0

Shippou has also been having trouble wheeking lately. He sounds hoarse. What could be the problem? Could his lump be pushing on his throat?
 
Grainy/grabular grey/cream stuff = cyst.
white/cream/pistachio foul smelling = abcess.
Blood could, I'm afraid, mean a tumour.

Is the lump actually an enlarged lymph node? a cavy savvy vet should be able to tell you this. If it is a lymph node it would suggest there is something going on that needs to be addressed. If the lump is "moveable" within the skin ie not attached...then it si either a lipoma or a cyst. If it seemsto be emebdding iself deeper then again, that is something to watch out for.

The lump could be pressing on his throat..or the lump has compromised his immune system and he has now developed a URI.

No point in speculating any further.......You really do need to find a cavy savvy vet soonest to properly examine your piggie and do appropriate tests. (Guinea lynx should be able to hlep find one)

And yes it does sound like he is in pain (metacam....0.1ml of dog suspension per kg)

HTH...wishing him a full recvery

x
 
The vet didn't know what it was. She just drained it and prescribed him Baytril. I have thought he's had a URI for a little cause he sneezes and has a crusty nose. But the vet said the Baytril will clear that up.

I can't get him back to the vet until thursday. :0
 
I got him to the vet today. Shippou is dying. 8...

I convinced the vet to give him metacam for the pain.
I'm giving him all the veggies and hay he wants. I hope his last days are happy.

I will miss him so much
 
I'm so sorry he is dying, I'm sure that he knows he is loved. You cant do anymore than make sure he comfortable. Hugs x
 
Oh crikey - I am so sorry to hear this.....(((HUGS))))
 
Chlorophenical is banned in Canada? How come? We use it in the UK, mainly for eye infections in humans, or sometimes superficial wounds...

Maybe you could post a photo of the cyst?
 
Carcharias said:
I got him to the vet today. Shippou is dying. 8...

I convinced the vet to give him metacam for the pain.
I'm giving him all the veggies and hay he wants. I hope his last days are happy.

I will miss him so much
Click to expand...

Ooohh, I'm so sorry :-( what did the vet say?
 
The vet said he most likely has some tumors.

Tonight, my Shippou died. T__T I love him so much, he will be missed immensely.
 
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