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What Would You Do In My Position?

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Also Molly doesn't work today, unsure about the other exotics vet that flung my guinea pigs round everywhere. Are any vets capable of treating abscesses?
 
I wouldn't say Septrin would be that effective certainly when Fred had his abscess we tried numerous antibiotics and in the end Fred had to get Zithromax.

My general feeling was this was a last resort but I do know it is widely used for abscesses @furryfriends has used it multiple times. My vet found a study in rabbits which was about abscesses and it was highly effective which was why my vet opted to prescribe it. It really does depend on the vet, what they feel is necessary.
 
Oh, I'm very sorry about your boy. I'd just wipe the pus that's coming out, and wait for a vet to check him. Offer something tasty to him and make sure he's eating.

During my boy's post-op, he was on a course of erythromycin (baytril) for 10 days to prevent any infections. The antibiotic was well-tolerated, and didn't upset his stomach, though I did also administer probiotics. However, because guinea pig's puss is very thick, antibiotics alone are not effective on abscesses. Now that an abscess has developed, it will have to be lanced, drained and cleaned up daily, so that the wound heals from the inside-out. I've read in this forum that azithromycin (zithromax) is recommended for abscesses, though I've personally never used it, since it's not available here.
 
Sorry, didn't see Flintstones' post above.

I think all vets are capable of lancing an abscess, it's a very basic procedure. If possible though, I'd rather it be done by a cavy savvy vet: I'm not sure if a non-exotics vet would prescribe the right antibiotics and do the procedure in a manner that's not unnecessarily stressful to the pig.
 
Yes I'd rather it be done by a cavy savvy vet but I don't know who will be working today. The other exotics vet I saw at the practise did not seem cavy savvy at all but I know Molly doesn't work there on a Sunday
 
I feel terrible! I thought I had kept their cages so clean! Complete change of fleece daily.. Change of beds several times daily and spot cleaned pretty much as soon as they had pooed (obv not throughout the night) then I had started to change fleece every 2 days instead the last few days as I thought it was safe to do so :no:
 
I don't know if it'll need lanced as it's already popped? My Fred's was lanced, it was done under anaesthetic but it never popped before hand. He also had his incisor extracted so don't know if this is normal procedure.

If it does need lanced I would imagine he would be booked in to have it done?
 
Sian25 said:
I feel terrible! I thought I had kept their cages so clean! Complete change of fleece daily.. Change of beds several times daily and spot cleaned pretty much as soon as they had pooed (obv not throughout the night) then I had started to change fleece every 2 days instead the last few days as I thought it was safe to do so :no:
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I'm afraid it's just one of these things, post operation abscesses are not uncommon.
 
Oh no! Pus is better out than in, so don't worry too much about the fact it has popped. And these things happen. They happen to people kept in hospitals with good antibiotic cover and hygiene (no fur, or poo or hay to worry about!) so try not to beat yourself up. I hope you can find someone to help.
 
flintstones said:
If it does need lanced I would imagine he would be booked in to have it done?
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I'm on my way to the vet and will get there for opening at 10.. He will be seen to, even if I have to pay emergency fees. I'm not leaving the vet until they have adequately treated the abscess whether it needs lancing or not. I wouldn't have thought it would need lancing as there is already a big hole in his abdomen
 
Oh gosh, I am so sorry this has happened :( The changing of the fleece wouldn't have caused this so please don't beat yourself up over it. It has nothing to do with hygiene!

I had a similar experience when my Eliza's eye socket became infected after her eye was removed and that was after post op antibiotics were prescribed. We had to keep the wound (in her case, the eye socket) open and flush it out daily with a saline solution prescribed by the vet to allow the wound to heal from the inside out. I was scared to do it at first Eliza so had daily visits at the vets but my vet showed us how to do it ourselves.

Unfortunately these things can happen despite how clean we keep their cages.

Apart from meds, Eliza's treatment was included in her post op care so we didn't have to pay a penny but all vets are different.

Good luck and please keep us updated xx
 
He was seen to by a non exotic vet as he was the only one in! He drained abscess and give me baytril! I asked for Zithromax but he said he didn't have that available! 1ml of baytril a day?? Doesn't sound right to me. He's booked in with Molly on Thursday as she only works Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays but unsure whether to get him seen to by Molly tomorrow too?

I asked him about flushing it out, he said with just a cotton bud with salt water?

I also brought Milan with me just to check him and his stitches had not started to dissolve yet although dissolvable. He insisted on ripping the stitches out despite me telling him not to and despite Milan being in clear distress, it brought me to tears!
 
Goodness, I have no idea why he would remove dissolvable stitches but try not to worry as Milan's wound has obviously knitted together.

1ml of baytril does sound a lot but I'm no expert. Is that all in one go or 0.5ml twice daily? Were you given any probiotics?

Salt water will be fine to keep the wound clean just boil some water in the kettle and add a teaspoon of salt to a pint of the cooled down boiled water but you must try and keep the wound open to allow it to heal if it is an abscess.

If you're not happy, then by all means bring Hugo's appointment forward xx
 
Just 1ml baytril once daily. I have no idea on an appropriate dose but it still doesn't sound right to me and I need guidance before giving any baytril. He weighs 1.11kg at present

I have no idea either why he was removing milans dissolvable stitches but I will be talking to Molly about it when I see her. Despite telling him not to he replied 'we might aswel while we're here as they can take a while to dissolve' as he was ripping them out his abdomen! The nurse that removed my dogs stitches did so nice and carefully but me (and probably Milan) are now traumatised. My poor boy!
 
I'm sorry that you had another awful experience :( I'm afraid I can't comment on the baytril dosage as I've never had to give that amount myself but hopefully someone more experienced will be along soon
 
I've just got home and not given Hugo any antibiotics yet. I'm unsure whether to not give the baytril and try and see if I can get an appointment with Molly tomorrow and hopefully she will give a better antibiotic?

1ml baytril once daily doesn't sound right anyway so I wont give him it until I hear what others say about this dose
 
What is the concentration of the Baytril you were given?

The European Commission has approved Baytril in the following concentrations: 2.5% (25 mg/ml), 5% (50 mg/ml) and 10% (100 mg/ml). According to Guinea Lynx, the oral dosage is 2.5-10.0 mg/kg q12h, which means 5-20 mg/kg daily. Assuming your vet prescribed the lowest concentration, i.e. 25 mg/ml, this means you would be administering a single dose of 25 mg daily. I would never advise following Internet advice over vet prescriptions, but I would get another opinion before giving a single dose of 25 mg of Baytril. Or could you possibly ring the vet and ask them at least about splitting the dose in two, i.e. 0.5 ml once every 12 hours?
 
I've got an appointment with Molly tomorrow at 3:50! I'm expecting a call back from the vet regarding the baytril dose but I don't know when that will be and I don't trust what he has to say anyway now. I don't know whether to just leave all antibiotics until I've seen Molly tomorrow?

Any advice? @Wiebke @helen105281 @VickiA @furryfriends (TEAS) or anyone :(
 
Sian25 said:
I've got an appointment with Molly tomorrow at 3:50! I'm expecting a call back from the vet regarding the baytril dose but I don't know when that will be and I don't trust what he has to say anyway now. I don't know whether to just leave all antibiotics until I've seen Molly tomorrow?

Any advice? @Wiebke @helen105281 @VickiA @furryfriends (TEAS) or anyone :(
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Please continue with your regular medication until you see her. Best of luck! I am sorry that you are having such a bad ride.

I would recommend that you gently clean the wound with saline solution either sterile one from a local pharmacy (don't say that it is for a guinea pig) or making your own by mixing one 1 teaspoon of salt into 1 pint of boiled cooled water.
 
@Wiebke did you see the post about Hugo developing an abscess that I found this morning? He went to a normal vet as he was the only one at the practise. He has been prescribed 1ml baytril once daily.. Surely this can't be right?
 
If you are unsure and if you do not receive a phone call from the vets today I would wait until you see Molly.

In terms of flushing, gently bathe the area with the saline solution (I used kitchen towel) Do you have any clean / unused syringes? I used to flush Eliza's wound out by squirting the saline solution in to the wound by using the syringe
 
Sian25 said:
@Wiebke so I should leave the baytril until I've seen Molly?
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No, with an open wound, please give the baytril. The last thing you want is an infection to start. The saline solution is a mild disinfectant.

It is likely that he has been biting himself because of some localised pain in that area.
 
@Wiebke but the vet I saw has prescribed 1ml baytril once daily. Surely this is too high? He was not an exotic vet. I'm terrified to overdose him.

What's a normal dose of baytril?
 
Sian25 said:
@Wiebke but the vet I saw has prescribed 1ml baytril once daily. Surely this is too high? He was not an exotic vet
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You can safely give 0.4 - 0.5 ml twice a day. Wash the wound now and then leave it unless there is new damage.
 
:agr: With @Wiebke on the baytril and the washing with saline.
I would also give him some metacam if you have some as he's probably in some discomfort.

These things happen. You are a vigilant and caring owner and he is starting treatment promptly so I am sure all will be well.
 
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