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What Would You Do In My Position?

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But if they do get bigger I'm to take them straight to the vets as opposed to waiting until Tuesday?
 
It's a judgement call Sian. The long bank holiday weekend is a pain. But there's no reason to believe that they won't improve.
 
Ah okay thanks. I just can't lose them! I'm so terrified. I've been waking up at least twice every night in a panic and getting my partner to check they're still alive as I'm too scared to look for myself. Words honestly can't describe what these cheeky boys mean to me

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I remember when Max developed his abscess. I was beside myself - so I have a lot of sympathy with how you feel at the moment .

I was in tears at the vets as I thought I was going to lose him. I remember having to flush the wound out . It is really distressing but I genuinely feel you will soon be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
 
Thanks everyone. I'm trying to see the positives but I'm finding it impossible.

The f10 says 1ml f10 to 250ml water. Is this the same for piggies too?
 
Also does anyone have any tips on positions to flush out abscesses? Clearly the way I was doing it doesn't work as I've just had f10 in my eyes
 
Don't have any tips for the flushing other than avoid your eyes, just aim and squirt into the wound. I hope the boys are doing OK.
 
Sian,I'm just reading all this.I'm very sorry you have had a difficult experience,Ben my cavy had an abcess in his neather regions,i flushed with dilute hibiscrub,used a ten ml syringe without a needle,flushed the solution into the abcess with medium pressure without tip of syringe coming into contact with wound.i used milton to strilize the syringe overnight.flushed once in the morning,flushed once in the evening.ive had 6 boys neutered all were up and eating running around after an overnight stay at the vets.Please do not let this experience put you off.all my boys are so happy with there wives.Ben abcess was 18 months after proceedure,so probably was not anything to do with neuter.Hugs to you.xx
 
Thanks @eileen
The thing I'm most worried about it that the vet did not lance milans abscess or Hugo's second abscess so it's not open.. She said to bring them back next week and to lance if needed. But I'm worried this is too long to wait as the abscesses are closed :(
 
Hugo is in such a good mood tonight- popcorning to his hay for a nibble, popcorning to his nuggets then popcorning to his water bottle. So cute, it breaks my heart! I'm just glad the abscesses don't seem to be affecting the piggies
 
if you feel its too long make an appointment at your new vets with what you feel comfortable with.best to check too many times and be reassured.x
 
Sian25 said:
Will the vets lance abscesses on a Saturday?
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I am so sorry that you are going through all the :(

Do you feel that the abscess needs lancing? Has the boys abscesses changed at all? I suspect your vet is waiting to see if the antibiotics kick in or if there is any change for the worst and if not, I doubt she will just operate if there is no need.

I know it isn't the same thing but one of my cats had an abscess lanced a few months ago but it was fairly obvious it needed lancing as it was very swollen, leaking pus and Dexter was in a lot of pain with it. His appointment was in the morning, he was booked in and the op was done that day.
 
@Claire W I was under the impression that abscesses won't clear up with antibiotics alone in guinea pigs so assumed they will need lancing anyway.

My boys obviously come before anything but I have my own dog walking/ home boarding and doggy day care business and I have quite a busy week next week. So I'm a bit stuck with what to do :( If they can't be lanced tomorrow then I'll have to figure something out but it would make things so much easier- especially if they need to be lanced anyway
 
Sian25 said:
@Claire W I was under the impression that abscesses won't clear up with antibiotics alone in guinea pigs so assumed they will need lancing anyway.

My boys obviously come before anything but I have my own dog walking/ home boarding and doggy day care business and I have quite a busy week next week. So I'm a bit stuck with what to do :( If they can't be lanced tomorrow then I'll have to figure something out but it would make things so much easier- especially if they need to be lanced anyway
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I see your predicament. May be you could give them a call and see what they say? Due to the anaesthetic, most vets would want to keep the animal at the vets for at least a few hours after the op to make sure they're OK afterwards but I guess it all depends on your vets opening hours and whether or not they consider it an emergency or whether it can wait until another day. It's a tough one and just very unfortunate it's Easter
 
Claire W said:
I see your predicament. May be you could give them a call and see what they say? Due to the anaesthetic, most vets would want to keep the animal at the vets for at least a few hours after the op to make sure they're OK afterwards but I guess it all depends on your vets opening hours and whether or not they consider it an emergency or whether it can wait until another day. It's a tough one and just very unfortunate it's Easter
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I agree and now I'm thinking realistically they're not going to be able to do it tomorrow as they close at 1. I will ring anyway though just incase. If it has to be done Tuesday instead then I have 3 dogs coming for a trial few hours before they board with me, I'll have to move that to a different day and hope the customer understands. I'll drop them off at the vets then I'll whizz home, walk some dogs and whizz back to pick them up. If the vets wasn't over an hour away it wouldn't be too bad.
 
Are the abscesses any worse Sian? Are the boys showing signs of illness or distress? Any sign the ABs are working?
 
That sounds like a lot of hard work for you on Tuesday :(

Are the abscesses any worse? Are your boys behaviour any worse? If not, you could always wait until Thursday like your vet has advised. Do you think there has been an improvement with the antibiotics?

EDIT: Sorry, we posted at the same time
 
@Claire W the vet didn't actually advice a date.. She just said 'a day next week, whatever is best for you' but I couldn't live with myself if I changed the day to a later day and something happened. I want them checking again ASAP
 
I really just can't settle. The thought of their abscesses rupturing internally any minute is really getting to me
 
Sian25 said:
@Claire W the vet didn't actually advice a date.. She just said 'a day next week, whatever is best for you' but I couldn't live with myself if I changed the day to a later day and something happened. I want them checking again ASAP
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Sorry, I had Thursday in my head but now I realise that was the appointment with Molly.

May be you can try and fit them in tomorrow and then if your vet feels they need lancing, your boys can be booked in for the first available appointment next week if she can't do it tomorrow? Saves you from going in Tuesday and then having to wait until another day to have them lanced?
 
I know that abscesses are a recognized complication of neutering but to have them both develop them makes me wonder what went wrong? If it were me, once they are fully recovered (and they will be Sian, don't worry, they will not die), l would make an appointment to speak to the vet who did the surgery. I would ask them to explain why this has occurred, ask them how many neutering operations they do and how many have had post operative complications. They need to review their surgical technique and the suture materials they have used. You have been put through extra stress and expense and your piggies have suffered unduly. You deserve an apology at least, even if it was unavoidable. Sending hugs xx
 
I know both Molly and Alan (the other exotic vet) professionally, they are dedicated, diligent and know more about exotics in their little finger than I could ever dream of knowing. Post operative complications are an unfortunate occurrence...but sometimes not avoidable despite taking all known precautions to do so with neutering guinea pigs.

As an owner you need to have faith in your vet, if not you'll drive yourself crazy worrying and secind guessing... I'm so pleased it sounds like you have found a vet that you trust at Cheshire pets :hug:that's great news

One thing is obvious Sian. ....you love them boys and they could not ask for a better, more diligent and caring mum than you .... I think you need to realise what a great job you are doing with them....They are lucky boys :hug:..... I hope both of them are back to full health asap and that you get a well earned rest too :luv:
 
pig in the city said:
I know that abscesses are a recognized complication of neutering but to have them both develop them makes me wonder what went wrong? If it were me, once they are fully recovered (and they will be Sian, don't worry, they will not die), l would make an appointment to speak to the vet who did the surgery. I would ask them to explain why this has occurred, ask them how many neutering operations they do and how many have had post operative complications. They need to review their surgical technique and the suture materials they have used. You have been put through extra stress and expense and your piggies have suffered unduly. You deserve an apology at least, even if it was unavoidable. Sending hugs xx
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Thank you. I will definitely be making an appointment with her. I remember pre op and Molly said 'in guinea pigs, I make one incision down the middle of their Lower abdomen as guinea pigs are for abscesses' they were her words and it didn't ring any alarm bells for some reason, I just trusted her reputation and didn't think anything of it :( but it now leads me to think she has a lot of abscesses. But surely abscesses are more to do with the cleanliness of their cage? I feel terrible and to blame, although I was permanently cleaning and changing their cages so I don't understand
 
Widdy555 said:
I know both Molly and Alan (the other exotic vet) professionally, they are dedicated, diligent and know more about exotics in their little finger than I could ever dream of knowing. Post operative complications are an unfortunate occurrence...but sometimes not avoidable despite taking all known precautions to do so with neutering guinea pigs.

As an owner you need to have faith in your vet, if not you'll drive yourself crazy worrying andsecind guessing... I'm so pleased it sounds like you have found a vet that you trust at Cheshire pets :hug:that's great news

One thing is obvious Sian. ....you love them boys and they could not ask for a better, more diligent and caring mum than you .... I think you need to realise what a great job you are doing with them....They are lucky boys :hug:..... I hope both of them are back to full health asap and that you get a well earned rest too :luv:
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Thank you, that means alot as I really do love them! I don't think I would have changed vet if Molly was in full time but I've received very fragmented care as I had a bad experience with Alan
 
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