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What Would You Do In My Position?

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I was thinking of taking the boys for their post lance abscess check tomorrow instead of Tuesday. This will be 6 days instead of the week that the vet recommended. Is this okay or should I wait until Tuesday? I just want the abscesses checked as I'm still worried. If they were to come back, how long approximately would this take after the abscess closes over?
 
Hi Sian, I'm sure tomorrow would be fine. The only thing is I'm not sure whether Sara works Monday - if not, there is another exotics vet in on Mondays called Emily who is excellent, too.
 
Hmm maybe I'll wait until Tuesday then so that the boys are seeing the same vet as she has seen their abscesses already. I'll see how they are later. I'm just finding it all so worrying as I have no idea about how the abscesses are supposed to be looking while healing. Both their abscesses wounds feel hard and they both still have a lump underneath it so don't know if that's the abscess filling back up or just scar tissue or something?
 
Milans eye is definitely a lot better today!! I have to take him outside in the natural light as the blood inside his eye is getting less and harder to see inside (well I hope it's getting better and it's not just a different light to yesterday) The top picture is yesterday on his way to the vets and the bottom picture is what I've just taken now in the natural light

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Forgot to add: there is still a small amount of blood in the bottom of his eye but it's nowhere near as bad as how it looked yesterday
 
It definitely does @furryfriends (TEAS) ! The top pic was yesterday when it was just so obvious to see then the bottom pic is one of the ones I have just had taken where you can't see any redness at all- it has to be looked at in a certain light and angle to see that there is still some blood. image.webp
So I thankfully think his eye is on the mend already and it will hopefully make a full and speedy recovery. I wonder what was wrong though?
 
Very strange one, but hey ho, it's looking much better and that's all we need to worry about. I have to take that approach or I would drive myself mad, as I spend every single day of my life looking after piggies with issues. If things are good there is lots to smile about and when things aren't good, then they are dealt with and hopefully the next day is better. You have done an amazing job with your boys and hopefully it won't be long before all has resolved and they can look forward to getting their lady friends. You have had such a difficult time lately, but you have come through it and you have learnt such a lot about the care of poorly piggies. I just wish you lived closer, as I could find you plenty to do here! x
 
Sian25 said:
What do you mean @JennaAnysse
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Sorry I was just admiring the set up that that lady had. it was amazing! Wish mine was like that.

But with your piggy I would just keep checking it and if you think it's looking sore or infected trust your gut and take him for a check up. As long as it's not looking like something that could be fatal I would just keep an eye on it and take him to the vets if ness! Don't beat yourself up these things can just happen! You could have checked it everyday and it might have done the same thing so don't worry
 
Claire W said:
Your boys are lucky to have you :)
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Thank you! You're going to make me cry haha. I'm more lucky to have them though! After all they have been through, they don't appear phased at all and they have coped a lot better than me! I love dedicating my life to my animals.

As you know I have my own dog walking business and a lady upset me the other day.. She found my business page online and was interested in me walking her dog. I went to her house for a meet and to go through paperwork etc and she very bluntly told me that she feels I'm too young with not enough professional experience to look after her dog.. Now yes I'm only 24 and look even younger but I've grown up with animals and if she only knew how much I actually care about animals then maybe she would have not thought in this way!

Thankfully though, although I've only been dog walking for about 3/4 months, I have some regular customers and do walks as and when needed for other customers that can trust me with their dogs!
 
Claire W said:
Don't let her upset you. You are a fantastic person and it's her loss!

I would gladly let you look after my animals :)
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I completely understand where she was coming from though as when you're handing your beloved pets over, you need someone you can trust and I do look young in all fairness. But in my opinion it's less about professional experience with animals and more about that individual person and I really do treat others dogs like one of my own.

Anyway, I went a bit off topic there haha! My point was that I LOVE animals! My every day routine revolves around my guinea pigs and my dog but once my boys are better (hopefully :() then I really need to find a way to split my time and attention better as my partner has literally not had a chance to even have a conversation with me about anything unrelated to the guinea pigs as they're the only subject that I have been willing to speak about lately and I do feel so guilty
 
On tonight's flush I've noticed that Hugo's wound is looking strange. It has like a hard yellowy green scab on the inside where I can't pick it off. It's not looking good is it :( Please tell me that the hard scab could be dried manuka honey? Or is it just the infection still there?

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Milans isn't looking as pink now either but it's hard to see as the lanced area is closing up
 
I've managed to soak the scab and take it off. But it just looks so sore. Breaks my heart :(
 
Hi all, been back to the vets today for a check up. The vet was pleased with how the abscesses were looking (apart from the one on Hugo's ear- she said that is still has a bit of pus in it). She seemed very concerned about milans eye :( She looked at it properly and said it's very inflamed but hard to see with his cataract, although the blood has lessened a lot. She has changed the eye drops and I'm to bring him back next week. She said if there's no improvement then she will check for glaucoma although she says she doesn't think this is the problem as his eye shape is normal. I was in shock as I thought his eye was really improving and almost better so I had a mini breakdown and didn't say much else. Can someone explain glaucoma to me and is there a cure etc? @furryfriends (TEAS) @Wiebke @VickiA @Abi_nurse
 
Good news about the abscesses. But I understand your shock about Milan's eye. I'm sorry I've no experience of glaucoma. In humans it's managed by drops but that's about all I know. I'm sure it won't affect his quality of life as piggies rely less on vision than their other senses which are very acute. Hugs xx
 
VickiA said:
Good news about the abscesses. But I understand your shock about Milan's eye. I'm sorry I've no experience of glaucoma. In humans it's managed by drops but that's about all I know. I'm sure it won't affect his quality of life as piggies rely less on vision than their other senses which are very acute. Hugs xx
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I'm hoping it's not glaucoma and as Sara said she doesn't think it is then I'm a bit more hopeful but still trying to prepare myself. I've just read a thread where someone mentioned the eye exploding which naturally has worried me sick. It also mentioned about testing for glaucoma and 'stitching the eye back together' so I'm wondering what the test for glaucoma actually involves if anyone knows?
 
I'm sorry that you are having more problems :( I'm afraid I don't know much about glaucoma either. I know it's caused by high amounts of pressure in the eye but it's very rare in Guinea pigs.

Fingers crossed for Milan xx
 
I am very sorry about the continuing issues.

Glaucoma is caused by increased internal pressure in the eye which eventually leads to the loss of sight. In humans this can be in most cases controlled by eye drops or an operation; in guinea pigs this is not possible and can lead to a hardening of the eyeball and ultimately an eye removal operation.
However, before you go into panic, please remember that your vet has not found any indication for it! I am glad that the eye is looking already a lot better; hopefully the new meds will do the trick.
 
I know @Wiebke but as there is no obvious eye injury then there doesn't seem to be much else it can be (in my non expert opinion). She mentioned trauma and asked if he has banged his eye on anything- he's not banged his eye on anything that I have seen and most of the things in his cage are soft so I don't see how he could have banged it on anything. Unless anyone else has any ideas of other possibilities?

I've only just thought about this now but as we have been flushing with f10 and applying manuka honey to his abscess, could it be possible he's ended up with either of those in his eye somehow? Although I don't think he can reach his abscess with his eye. How about if while flushing his abscess some f10 splashed his eye? I do cover their face when flushing as sometimes it can squirt a bit but he is very wriggly.

Also the vet said I can now stop flushing and leave to finish closing as the majority is healed. Does this sound right? I thought I was supposed to be flushing and keeping open as long as possible
 
@Poppy'sMum no I don't think so as she said about how Inflamed his eye ball looks and says it looks very sore. So surely a burst blood vessel wouldn't cause so much inflammation? He's not been squinting at all or been off his food etc but the vet did seem concerned. I feel awful as I thought his eye was pretty much back to normal
 
A burst blood vessel looks really scary in humans so would look worse in a piggy. I wouldn't worry too much about it, if you think it looks better then it probably is, another week & it will probably be gone x
 
Sian25 said:
I know @Wiebke but as there is no obvious eye injury then there doesn't seem to be much else it can be (in my non expert opinion). She mentioned trauma and asked if he has banged his eye on anything- he's not banged his eye on anything that I have seen and most of the things in his cage are soft so I don't see how he could have banged it on anything. Unless anyone else has any ideas of other possibilities?

I've only just thought about this now but as we have been flushing with f10 and applying manuka honey to his abscess, could it be possible he's ended up with either of those in his eye somehow? Although I don't think he can reach his abscess with his eye. How about if while flushing his abscess some f10 splashed his eye? I do cover their face when flushing as sometimes it can squirt a bit but he is very wriggly.

Also the vet said I can now stop flushing and leave to finish closing as the majority is healed. Does this sound right? I thought I was supposed to be flushing and keeping open as long as possible
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The eyeball is a protected body; for any bacteria to get in there, it has to be pierced in some way. This can happen sometimes without ulceration and hence no immediate treatment; an eye injury may also be less visible if there is already a cataract in the eye. It has certainly nothing to do whatsoever with the neutering or any of the abscesses!

As to the abscess care; once there have been several days without any pus coming out, you should be able to allow the acscess to heal, but I refer that point to @furryfriends (TEAS), as I do not have her extensive experience.
 
Another devastating post to have to write- after the vet saying the abscesses were looking good and that they can now be left to heal, I've just been feeling around to make sure there's no new lumps and a bit of pus come out both Milan and Hugo's abscesses. I've spoken to the vet and she wants to surgically remove them tomorrow. I can't even think straight and I just don't know what to do. Does anyone have any advice on what to do? I need help ASAP please, I completely broke down on the phone to the vet

@furryfriends (TEAS) @Wiebke @VickiA @Abi_nurse @PiggyOwner @Poppy'sMum @eileen
 
Sian25 said:
Another devastating post to have to write- after the vet saying the abscesses were looking good and that they can now be left to heal, I've just been feeling around to make sure there's no new lumps and a bit of pus come out both Milan and Hugo's abscesses. I've spoken to the vet and she wants to surgically remove them tomorrow. I can't even think straight and I just don't know what to do. Does anyone have any advice on what to do? I need help ASAP please, I completely broke down on the phone to the vet

@furryfriends (TEAS) @Wiebke @VickiA @Abi_nurse @PiggyOwner @Poppy'sMum @eileen
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BIG HUGS!

I am so sorry that you are having the worst nightmare that we had with a forum member in a very long time! :(

Sometimes, removing a stubborn abscess surgically can be the best thing.

My Bedo went through this at the rescue after his stubborn abscess came back and didn't react to the zithromax he had been put on. He made a very quick, full recovery and after having his rescue reservation withdrawn for 2-3 weeks was in the end able to be adopted by me. Two years on, he is still here and thriving.
 
@Wiebke they went under anaesthetic to be neutered 7th march (so a month ago tomorrow) then anaesthetic to have their abscess lanced last Tuesday! Then again tomorrow, I'm terrified this is just too much for them to handle.

Tomorrow is a difficult day for me with work, can this be left until friday? Obviously if not then I'll sort something out
 
Sian25 said:
@Wiebke they went under anaesthetic to be neutered 7th march (so a month ago tomorrow) then anaesthetic to have their abscess lanced last Tuesday! Then again tomorrow, I'm terrified this is just too much for them to handle.

Tomorrow is a difficult day for me with work, can this be left until friday? Obviously if not then I'll sort something out
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I would think that it can be left until Friday without problems.
 
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