toughcookie
New Born Pup
Wondering if anyone out there has experience of their piggies suffering from an abscess in their abdomen?
One of mine, a boar, roughly 14 months old is currently being treated for one. I first noticed he had a swelling a few weeks ago. Rang one of the recommended vets on the forum but they couldn't see him for approx 5 days so I took him to a different one instead as I wanted him to get seen sooner.
Appointment 1 - Vet said he drained approx 60ml of gunk from him and sent us away with Baytril for 5 days
Appointment 2 - A week later the swelling was looking a little different, vet said it was more solid and he couldn't really get any fluid off it. He suggested at that stage we could give the antibiotics another go, take a biopsy or remove the swelling. I decided on a further course of antibiotics as piggy was still his usual chirpy self, weeing, pooing and eating well and was worried about him having to go through an operation.
Appointment 3 - I was resigning myself to needing an operation but asked for the cost involved first as stupidly I do not have insurance. Vet said he had drained another 100ml of fluid from piggy and said that to operate would cost approx £700.
Unfortunately I'm not in the position to agree to operate at that cost right now. I have already spent £210 on the 3 appointments and my car tax, mot and insurance are all due which I cannot do without.
The vet suggested that he inject antibiotics directly into the area and leave a slightly open wound to see if that resolves the problem, advising that I keep him as clean as possible and separate him from my other piggy. We have a further appointment in 5 days to check on the progress and piggy now has a staple in his tummy.
What I really want to know is does the treatment he has had so far seem correct and does anyone have any experience of vet's bills associated with this issue?
I will do everything to make sure my piggy gets the treatment he needs but will need to get my finances in order. I feel ok about the experience we've had so far from the vet but was flummoxed by the quote of £700 to operate. Is this the 'average' cost or should I be prepared to ring round other vets?
Hope I don't come across as a bad piggy owner, I know by getting a pet you have to be prepared to get the medical attention it needs and if I had even dreamed of it costing so much I would definitely have looked into insurance.
Sorry for the long post and thanks for reading.
One of mine, a boar, roughly 14 months old is currently being treated for one. I first noticed he had a swelling a few weeks ago. Rang one of the recommended vets on the forum but they couldn't see him for approx 5 days so I took him to a different one instead as I wanted him to get seen sooner.
Appointment 1 - Vet said he drained approx 60ml of gunk from him and sent us away with Baytril for 5 days
Appointment 2 - A week later the swelling was looking a little different, vet said it was more solid and he couldn't really get any fluid off it. He suggested at that stage we could give the antibiotics another go, take a biopsy or remove the swelling. I decided on a further course of antibiotics as piggy was still his usual chirpy self, weeing, pooing and eating well and was worried about him having to go through an operation.
Appointment 3 - I was resigning myself to needing an operation but asked for the cost involved first as stupidly I do not have insurance. Vet said he had drained another 100ml of fluid from piggy and said that to operate would cost approx £700.
Unfortunately I'm not in the position to agree to operate at that cost right now. I have already spent £210 on the 3 appointments and my car tax, mot and insurance are all due which I cannot do without.
The vet suggested that he inject antibiotics directly into the area and leave a slightly open wound to see if that resolves the problem, advising that I keep him as clean as possible and separate him from my other piggy. We have a further appointment in 5 days to check on the progress and piggy now has a staple in his tummy.
What I really want to know is does the treatment he has had so far seem correct and does anyone have any experience of vet's bills associated with this issue?
I will do everything to make sure my piggy gets the treatment he needs but will need to get my finances in order. I feel ok about the experience we've had so far from the vet but was flummoxed by the quote of £700 to operate. Is this the 'average' cost or should I be prepared to ring round other vets?
Hope I don't come across as a bad piggy owner, I know by getting a pet you have to be prepared to get the medical attention it needs and if I had even dreamed of it costing so much I would definitely have looked into insurance.
Sorry for the long post and thanks for reading.