Abscess on side of face

[Rossa]

Hi everyone, yesterday I noticed a large swelling on the side of my Guinea pigs face with a small opening on the cheek. We’ve been to the vet who diagnosed an abscess which they incised and we’ve now got pain killers and antibiotics to administer for 5 days. The swelling looks reduced although still there, I’m not sure what to expect next or how long it might take to resolve. Is there anything else I can do to help? GPig seems fine in herself, eating and drinking normally. Thanks you in advance for any help you can give

 

[Betsy]

@GPTV had a piggy that had an abscess on the side of her face so may be able to help you.

 

[Rossa]

Ah, many thanks

 

[weepweeps]

I’m sorry your piggy is unwell. It’s good they are behaving normally and eating ok. Has the abscess been stitched open to drain? Have you been told to flush it out?

I would weigh them daily in case the antibiotics affect their appetite.

I would do what your vets has advised but if after 5 days it’s not completely gone definitely go back to the vets as sometimes you need a longer course. Also Zithromax is a great antibiotic for abscesses.

I had a piggy with a tooth root abscess last year. It took over 8 weeks to resolve completely and 10 months for him to gain back the 400g he lost. But he’s fine now. Good luck. I hope your piggy is soon on the mend.

 

[Rossa]

Hi, it’s not been stitched open and I’ve not been told to flush it. I have been bathing daily and gently expressing anything that will drain.

 

[Merab]

Hope it heals soon.
Abscesses are nasty to deal with

 

[weepweeps]

Hi, it’s not been stitched open and I’ve not been told to flush it. I have been bathing daily and gently expressing anything that will drain.

That sounds good. See how it is after the 5 days.

 

[GPTV]

My rainbow girl Grace had a facial abscess about 6yrs ago.

My vet put her on zithromax for about a week I think it was, the abscess didn't go down on its own .

So the vet was going to try & remove the whole pus capsule,but there were too many nerves, etc that the abscess had grown around,so he removed what he could as the zithromax had dried out most of the pus &made it flaky.

He then marsupialised (stitched the wound open) so I could flush it a 2 or 3 times daily with baytril.
Grace stayed on the zithromax for nearly a month in total . She had loxicom/metacam for the pain.

I had to remove the scab on the wound daily to flush it through with baytril, abscesses heal from the inside out.
If there's a small speck of infection left in her wound when it's closed over it will develop into another abscess & u'll be back to square one again

Here's Grace's thread but it's quite old now.
Grace - Abcess Brewing?

Grace kept her appetite throughout which was lucky,as it meant her teeth were being worn down evenly
But I did have some supreme recovery sachets here as backup in case she lost her appetite.

@furryfriends (TEAS) is the abscess Queen

If you're bathing/expressing it daily it sounds like you're doing the right thing , maybe phone the vet &see if they can suggest flushing it with salt water/hibiscrub or maybe baytril like I did with Grace to help it heal from the inside quicker?

she heals quickly xx

 

[Rossa]

Thanks so much for your reply. I’ve had a look at the tread about Grace . I’m going back to see the vet this morning as although improved the lump is still there and draining pus so want so see if we need more treatment.

 

[weepweeps]

If there is any pus left it will definitely come back. My piggy was on Zithromax for 6 weeks. Good luck at the vets