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Abscess, surgery and behaviour

Yurigiri

Yurigiri

New Born Pup
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I am not sure if this is relevant under this thread.

My guinea pig has multiple bite wounds by his friend. A pierce through the ear, a bite wound on his forehead, and two very large abscess on his tummy. He is on pain relief and antibiotics now.

Unfortunately, I am unable to squeeze the remaining thick pus out through the tiny bite mark. They are likely hardened. The 3rd appt with the vet will be a surgery appointment, with General Anaesthesia to lance the pus and stitch him back.

I've watched videos where people does all of these without GA. The vet understands the risk of GA but mentioned about the pain and discomfort that he will go through without. I wonder if this route is ok? I would love a voice from you guys.

Another question is about the bonding. Since this accident is quite a severe one, will there be chances that they can bond again? Or do I have give one up?
 

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I don’t have abscess experience but I would definitely think anaesthetic is required.

I am afraid such serious injuries will mean their bond is over and they will not be able to be rebonded.
 
I’m so sorry your piggies have decided they don’t want to live together anymore. Please don’t put them back together after such a big fight. They can live very happily side by side. I also don’t have experience of abscesses. Sorry. But I would think it would be quite stressful for the piggy to be awake for the procedure.
 
Piggies&buns said:
I don’t have abscess experience but I would definitely think anaesthetic is required.

I am afraid such serious injuries will mean their bond is over and they will not be able to be rebonded.
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Thank you for the reply. Currently they are living in 2x4 cc cage, with a fence in the middle. That makes it 2x2 per pig. Kind of small... They are fighting at the fence. Chewing the bars and rumble strutting.
 
weepweeps said:
I’m so sorry your piggies have decided they don’t want to live together anymore. Please don’t put them back together after such a big fight. They can live very happily side by side. I also don’t have experience of abscesses. Sorry. But I would think it would be quite stressful for the piggy to be awake for the procedure.
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Thank you for the reply. A GA procedure it shall be. Less stressful and more humane. They are chewing the fence divider very often. Probably fighting at the fence. I am afraid it is damaging to their teeth. They are each having 2x2 cc cage space now.
 
Yurigiri said:
Thank you for the reply. Currently they are living in 2x4 cc cage, with a fence in the middle. That makes it 2x2 per pig. Kind of small... They are fighting at the fence. Chewing the bars and rumble strutting.
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Yes each side is too small - you will need to expand each cage to a 2x3.
You can cover the bars for a while so they can calm down and then slowly remove the cover from thr bars so they can see each other again and see if things improve at the divider.
 
I had a similar situation with one of my pigs Ruby. She fell out with her cage mates and developed severe 'cage rage'. She simply couldn't bear to see any other piggies, and would still try to bite them and chatter at them through the bars.
I covered all of the dividing grids with pieces of cardboard and slowly (over several months) removed small pieces so they could get used to seeing each other again.
 
Swissgreys said:
I had a similar situation with one of my pigs Ruby. She fell out with her cage mates and developed severe 'cage rage'. She simply couldn't bear to see any other piggies, and would still try to bite them and chatter at them through the bars.
I covered all of the dividing grids with pieces of cardboard and slowly (over several months) removed small pieces so they could get used to seeing each other again.
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How is Ruby now? Has she gotten over with her cage rage gradually?
 
Yurigiri said:
How is Ruby now? Has she gotten over with her cage rage gradually?
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Yes - definitely.
It took time, but eventually she calmed down and accepted living side by side with other guinea pigs.
To be honest she ended up tormenting poor Harry through the bars, by wandering over and laying down across their shared grid, and then as soon as Harry came over and started rumble strutting up and down she would walk off.
Poor Harry would then bounce up and down and call for her to come back, and she would totally ignore him.
Ruby definitely has social 'issues' :D
 
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