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Encapsulated abscess in neck, 5 hr old, surgury safe way to go.

Kay4real

Kay4real

New Born Pup
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I have 5 year old, abscess on xray but kind that has thick fluid , not drainable, middle of neck where they love to normally be petted…vessels on either side, I’m so afraid, she is 2 lbs. exotic vet is best in Orlando fl but admits it’s high risk,needs to be left open and close on own…she has male cage mate same age, we rescued her from Miami 2 1/2 yrs ago and she been thru a lot so I’m just so upset trying to decide.
 
Kay4real said:
I have 5 year old, abscess on xray but kind that has thick fluid , not drainable, middle of neck where they love to normally be petted…vessels on either side, I’m so afraid, she is 2 lbs. exotic vet is best in Orlando fl but admits it’s high risk,needs to be left open and close on own…she has male cage mate same age, we rescued her from Miami 2 1/2 yrs ago and she been thru a lot so I’m just so upset trying to decide.
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Hi and welcome

Very sorry; it is a tricky location for an operation. The age is not so much a problem and the weight is a good one; how fit for her age your girl is more important.

My oldest so far has been just a month short of 7 years for a large burst cyst with a fleshy inclusion (but thankfully no cancer, as suspected because of the blood supply).

It all comes down to what I call a 'between a rock and a hard place' choice - Is the chance for a successful operation and recovery good enough to risk it (knowing that it may not come off) or is this going to be the end of the road if the abscess continues growing and pushing on vital things in the tightly packed sensitive neck area?

Unfortunately, only you can make that decision. There is no right or wrong whichever way you decide as long your piggy's welfare comes before your own fears; it is weighing up of different factors, including the potential operation cost. I have gone either way with different piggies of mine over the years since this is a decision you have make anew for each case. At the bottom line it has to feel right for you so you can live with it better for the long term.

Wishing you and your girl all the best!
 
thanks so much! she is almost 6 and it’s a lot to put her through I know. 2 lbs, her and her cagemate smaller kind, American . She’s not in pain, showed up on xray , I was suspicious of arthritis (teeth grinding,pain somewhere) and was not prepared for incidental finding. Great exotic vet! Gonna ask him his percent he would give on success. Also, he says it will grow fast but what if it doesn’t…like maybe I will watch and see since she is eating drinking fine! how I wish they could talk…thanks for your time, she is a rescue I’ve had for past 2.5 years. God Bless, Kay in Fl
 
Kay4real said:
thanks so much! she is almost 6 and it’s a lot to put her through I know. 2 lbs, her and her cagemate smaller kind, American . She’s not in pain, showed up on xray , I was suspicious of arthritis (teeth grinding,pain somewhere) and was not prepared for incidental finding. Great exotic vet! Gonna ask him his percent he would give on success. Also, he says it will grow fast but what if it doesn’t…like maybe I will watch and see since she is eating drinking fine! how I wish they could talk…thanks for your time, she is a rescue I’ve had for past 2.5 years. God Bless, Kay in Fl
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Once abscesses reach a certain size, they will blow up terrifyingly quickly, tripling or even quadrupling in size in just a day. :(
 
UPDATE! so, once back from vet, I'm between jobs and so just watch her nonstop with her cagemate, Babybear. She IS a rescue so that vist, was tramatic, but my vet sedates them for all testing..you just knew she knew WHAAAAA? once we got home. ok, she is fine.now, .she is eating , drinking fine...i touch the hard lump, small, like tiny marble..I move it...no reaction...I am not so sure this is an abscess, she HAS NO PAIN. exotic vet and I agreed to watch, and wait. i will weigh her daily, i will feel it daily for change and I pray to GOD this will remain NO CHANGE and maybe the lil girl will die with it , i hope. Next, I am a registered sonographer, so I will be doing a scan IF it will work without shaving her neck...we will see. I have her back happy, she can be so flipped out so easily so that will be a plan for next week. If anyone knows of benign small mass under chin, id love to hear about it! To put her under surgery will be so tramatic , i just want that my last resort.
 
Kay4real said:
UPDATE! so, once back from vet, I'm between jobs and so just watch her nonstop with her cagemate, Babybear. She IS a rescue so that vist, was tramatic, but my vet sedates them for all testing..you just knew she knew WHAAAAA? once we got home. ok, she is fine.now, .she is eating , drinking fine...i touch the hard lump, small, like tiny marble..I move it...no reaction...I am not so sure this is an abscess, she HAS NO PAIN. exotic vet and I agreed to watch, and wait. i will weigh her daily, i will feel it daily for change and I pray to GOD this will remain NO CHANGE and maybe the lil girl will die with it , i hope. Next, I am a registered sonographer, so I will be doing a scan IF it will work without shaving her neck...we will see. I have her back happy, she can be so flipped out so easily so that will be a plan for next week. If anyone knows of benign small mass under chin, id love to hear about it! To put her under surgery will be so tramatic , i just want that my last resort.
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Hi

There are all sorts of lumps. If you are lucky, it is just a sebaceous cyst but we can only guess. Generally, if it is loose in the skin it has a much greater chance of being some harmless. It can still grow and cause problems that way; especially in view of where it is located.
Here is an overview of what lumps you can find in piggies: Guinea Lynx :: Lumps

All the best for it staying put.

And thank you for the update. So often we don't hear back.
 
What ever it is, does not hurt her thank God…! I do worry about some type of cancer but in that case nor would i want it cutout and the result is spread…she is eating sleeping good, so for that I’m thankful.
 
Kay4real said:
What ever it is, does not hurt her thank God…! I do worry about some type of cancer but in that case nor would i want it cutout and the result is spread…she is eating sleeping good, so for that I’m thankful.
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All you can do is keep an eye on it... All the best!
 
Update on Girlfriend! Slight increase in size in mass, resulting in more pain, anxiety, so mEd’s now more often , and she then rests , weight stable. The noise now gone. It’s 11pm to 8 am where trouble happens , so I’m setting alarm to check on her through the night. She is acting so normal otherwise…so thinking and praying for timing to remove mass. My gut says she is surviver but one can never be sure. I rescued her 3 hrs ago and she is such a sweetheart!
 
Kay4real said:
Update on Girlfriend! Slight increase in size in mass, resulting in more pain, anxiety, so mEd’s now more often , and she then rests , weight stable. The noise now gone. It’s 11pm to 8 am where trouble happens , so I’m setting alarm to check on her through the night. She is acting so normal otherwise…so thinking and praying for timing to remove mass. My gut says she is surviver but one can never be sure. I rescued her 3 hrs ago and she is such a sweetheart!
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All the best. Please see any surgery as buying her a chance she wouldn't otherwise have.
 
Ok thanks, that means a lot, I'm really struggling but small chance no vessels and we get it out🙏…
 
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