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Golf ball sized lump under pigs chin

Fingers crossed for you. I know it’s hard waiting for expert vets. My vets is pretty good with emergency appointments for my piggies, but routine or general can easily be a few weeks wait. Do you have any other guinea pig specialists nearby you could go to for a one off?
 
Unfortunately there aren’t any other vets nearby. The lump has reduced in size slightly so hopefully the antibiotics will limp him through till the appointment date.
I could reschedule for an earlier date with a less knowledgeable vet. Would that be sensible?

What are the signs I should look out for for it bursting?
 
Toffsploffs said:
Unfortunately there aren’t any other vets nearby. The lump has reduced in size slightly so hopefully the antibiotics will limp him through till the appointment date.
I could reschedule for an earlier date with a less knowledgeable vet. Would that be sensible?

What are the signs I should look out for for it bursting?
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For now I would stick with the appointment at the experienced vet.
Weigh daily to be sure there isn't any major weight loss.

And trust me - if it bursts you will know!
The smell is like nothing you have ever smelt before.

With one of my other piggies who had an abscess lanced at the vet, the vet asked if I need to leave the room first.
She said she had patients almost vomit from the smell in the past.
 
Will do. I weigh him weekly but will start doing it daily from now on.
Oh wow ok! Fingers crossed that won’t happen.
Thanks for the advice
 
He’s had it lanced and is now back home. All went well. They just did it under local which he was a very good boy for. He seems fairly perky, is tucking into his hay and is greeting his girls!
He’s still on antibiotics so fingers crossed that will clear it up completely.
Will be keeping a close eye on him but so far all has gone well which is a relief.
 
Unfortunately looking at him this morning, his abscess is just as big as it was before the procedure.

I’ve looked at the site and they haven’t left it open to drain. They haven’t even opened it! It looks like they’ve only aspirated what was there.

For the proper procedure, where they drain and leave the wound open, would it have to be done under general anaesthetic? This procedure was done under local.

I’m beyond mad that they’ve made him go through a potentially unnecessary procedure

I’m not sure what to do next :(
 
Toffsploffs said:
He’s had it lanced and is now back home. All went well. They just did it under local which he was a very good boy for. He seems fairly perky, is tucking into his hay and is greeting his girls!
He’s still on antibiotics so fingers crossed that will clear it up completely.
Will be keeping a close eye on him but so far all has gone well which is a relief.
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Hooray! So glad to here he’s doing well and got seen by the specialist, lots of healing vibes and best wishes for him 💞
 
Toffsploffs said:
Unfortunately looking at him this morning, his abscess is just as big as it was before the procedure.

I’ve looked at the site and they haven’t left it open to drain. They haven’t even opened it! It looks like they’ve only aspirated what was there.

For the proper procedure, where they drain and leave the wound open, would it have to be done under general anaesthetic? This procedure was done under local.

I’m beyond mad that they’ve made him go through a potentially unnecessary procedure

I’m not sure what to do next :(
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Ahh I’m so sorry, I replied without seeing this update! I’d definitely go back to the vets and complain and say you’d hoped they’d have drained it and left it open so it couldn’t refill. Especially when piggy vet bills are extortionate, I’d query them and ask them to fit you in asap to get it done properly, and perhaps offer a discounted price.
 
Our old girl who was left with the open wound healed up a treat in a couple of weeks. I just can't remember if she had a general or a local. They warned me beforehand that's what they would have to do. You do have to keep things clean with hibiscrub solution (?) and bed them on fleece or towel so things don't get stuck in the wound - and you do have to keep an eye on them and give ABs and painkiller but it's very do-able. My girlie had a crater a couple of inches across at first which looked horrifying but as long as you're not squeamish it's fine.
 
Thanks for the info about your piggy @Free Ranger that’s really helpful.

I will phone them back and discuss with them about draining and leaving it open.
 
Toffsploffs said:
Thanks for the info about your piggy @Free Ranger that’s really helpful.

I will phone them back and discuss with them about draining and leaving it open.
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Yes, they should know how to deal with abscesses, otherwise have a look in the recommended vets list in the green bar. Good luck, hope you can get it sorted this time x
 
It sounds like the abscess is attached to the skin, so it will just need opening up again! I am currently caring for a little guy, with a similar type of abscess. Once the vet has made the opening a little bigger, just peel off the scab, as soon as it forms and keep flushing it, and squeezing out any pus, until it heals from the inside outwards!
 
Thanks for the info @furryfriends (TEAS)
Was your pigs abscess opened up under local or general anaesthetic? A bit concerned about the general because he’s an old chap and our vet isn’t very experienced
 
What’s usually the cause of abscesses? Is it just a one of thing or something that could recur?
 
We finally got in with the good vet! He said that we’ve got two options:
We can wait and monitor. It doesn’t seem to be growing but we’d just keep an eye on it and not do anything until it changed.
Or we can have it removed in its entirety. He said he’s a prime candidate for that because it’s in the skin and not connected to any organs, plus he’s a very healthy pig. It just carries the usual risks of putting a pig under anaesthesia.

What would you do in this situation? He’s quite old so I do worry about the anaesthesia but it would be nice to get it gone as atm it feels like there’s a ticking time bomb in him!
 
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