Hello, my little girl Thelma has an abscess on her neck that was drained by the vet today. The vet sent me home with penicillin G injections to be given sub q every three days. I’m a nurse so I’m comfortable giving the injection. My worry is the penicillin. I’ve read that penicillin shouldn’t be given to guinea pigs. I live in the Montana, and guinea pig vets are few and far between here. I went to the only vet in my town that sees pocket pets. She says that she has had success using it in guinea pigs, but I’m still super skeptical and worried that it might do more harm than good. Have any of you given your piggy penicillin injections? If yes, how did your piggy do?
Penicillin G injections
- Thread starter ThelmaMay
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Oral penicillin is usually fatal to guinea pigs, causing enterotoxemia. As injections don’t go near the digestive system, they are considered safe. However penicillin injections would usually only be given as a last resort so I’m surprised your vet has gone straight to it without trying other oral meds first. Azithromycin is considered the best oral antibiotic for abscesses.
Have you been told to keep the wound open and flush it out yourself a with saline few times a day? This is usually important as drained (rather than removing the capsule) abscesses can refill quite quickly.
I have had two rabbits have to have several penicillin injections done at the vet (many years ago) as one of them contracted syphillis at birth (rare for it to happen. Went to one vet who diagnosed a URI but when she didn’t get better I took them back and by pure luck that I had an older vet who had come across a case just once before in his entire career and spotted the signs) and the other rabbit had to be treated due to the transmission risk. For them we had to go straight to penicillin injections as nothing else would kill the bacteria. They were both absolutely fine with it.
Have you been told to keep the wound open and flush it out yourself a with saline few times a day? This is usually important as drained (rather than removing the capsule) abscesses can refill quite quickly.
I have had two rabbits have to have several penicillin injections done at the vet (many years ago) as one of them contracted syphillis at birth (rare for it to happen. Went to one vet who diagnosed a URI but when she didn’t get better I took them back and by pure luck that I had an older vet who had come across a case just once before in his entire career and spotted the signs) and the other rabbit had to be treated due to the transmission risk. For them we had to go straight to penicillin injections as nothing else would kill the bacteria. They were both absolutely fine with it.
Hello and welcome to the forum. I’m sorry Thelma has an abscess. I’ve had a piggy with a tooth root abscess. Zithromax was a great antibiotic. He was on it 6 weeks and unfortunately it stopped him eating. But it cleared it up and he began eating again after that. Is she on pain medication too?
Hi
Just to clarify: the active ingredient in Zithromax is azithromycin. Zithromax is the UK brand name.
Please note that it is important to drain and flush any abscess for as long as possible, especially in pets like rabbits or guinea pigs. Abscesses need to heal from the inside out. Any little speck of infection left in the abscesses pockets will sooner or later cause a return of the abscess. For flushing, you squirt some mild antiseptic with a syringe quite forcefully into the hole, like saline solution (if necessary homemade), a weak F10 solution if you happen to have it at home for cage disinfection in a stronger concentration or hibiscrub etc. From some days in you may have to work off the scab that is forming on top first. Ideally you do this for up to 10 days but a minimum of 5 days in order to reduce the risk of a comeback. Make sure that your clothes care covered and that you have a rag ready for wiping up what drains out or any squirts that go awry.
First Aid: Immediate Care Measures and Non-medication Products
Wishing you all the best with the abscess.
Just to clarify: the active ingredient in Zithromax is azithromycin. Zithromax is the UK brand name.
Please note that it is important to drain and flush any abscess for as long as possible, especially in pets like rabbits or guinea pigs. Abscesses need to heal from the inside out. Any little speck of infection left in the abscesses pockets will sooner or later cause a return of the abscess. For flushing, you squirt some mild antiseptic with a syringe quite forcefully into the hole, like saline solution (if necessary homemade), a weak F10 solution if you happen to have it at home for cage disinfection in a stronger concentration or hibiscrub etc. From some days in you may have to work off the scab that is forming on top first. Ideally you do this for up to 10 days but a minimum of 5 days in order to reduce the risk of a comeback. Make sure that your clothes care covered and that you have a rag ready for wiping up what drains out or any squirts that go awry.
First Aid: Immediate Care Measures and Non-medication Products
Wishing you all the best with the abscess.
I’m glad to hear that your rabbits did ok on the penicillin. It eases my mind to know that they were successfully treated using it.
The only wound care instructions that she gave was to apply warm wet compresses three times daily. That being said, I’m going to go a head and follow the advice I’ve seen on here, and flush it and try to keep it open.
Thank you so much for your advice and reply. I feel like I’m on an island out here when it comes to guinea pig care.
We are here for any practical questions and how-to tips if needed. Please don't hesitate to ask.
Eriathwen
Adult Guinea Pig
I cant add to any of the above, other than I had been offered penicillin injections previously for one of my guinea pigs, plus a gerbil however as I'm quite severely allergic the vet didn't want to risk it and we opted for other antibiotics, as I wouldnt be able to store the bottle in my fridge without risking my own health.
All I will say is do make absolutely certain when withdrawing the needle (if you do go ahead with giving the injections) that absolutely no residue is left behind on the coat or leaks out the site injected, as this will be groomed off and ingested, as even the smallest amount will cause havok with the GI tract.
All I will say is do make absolutely certain when withdrawing the needle (if you do go ahead with giving the injections) that absolutely no residue is left behind on the coat or leaks out the site injected, as this will be groomed off and ingested, as even the smallest amount will cause havok with the GI tract.
I suggested the Zithromax, but she said no. She really wasn’t hearing it, and was firm on doing the penicillin. Fingers crossed I guess that Thelma does ok. Like I said, that vet is the only guinea pig vet in town, so I’m stuck with her.
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I would never agree to a piggy being treated with penicillin, even injectable penicillin. It’s far too dangerous and there are other, more suitable oral antibiotics to use.
I really hope your piggy will be okay.
I really hope your piggy will be okay.
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Just popping this in here Guinea Lynx :: GL's Vet List
Guinea lynx is a state side forum and has a great vet list.
May be worth posting on their forum also as they are US based Guinea Lynx Forums - Forum Home
Guinea lynx is a state side forum and has a great vet list.
May be worth posting on their forum also as they are US based Guinea Lynx Forums - Forum Home
Thank you
Thanks I’ll check it out
I’ll keep everyone posted on how she does. I’m worried, but I’m hopeful that my vet knows what she is doing. She does take care of the piggies at our local zoo. They were the ones who referred me to her, so she should be pretty knowledgeable.
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Guinea pigs are much harder to inject than rabbits. Their skin is so thick, and they are so vocal, it can be quite off putting! It’s good you are confident at injecting.