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Possible abcess

hannahs26

hannahs26

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi everyone,

Sadly I'm back to the vet with old Jessie this evening :-( After her probable urine scald visit over a week ago, and treatment for that, she has developed a large swelling under her neck. She was off her food again for a day end of last week, but has been eating and drinking since then, slowly but surely. I've felt along her jaws, and she doesn't flinch, and as the swelling isn't actually on her jaw, I'm wondering if it's likely a tooth abcess or something else. The swelling is like half a tennis ball, and has become bald, and doesn't sound hollow so I guess it's fluid filled.
Any experience of something similar? I always like to have an idea of what to expect at the vets. Thank you, Hannah
 
Hi Hannah. I’m sorry your piggy is unwell. I’m going through a tooth root abscess at the moment with my Pepper.

Here is the link so I don’t have to repeat it all. It’s been going on for a little while. But hopefully 🤞 we are coming to the end. Feel free to ask me any questions. Good luck.

Dental? Pepper is off to the vets tomorrow
 
Thank you. After doing some reading I'm now wondering if it's a swollen dewlaps. Hopefully the vet will know if it's dangerous or not.
 
Jessie has been seen and a sample of the fluid taken. The vet said it looks like lymph fluid, and probably Jessie has lymphoma :-( The 3 vets haven't ever seen it in a guinea pig.
Options are to send off the sample for analysis to check for cancer cells. If cancerous, then there may be an option of surgery, but at a specialist vets somewhere else, however at her age and being in poor health they'd not recommend it.
If not cancerous, or I decide not to send the sample off they can do an ultrasound and x-ray to check what's going on, and check her heart (vet said it sounded ok, but there's a chance it may be enlarged and has created the fluid). If it is a heart issue, then a medicine may help, but one that's not been tested or used normally in guinea pigs, but could help her.
Currently I've got her at home with her herd, and on 0.19ml of metacam a day - I asked if I could up the dose, but they said no. She's also still being wiped twice a day for her urine scald.
Any advice? I just want her to be comfortable, and at age 5 and a bit boney, I don't want to stress her by doing too much investigations, especially if invasive. 😔
 
Fluid build up in the dewlap can be caused by a heart/kidney/fluid retention issue, and can in many cases be reliably managed with frusol (furosemide) diuretic medicine taken long term. Its really cheap, completely safe for guinea pigs, very commonly prescribed, and really shifts excess fluid and takes the strain off the heart.
Of course this wont help if it is lymphoma, nothing will help that unfortunately, but it may be worth pushing the vet to try frusol and see if the fluid goes away? It really wont do any harm and may do a lot of good even if the diagnosis is just presumed/hopeful- if it is just fluid retention and responds to diuretics then in a week you will usually see a huge difference. Worth a try?
 
PigglePuggle said:
Fluid build up in the dewlap can be caused by a heart/kidney/fluid retention issue, and can in many cases be reliably managed with frusol (furosemide) diuretic medicine taken long term. Its really cheap, completely safe for guinea pigs, very commonly prescribed, and really shifts excess fluid and takes the strain off the heart.
Of course this wont help if it is lymphoma, nothing will help that unfortunately, but it may be worth pushing the vet to try frusol and see if the fluid goes away? It really wont do any harm and may do a lot of good even if the diagnosis is just presumed/hopeful- if it is just fluid retention and responds to diuretics then in a week you will usually see a huge difference. Worth a try?
Click to expand...
Hi PiggyPuggle,
Thank you so much - this is why I love this forum! People who are experienced and have great suggestions! Thank you. I can bring it up with the vet tomorrow! 🙏😊
 
weepweeps said:
Hi Hannah. I’m sorry your piggy is unwell. I’m going through a tooth root abscess at the moment with my Pepper.

Here is the link so I don’t have to repeat it all. It’s been going on for a little while. But hopefully 🤞 we are coming to the end. Feel free to ask me any questions. Good luck.

Dental? Pepper is off to the vets tomorrow
Click to expand...
Thank you Weepweeps. Sorry your piggy Pepper is poorly too. Hope they're feeling much better very soon! All the best!
 
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