Possible jawline abscess

[Surfergirl]

Hi I am here yes again with yet another problem for for Biscuit my 5 year old. She had been doing really well, but since Friday night has only eaten when sat on my knee.
Today I’ve felt a lump on her jawline, and I’m wondering if it could be an abscess.

I am seeing the vet tomorrow. She is on Metacam, which I increased yesterday within her maximum dose, and it does seem to have helped as she is eating better today.

I just wondered if someone could give me the heads up if it is an abscess please, seeing as my vet is fairly incompetent. I am not asking for a diagnoses, I’d just like to be clued up so I know what to say to the vet if it is that.

I am syringe feeding although it is very difficult because she hates it.
Thank you.

 

[PerfectPiggyPaws]

Hi,
I'm so sorry you're little Biscuit is not doing so well. Is the lump soft? An abscess can grow really big very fast so it's good you have a vets appointment to get it checked out.
Can you see a different vet if your one isn't very good? It helps if you have faith that your vet knows what they are doing.
Several years ago, my Dexter had an access on his bottom jaw. My vet shaved a bit of hair and lanced it. The small was disgusting but she got a lot of gunk out and I had to keep flushing it out at home afterwards.
If Biscuit isn't eating, you really need to get food into her. Perhaps her jaw is sore because of the lump!? can you ease the syringe into her mouth the opposite side to the lump and try to get food in? You could also blitz some of her usual food nuggets with water if you have a blender and syringe that if she would prefer it. Try adding mashed banana or pumpkin if she likes any of those and it might help her to eat.
Hope you can get some food info her. She will need feeding at night too is she's not taking anything herself xx

 

[PerfectPiggyPaws]

I didn't ask but has she had a fall or knocked her jaw at all?

 

[Surfergirl]

Hi,
I'm so sorry you're little Biscuit is not doing so well. Is the lump soft? An abscess can grow really big very fast so it's good you have a vets appointment to get it checked out.
Can you see a different vet if your one isn't very good? It helps if you have faith that your vet knows what they are doing.
Several years ago, my Dexter had an access on his bottom jaw. My vet shaved a bit of hair and lanced it. The small was disgusting but she got a lot of gunk out and I had to keep flushing it out at home afterwards.
If Biscuit isn't eating, you really need to get food into her. Perhaps her jaw is sore because of the lump!? can you ease the syringe into her mouth the opposite side to the lump and try to get food in? You could also blitz some of her usual food nuggets with water if you have a blender and syringe that if she would prefer it. Try adding mashed banana or pumpkin if she likes any of those and it might help her to eat.
Hope you can get some food info her. She will need feeding at night too is she's not taking anything herself xx

Hi thank you very much for your advice and support.
It feels fairly hard. She hated syringe feeding with her recent gut stasis, so I think she just hates syringe feeding!
She definitely hasn’t had a fall and there is nothing she could have knocked herself on, but good to rule these things out.
Thank you, she did eat some banana yesterday as a treat, at the minute I’m glad when she eats anything.
I thought she was dead when I came down this morning as was face forward in her house with her bottom out. First time ever she hasn’t been enthusiastic about her Metacam. Within 2 minutes she was out and eating. It is very up and down and has been for several weeks.
I have searched Cornwall and Devon for a decent vet, but the only one I’ve found is a 3 hour trip away, and whilst I’ve been before, it is just too far with two young children. I always try and get the vet at the practice who has more knowledge, but it isn’t always possible.

 

[weepweeps]

It’s great you are going to the vet for a diagnosis. I have recently dealt with a tooth root abscess with my Pepper. Here’s his story. There’s lots of helpful advice from everyone in it so if it is an abscess hopefully it can help Biscuit too. Good luck.

Dental? Pepper is off to the vets tomorrow

 

[Surfergirl]

It’s great you are going to the vet for a diagnosis. I have recently dealt with a tooth root abscess with my Pepper. Here’s his story. There’s lots of helpful advice from everyone in it so if it is an abscess hopefully it can help Biscuit too. Good luck.

Dental? Pepper is off to the vets tomorrow

Thank you, that’s interesting. Did you get antibiotics and did they have to lance it? Will we need an X-ray?
She’s already on borrowed time and is still alive despite the vet saying it would be a miracle a while back. I know she isn’t young and lost weight beforehand so isn’t well enough for an op.
Just trying to mentally prepare in case it’s worse case scenario tomorrow. Appreciate your support.

 

[weepweeps]

Yes he needed antibiotics. He was on Baytril for two weeks. It didn’t work. He was then on Zithromax. This is the best one for abscesses. He had two bottles worth. Which I think was about 5 weeks worth. He stopped eating completely on it though. He didn’t need an X-ray. He did have an operation. His lump was 4cm wide so very large. They got 20mls of gunk out of it! They stitched it open and I had to flush it out three times a day. You have to keep the wound open for as long as possible. He was on painkillers too. The abscess has actually damaged his tooth too.

 

[PerfectPiggyPaws]

Hi thank you very much for your advice and support.
It feels fairly hard. She hated syringe feeding with her recent gut stasis, so I think she just hates syringe feeding!
She definitely hasn’t had a fall and there is nothing she could have knocked herself on, but good to rule these things out.
Thank you, she did eat some banana yesterday as a treat, at the minute I’m glad when she eats anything.
I thought she was dead when I came down this morning as was face forward in her house with her bottom out. First time ever she hasn’t been enthusiastic about her Metacam. Within 2 minutes she was out and eating. It is very up and down and has been for several weeks.
I have searched Cornwall and Devon for a decent vet, but the only one I’ve found is a 3 hour trip away, and whilst I’ve been before, it is just too far with two young children. I always try and get the vet at the practice who has more knowledge, but it isn’t always possible.

Have you had a look on here at the recommended vets? The one I see is in Brixham, South Devon and she's fantastic.
You poor thing, I can only imagine how horrible that must have been to think she had passed this morning.
That's great if you've tempted her to eat something. I know how desperate it feels to just get them to eat anything. Something I found with my Rory was very finely grated carrot or parsnip when he was struggling to eat. Tinned pumpkin was a winner too with oats and blitzed with nuggets and water. Whatever works to get them eating. Is she drinking?

 

[Surfergirl]

Have you had a look on here at the recommended vets? The one I see is in Brixham, South Devon and she's fantastic.
You poor thing, I can only imagine how horrible that must have been to think she had passed this morning.
That's great if you've tempted her to eat something. I know how desperate it feels to just get them to eat anything. Something I found with my Rory was very finely grated carrot or parsnip when he was struggling to eat. Tinned pumpkin was a winner too with oats and blitzed with nuggets and water. Whatever works to get them eating. Is she drinking?

Thank you very much. The one I used was off here. The vet missed gut bloat with my other pig whilst I was on holiday and she died. My other guinea Biscuit subsequently got gut stasis and they again failed to prescribe Emeprid. It’s only because I read up on here and went back that she started eating and scraped through. Admin have deleted that vet off the list here. I was told vets only go on the list when someone has had a good experience and that could’ve been years ago.
Can you pm met your vet please? I live near Looe so Brixham is hell of a boot but if I can get in tomorrow morning it would be worth a shot.
I didn’t realise they could have parsnip so I’ll try that. Or tinned pumpkin, I will try to get some if it’s not too late. She is eating on my knee at the minute but hasn’t come out her box since her last meal on my knee 3 hours ago. She isn’t drinking even though I’m offering, but usually eats a lot of grass and veg and never has drank much. Thank you for your support, I really appreciate it. I think because she has been so poorly on and off for so long, the stress is really getting me down.

 

[Bill & Ted]

So sorry for you and Biscuit, here in West Cornwall it is really difficult to find a guinea savvy vet. You could ask Maria’s Animal Shelter who they use, I think it’s one in Truro called St Clements Vets. I’ve tried several exotics and tbh my general vet 3 miles away as knowledgable at least one of the vets keeps guinea pigs

 

[Surfergirl]

So sorry for you and Biscuit, here in West Cornwall it is really difficult to find a guinea savvy vet. You could ask Maria’s Animal Shelter who they use, I think it’s one in Truro called St Clements Vets. I’ve tried several exotics and tbh my general vet 3 miles away as knowledgable at least one of the vets keeps guinea pigs

Thank you, really appreciate your support. Since starting the thread she has sat on my knee and eaten a bit. I gave her her Metacam an hour early, put her back in her cage and she’s eating like there’s nothing wrong with her! I have got an appointment tomorrow morning, but will look into the Truro vets. It is a good hour away, but nearer than Brixham. I didn’t think she’d survive the last few weeks so didn’t bother re registering her, but if she survives again I will move her.

 

[Freela]

We've had a couple tooth root abscesses... basically early symptoms were being off food, followed by sudden noticeable swelling along the jawline. We did have to syringe feed when it was acutely painful for them to eat. They both were on an antibiotic and had the abscess lanced and drained from the outside and then left open for us to continue irrigating and keeping clean. This is a potentially serious issue- out of our two pigs who had this issue, one pulled through and recovered and then other passed away. Having a vet that is at least somewhat experienced with guinea pig teeth makes a huge difference (we found out later that Frenzy, the pig who passed away, was underdosed dramatically with antibiotics and also had a vet who was not experienced really botch a dental trim, which she never really began eating independently after. I feel awful to this day that she might have pulled through had I known that the vet didn't know his stuff.) It's definitely worth driving for a vet who knows about guinea pig teeth. I wish you all the best and hope a simple lancing/draining/antibiotics does the trick.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Thank you, really appreciate your support. Since starting the thread she has sat on my knee and eaten a bit. I gave her her Metacam an hour early, put her back in her cage and she’s eating like there’s nothing wrong with her! I have got an appointment tomorrow morning, but will look into the Truro vets. It is a good hour away, but nearer than Brixham. I didn’t think she’d survive the last few weeks so didn’t bother re registering her, but if she survives again I will move her.

I have been to Jess Myres at Brixham and she is really lovely and very knowledgeable. She was my go to vet when Simon or Kim Maddock at the Cat and Rabbit in Northampton were on holiday. She is fabulous and filed my Bill’s incisors beautifully. If you can get there I recommend her. She is on the Recommended Vet List

 

[Surfergirl]

I have been to Jess Myres at Brixham and she is really lovely and very knowledgeable. She was my go to vet when Simon or Kim Maddock at the Cat and Rabbit in Northampton were on holiday. She is fabulous and filed my Bill’s incisors beautifully. If you can get there I recommend her. She is on the Recommended Vet List

Thank you. Is Jess at Dart Vale Veterinary? I will phone first thing. I wouldn’t mind driving on a weekend, it’s just difficult in the week with young children, school and other commitments! If they can see me mid morning, I have a chance of getting back in time. Trouble is Monday morning I bet everyone will be ringing!

 

[Surfergirl]

We've had a couple tooth root abscesses... basically early symptoms were being off food, followed by sudden noticeable swelling along the jawline. We did have to syringe feed when it was acutely painful for them to eat. They both were on an antibiotic and had the abscess lanced and drained from the outside and then left open for us to continue irrigating and keeping clean. This is a potentially serious issue- out of our two pigs who had this issue, one pulled through and recovered and then other passed away. Having a vet that is at least somewhat experienced with guinea pig teeth makes a huge difference (we found out later that Frenzy, the pig who passed away, was underdosed dramatically with antibiotics and also had a vet who was not experienced really botch a dental trim, which she never really began eating independently after. I feel awful to this day that she might have pulled through had I known that the vet didn't know his stuff.) It's definitely worth driving for a vet who knows about guinea pig teeth. I wish you all the best and hope a simple lancing/draining/antibiotics does the trick.

Thank you for the heads up. Could you tell me which antibiotic you were given please?

How long did you have to wash the wound- I’m away in two weeks, so hoping it’s less than that?!

Did they anaesthetise so they weren’t in pain during the lancing?

It’s awful a vet would even attempt a dental job without adequate knowledge. I am so sorry for your loss.

Biscuit has sat on my knee again tonight and eaten some veg, grass and her probiotics. I imagine peas aren’t the best for them, but she easily ate them and I was glad to get something inside her. I’ve noticed also she’s missing hair odd her leg which I assume she has bitten off whilst in pain. I will get her seen first thing either my vet or the Brixham one recommended below if I can get in. I’d rather someone experienced saw her.

 

[Surfergirl]

Have you had a look on here at the recommended vets? The one I see is in Brixham, South Devon and she's fantastic.
You poor thing, I can only imagine how horrible that must have been to think she had passed this morning.
That's great if you've tempted her to eat something. I know how desperate it feels to just get them to eat anything. Something I found with my Rory was very finely grated carrot or parsnip when he was struggling to eat. Tinned pumpkin was a winner too with oats and blitzed with nuggets and water. Whatever works to get them eating. Is she drinking?

Hi there which vet do you see at Brixham please? I am hoping to ring at 830, although have been up half the night with my little boy (human!) with terrible toothache. So I may have to settle for the nearby vet if I am also going to the dentist!

 

[Surfergirl]

Hi,
I'm so sorry you're little Biscuit is not doing so well. Is the lump soft? An abscess can grow really big very fast so it's good you have a vets appointment to get it checked out.
Can you see a different vet if your one isn't very good? It helps if you have faith that your vet knows what they are doing.
Several years ago, my Dexter had an access on his bottom jaw. My vet shaved a bit of hair and lanced it. The small was disgusting but she got a lot of gunk out and I had to keep flushing it out at home afterwards.
If Biscuit isn't eating, you really need to get food into her. Perhaps her jaw is sore because of the lump!? can you ease the syringe into her mouth the opposite side to the lump and try to get food in? You could also blitz some of her usual food nuggets with water if you have a blender and syringe that if she would prefer it. Try adding mashed banana or pumpkin if she likes any of those and it might help her to eat.
Hope you can get some food info her. She will need feeding at night too is she's not taking anything herself xx

Hi there just to add the lump is small and hard, so I’m wondering if it is actually a cyst rather than an abscess. I am armed with some knowledge if it’s the latter. Does anyone know the procedure for a cyst so I can be prepared at the vets please? Would rather go with some knowledge seeing as most seem incompetent with guineas. Thank you x

 

[Surfergirl]

Hi there just to add the lump is small and hard, so I’m wondering if it is actually a cyst rather than an abscess. I am armed with some knowledge if it’s the latter. Does anyone know the procedure for a cyst so I can be prepared at the vets please? Would rather go with some knowledge seeing as most seem incompetent with guineas. Thank you x

I’ve just read a post by @Wiebke that abscesses start as a small hard pea sized lump, so it could be the start of an abscess. I hope the vet is competent enough to diagnose correctly and deal with whatever it is.
I’ve just checked her (5am) and she has eaten some petis pois I left out, so at least she’s managing something.
She hates being syringe fed. I’ve watched videos of how to do it and other guineas go mad for it. Is it normal for some to fight it, like with foul tasting meds?

 

[weepweeps]

Hi there just to add the lump is small and hard, so I’m wondering if it is actually a cyst rather than an abscess. I am armed with some knowledge if it’s the latter. Does anyone know the procedure for a cyst so I can be prepared at the vets please? Would rather go with some knowledge seeing as most seem incompetent with guineas. Thank you x

Peppers lump was hard when it was about pea/marble size. Once it really started filling up it got softer. Good luck getting in at the vets.

 

[Surfergirl]

Peppers lump was hard when it was about pea/marble size. Once it really started filling up it got softer. Good luck getting in at the vets.

Thank you. They booked me an appointment yesterday so I’m in! She’s eating much better today but I’ll get her checked over.

 

[Surfergirl]

Peppers lump was hard when it was about pea/marble size. Once it really started filling up it got softer. Good luck getting in at the vets.

I can’t even feel a lump today. I don’t know whether it was how she was holding her jaw yesterday, but it’s not there today! I’ll get her checked in case it’s something else as she has been off her food although eating today again!

 

[Bill & Ted]

Thank you for the heads up. Could you tell me which antibiotic you were given please?

How long did you have to wash the wound- I’m away in two weeks, so hoping it’s less than that?!

Did they anaesthetise so they weren’t in pain during the lancing?

It’s awful a vet would even attempt a dental job without adequate knowledge. I am so sorry for your loss.

Biscuit has sat on my knee again tonight and eaten some veg, grass and her probiotics. I imagine peas aren’t the best for them, but she easily ate them and I was glad to get something inside her. I’ve noticed also she’s missing hair odd her leg which I assume she has bitten off whilst in pain. I will get her seen first thing either my vet or the Brixham one recommended below if I can get in. I’d rather someone experienced saw her.

Yes it’s her, she is great x
Good luck today, I hope it was just a bit of food stuff under the gumline?

 

[Surfergirl]

Yes it’s her, she is great x
Good luck today, I hope it was just a bit of food stuff under the gumline?

Thank you. I think it might have been. I’ve increased her cat Metacam from the vets pathetic dose of 2ml to 8ml and have been splitting it between two doses.
I won’t get over to Brixham unfortunately as I’ve now got to get my little boy to the dentist- been up with him all night with severe toothache. So I’ll stick to the local vets to get her checked, hopefully better than nothing. She has shaken her head and scratched the left jaw this morning, I might be being paranoid but best check.
Appreciate your support

 

[Bill & Ted]

Thank you. I think it might have been. I’ve increased her cat Metacam from the vets pathetic dose of 2ml to 8ml and have been splitting it between two doses.
I won’t get over to Brixham unfortunately as I’ve now got to get my little boy to the dentist- been up with him all night with severe toothache. So I’ll stick to the local vets to get her checked, hopefully better than nothing. She has shaken her head and scratched the left jaw this morning, I might be being paranoid but best check.
Appreciate your support

Aw, poor little man, hope they can sort out what’s causing the pain

Perhaps that might but it, something stuck if she’s been pawing at that side of her jawline, unless there has been a small abscess and it’s burst? I noticed Hector one day last week chewing a bit strange, then pawing at his front teeth. When I looked there was a coarse thin piece of hay (seed head bit) trapped between his incisors. I managed to pull it out but I’ve no doubt that this can happen in the rear teeth and cause all sorts of problems further down the line
Hope she gets a clean bill of health I would weigh her every day at the same time and see what trend is

 

[Surfergirl]

Aw, poor little man, hope they can sort out what’s causing the pain

Perhaps that might but it, something stuck if she’s been pawing at that side of her jawline, unless there has been a small abscess and it’s burst? I noticed Hector one day last week chewing a bit strange, then pawing at his front teeth. When I looked there was a coarse thin piece of hay (seed head bit) trapped between his incisors. I managed to pull it out but I’ve no doubt that this can happen in the rear teeth and cause all sorts of problems further down the line
Hope she gets a clean bill of health I would weigh her every day at the same time and see what trend is

Thank you very much. I weighed her and she’s 845g- fluctuates between 840-860g, so not too bad.
She has bitten the fur off her front leg unnoticed this morning, which I think they do with pain. It might just be a case of keeping the higher pain relief dose, although last time the vet said that’s only for post surgery! You may remember she has three masses, so they can’t be helping!

 

[Surfergirl]

Thank you very much. I weighed her and she’s 845g- fluctuates between 840-860g, so not too bad.
She has bitten the fur off her front leg unnoticed this morning, which I think they do with pain. It might just be a case of keeping the higher pain relief dose, although last time the vet said that’s only for post surgery! You may remember she has three masses, so they can’t be helping!

I noticed not unnoticed!

 

[Free Ranger]

She hates being syringe fed. I’ve watched videos of how to do it and other guineas go mad for it. Is it normal for some to fight it, like with foul tasting meds?

Healthy pigs will wolf down syringe food. Sick pigs or pigs that are feeling 'off' for some reason will be less willing. George is being supplemented at the minute and sometimes goes for the syringe (1ml) but sometimes dodges it. If I'm feeling like maybe I did it wrong I offer it to Louise to test - she does a very good sword swallowing impression by sort of engulfing two thirds of the actual syringe with her massive furry face before snatching it off me and running. She's not realised I have to push the end in! It's reassuring if you have a healthy one to test it on. Some types of syringe food are preferred to others depending on piggy, but I've never seen a healthy pig refuse some. Once it's in does she chew it well or slowly, does she wince and chew erratically? Does she seem to chew forever and not swallow? This might give a clue. We've tried tiny bits of lettuce, parsley or some other green leaf that George is fond of as a sort of indicator for this. Just a few cm square. He seemed to be chewing his 1ml forever but I got the sense he was just deflecting the next one rather than being overloaded. I gave the ml and then put the little bit of leaf in front of him - he pounces almost straight away so I know there's still a bit of room in there for more. It also helps encourage him to get his fibre if he's looking forward to his bit of leaf afterwards.

If your poor lady is dodging the syringe she's not feeling well and it may well be this jaw thing causing her pain, but it might also be a problem somewhere else in the body. It's hard when they're getting on to pinpoint things sometimes. By all means tell the vet about your observations but make sure they do all the usual exams - listening to the heart, the guts, checking ears, lady bits etc. If she's barbered her front leg it'll be worth looking for arthritis - although I don't think stiff legs would stop them eating like this. When George first got it he just got fatter because he stopped moving so much.

Metacam is a tricky one. George was 1.3 kilo when he was prescribed roughly 0.2ml dog strength twice a day for his arthritis. He was fine on that for two years or more. He's now 6 and 960g because he's struggling with a large bladder stone. He's up to about 0.35ml twice a day but vet has warned obvs we have to try and balance his comfort with his kidneys. I may go higher as my poor lad deteriorates but I will take her advice on it. Your girl might have pain which is stopping her eating but it's important to try and find the source.

Good luck at the vet x

 

[Surfergirl]

Biscuit has seen the vet. She can’t see an abscess but said she’d trim her bottom incisors which are slightly long. She said usually the back teeth suffer if there is a problem, but they are nicely ground down.

She could hear a bit of gut issue, but I’m not sure what. Said to continue with increased Metacam to keep her comfortable.

She has been eating her veggies and even pellets before she went in. Haven’t seen her at the hay or grass but I could’ve just missed it. Weight stable but the vet said sometimes fluid can build around masses tricking you into a false sense of no weight loss. I’ve been shown how to keep and eye on her masses and check for fluid although I don’t feel too confident with doing that.

Just waiting for her to come back from the dentist, hope it hasn’t hurt her, seems to have been gone quite some time.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Hope she’s alright after the dental. Jess at Brixham is able to do c9nscious dentals which are much safer and only takes about 5 minutes using tiny files. It does sound like a pain problem may be causing her problems. Make sure you get prescribed a good dose of metacam, she won’t eat well if she is in pain

 

[Free Ranger]

Incisors can be trimmed (ideally burred) very quickly, and consciously as long as someone has a firm grip on piggy! Even if they go too short they grow back fast. If they end up super short keep an eye on the lips and gums for swelling in case they have been caught. But again, that's a temporary issue. Overlong incisors can prevent correct chewing and put them off things like grass and hay which need a deal of grinding down. Something must have put her off biting at things for these to overgrow so it's lucky the vet thinks you have caught it before any molar problems develop. The gut issue might just be that her ratio of fibrous foods to veg is a bit off at the minute.

Give her a day or so for things to settle down and see if her eating habits change. Can you get any clue by her chewing action whether the problem is a localised dental issue? I'm attaching short vids of my rainbow girl Zara who had a problem on the root of her lower incisor. She was initially helped by trimming down the bad tooth to take the pressure off it (the neighbouring incisor was left intact).
BEFORE: chews by sticking out her jaw to avoid catching the tooth. AFTER: smoother action, normal jaw position.