Possible jawline abscess

[PerfectPiggyPaws]

So

The vets have just called back. Katie Dunn at the Totnes branch is working towards being an exotics specialist, and she claims I’ve been given the correct dose. I’m not sure what to do now, as I expect I’ve got half the amount in the bottle I should have to give twice a day and I’ve obviously been told half the dose of what the experts here are telling me. What do you think I should do please @furryfriends (TEAS) @PerfectPiggyPaws

If Debbie from TEAS says twice a day then personally, I would go with that as I think she has more experience with piggies than most vets. As long as it's the same medication and the same weight range that Debbie stated.
Perhaps if you are still worried, call Dart Vale Brixham on Monday and ask for Jess to call you back Tuesday and she will call back after the morning appointments.

 

[PerfectPiggyPaws]

Ahh I’m sorry to hear about your pain. It’s awful when you’re in pain and have to care for others.
It’s reassuring to hear it’s not just me being wiped out by hand feeding!
She is eating mushed pellets, but only if I put them individually soaked on a plate. I realised she wouldn’t put her head in a bowl of them like a dog might, but she was happy to lick little amounts off my finger. So I tried soaking them individually and hey presto she’s enjoying them!
The lump seems to be more in her cheek, like the fleshy cheek rather than the jaw. There must be something uncomfortable for her, but if Jess has looked, there’s not much more I can do. She’s managed some groundsel, daisy leaves and flowers and some mushed pellets. Still not eating much unless she’s on my knee, but I’m just grateful she’s still fighting x

Yes it is difficult as I don't sleep well myself due to pain so to have to be up for Bear was very difficult but you do what you have to. I do love having animals to care for though and I'm lost without piggies to spoil and adore.
Definitely not just you. I'm sure that everyone who has syringe fed through the night knows the zombie feeling that starts to take hold after the first few nights.
That is so good that you are trying different things for Biscuit and discovering what works best for her. Hopefully whatever is bothering her will start to heal and feel better. Really hope you can get some sleep knowing she has eaten xx

 

[Surfergirl]

If Debbie from TEAS says twice a day then personally, I would go with that as I think she has more experience with piggies than most vets. As long as it's the same medication and the same weight range that Debbie stated.
Perhaps if you are still worried, call Dart Vale Brixham on Monday and ask for Jess to call you back Tuesday and she will call back after the morning appointments.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Ps did you see my video above? Was just after some feedback re her chewing, although not sure if it’s a public post or just been sent to one person. Sorry I’m not very technical on here! X

yes I saw the video, she is eating a little strange but she maybe trying to avoid a sore part of her mouth, could @furryfriends (TEAS) have a look at that video? What do you think Debbie? ( on page 9 Debbie)

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

That would be the dose for a piggy weighing 380g so definitely only half the amount, I’ve always been told to dose at. We give 1 ml per kilo, so for a piggy weighing 900g, they would get .45 ml twice daily, or a piggy weighing 1.1 kilo, they would get .55 ml twice daily.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

Looking at the video, Biscuit seems to have very limited jaw movement.

 

[Surfergirl]

Looking at the video, Biscuit seems to have very limited jaw movement.

Oh dear, I’m not sure what else to do now Jess has seen her?

I did wonder if the previous vet who cut her teeth (!) damaged her jaw as she was eating okay before she went in, and hasn’t eaten properly since. I assume Jess would’ve picked up if there was any damage? Thank you for your help.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

Did Jess say if the soft tissue in the mouth was sore and ulcerated?

 

[Free Ranger]

Looking at the bottle label the wording is a bit strange.
"... to be given daily orally" looks like it should be either "to be given once daily orally" or "to be given twice daily orally" so it's possible that whoever printed off the label didn't fill in all the gaps. If it said "... to be given orally each day" I'd be a bit more confident. I've had a confusing label before - the vet had put in the details correctly but the med had a long name so the end bit of the instruction was actually just missed off on the printing! It can be tricky to explain over the phone as they are looking at the vet's record which will be correct.

It's worth sending that picture into the vets and explaining your issue. Then they can clarify it.

 

[Surfergirl]

Looking at the bottle label the wording is a bit strange.
"... to be given daily orally" looks like it should be either "to be given once daily orally" or "to be given twice daily orally" so it's possible that whoever printed off the label didn't fill in all the gaps. If it said "... to be given orally each day" I'd be a bit more confident. I've had a confusing label before - the vet had put in the details correctly but the med had a long name so the end bit of the instruction was actually just missed off on the printing! It can be tricky to explain over the phone as they are looking at the vet's record which will be correct.

It's worth sending that picture into the vets and explaining your issue. Then they can clarify it.

Thank you so much for this, I have only just seen this. I have emailed the vets who run a 24hr service, so hopefully will have a reply by morning. I have followed the advice here and given her a second dose. Unfortunately she doesn’t look too well, isn’t eating much but she’s been hand fed for a couple of hours again this evening. I really appreciate your help. I can’t believe that it seems this is yet another vet who has got something completely wrong. Biscuit does not deserve it after all she’s been through x

 

[Free Ranger]

I know - and things always look so much worse at night for us so I assume it's the same for them x
Hopefully she'll be squeaking for veg in the morning and you'll wonder what you were worried about. I tuck my old boy in of an evening with a heat pad even though he's indoors... they just need a bit of extra sometimes and I sleep better knowing that he has a warm bed. The girls are jealous but they'll just have to put up with it!

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

How’s she doing this morning? Did Jess say if there was any soreness, ulceration in her mouth?

 

[Surfergirl]

How’s she doing this morning? Did Jess say if there was any soreness, ulceration in her mouth?

Good morning
She has come out for some food this morning, but doesn’t look like she’s touched any of the options overnight. I’ll feed her on my knee as soon as I’m sorted.

Jess couldn’t see anything in her mouth. She said the bottom incisors had been cut too short and didn’t meet the top, also they were rough as I’d thought, so she filed them only to correct them. Otherwise, it was a bit of a mystery.

There was a tiny lump within her cheek skin. My gut feeling is it isn’t an abscess, but it was more a case of it won’t do any harm to give her them in case, and Jess couldn’t see anything wrong otherwise.

Thank you for your help.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

The reason I asked about any soreness in the mouth, is because we have a piggy, here at TEAS, who wasn’t making much progress, despite two weekly tidy up of his teeth. He does have a sore patch at the back of his mouth though, that doesn’t seem to be caused by teeth rubbing, as his teeth are pretty good. He doesn’t appear to have oral thrush, but as nothing else seems to be working, we started him on itrafungol and upped the pain relief by adding in tramadol, as well as his regular Loxicom. So far, I can see an improvement in his eating and it’s going to be interesting to see whether the soreness is healing, when he next sees Simon.

 

[Surfergirl]

The reason I asked about any soreness in the mouth, is because we have a piggy, here at TEAS, who wasn’t making much progress, despite two weekly tidy up of his teeth. He does have a sore patch at the back of his mouth though, that doesn’t seem to be caused by teeth rubbing, as his teeth are pretty good. He doesn’t appear to have oral thrush, but as nothing else seems to be working, we started him on itrafungol and upped the pain relief by adding in tramadol, as well as his regular Loxicom. So far, I can see an improvement in his eating and it’s going to be interesting to see whether the soreness is healing, when he next sees Simon.

That’s good news. Do you think I should take her to the vets again? Jess did have a thorough look and couldn’t see any soreness. She is on 0.4ml cat Metacam twice a day. She hasn’t eaten much this morning. I’m going to get her on my knee, weigh her again and see what I can get down her. It feels like she’s fading, although she clearly wants to eat.

 

[PerfectPiggyPaws]

I think you get to a stage where you feel you've tried everything and exhausted all options so anything else you can try now is just a case of giving it a go and hoping something works.
There may well be a sore in Biscuit's mouth that is stopping her eating so whatever Debbie at TEAS suggests might be worth a shot.

 

[weepweeps]

Something is obviously very wrong. Maybe try a conscious X-ray in case her jaw was injured at the first vets? Also, can you get dog metacam? The cat one is probably not helping her very much at all. Once her pain is under control she might start eating

 

[Surfergirl]

Something is obviously very wrong. Maybe try a conscious X-ray in case her jaw was injured at the first vets? Also, can you get dog metacam? The cat one is probably not helping her very much at all. Once her pain is under control she might start eating

Thank you. I believe she’s on pretty much the strongest dose of cat Metacam from what the vet said. She’s lost another 20g x

 

[Surfergirl]

That’s good news. Do you think I should take her to the vets again? Jess did have a thorough look and couldn’t see any soreness. She is on 0.4ml cat Metacam twice a day. She hasn’t eaten much this morning. I’m going to get her on my knee, weigh her again and see what I can get down her. It feels like she’s fading, although she clearly wants to eat.

I think you get to a stage where you feel you've tried everything and exhausted all options so anything else you can try now is just a case of giving it a go and hoping something works.
There may well be a sore in Biscuit's mouth that is stopping her eating so whatever Debbie at TEAS suggests might be worth a shot.

Thank you. She’s not wanting to eat having only had a tiny breakfast. Has lost weight down to 800g and has been around 840g after gut stasis. Previously was a lot heavier. Feels she’s getting weaker.
Is the intrafungal and tramadol from the vets?
Should I keep force feeding her with the syringe?

 

[weepweeps]

Thank you. I believe she’s on pretty much the strongest dose of cat Metacam from what the vet said. She’s lost another 20g x

It still won’t be as strong as the dog one I don’t think. It’s so sad when you weigh them every day and they keep losing. All you can do is more mushed pellets. I feel for you. I’ve been there with a sick piggy for weeks on end. It’s so stressful.

 

[Surfergirl]

It still won’t be as strong as the dog one I don’t think. It’s so sad when you weigh them every day and they keep losing. All you can do is more mushed pellets. I feel for you. I’ve been there with a sick piggy for weeks on end. It’s so stressful.

Thank you. She’s not eating mushed pellets today, should I syringe it in (which she hates?)
It is absolutely draining. Ive not got time to deal with my young children and not going out. It’s very painful to watch. I keep seeing a glimpse of Hope and then she goes back to sitting in her house not eating. Did your guinea eventually pass away or ever pick up? I feel like this could go on for many more weeks.

 

[weepweeps]

Thank you. She’s not eating mushed pellets today, should I syringe it in (which she hates?)
It is absolutely draining. Ive not got time to deal with my young children and not going out. It’s very painful to watch. I keep seeing a glimpse of Hope and then she goes back to sitting in her house not eating. Did your guinea eventually pass away or ever pick up? I feel like this could go on for many more weeks.

I’m so happy to say he did survive. He had an abscess. So once that was sorted out and he finished the Zithromax he started to eat again. Slowly at first. He never gained back the 350g he lost though. Yes if shes not eating the mush or much hay and she’s lost weight overnight then you will have to syringe feed her.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

Thank you. She’s not wanting to eat having only had a tiny breakfast. Has lost weight down to 800g and has been around 840g after gut stasis. Previously was a lot heavier. Feels she’s getting weaker.
Is the intrafungal and tramadol from the vets?
Should I keep force feeding her with the syringe?

Yes the Itrafungol and tramadol are from vets.

Start syringe feeding her, to keep her strength up. They do get used to it, once they realise they feel so much better with more food in their belly. I’ve never had a piggy who I haven’t been able to syringe feed and even those who weren’t too keen at start, soon got used to it. Are you using a 1ml syringe with the end cut off?

 

[Surfergirl]

Yes the Itrafungol and tramadol are from vets.

Start syringe feeding her, to keep her strength up. They do get used to it, once they realise they feel so much better with more food in their belly. I’ve never had a piggy who I haven’t been able to syringe feed and even those who weren’t too keen at start, soon got used to it. Are you using a 1ml syringe with the end cut off?

Thank you, yes I am using that. She fights it and hates it. Just put in 2-3ml at a time but every mouthful is a battle and then it takes 5 minutes chewing/swallowing for every 3ml.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

Thank you, yes I am using that. She fights it and hates it. Just put in 2-3ml at a time but every mouthful is a battle and then it takes 5 minutes chewing/swallowing for every 3ml.

It’s strange that she’s not swallowing it down quicker. Normally they can take a full syringe full and then swallow it down as you refill the syringe, and they’re immediately ready to take the next one.

I wish you were closer so we could get Simon to take a look!

 

[Surfergirl]

Yes the Itrafungol and tramadol are from vets.

Start syringe feeding her, to keep her strength up. They do get used to it, once they realise they feel so much better with more food in their belly. I’ve never had a piggy who I haven’t been able to syringe feed and even those who weren’t too keen at start, soon got used to it. Are you using a 1ml syringe with the end cut off?

Would

It’s strange that she’s not swallowing it down quicker. Normally they can take a full syringe full and then swallow it down as you refill the syringe, and they’re immediately ready to take the next one.

I wish you were closer so we could get Simon to take a look!

i wish I was too! If I didn’t have two young children and commitments, I’d drive up tomorrow. It’s was 5 hours door to door to see Jess and unfortunately that’s the most I can manage.

She has only once been interested in the syringe with mush, every other time she wriggles to get away from it. I have just got more down her putting a tiny amount on my finger and letting her lick it off. She seems to prefer smaller amounts to go at.
She’s definitely going downhill. Was eating tiny pieces of weeds, but will not eat any solid foods now. I’m wondering now if I’m delaying the inevitable.

 

[Bill & Ted]

I’m so sorry for you both, I have run out of suggestions. To keep her going you need to be firm and keep syringe feeding her. I know how hard and soul destroying it is, I’ve been in your position too, it’s awful

 

[Surfergirl]

Looking for some advice. Biscuit has only eaten a little mush, now refusing tiny leaves or chopped veg. Barely come out of her house today. Feel like she’s fading and has lost weight. Do I continue to force feed her with a syringe

I’m so sorry for you both, I have run out of suggestions. To keep her going you need to be firm and keep syringe feeding her. I know how hard and soul destroying it is, I’ve been in your position too, it’s awful

thank you so much for replying. Do you think there’s still any chance for her? I’ve never been in this situation but will gladly continue if you think she could survive. She seems so weak but if there’s any hope I will keep going.
I just haven’t experienced this so am not sure if you syringe feed to the bitter end or allow them their last few hours to rest in their box? Every time I look I don’t know if she’ll still be alive. It is hard and soul destroying, you are so right.

 

[Surfergirl]

I’m so sorry for you both, I have run out of suggestions. To keep her going you need to be firm and keep syringe feeding her. I know how hard and soul destroying it is, I’ve been in your position too, it’s awful

Is Emeprid worth a try? I did get the vet to give me some more just in case so have a supply.

 

[Free Ranger]

I'm syringing my old boy at the minute - I can't remember if I've said this on this thread before so excuse me if I'm repeating myself. He takes about 15ml a day as he's also eating for himself. His antibiotics are treating his UTI but affecting his appetite. But I did once syringe a younger girl for over a month (exclusively) because we absolutely could not find anything wrong with her. She also took an age to chew but her problem was swallowing we think as her chewing was normal speed. It took 6 hours every day - but I didn't give anything between 11 and 6/7 ish. She took about 40 ml total to maintain her weight. She was on Emeprid too. In your shoes I'd give it a go...

You could try being a bit more 'pushy' with the 1ml syringe for a couple of days to see if she picks up or deteriorates... it is a hard call to make. Usually if they are on antibiotics and these are going to make a difference you'll see that in a few days. If there is no change after 3 days on AB I might reassess then - especially as some antibiotics can affect the appetite (as with George). But George doesn't like more than a ml at a time and sometimes only wants 0.5ml per mouthful. If I try and do more than a piggy can take they resist harder because they get worried. So I give him up to a ml and then put a little tiny bit of some nice leaf in front of him - when he's swallowed a bit he'll go for the leaf and then I know I'm not overloading him with the next bit.

The type of leaf has got to be different every day - and this has been something I've only figured out with George. I'm guessing their instinct is that if they eat something and then feel rough they don't want to go back to that thing in case that was the cause (we know that it's not). So one day George will want lettuce and the next day he won't. I give a bit of cabbage, or dandelion, or celery leaf, or parsley. And a couple days later he'll go for the lettuce again. If I rotate the foods he stays interested. But the only thing he's eaten 2 days running with any gusto is grass. At first glance it seems like they were still eating their favourite things and now they don't even want that, but I'm not sure that's always a decline, it might just be an instinct we can try and circumvent..?

At this point you're going to be the one who can read her the best x