Specialist Post Neuter Abscess Experience Guidance

[alphadox]

My poor boy has developed the abscess from his November neutering. Have no clue why. It felt about the size of a small grape and decided to burst while going to the vet.

The vet squeezed out the ick, flushed, and taught me how to do so as well with the light blue liquid and curved syringe. Gave me pain meds and Baytril as would not consider anything else at this time----I had searched the forums for info while waiting in the office.

It is day 5 of keeping it open. The second day small white bits flushed out with very very tiny red. I got worried since it seemed not much of anything came out of the flushing. Vet was able to check him and said everything is perfect.

The hole has shrunk a bit but I keep it open. I have flushed and flushed moving the syringe around. Now still there is like nothing coming out really. Only day three had tiny white specks. The VERY concerning thing is that inside the wound is like white softish skin. Is this good and healing skin? Infection? Not skin? I have to try and scrape with the syringe and pull/peel it off like scab. Should inside the wound only be red only or something? Does not seem at all the thick white pus.

Here is where I would like anyone with experience to guide me. Did it look this for you? Is this bad? The white 'skin'? Is the wound already screwed up and doomed? Does it need to stay open like 10 days? Let it heal and try surgery removal?

I tried searching and cannot find specifics. Hope photo is good.

 

[Wiebke]

My poor boy has developed the abscess from his November neutering. Have no clue why. It felt about the size of a small grape and decided to burst while going to the vet.

The vet squeezed out the ick, flushed, and taught me how to do so as well with the light blue liquid and curved syringe. Gave me pain meds and Baytril as would not consider anything else at this time----I had searched the forums for info while waiting in the office.

It is day 5 of keeping it open. The second day small white bits flushed out with very very tiny red. I got worried since it seemed not much of anything came out of the flushing. Vet was able to check him and said everything is perfect.

The hole has shrunk a bit but I keep it open. I have flushed and flushed moving the syringe around. Now still there is like nothing coming out really. Only day three had tiny white specks. The VERY concerning thing is that inside the wound is like white softish skin. Is this good and healing skin? Infection? Not skin? I have to try and scrape with the syringe and pull/peel it off like scab. Should inside the wound only be red only or something? Does not seem at all the thick white pus.

Here is where I would like anyone with experience to guide me. Did it look this for you? Is this bad? The white 'skin'? Is the wound already screwed up and doomed? Does it need to stay open like 10 days? Let it heal and try surgery removal?

I tried searching and cannot find specifics. Hope photo is good.

Hi!

Abscesses can unfortunately come up months after a neutering operation although they are not as common so late. The tiniest bit of infection in the operation can grow over time and eventually become an abscess.
Neutering operations: Considerations, post-op care and a successful recovery example

The whiteish skin is OK; you see it in a healing abscess. Please flush the abscess twice day with some mild antiseptic (saline solution, hibiscrub or F10).

Ideally you do it with syringe with a needle that you hold just in front of the opening and push down strongley to allow the water pressure to really get into the various pouches that need to heal off from the inside out and in the process push every little speck of infection out. The longer you can keep the the abscess open and flushed, the greater the chances of a full recovery and the less of a risk of a return. Try to get as close to 10 days as you possibly can. it is not a pleasant job, but a necessary one.

How much of a baytril dosage have you been given (inluding your piggy's weight)? It is not the strongest of ABs when it comes to cutting through an abscess, but neither of the two officially licensed antibiotics for guinea pigs is.

 

[alphadox]

Hi!

Abscesses can unfortunately come up months after a neutering operation although they are not as common so late. The tiniest bit of infection in the operation can grow over time and eventually become an abscess.
Neutering operations: Considerations, post-op care and a successful recovery example

The whiteish skin is OK; you see it in a healing abscess. Please flush the abscess twice day with some mild antiseptic (saline solution, hibiscrub or F10).

Ideally you do it with syringe with a needle that you hold just in front of the opening and push down strongley to allow the water pressure to really get into the various pouches that need to heal off from the inside out and in the process push every little speck of infection out. The longer you can keep the the abscess open and flushed, the greater the chances of a full recovery and the less of a risk of a return. Try to get as close to 10 days as you possibly can. it is not a pleasant job, but a necessary one.

How much of a baytril dosage have you been given (inluding your piggy's weight)? It is not the strongest of ABs when it comes to cutting through an abscess, but neither of the two officially licensed antibiotics for guinea pigs is.

I just learned it could appear so later, but am glad it is not a hernia.

Fergus is laid back through it all. I am going to strive to the 10 days. It is just sad to make him do this and it not heal I will consider operation if it is a possibility. The vet said try this first to hold off on being put under again and the $550 cost.

Thank you too I have been so scared for this white skin stuff. I did not even know what an abscess was until this. I would love more shared neuter abscess healing stage pics. I can search and find initial and after pics. It seems I sm following the flushing protocol.

The Baytril is twice daily .6mL for 7 days with Benebac. I wish I could have the better medicine for him. I also thought maybe to get imported this manuka honey tube shown by this person HERE

Have you had piggies with an abscess?

 

[Wiebke]

I just learned it could appear so later, but am glad it is not a hernia.

Fergus is laid back through it all. I am going to strive to the 10 days. It is just sad to make him do this and it not heal I will consider operation if it is a possibility. The vet said try this first to hold off on being put under again and the $550 cost.

Thank you too I have been so scared for this white skin stuff. I did not even know what an abscess was until this. I would love more shared neuter abscess healing stage pics. I can search and find initial and after pics. It seems I sm following the flushing protocol.

The Baytril is twice daily .6mL for 7 days with Benebac. I wish I could have the better medicine for him. I also thought maybe to get imported this manuka honey tube shown by this person HERE

Have you had piggies with an abscess?

I've had two dental root abscesses and some abscessed bite wounds after one of my neutered boars managed to invade another boar's cage. I must admit that flushing abscesses under the chin is my least favourite job (not because of the smell, though), just because of the awkward location and Hywel being such a fast healer.

We see however a fair amount of post neutering op abscesses on here; they are the most common complication but typically around 10 days to three weeks post-op.

You can buy manuka honey in every larger supermarket, you know. It is for eating, too - and cheaper that way!
However, your first and main job is to keep the abscess open and not let it heal shut for as much as possible.

Being able to let the abscess heal out and not having to go in for an operative removal in case it flares up again is by far preferable. I am definitely on the same page with your vet.
My Bedo needed a post-op neutering abscess operation before I adopted him. I had to wait and see how he would recover for the adoption request was back on the table again. He thankfully made a good recovery.

I assume that you are in the USA or in Australia then?

@furryfriends (TEAS)

 

[alphadox]

I've had two dental root abscesses and some abscessed bite wounds after one of my neutered boars managed to invade another boar's cage. I must admit that flushing abscesses under the chin is my least favourite job (not because of the smell, though), just because of the awkward location and Hywel being such a fast healer.

We see however a fair amount of post neutering op abscesses on here; they are the most common complication but typically around 10 days to three weeks post-op.

You can buy manuka honey in every larger supermarket, you know. It is for eating, too - and cheaper that way!
However, your first and main job is to keep the abscess open and not let it heal shut for as much as possible.

Being able to let the abscess heal out and not having to go in for an operative removal in case it flares up again is by far preferable. I am definitely on the same page with your vet.
My Bedo needed a post-op neutering abscess operation before I adopted him. I had to wait and see how he would recover for the adoption request was back on the table again. He thankfully made a good recovery.

I assume that you are in the USA or in Australia then?

@furryfriends (TEAS)

I did see the neck photos people share and those holes seem huge. So Hywel's healing fast is actually inconvenient? The abscess confuses me since piggies seem to heal fast and you would think the abscess could heal quicker and better...but I guess it cannot be so easy.

Thank you again going to keep it open as long as possible. You cannot put anything inside besides something like the manuka honey? The vet said put nothing and did not encourage the honey.

I am in the USA. I did look at two bigger markets here and there was just simply organic honey. The jar of honey online was costly. I do want to try it. There is a health foods store but almost two hours away in the snowy conditions So online it is if even for the emergency health kit.

 

[Wiebke]

I did see the neck photos people share and those holes seem huge. So Hywel's healing fast is actually inconvenient? The abscess confuses me since piggies seem to heal fast and you would think the abscess could heal quicker and better...but I guess it cannot be so easy.

Thank you again going to keep it open as long as possible. You cannot put anything inside besides something like the manuka honey? The vet said put nothing and did not encourage the honey.

I am in the USA. I did look at two bigger markets here and there was just simply organic honey. The jar of honey online was costly. I do want to try it. There is a health foods store but almost two hours away in the snowy conditions So online it is if even for the emergency health kit.

No, the hole healing shut quickly is not good news as it could trap the infection inside. In Hywel's case, his abscess came bac with a vengeance at the most inconvenient of times...

Personally, I would not get too hung up on the honey. My abscess piggies have healed perfectly fine without it!

But it would really help us if you please added your country to location in your account details (via yur usename on the top bar), so it appears with every post you make and allows us to adapt any advice accordingly straight away. Medical brand names, vet and rescue access etc. differ from UK ones, which are out default. Please also keep in mind that we jump between lots of different threads in a day, never mind over any longer period of time. It can save both parties time and misunderstandings!

 

[alphadox]

No, the hole healing shut quickly is not good news as it could trap the infection inside. In Hywel's case, his abscess came bac with a vengeance at the most inconvenient of times...

Personally, I would not get too hung up on the honey. My abscess piggies have healed perfectly fine without it!

But it would really help us if you please added your country to location in your account details (via yur usename on the top bar), so it appears with every post you make and allows us to adapt any advice accordingly straight away. Medical brand names, vet and rescue access etc. differ from UK ones, which are out default. Please also keep in mind that we jump between lots of different threads in a day, never mind over any longer period of time. It can save both parties time and misunderstandings!

Thanks for letting me know! I am pretty sure my location is now visible. I am unfortunately not in the UK, but find this forum really helpful, organized, and friendly. Some rescues here in the USA are pretty good too...but on the opposite coast of where I am at

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for letting me know! I am pretty sure my location is now visible. I am unfortunately not in the UK, but find this forum really helpful, organized, and friendly. Some rescues here in the USA are pretty good too...but on the opposite coast of where I am at

I know quite a few US rescues from my day job as rescue coordinator for Guinea Pig Magazine. There are whole states especially in the Midwest that are sadly without any decent rescues at all...
We generally refer our US members to the Guinea Lynx rescue page as their welfare criteria pretty much compare with ours: Guinea Lynx :: US Guinea Pig Rescue and Shelter Organizations

 

[alphadox]

I just want to update for Fergus I tried VERY hard and could keep his abscess open for around 11 days. I had two other vet checks. He got more pain meds. The wound I let heal up after vet gave approval.

He seems okay and I am keeping a close eye on him. I guess I should watch again for the swelling. I hope he will do okay. He is more relaxed.

 

[Claire W]

I just want to update for Fergus I tried VERY hard and could keep his abscess open for around 11 days. I had two other vet checks. He got more pain meds. The wound I let heal up after vet gave approval.

He seems okay and I am keeping a close eye on him. I guess I should watch again for the swelling. I hope he will do okay. He is more relaxed.

That’s great news. Fingers crossed the nasty abscess has gone for good! x

 

[Merab]

Hope that it is now completely healed.
Abscesses are no fun.

 

[rhymer]

Good news. Hope he is all healed and feeling much better.xx

 

[Bill & Ted]

Hope Fergus has fully recovered, he’s such a handsome chap x