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Probable Abscess

Doragon

Doragon

Teenage Guinea Pig
Joined
May 5, 2015
Messages
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Location
Liverpool, United Kingdom
Hello hello! Good to see you all, though I wish under better circumstances! I hope all you guys and your piggies are doing well.

I’ve tried to get through to my vet and have to wait until tomorrow, but Gus (skinny pig) has popped up wirh this. This has appeared over the last 24 hours.
E2787A24-6F42-4AE1-82FF-99E68027471B.webp

Keeping a level head, I’m pretty sure this is most likely going to be an abscess but I’m concerned. Good news is, he’s eating and drinking as normal and not too fussed when I touch it. I have to get back in contact with the vet tomorrow morning, so looks like Gus will be commuting with me to work tomorrow (sorry Gus!)

In typical pet fashion, this has happened the same week I put a down payment for a new place and currently moving… we love them! Healing wheeks please and if anyone has any other theories, please let me know! Of course he will be seen as soon as possible tomorrow.
 
Hope your vet can see you promptly.
I can’t advise, just offer support.
Piggies do have impeccable timing!

Congratulations on your new home. Hope the move goes well.
 
Merab's Slave said:
Hope your vet can see you promptly.
I can’t advise, just offer support.
Piggies do have impeccable timing!

Congratulations on your new home. Hope the move goes well.
Click to expand...
They always do have the best timing! Admittedly, I’m probably more panicked than I need to be - Gus is sat happily tucking into his hay and broccoli, staring at me like “why are you looking at me like that Mum?” :doh: But we can’t be too careful with our little friends!

Thank you! It’s all a bit of a whirlwind, super excited! I’ve been on the fence about moving for a while as stuff didn’t go through…but now that I’m moving, it’s time for Gus to have his neuter, an upgrade to a bigger C&C and perhaps a girlfriend… juussttttt when we get this taken care of!
 
DoragonHinansho said:
Hello hello! Good to see you all, though I wish under better circumstances! I hope all you guys and your piggies are doing well.

I’ve tried to get through to my vet and have to wait until tomorrow, but Gus (skinny pig) has popped up wirh this. This has appeared over the last 24 hours.
View attachment 196681

Keeping a level head, I’m pretty sure this is most likely going to be an abscess but I’m concerned. Good news is, he’s eating and drinking as normal and not too fussed when I touch it. I have to get back in contact with the vet tomorrow morning, so looks like Gus will be commuting with me to work tomorrow (sorry Gus!)

In typical pet fashion, this has happened the same week I put a down payment for a new place and currently moving… we love them! Healing wheeks please and if anyone has any other theories, please let me know! Of course he will be seen as soon as possible tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Finger very firmly crossed. I agree, it looks rather like an abscess in that area but it could also be a neck gland. Why do these things always happen on a weekend and at the most inconvenient of times? :mal:

But good that he is still eating and all the best for getting seen quickly. I would recommend that you shift to weighing daily at the same time instead of weekly as you cannot judge the hay intake by eye only.
 
Wiebke said:
Finger very firmly crossed. I agree, it looks rather like an abscess in that area but it could also be a neck gland. Why do these things always happen on a weekend and at the most inconvenient of times? :mal:

But good that he is still eating and all the best for getting seen quickly. I would recommend that you shift to weighing daily at the same time instead of weekly as you cannot judge the hay intake by eye only.
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Always the way with our babies though, is it not? :eek: Yeah. My second thought was neck glands or lymph nodes, so I’m crossing my fingers and praying it’s an abscess!

Already on it! Gus’ weight is holding steady so far - I’m not too concerned, every time I look at him he’s munching hay at the moment but I want to be on top of it, just in case. I was moving him to work (they’re allowing me to leave him at work very kindly as I don’t want to stress him out too much with all the moving noises! He’ll come home with me when move is completed to minimise stress) anyway, but I’ll take him early tomorrow as it’s a lot closer to our cavvy vet. He’s very happy and currently cuddled with me watching an anime episode and munching on his veg but I’ll keep an eye on him!

I’m just very surprised how fast this thing popped up!
 
DoragonHinansho said:
Always the way with our babies though, is it not? :eek: Yeah. My second thought was neck glands or lymph nodes, so I’m crossing my fingers and praying it’s an abscess!

Already on it! Gus’ weight is holding steady so far - I’m not too concerned, every time I look at him he’s munching hay at the moment but I want to be on top of it, just in case. I was moving him to work (they’re allowing me to leave him at work very kindly as I don’t want to stress him out too much with all the moving noises! He’ll come home with me when move is completed to minimise stress) anyway, but I’ll take him early tomorrow as it’s a lot closer to our cavvy vet. He’s very happy and currently cuddled with me watching an anime episode and munching on his veg but I’ll keep an eye on him!

I’m just very surprised how fast this thing popped up!
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Lumps can grow with terrifying speed. Been there a few times. :(

Since he is still eating well, I would rather think gland or node but not necessarily a dental root abscess which would be painful to chew on. However, all we can is speculate idly; only your vet can tell you what is going with a hands-on examination.
 
Wiebke said:
Lumps can grow with terrifying speed. Been there a few times. :(

Since he is still eating well, I would rather think gland or node but not necessarily a dental root abscess which would be painful to chew on. However, all we can is speculate idly; only your vet can tell you what is going with a hands-on examination.
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It’s amazing - I cleaned him out last night and had absolutely no inkling this would appear! He’s honestly a soul piggy to me, so I’m really concerned.

Thank you! Of course I’ll give you guys an update when I’m able to get him seen.
 
Vet isn’t sure what’s going on, so Gus will be having a bunch of tests overnight. The lump has rose to almost double the size of yesterday, I’ll get a call in the morning to sort out a game plan. I’m preparing myself to eat pasta for two months-
Trying to lighten the mood, but look at his face when I handed him over earlier! I think I’m going to be ignored when he comes home-
5146AF71-C7BC-45CA-988E-7ADC3100A617.webp
 
Aw that sad little face, bless him. Hopefully Gus’s tests will come back as something easy to treat and he’ll be back home feeling much better with you soon :hug:Sure he won’t hold a grudge, he’ll just be chuffed to see you and get home! Sending massive healing vibes to gorgeous Gus ❤️x
 
Oh poor little Gus. Hope you can find out what’s causing the swelling and he’s soon back home with you.
 
Awww, poor little Gus. Growing quickly and in that place, I would really wonder about an abscess. I hope he is home again soon and feeling much better.
 
Hey guys,

Not so great, he’s currently having surgery as they think the abscess is coming from an infected lymph node. They’re gonna flush it out completely and get a better look. £300 so far and I’m definitely going to be eating pasta for a month - we do it for them! They’re not sure if this is a recurring thing and I’m praying it’s a one off. I should get a call tonight when he’s ready to be discharged if surgery goes well.

Fingers crossed he makes it okay, aftercare is going to be vital for him.
 
Just got him back from my vet! Need to flush the surgery site with salt water and honey once a day, also on oral antibiotics twice a day. They’ve flushed it with gel antibiotics today and need to take him back for another dose next week. He’s doing well, active, very mad at me. Work have kindly let me borrow the isolation room so I haven’t got to cart him back home (commuting 2 hours each way at the moment - moving next Monday!) so they’ve been very kind to let me borrow the isolation room for him until next Monday minimum. Thankfully, myself and my manager are both technicians and know our way around medicine and doses like this, so we’ll be able to both manage him and make sure he gets what he needs. I might put him on critical care (he’s eating alone, just an extra bowl or on top of his nuggets) just to give him that boost while he recovers, but apart from that it’s up to me to handle aftercare. I just wish he’d stop trying to scratch! He’s got a mix of staple and standard stitched just on his cheek / under his chin, bless him. A little trooper!
 
Bless him. I’m so pleased he seems to be ok in himself. Fingers crossed for a smooth recovery.
 
He’s had his first dose of salt water flush and he’s taking it very well! He’s almost his usual self, apart from his stitches. He’s happily munching on some parsley at the moment after giving me a nibble for his salt water bath-
 
We’re finally home! He’s strong enough to be moved back home with me so that I can continue his treatment. I’ll attach photos of what’s left - apologies if you’re eating! But it’s healing up very nicely and flushes are coming out clear, so I’m just glad it’s not re-filling.
22C5CD55-C423-4FBA-B59F-F769683A71FD.webp
398EA780-ADF3-4AB1-AD75-A2FFC3BFE5D0.webp
 
Great news that Gus is home, I hope that he continues to recover well from his op.
 
I’m keeping a close eye on him - eating and drinking as normal, but a teeny bit of pus came out his wound again this morning when I flushed it. He’s eating more and more and acting perfectly normal, so fingers crossed everything’s okay and it’s just continuing to drain and flush out.
 
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