Guinea pig abscess

[Nikki26]

Hi all, I know some of you have guinea pigs as well as rabbits so I am hoping that someone has some advice on abscesses. I found a golf ball sized lump under his chin last night so think he has an abscess. Took him to my vets this morning (My normal vet wasn’t there so I saw a locum) and she said that it is an abscess and that he needs to go in on Monday for X-rays and a thorough teeth check. She said that it may be a tooth root abscess and they are not equipped to deal with it so gave three options:

1) operate to remove the abscess capsule knowing that it is likely to come back
2) stop treatment and get referred to trinity vets in Maidstone
3) get referred to the specialist straight away.

If it isn’t connected, they will go ahead and remove the abscess.

From what I have been reading online, people recommend cutting a slit in it, draining it and leaving it open so you can regularly flush it out rather than full removal.

In a complete quandary about what to do for the best!

[SarahP]

I've never come across this in piggies before... For me, I think I'd want to go straight to the specialist, if you can manage that.

[Jack's-Jane]

Hi all, I know some of you have guinea pigs as well as rabbits so I am hoping that someone has some advice on abscesses. I found a golf ball sized lump under his chin last night so think he has an abscess. Took him to my vets this morning (My normal vet wasn’t there so I saw a locum) and she said that it is an abscess and that he needs to go in on Monday for X-rays and a thorough teeth check. She said that it may be a tooth root abscess and they are not equipped to deal with it so gave three options:

1) operate to remove the abscess capsule knowing that it is likely to come back
2) stop treatment and get referred to trinity vets in Maidstone
3) get referred to the specialist straight away.

If it isn’t connected, they will go ahead and remove the abscess.

From what I have been reading online, people recommend cutting a slit in it, draining it and leaving it open so you can regularly flush it out rather than full removal.

In a complete quandary about what to do for the best!

Trinity Vets has an Exotics Specialist Vet- Mark Rowland. I'd trust him 100%

http://trinityvetcentre.com/team

[Shimmer]

I would also go straight to the referral. You need someone who is confident with guinea pig anaesthesia. As you have an excellent option, go for it.
I appreciate it when a vet knows the limit of what they are able to do - so well done to your vet for the appropriate advice.

[jewaller]

Trinity Vets has an Exotics Specialist Vet- Mark Rowland. I'd trust him 100%

http://trinityvetcentre.com/team

dear nikki26,-abscess that I am familiar with-must be removed,and it could have friends.-required are a full facial/body radiogragh,examination for others and dental check,-but as shimmer says the anethestia could be a problem.--call the reference jakes-jane suggests and get this done asap,-because it could easily interfere with the eating/not good..sincerely james waller from across the great pond-usa

[tonibun]

I watched them operating on a Guinea's abscess the other night and the Vet decided to leave it open. The Piggie came through the GA ok but I think its owners were a bit worried as to how they were going to manage it. Good luck.

[Nikki26]

Thanks everybody. I have spoken to the local rodentologist and have got some advice from her. My usual vet (not the locum I saw today) has operated on all of her pigs and she trusts him completely. I am going to ask him to call me before he starts any treatment so that we can talk it through and decide next steps. I will go for the referral straight away if he is unsure.

[Nikki26]

Hi all, thank you all so much for your advice. I took ‘Ugo to the vets this morning, made sure my trusted vet was in and asked him to call me before he started to discuss options. We agreed that as he had been eating normally, xrays weren’t necessary, and we went straight for the op. The abscess was marsupialised and has been stitched open. I picked him up tonight and he looks great and started eating straight away. A long slog ahead of cleaning his wound but it’s all worth it. x

[SarahP]

Really hope all goes well. Glad the op went OK. I'll be really interested to hear how you get on.

[tonibun]

Hoping the after-care goes smoothly and Ugo recovers well.