So today I'm mostly trying to squeeze my guinea pig's abscess.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Vet sliced it open yesterday and squeezed a load of gunk out. It was golf ball sized when she started and she totally emptied it.

She's told me I have to keep the abcess open and keep squeezing gunk out.

Its under her neck so hard to get to. This morning I managed to squeeze a bit out but there was still some in there. This evening its re filled to the size of a large marble. The hole looks scabbed over and no amount of squeezing got anything out. Though its hard because she wriggles like mad.

I'm able to get the antibiotics down her twice a day which is good.

How vital is it that I squeeze this gunk out? Do I poke the abscess with a knife to open it up again?

Meant to say we are back at the vets on Monday.

Did the vet give you any hints on how to do this (I can guess it's a blighter of a task )

OK- I work with human patients and deal with infections (but I have to admit, they tend to be less wriggly, unless they have dementia)

Try a warm (as hot as you think your guinea pig can bear, which won't be that warm) compress of salt dissolved in boiled water and allowed to cool to the temperature you want.
Use a wedge of gauze and hold it on the lump. This will help to 'draw' it and soften the scabby bit so you might be able to clear it and access drainage.
If not, at least you're keeping it clean.
Anything you use needs to be clean/sterile (you can do this in boiling water)

The antibiotics will do their bit internally. Did they give you probiotics too (to maintain the gut flora)

Nope, vet didnt really offer any advice and I never thought to ask. Warm compress sounds a good idea, will try that. I've got little vials of sterile sodium chloride to wash it with after.

I'm wrapping her up in a towel to stop the wriggling as much as I can. That was my idea. Flipping vet was going to do a GA at first because of the wriggling.

Haven't got any probiotics either.

when mine get abcesses i wash them with gpig shampoo (gorgeous guineas ) but i guess pet shops sell similar. when they get wet for a few minutes, the scabs go soggy and the gunk can be washed out. then i stick antiseptic on. then blow dry piggy.

YY to wrapping her in a towel then if you grasp her little muzzle and hold her head up, it will give you access to the wound and keep the skin stretched a bit (though guineas do have saggy little necks)

Don't be tempted to put her on her back, there was an article I read about rabbits (and as prey animals guinea-pigs are very vunerable) they will 'play dead' like this and are really scared.

Our guinea vet trimmed my pigs teeth without anaesthetic (though TBH , piggie was ill, you could have done pretty much anything to him ) .

Ask about the probitics when you see them ......or there's the standby dropping from a healthy guinea though it has to be the first passed pooh and my guineas take them straight from their undercarriage, you'd need to be quick to get them.
Can you phone the vet tomorrow to ask?

I have dog shampoo.

Ok so tomorrow piggy can have a good wash. Followed by a compress if needed. Get the scab off, good squeeze. Flush out with the sodium chloride. Oral baytril.

Wish me luck!

Thanks.

The vets is open tomorrow morning. Are the probiotics important then?

Poor you and poor piggy

Their guts can be upset by the antibiotics (I had a liquid antibiotic for GP2 and some granules to go on the food).

Is your piggie eating?
Or are you having to give something like Critical Care (I'm sure the vet said that CC contained a probiotic.) My GP died that evening though, so the little soul only had one dose of meds...

She's still eating. I've got some critical care. Will give her some of that tomorrow.

Sorry about your piggy by the way.

Thanks - it was our first pair of boys. But it lead us to GP3 and when GP1 went , we were lead to GP4 and GP5.
Each one leaves a space and another little set of paws fills their shoes.

Good luck with the pus squeezing BTW

have fun today

maybe no dog shampoo just water? baby shampoo might be gentle?

yes, critical care has probiotics according to my vet. have to admit tho, if mine are still eating they seem ok on antibiotics.

Want loads better this morning. The scab was half off so pulled it out and it was like pulling a plug. Got loads of gunk out. Washed it out and antibiotics given.

sounds suitably gross. it is amazing how gunky and gross their abcesses can get
if you are 'into' gpigs, have a look on the gorgeous guineas website. i have lotions n potions i use on scratches to help with this kind of thing before it gets too gross (which is v v quick)

Ooh just put message on other post. Did p@h charge you?

Decided not to bother asking pets at home. The more I've googled on abscesses the more stuff ive found saying they can come up in a matter of days.

I guess its possible that piggy introductions didnt go as well as I thought and that the older piggy has nipped or scratched this one.

how is the patient?

Loads better thanks. We went back to the vet on Monday and she said I'd done a good job of gunk squeezing. Only a tiny lump left now which she said not to bother squeezing. Few more days of antibiotics left which should hopefully sort that out.

great news
good gunk squeezing