Abscess and cleaning

[pinigig]

Gig has an abscess!!

I was really worried because I picked her up and she had blood and pus aroundher neck. I took her to the vet straight away and the vet prodded it and she was crying so much but the pus has gone now and she has been prescribed baytril.

I have been advised to clean the wound twice a day with saline solution and he told me how to make it up but not what to use or exactly how to do itor hold her! she was in so much pain when she was being prodded and now she's sitting looking so upset...

anybody got any advice? x

[Dawn - Admin]

It is good that the abscess has burst, the gunk will probably need cleaning out daily. If you take a piece of cotton wool and dip it in cooled boiled water and just gently squeeze out any puss there is there and clean it off. Eventually it will stop filling up.

Baytril is good because it will kill the infection.

[pinigig]

Thank you Dawn... She's popcorning away at the moment so she must feel ok in herself. I have been told to put the baytril in the water and tat it's not good for Pini to have it too - will it do any harm? they are separate at the moment becasue i didn't quite know how to restrict water consumption to one of them whilst they are in the same cage but i don't like keeping them apart. They are still in the same room but they can't snuggle up together...

[celia]

My vet always says to add it to the drinking water but personaly i give it orally in a syringe and at least i know they have had the full dose and no need to seperate any pigs either . I would give it by syringe and at least they can go back together and not cause them anymore stress .
p.s give the pig a treat ( fav veg ) after it because the baytril is bitter thats why vets advise to put it in water

[pinigig]

ah ok thank you Celia. It's healing nicely at the moment and they are cuddled up together so that's something!

[gpmum2]

I also syring mine but add it a little pineapple juice to it. Which takes away the bitter taste. Hope she gets better quickly.

[fitnessgal]

I syringe mine in .4cc and he takes it straight. Only one day out of 4 did I spill any and it was only two drops.

I was curious to know what has worked for you in holding your piggie to clean under it's neck? How do you hold it? I've got to clean the underside there and mine squirms so much!

Hugz and hope your baby is feeling better soon. Tina

[pinigig]

She loves little gem lettuce so i have been giving her half of the dose and letting her nibble and then giving her the rest with the core as a reward.

I had been getting my boyfriend to hold her on her back whilst i cleaned it, but I have discovered that if she stands on his chest while he holds a bit of cucumber high so that she is stretched out that works better - and it's a LOT quieter! she is distracted by the cucumber and she dribbles the juice down her chin so the tissue comes away green but it works for cleaning.

I'm a bit worried this morning though, I had them both out to feed them breakfast and Gig poo'd (as she normally does lol) and it isn't pellet shaped or the normal colour... it is yellowy green and very long. any ideas?

thanks to everyone for their help!!

xx

[fitnessgal]

Sounds like diareha (sp?) The antibiotics will do that from what I'm finding out. Can you give her some probiotics to help put back some bacteria, the good kind? Hugz, Tina

[Dawn - Admin]

Yes she will need probiotics if she is on Baytril. This is the one I use it's the green one called Avipro plus

www.penstone-petstore.co.uk/acatalog/index.html?http%3A//www.penstone-petstore.co.uk/acatalog/Penstone_Petstore_Vitamins__Minerals___Probiotics_121.html&CatalogBody

[pinigig]

I already have pro-c probiotic by vetark professional, is that ok? (it's greeny). she seems ok this morning and her abscess is healing brilliantly. we have another appointment at the vets tomorrow so we can see what he says. x

[celia]

I have not came across a piggy yet who had the runs because of baytril , i would think if a piggy can clean the wound of an abcess itself the poison from the abcess would cause it . How is Gig now ?

[pinigig]

She's fine now although a bit skinny... seeing as Pini was the one cleaning the wound, it would have been Pini with the funny poo... She was ok after that one morning anyway

[celia]

Glad to hear she is ok :-) . Oh i forgot you had pini too lol