Spencer's Abscess
The hole on his chin closed. I've emailed his vet to see if they'll reopen it or if i should start preparing for the worse 
On his last visit when they put him on pallative care....the vet said the new xrays showed the infection is now in the jawbone and nothing can be done. He'd be on AB until he declines then i have to make the decision to euthanize. I'm afraid if it's closed the infection has nowhere to drain and hell get an abscess again. He has an appt monday morning. I'll keep an eye in the area and if something forms hell be going in sooner. I'm currently at our other house on vacation 6 hours away from our vet so I'm leaving in the morning to head back just in case (spencers with me).
So the hole seems to of reopened after using a warm compress. I will continue those. He has a little oozing that smelled a little. I was tempted to ask if we could try Chloramphenicol as I've read it's good with bone infection. He was on it once and had soft poop but it was right after surgery so I'm not sure if it was from that or then surgery. He is still on the Orbax.
The vet wrote back and said:
If the tissues under the skin behave themselves and don't try to abscessate again then no...but if something tries to form again without having an 'exit path' then yes....
SO in other words if it's closed because it's RESOLVED, we're good. Only a little time will tell - keep me posted!
Warren Briggs, DVM
Hospital Director
The Ocean County Veterinary Group
Ocean County Veterinary Hospital
The vet wrote back and said:
If the tissues under the skin behave themselves and don't try to abscessate again then no...but if something tries to form again without having an 'exit path' then yes....
SO in other words if it's closed because it's RESOLVED, we're good. Only a little time will tell - keep me posted!
Warren Briggs, DVM
Hospital Director
The Ocean County Veterinary Group
Ocean County Veterinary Hospital
I dealt with an abscess on one of mine, on the side of his jaw. He was on an AB and I used warm compresses to get it to ooze. Once it did, I would massage as much puss as would come out each day. Day by day it diminished and that was the end of it. I hope your piggie has a miracle turn around. You definitely want an exit and to keep getting that puss getting out of there.
Yup! Been using that syringe. Can't really get into the hole as its more of a pinhole opening on his skin that never fully closed from the surgeries. It is right on the scar tissue so I just let drain and clean it 3 times a day. Unfortunately I know the infection will never go away since it's in the bone. I just want him around as long as he wants to be and is fighting.
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Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
I can say that in my limited experience, that syringe is super for getting into tiny holes, in case you want to give it a try. One would start out not using a lot of pressure for the flush.
As I mentioned, there may be situations where flushing and pushing liquid in is not the best move. If an abscess drains into the throat, for example.
As I mentioned, there may be situations where flushing and pushing liquid in is not the best move. If an abscess drains into the throat, for example.
Yea. It's just like an opening of skin with scar tissue right there so I'm afraid to try and put the syringe there. The infection drains out of the hole on it's own, so I just clean it with hibiclens. I am gonna ask about trying Chloramphenicol and switching off of the Orbax.
We can't win. Benson (Spencer's cage mate) was just diagnosed and somehow got Ringworm. All 3 are now being treated with Intrafungol, even though Benson is the only one with Symptoms. Vet said it's ok to give with the Orbax. I just worry as Spencer is prone to bloat.
He's on long term Orbax now as the infection from the abscess went into his jawbone. He still has pus the leaks out of that opening on his chin, so the infection is still present ☹