Lucky Number Five - Page 3

**dagwellismypigy** · #41 10-10-05, 03:13 pm

Oh yeah, another question, is there anything I can do for the impaction besides just chip away at it? It seems hard for him to poop. I'm guessing the answer is no, but its worth a shot.

I also forgot to say that the lump isn't any bigger than it was yesterday, I figure it's good thats it's not getting bigger.

**Ly&Pigs** · #42 10-10-05, 03:21 pm

Post on the med forum of gl, Josephine or Pinta may have advice to offer on that. I am wondering if there is more than just impaction going on concerning his intestinal system.

**dagwellismypigy** · #43 10-10-05, 03:43 pm

I asked over guinealynx, now I'm all nervous. If you wanna check it's called 'Impcation? Or worse,' though you could have figured it out by my screen name. I was glad that I figured out what the lump most likely is now I have to worry about intestestinal problems. Sheesh, poor pig.

Just a random fact, he has five toes on his front right paw. Could that be a result of inbreeding?

**dagwellismypigy** · #44 10-10-05, 04:01 pm

It's too late to edit the last post. The fifth nail is really just a foot spur. What did his previous owners do to him!? That's probably why he was given up; all his issues.

**Funnygpigs** · #45 10-10-05, 04:17 pm

Oh, taking care of an abscess is something the vet has to do. He will need stiches to hold the drain tube in. I had a cat that got abscesses on her hips, 300.00 dollars later and surgery, she never went outside again. Abscesses are not something to wait on. If they rupture, he may need surgery to close it. I would get him in ASAP.

**dagwellismypigy** · #46 10-10-05, 04:24 pm

Yeah, deffinatly going to a vet. It was just worse having no idea what it is. Now I feel I have a little knowledge, I'm not completely in the dark. I'm going to the vet in the next few days. I have to talk to my mom and she won't be home for at least another hour.

**Funnygpigs** · #47 10-10-05, 04:39 pm

Hope you get him to the vet ok! Good luck.

**Slap Maxwell** · #48 10-10-05, 04:44 pm

Dagwell- if it is an abcessed lymph node I dealt with the same thing twice. The best option is surgery. If you can't afford it, have the vet lance and drain it. For my experience putting a drain in only makes it worse. You need to flush it out every day, a few times a day. He should give you antibiodics, too. Let it close after a few days of nothing coming out and continue ABs.

For one pig this ordeal cost me about $120, $180 for both.

**dagwellismypigy** · #49 10-10-05, 05:00 pm

Anything to make Bacon better I will do(hah, that sounds like Yoda from starwars.) I will end up having to borrow money from my gramma. It sucks that my first few paychecks when I get a job will go to her, but it will deffinatly be worth it. Is the $120 for the surgery or just draining it?

Thanks for the luck Funnygpigs.

**Slap Maxwell** · #50 10-10-05, 05:06 pm

The $120 was for the lancing and draining. Surgery will be upwards of $300. Since mine was done a couple times it might run you less.

There will probably always be scar tissue there, making a little ball. Since there is a scab it sounds like he could have already gone through a unsuccesful procedure.

If this is the case, let me know and I can give you the tips for cleaning it and administering saline or betadine (to flush it).

**dagwellismypigy** · #51 10-10-05, 05:09 pm

Wow. Three hundred dollars

This is going to be one expensive guinea pig. If I can't get the surgery will the draining be suffeciant? Or is draining just temporary untill you can get the surgery.

I'll take a picture of it, I won't be able to post it for a while because it's one of those disposable digital cameras, but I should have it up by wednesday.

**Slap Maxwell** · #52 10-10-05, 05:23 pm

I did the lancing first and I wasn't able to get it clean and it came back. Then I did it again and was extra careful to flush everything, and it hasn't come back.

Also, the puss from the abcess is EXTREMELY contagious. Make sure he is completely seperated so it dosen't spread like mine ended up doing to Cali.

**dagwellismypigy** · #53 10-11-05, 06:38 pm

Wooh, I got one part done. His anal sac is clean as a whistle thanks to a suggestion from someone on guinea lynx. Yay! He seems soo happy. While I was at it I gave him a bath which, surprisingly, he really liked.

I got a scale so I can weigh him to dose him with ivermectin. I'm calling the vet tommorow after school. I also got 3 new water bottles. They only had two.

**dagwellismypigy** · #54 10-12-05, 07:24 pm

Hmm, well that was a short lived celebration. Less than 24 hours later his impaction is right back. It's no where near as bad as it was, but deffinatly not comfortable for him. I have a vet appointment for next Tuesday. I'm going to discuss his lump and the possiblity of a neuter to help with the impaction. Though I hope his new diet will be enough to solve the issue. His lump doesn't seem to bother him at all, though I don't think he reallly knows how to jump.
He loves his hay and the little upside down rubbermade container hidey house.He likes lettuce and baths. Heh, that sounds like a classified ad for him.

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