Hi guys,
A bit of background: I have 3 guinea pigs. I am a "new" owner. I got Simone and Frida a month ago from a shelter, and I got Xena from my friend. Xena was mine about 4 years ago. I was a happy guinea pig owner, until I moved and asked my friend, who also had a guinea pig, to keep her while I was getting my things together. When I wanted to get her back, my friend told me that she was not okay with it, because her piggy and Xena had bonded. It broke my heart, but I thought it was better for Xena to be with her friend so I left her. I would take care of them during holidays or whenever my friend needed. A month ago, my friend's piggy died and so she called me and told me I had to take back Xena. I wasn't prepared but I said yes of course. I feel responsible for my little Xena's life as I am the one who adopted her in the first place.
When I got her back, Xena was completely depressed. I read about guinea pig depression after the death of their companion and lots of people advised to get new friends for a mourning piggy. So here came Frida and Simone. I found Simone on an online posting from a shelter. She was advertised as a senior guinea pig. So I thought I'll get her. When I arrived to the shelter, Simone and Frida were in a tiny cage, with no Hay and some weird pellets + grains. Simone was only 2 yo, and Frida 1 1/2. I couldn't bring myself to leave them there, so I adopted both. Simone is VERY dominant, but eventually they all got along. I got them a 2 1/2 by 6 feet long C&C cage. Learned how to sew so that I can make fleece lining, forest and beds. So they are pretty cosy by now.
Here comes the abscess story. With the adoption of Simone and Frida, I got a free visit to the vet for them. Since I had noticed a lump on Xena's neck but wasn't sure about it, I thought I'll bring her along to make sure she was okay. Well, Frida and Simone are doing great but the lump on Xena's neck is a big bad abscess. The vet said the inside is as thick as vaseline. She got her a 3 week antibiotic treatment (Trimeth/Sulfa suspension) to take orally, and if the abscess doesn't shrink down, the vet advised surgery.
I am dead scared of surgery. I mean, Xena is between 4 and 5 years old. She's a pretty small piggy. I am not sure she'll make it. I want her to make it. So my question is, do you have any experience with abscesses and if yes, is there any other alternatives to surgery? Something less scary/less invasive/with more chance of survival?
Please, let me know. I would really appreciate your take on that.
A bit of background: I have 3 guinea pigs. I am a "new" owner. I got Simone and Frida a month ago from a shelter, and I got Xena from my friend. Xena was mine about 4 years ago. I was a happy guinea pig owner, until I moved and asked my friend, who also had a guinea pig, to keep her while I was getting my things together. When I wanted to get her back, my friend told me that she was not okay with it, because her piggy and Xena had bonded. It broke my heart, but I thought it was better for Xena to be with her friend so I left her. I would take care of them during holidays or whenever my friend needed. A month ago, my friend's piggy died and so she called me and told me I had to take back Xena. I wasn't prepared but I said yes of course. I feel responsible for my little Xena's life as I am the one who adopted her in the first place.
When I got her back, Xena was completely depressed. I read about guinea pig depression after the death of their companion and lots of people advised to get new friends for a mourning piggy. So here came Frida and Simone. I found Simone on an online posting from a shelter. She was advertised as a senior guinea pig. So I thought I'll get her. When I arrived to the shelter, Simone and Frida were in a tiny cage, with no Hay and some weird pellets + grains. Simone was only 2 yo, and Frida 1 1/2. I couldn't bring myself to leave them there, so I adopted both. Simone is VERY dominant, but eventually they all got along. I got them a 2 1/2 by 6 feet long C&C cage. Learned how to sew so that I can make fleece lining, forest and beds. So they are pretty cosy by now.
Here comes the abscess story. With the adoption of Simone and Frida, I got a free visit to the vet for them. Since I had noticed a lump on Xena's neck but wasn't sure about it, I thought I'll bring her along to make sure she was okay. Well, Frida and Simone are doing great but the lump on Xena's neck is a big bad abscess. The vet said the inside is as thick as vaseline. She got her a 3 week antibiotic treatment (Trimeth/Sulfa suspension) to take orally, and if the abscess doesn't shrink down, the vet advised surgery.
I am dead scared of surgery. I mean, Xena is between 4 and 5 years old. She's a pretty small piggy. I am not sure she'll make it. I want her to make it. So my question is, do you have any experience with abscesses and if yes, is there any other alternatives to surgery? Something less scary/less invasive/with more chance of survival?
Please, let me know. I would really appreciate your take on that.