Will an Abscess Kill a Guinea Pig? (What You Need to Know)
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Guinea pigs can get abscesses. You probably already know that. But, if left untreated…or treated incorrectly, can an abscess kill a guinea pig?
Yes, an abscess can kill a guinea pig if left untreated. It can cause an infection that will spread throughout the body and weaken your pet’s immune system. The abscess needs to be treated immediately to avoid any further health complications or even death.
Abscesses are a common occurrence in guinea pigs. This article tells you everything you need to know about abscesses, including what they are and how to treat them.
Keep reading to know how to treat and prevent an abscess in your little furry friend.
What’s an Abscess?
An abscess is a sore that forms in the tissue of the body and is filled with pus.
Abscesses form when something infectious gets into tissue, like an infection or a foreign object (like a splinter). When this happens, the area becomes inflamed and pus collects in a space.
Abscesses are caused by different things like fungi, bacteria, or parasites. The pus in the abscess is usually white, yellow, or brown. But sometimes it can have blood in it too. (Pretty gross, right?)
Abscesses need to be found early for treatment. Here’s what to watch out for:
- Swelling
- Redness
- Areas too groomed
- Signs of pain
- Excessive salivation
- Doughy or firm mass
- Facial swelling
- Bad breath
- Loss of weight
- Lethargy
- Loss of weight
- Loss of appetite
If you check out the article, 10 Top Reasons Why Guinea Pigs Lose Hair, and Do Guinea Pigs Play Dead? (Find Out Now) you’ll find out information about how to care for your little friends.
Treatment of an Abscess
The most common treatment for abscesses is surgery. The affected areas either need to be surgically removed or surgically opened. The affected area is flushed with saline or another antimicrobial solution. Antimicrobial collusion suppresses or kills the growth of microorganisms. Other extra treatments include:
- Giving the piggie fluids and a supportive diet
- Administering systemic and local antimicrobial agents
Prevention and Home Care
To prevent an abscess from forming, keep sharp objects away from your pet pig. Remember to keep her living area clean and sanitized.
Keep the injured guinea pig away from others to reduce infections.
You can prevent your little cavy from getting injured by using soft bedding. You can also help prevent foot infections by making sure your cavy is not overweight.
Give your guinea nutritious and good-quality hay to chew. This will help wear down their teeth and improve their dental health.
Can Guinea Pigs Survive An Abscess?
Yes, guinea pigs can survive an abscess. If you catch the infection early and give them the right medication, their chances of survival are high. You must make sure to flush out the abscess completely, and if the infection is still inside, do not close up the abscess.
I wanted to find out about the experience of guinea pig pet owners with abscesses.
So I manually interviewed 64 piggie parents to know if their pets survived an abscess. Here are the results:
- 53 of the respondents (83%) said their pets survived an abscess. In most of these cases, they discovered the lump early. Afterward, they consulted a vet who drained it.
Some parent’s drained the abscess themselves with the guidance of a vet. Some had experience with an abscess before. They used antibiotics and probiotics.
The abscesses were in the mouth, at the back of their head, and at their cheek among others.
- 11 of the respondents (17%) had pets who didn’t recover. Some piggies passed on while on the operating table. Others died post-op.
Some parents didn’t discover the abscess until after the guinea pig died.
One case involved a piggie that was diagnosed with bloat. He was treated but he still remained sick. After a while, he was treated for bloat again. It was only after several consultations that another vet discovered the abscess.
It was on the back of his head and had been there for a while. The abscess had been contained by the pig’s immune system, but it had started poisoning the guinea pig. The abscess was successfully removed but the poor piggie died post-op.
Taking care of guinea pigs can be a little tricky – especially if you’re trying to do it right. If you want to learn more about how to look after them, read: 7 Alarming Reasons Why Guinea Pigs Drool and Can Guinea Pigs Suffer or Die From Depression? (Find Out Now)
Here are some highlights from the survey:
- Abscesses aren’t that easy to find. Although some are on the surface of the skin or the mouth, others are deeper in. You have to go looking for it in order to find it.
- Abscesses in the mouth are pretty common. Guinea pigs are very prone to dental infections. This is because their teeth don’t stop growing. Piggie parents noticed their guinea pig lost weight. They also didn’t respond to syringe feeding.
- The abscess needs to be flushed out completely. Sometimes, the flushing out needs to be done several times to make sure it’s all gone.
A lump on piggies can be because of malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous), cysts, or abscesses. There are several ways piggie owners determined whether it was an abscess:
- The lump came up quickly
- It was oval or perfect in shape
- Bounces back when pressed
- Warm
A syringe draw determined that it was an abscess when white liquid was drawn.
6 Mistakes Guinea Pig Owners Make With Abscesses
It’s normal to make mistakes with guinea pigs – especially when they’re sick. But, if you want your little friends to survive an abscess, it’s important that you don’t make the following mistakes:
1. Not Getting To A Cavy-Savvy Vet Early Enough
Cavy-Savvy vets are a necessity for all your guinea pig’s medical needs. Abscesses are easier to treat when discovered early. The longer an abscess stays untreated, the more likely it will start poisoning your piggie.
Once a piggies immune system takes a beating, even treatment can be too much for them to stand. And, yes…your piggie might die.
You should get a vet who knows about guinea pigs because they’re different from other pets. For example, they can be very sensitive to antibiotics.
A cavy-savvy vet will know this and proceed accordingly. If your vet is knowledgeable about guinea pigs, they will be able to treat abscesses easily.
Piggies can get infections in their teeth or jaw because their teeth are always growing. Abscesses in guinea pigs are more resistant to treatment than in cats and dogs. That’s because the capsule is too thick and prevents antibiotics from getting in.
2. Didn’t Administer Antibiotics
Abscesses form when the piggie’s body is fighting an infection. So after you drain an abscess, remember the problem doesn’t end there. You need to give your guinea pigs antibiotics to help them get better.
There are microorganisms aside from the infection that caused the abscess. Another issue is that draining an abscess or even surgical removal leaves a wound. This makes it easier for the wound to get infected.
Antibiotics will fight any existing infection and prevent any possible infection. Abscesses can be easy to treat as long you make sure your fur baby has every treatment they need. A cavy-savvy vet will inform you of everything you need to do.
Guinea pigs are very sensitive to antibiotics. The dosage needs to be carefully measured. You also need to watch out for allergic reactions and side effects. So, DON’T give your fur babies antibiotics without consulting a vet.
3. Neglected Flushing Out the Abscess
It’s not possible to completely drain an abscess without flushing it out. Guinea pigs tend to form abscesses with thick pus that doesn’t completely drain out. So draining will still leave a lot of pus in the wound.
Flushing out the abscess will drain it. The pus will break down and flow out. You should not seal the wound completely either.
Keep flushing out the wound several more times to make sure you get all of the pus.
4. Let the Abscess Close With Infection Still Inside
One of the most important things to remember about an abscess is that you should not let it close quickly. Abscesses in guinea pigs need to stay open so they can keep draining. You will need to flush it out at least twice a day with water. If the abscess is stitched up, there must still be an opening so it can continue to drain.
If the abscess is closed, the infection may start again. The abscess should heal from the inside out. You should leave it open and let the wound dry as it heals.
As the wound heals, it will gradually become less inflamed and the area will slowly dry.
If the surgical wound has healed quickly, take your pet back to the vet so that the wound can be reopened and drained.
5. Didn’t Give The Guinea Pig Probiotics
Probiotics can help to restore balance in a guinea pig’s digestive system. When antibiotics are used to treat an abscess, they can upset the digestive system.
Giving your fur babies probiotics can help prevent nasty side effects (including death). The probiotics help replenish your piggies healthy gut bacteria.
Some antibiotics can cause fatal and irreversible diarrhea in guinea pigs. When you are treating an abscess, especially in the mouth or jaw, it’s necessary to give probiotics.
This will make sure your piggie is receiving all the nutrients from the food they eat. Piggies need nutrients to boost their immunity when fighting an infection.
When your fur baby is being treated with ANY type of antibiotic, you need to also give them probiotics to help keep their gut bacteria healthy.
6. Didn’t Administer Pain Medication
The area around an abscess is usually sore because of the infection. This can be dangerous for your guinea pig because it can cause pain. This might make it harder for the abscess to heal.
Pain medication should be given to your guinea pigs while the abscess is being treated. This will make it easier to drain the abscess and will allow them to move around. As long as your little friend is active and eating, he’ll recover faster.
If your piggie is in pain, it might not want to eat. If the piggie doesn’t eat, it will get sick.
Talk to your vet about the best medication that your piggies needs to fight off the infection from the abscess. A cavy-savvy vet will let you know the best medication and possible side effects. Start saving up for a pet fund for emergencies like this.
Can A Guinea Pig Abscess Burst?
Yes, a guinea pig’s abscess can burst. If you see white or cream-colored pus oozing out, gently squeeze the area to try and get as much out as possible.
Remember to flush the wound after you finish draining it. Repeat flushing several more times during the day. Leave the wound open so that it continues draining.
Take your pet to the vet for a check-up to make sure another abscess doesn’t develop. They may also prescribe some antibiotics and probiotics and painkillers.
How Long Does A Guinea Pig Abscess Take To Heal?
A guinea pig should improve within 24 to 48 hours. If the guinea pig has an abscess, it will heal within a few weeks. After the abscess is removed/drained, your guinea pig should show immediate improvement.
If the guinea pig remains ill after two days, take them to the vet.
Final Thoughts About Guinea Pigs and Abscesses
To sum up everything, here are the main points on abscesses and guinea pigs:
- To reduce the formation of abscesses, feed your guinea pig a healthy and nutritious diet. Make sure they get an unlimited supply of fresh hay every day.
- Give your piggie a daily dose of vitamin C to help boost their immunity.
- Have a vet check any lumps you find on your piggie immediately.
- Make sure you find out the cause of the abscess so that you can treat it and prevent another abscess from forming.
- The best cure for an abscess is complete surgical removal and correction.
- Whichever treatment you choose, you should follow through with recheck appointments. More tests can be run to completely treat the abscess.