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Post by skipperdoo on May 24, 2005 2:51:58 GMT
Good luck. Keep us posted.
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Post by Clover on May 24, 2005 11:11:21 GMT
Good luck today Jemima and getting the ivermectin. When you do bring the Ivermectin home, a good idea is to store it in a dark place, out of direct sunlight.
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Post by kitty on May 24, 2005 13:54:06 GMT
Thinking of you and your babies....
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Jemima
Bronze Member
Posts: 223
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Post by Jemima on May 24, 2005 17:14:38 GMT
I am so frustrated.
Since vet didn't make it to work yesterday, she's backlogged today.
I have called two more times, left another voice mail, and nothing.
What more can I do? I can't help Koko anymore myself.
Saige looks like she's going to blow! But of course, I am nervous about her delivery, which I think will be within a week.
Thanks for your good wishes; I need it!
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Post by skipperdoo on May 24, 2005 20:53:56 GMT
You can show up at the vet's doorstep. I did that when I picked up Jasmine. I drove back home (70 miles) and just went straight to her home (she's a mobile vet and has an office in her home also). She wasn't there but showed a few minutes later since she had another emergency coming after me.
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Jemima
Bronze Member
Posts: 223
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Post by Jemima on May 25, 2005 0:23:37 GMT
Latest update:
Vet called back (yeah!) and the culture was negative. That left her really confused since she feels something is causing the pus.
I told her about her scratching herself and her stitches, and she wanted to see her (yes!) and we amazingly got an appointment.
By then, she was oozing pus from her stitches. She said I need to keep cleaning it, (chlorahexadane??) and she was going to consult with the lab to see if there were any more tests that could be run on her sample. She also collected a few more swabs of pus and said she would try and run some of her own tests.
We're trying to keep a gauze dressing cuff around her neck, but she's not overly cooperative about that either. She wants to let her finish her course of Bactrim before deciding whether or not to switch her to another antibiotic. I suggested chloramphenical, and she said the risk of toxicity to humans during administration is so high that it isn't used anymore. WOW--that was a shocker.
She also gave her a shot of ivermectin, and I sure am hoping that helps and soon.
I have no idea how I am going to clean out all this oozing pus. She is not exactly cooperative, and I am scared to death.
The vet still says the prognosis is not good.
Could it be viral?? The pus is thick cottage cheesy like.
I'd like to go sit in a corner and cry.
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Post by skipperdoo on May 25, 2005 2:56:12 GMT
The pus for my rabbit was like toothpaste and it is very hard to clean and does not drain. Can you take a photo of the area so that we might be able to see what is going on and help you? Hang in there and don't give up yet. The little one needs you and your TLC.
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Post by Janet on May 25, 2005 4:21:46 GMT
Is your vet an exotics doctor? Is there any way she can network or consult with a specialist?
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Post by Clover on May 25, 2005 5:31:47 GMT
I'm surprised the vet didn't explain how to clean the area. Treen explains about flushing and also about culturing the pus + antibiotics www.treenspigs.com/care/focus/abscess/abscess.html But with her having stitches, I'll email Treen about the flushing. Also, I know your in the US Jemima, but you could try ringing Vedra from the Cavy Cambridge Trust www.gorgeousguineas.co.uk/CCT.html it is a mobile phone or you could try the actual hospital 01406 350571 and catch Vedra there. Alternatively you could phone Gina Hayes on her home no 01925 480 558 (answer phone during the day) or send an e-mail to: gina@rodentology.org.uk .The best time to catch Gina is in the UK evening. I know Florida is 5 hours behind, but not sure about New York. I really hope she improves Jemima.
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Jemima
Bronze Member
Posts: 223
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Post by Jemima on May 25, 2005 12:19:58 GMT
Thank again for all your help!
I did take two pictures last night, but one is just a blurry mess, and the other one just appears as a blurry hole in her neck. I will try again later to get a better shot.
Yes, the pus is like toothpaste; but there wasn't a whole lot that I could see last night. Maybe the chlorahexadene is helping clean it out.
She was cultured prior to being put on antibiotics--that's why the vet is frustrated. She was really hoping for some results.
She said she would be consulting with the lab to see if they can run additional tests on her initial sample from the day of surgery, and she also said she wouldn't switch antibiotics or change routines too much until she consulted with an exotics expert.
I'm reading Treen's page now; very interesting!
Thanks for the contact info; WOW! So I should just give a run-through of what we're going through? I am better with emailing than talking--I get so tongue tied.
Well, I'm off to clean her now, and will update when I know something!
Thanks again for your encouragement and patience with me.
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Post by Janet on May 25, 2005 12:58:13 GMT
You are in New York and I'm in San Diego, but perhaps your doctor can call our exotics doctor. He is Doctor Jenkins and can be found at www.drexotic.com Best wishes.
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Jemima
Bronze Member
Posts: 223
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Post by Jemima on May 25, 2005 13:35:00 GMT
Thanks~
Just got off the phone with the vet and although I do not know who she consulted with, this vet did think that even though she's young and pregnant, we need to go ahead and give the Baytril.
This vet felt that with the culture being negative it just means that perhaps during transport the bacteria died.
They both don't think prognosis is good, but I know there are success stories out there, and I'm gonna do all I can.
Thanks all for your help and encouragement!
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Jilly
Bronze Member
TOADILY INSANE PIGGY SLAVE
Posts: 266
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Post by Jilly on May 25, 2005 18:46:01 GMT
I am hoping and praying that she makes it Jemima, it sounds like, with you, she has the best chance.
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Jemima
Bronze Member
Posts: 223
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Post by Jemima on May 25, 2005 19:11:45 GMT
Thanks again--I hope to one day just put this behind us, enjoy our guineas, and then get to know the rest of you!
I have had to clean it twice today. Since there are no official drain holes, I've been saturating the area, and pressing with a q-tip. There has been lots of pus from 2-3 holes. One is large enough that I perhaps can flush it if I can find one of the curved tip syringes. The other two I haven't been able to quite locate.
The abscess is still there, and I haven't been able to find any evidence that it's leaking pus. It's in an area lower than the other pus pockets.
It is so hard to do this with a writhing, screaming animal. And I am the nervous-wreck kind with creatures in pain.
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Post by skipperdoo on May 26, 2005 1:43:42 GMT
Did the vet actually flush the area while you were there? It NEEDS to be flushed daily or it will not clear up. Also, if there was any opening left open, that needs to remain open so that the area can heal from within, rather from the outside in so the bacteria doesn't get trapped inside. If the pus is walled off, it can be difficult for any antibiotic to get to it. Baytril is what the vet put Jasmine on and she was one week away from delivering her babies.
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Post by Clover on May 26, 2005 7:00:43 GMT
Aww its awful seeing them hating what you are doing, even if its for their own good. Your doing such a lot for her Jemima. I hope your other little girl will be alright to.
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Post by Bean on May 26, 2005 13:04:04 GMT
Sorry to hear what you're going through.
One of my pigs recently had an operation to remove some fatty lumps and she developed abscesses in two of the wounds post-operatively. The vet removed the stitches as the wound being open is so important where there is infection as like Skipperdoo says, they need to heal from the inside to ensure no bacteria are left. I wouldn't try and dress the wound either.
Ziggy had a shunt in his wound because the incision they'd made had been too big to leave open altogether. That meant I could still get right in there to clean it out.
I usually flush a few times a day and you need to get as deep in there as you can. The link Jackie gave covers pretty much how I did it.
I hope your piggy starts to respond soon. Abscesses are messy and hard work, and even more so if the pigger struggles a lot. But hang in there - it sounds like you're doing a great job.
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Post by kitty on May 27, 2005 4:23:23 GMT
I really feel for you Jemima. I would be a nervous wreck too, but you are getting good advice and support from the experts here on WHEEKERS. I know it is a help and a comfort to you, knowing we are ALL pulling for you and your piggies. I am still praying that everything turns out okay. Hang in there Sweetie...xoxoxo
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Jemima
Bronze Member
Posts: 223
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Post by Jemima on May 28, 2005 1:35:41 GMT
I so appreciate your kind words. Koko is still chugging along. Yesterday she looked so ill and frail, but today she seems a bit more her old self. (As old as I'd know in only having her 6 weeks!) Perhaps the Baytril is kicking in? It's still hard expressing the pus by pushing, but I'm doing the best I can. I did get to ask the vet why we're not officially draining yet, and she told me that she wanted to make sure all the incisions were healed thoroughly, and that we'd try draining it next week, with the weekend and holidays, plus my son needing to be taken to the airport on Tuesday, the best we could do is Wednesday. It seems like she's having a heart attack when we're cleaning her up; it's so scary. Treen--(your website is how I found wheekers in the first place!!) how long did you have to flush, and it was indeed a bacterial infection after just fatty lumps?? Yikes! I am just wondering how long this may go on. Although the vet still thinks the prognosis isn't good. I'm glad she's trying, though. I wish we'd put her on Baytril to begin with, but with the pregnancy and her being so young herself--oh well, at least she's on it now. I am so grateful for the encouragement, almost everyone over here thinks I'm nuts to do this for a guinea pig. Well, I never have been normal. Oh--does anyone have any experience or knowledge of doxycycline?
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Post by skipperdoo on May 28, 2005 1:41:20 GMT
Not used doxy yet to my knowledge so no experience to report. Sorry. Also, squeezing the pus out is not the best way to clean it since it won't clean it. Not sure what the vet is refering to about the incisions healing. What incisions? Where the pus was drained? That is the area that is normally left open. I think I'm confused.
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