Peppa’s Possible Pyometra

[JJGiebz]

Thanks, Zaphy! She's only taken two doses so far but seems to be doing well. Although, I noticed this morning she's begun dribbling liquids out of her mouth.

I'm still waiting to hear back on the analysis of the scans, but I know there isn't really anything to be done at this point, most likely.

I'm just trying to get in as many snuggles and nose kisses as I can. When I put my hand under her front paws to pick her up off the scale, or the mat where she takes her meds, she leaps into my arms. One of the many things I love about her.

[Lynx]

She sounds like such a special guinea pig. Hoping at least this hurdle (the abscess) resolves.

[JJGiebz]

Thanks, Lynx. I went ahead and scheduled the surgery for Monday. I know the odds are she won't come through it, at 6+, but I can't just put her down without trying.

[Lynx]

I imagine you have been through multiple surgeries? For anyone who is not familiar with post op care, I encourage you to read:
https://www.guinealynx.info/postop.html

Lots of good info concerning managing pain and more.

I wish you both the best.

[JJGiebz]

Thank you! Hurdle one done - she came through the surgery well, they told me. They said they didn't touch her teeth because the pus wasn't as thick as they thought it would be. I'm not really sure how that relates, but they said it was good news.

Now I settle into my anxiety until they call me tomorrow with an update : )

[Lynx]

The update sounds encouraging. Hoping she can come home soon!

[JJGiebz]

They let her come home! She made enough poops and ate enough lettuce that they thought she'd be better at home, two days earlier than predicted.

Now we must embark on the journey of flushing this wound out twice a day, with only me to do it....they gave me a betadine like solution, but I think I read here that is not preferred? I have saline solution for contact lenses - does that work as well? This is my first abscess. Joy.

Curiously, despite being on her chin, they determined that it was NOT a dental abscess based on the condition of the pus and the ct scan of her head/neck. Aside from being good news for her teeth, apparently that also lowers the chance of recurrence. So I'll take that!

[bpatters]

AFAIK, betadine is fine, just not full strength. It will do more to keep down infection than saline. I'd use a 1:10 dilution.

[JJGiebz]

Awesome, thank you! The 10ml packet they gave me is to be mixed with a liter of water, so it's certainly diluted. It says it will only be good for 8 days so I'll just need to go to a pharmacy here and see what else I can find.

[Lynx]

I think it was Josephine who talked about and promoted flushing abscesses with a salt solution.
https://www.guinealynx.info/antiseptic_solutions.html

It is the chlorhexidine that is drying. So either a salt solution or Betadine (mentioned on that page) should work fine (as bpatters notes).