minnow
Well-Known Member
Didn't know that Jojo had an abscess? Well, I didn't either until Friday afternoon, when my vet called me about what she found when she went to remove the goolie-sized lump that she had developed.
As a bit of background, Jojo was surrendered (along with her RB best friend Alice) with a small vet fund and an agreement that the small lump that she had would be looked at and tended to if necessary. When she came to the rescue, the lump was barely visible, and very soft and squishy. By the time I got her, the lump was larger, but still soft and squishy, and obviously at the very surface right under the skin - I was guessing a fatty lump, but my vet had her go on antibiotics just in case. A week later, the lump had doubled in size, and it was obvious that at least exploratory surgery was warranted. Thankfully, Dr. Susan managed to get her in the same day.
At about 4:30 that day, I got the news that Jojo not only had an abscess, but she had an abscess that had to be removed surgically - cleaning it out, leaving it open, and rinsing with saline wasn't going to cut it. It was described as a cauliflower like head with fingerlike projections - it was tunneling in the wrong direction, and we're very lucky that it didn't get to something important yet. In a few more days, she probably would have had peritonitis, which is one of the things I won't put my rats through no matter what the likelihood of recovery is.
So now Jojo's on high dose Baytril (she's elderly and I *really* don't want this coming back) and moderately high dose metacam (the surgery was pretty extensive and there were projections that went right down to the muscle). I don't have before pictures or surgery day pictures, but I have Saturday and Sunday photos and intend to take daily photos until she heals. This is as good a place as any to post them, and hopefully y'all can help me figure out where swelling is normal and where it's abnormal.
Saturday:
Sunday:
The swelling is back (but not nearly as bad as it was on Friday before Jo re-opened the drainage hole) on Sunday, and the bruising is starting to show up. Day 3 swelling is still normal, right?
As a bit of background, Jojo was surrendered (along with her RB best friend Alice) with a small vet fund and an agreement that the small lump that she had would be looked at and tended to if necessary. When she came to the rescue, the lump was barely visible, and very soft and squishy. By the time I got her, the lump was larger, but still soft and squishy, and obviously at the very surface right under the skin - I was guessing a fatty lump, but my vet had her go on antibiotics just in case. A week later, the lump had doubled in size, and it was obvious that at least exploratory surgery was warranted. Thankfully, Dr. Susan managed to get her in the same day.
At about 4:30 that day, I got the news that Jojo not only had an abscess, but she had an abscess that had to be removed surgically - cleaning it out, leaving it open, and rinsing with saline wasn't going to cut it. It was described as a cauliflower like head with fingerlike projections - it was tunneling in the wrong direction, and we're very lucky that it didn't get to something important yet. In a few more days, she probably would have had peritonitis, which is one of the things I won't put my rats through no matter what the likelihood of recovery is.
So now Jojo's on high dose Baytril (she's elderly and I *really* don't want this coming back) and moderately high dose metacam (the surgery was pretty extensive and there were projections that went right down to the muscle). I don't have before pictures or surgery day pictures, but I have Saturday and Sunday photos and intend to take daily photos until she heals. This is as good a place as any to post them, and hopefully y'all can help me figure out where swelling is normal and where it's abnormal.
Saturday:
Sunday:
The swelling is back (but not nearly as bad as it was on Friday before Jo re-opened the drainage hole) on Sunday, and the bruising is starting to show up. Day 3 swelling is still normal, right?
