Vivi, nursing mom of 5
Oy, if only I liked beer!
I was given a curved syringe...only one (also Chlorhexidine solution to use for the flushing). I'm worried at how pointed it seems, like it might puncture something inside there during the flushing. I WAS wondering about the "once a day" instructions for flushing. It didn't seem like enough.
How would you hold her for the flushing? I was thinking of a towel in the sink and then I can hold her upright with both hands while my husband does the flushing (he has agreed to help). He is not comfortable holding piggy. How could it be done by one person? If I could do it myself somehow, I could do it more often, but I can't figure out how to safely hold and flush at the same time.
Also, they obviously flushed it thoroughly after the procedure and she came home all wet on the bottom and top. How can I dry her or keep her dry?
I was given a curved syringe...only one (also Chlorhexidine solution to use for the flushing). I'm worried at how pointed it seems, like it might puncture something inside there during the flushing. I WAS wondering about the "once a day" instructions for flushing. It didn't seem like enough.
How would you hold her for the flushing? I was thinking of a towel in the sink and then I can hold her upright with both hands while my husband does the flushing (he has agreed to help). He is not comfortable holding piggy. How could it be done by one person? If I could do it myself somehow, I could do it more often, but I can't figure out how to safely hold and flush at the same time.
Also, they obviously flushed it thoroughly after the procedure and she came home all wet on the bottom and top. How can I dry her or keep her dry?
- Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
The point allows you to get some pressure to loosen any infected matter. I wish you the best. Lots of good advice here. Warm the solution. What did the vet suggest diluting it to? The chlorhexidine should not be used straight. By the way, Josephine talked about how effective a simple sterile saline solutions was. Whatever you use, I wish you success.
I guess I would towel dry her and consider a warm (not hot) blow drier.
I guess I would towel dry her and consider a warm (not hot) blow drier.
Okay, a little ticked at H. He said he was going to help, but when I said I wanted to flush it tonight, he grumbled and said that the "vet" said only once a day. So I went ahead and flushed it myself, holding her against me over the sink. It didn't seem to get anything out.
So taking her back downstairs, he said, "I'll help you do it now if you want..." Blink, blink!
The Chlorahexidine is supposed to be diluted?! I used it out of the plastic medicine container it came in (not an original container, but one the vet put it in). No clue if it's full strength or diluted already.
Since I only have one curved syringe, I don't know how I am going to keep it sterile. I can probably get more of them at the pharmacy tomorrow.
Oh, I'm giving her metacam for pain. And I put hay in a large ceramic bowl in her cage...and saw her eating it.
So taking her back downstairs, he said, "I'll help you do it now if you want..." Blink, blink!
The Chlorahexidine is supposed to be diluted?! I used it out of the plastic medicine container it came in (not an original container, but one the vet put it in). No clue if it's full strength or diluted already.
Since I only have one curved syringe, I don't know how I am going to keep it sterile. I can probably get more of them at the pharmacy tomorrow.
Oh, I'm giving her metacam for pain. And I put hay in a large ceramic bowl in her cage...and saw her eating it.
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- You can quote me
Don't you just love when folks offer to help after you're done? (Make him boil some more water.)
Lynx' point is well taken. You don't really have to stick the point of the curved tip syringe into the abscess itself. The fineness of the point makes it a little jet and that's all that needs to go into the abscess area.
Rinse/wash the syringe well. It doesn't have to be kept sterile per se (at least, we never have done so) as long as it's kept clean and allowed to air dry between uses (let the parts dry separately).
If it were me I'd alternate flushes with the solution the vet gave you (probably already somewhat diluted; is it pale blue?) with very dilute betadine or saline. Chlorhex is very drying. There's a (pretty good) chance it will make her skin down there itch, which won't help if she bites at it or starts to try to scratch it.
Drying her off: when we've had to do this I've put the patient in a large Sterilite bin on a warm, clean towel, and then changed the towel a few times. Maybe put a Snuggle Safe pad or low heating pad near (not under) the bin. After a while and a few changes, she'll be dry. I'm scared of using a blow-dryer, but that's just me.
One-person flush: oh boy. If I absolutely positively had to try it and absolutely positively could not get any help, I think I'd put on clothing I didn't care if it got dirty or soaked, then hold the pig against my chest, upright, in my lap while sitting on top of the toilet. Hold pig around the chest with one hand, and use the other to gently squeeze and flush. Pulling fluid up into the curved-tip syringe is difficult, and near impossible with one hand, so if you can get a couple more and prefill them, it will be to your advantage. Have several small, clean, dry towels ready to put her back down on, on her feet, when you are done.
You will have flushing fluid and purulent debris all over you, your toilet, your clothing, and your bathroom floor, so this is probably a lousy suggestion and wait for better. But that's the best I can think of if I had to try it.
Lynx' point is well taken. You don't really have to stick the point of the curved tip syringe into the abscess itself. The fineness of the point makes it a little jet and that's all that needs to go into the abscess area.
Rinse/wash the syringe well. It doesn't have to be kept sterile per se (at least, we never have done so) as long as it's kept clean and allowed to air dry between uses (let the parts dry separately).
If it were me I'd alternate flushes with the solution the vet gave you (probably already somewhat diluted; is it pale blue?) with very dilute betadine or saline. Chlorhex is very drying. There's a (pretty good) chance it will make her skin down there itch, which won't help if she bites at it or starts to try to scratch it.
Drying her off: when we've had to do this I've put the patient in a large Sterilite bin on a warm, clean towel, and then changed the towel a few times. Maybe put a Snuggle Safe pad or low heating pad near (not under) the bin. After a while and a few changes, she'll be dry. I'm scared of using a blow-dryer, but that's just me.
One-person flush: oh boy. If I absolutely positively had to try it and absolutely positively could not get any help, I think I'd put on clothing I didn't care if it got dirty or soaked, then hold the pig against my chest, upright, in my lap while sitting on top of the toilet. Hold pig around the chest with one hand, and use the other to gently squeeze and flush. Pulling fluid up into the curved-tip syringe is difficult, and near impossible with one hand, so if you can get a couple more and prefill them, it will be to your advantage. Have several small, clean, dry towels ready to put her back down on, on her feet, when you are done.
You will have flushing fluid and purulent debris all over you, your toilet, your clothing, and your bathroom floor, so this is probably a lousy suggestion and wait for better. But that's the best I can think of if I had to try it.
When I had to do Pinky by herself, I had her on the sink - on a mirror on a towel. That way I could 'see' underneath. I held her front paws on my hand and squirted up into it.
Her wound was packed with http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_sulfadiazine
to keep it moist and clean, so she didn't get hay or potty crumbs in it.
Her wound was packed with http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_sulfadiazine
to keep it moist and clean, so she didn't get hay or potty crumbs in it.
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- 4 the Good of all Pigs
Would it be beneficial to use coconut oil around the wound after packing it with the silvadene to keep the skin from drying out?
Lynx, where have you heard that?
For wounds - for humans - the technique long ago was to dry out wounds - heat lamps were even used!
Now the standard is moisture balance for healing
http://woundeducators.com/wordpress/bed ... re-balance
( http://woundeducators.com/wordpress/cat ... wound-care ) - Myth 3
For wounds - for humans - the technique long ago was to dry out wounds - heat lamps were even used!
Now the standard is moisture balance for healing
http://woundeducators.com/wordpress/bed ... re-balance
( http://woundeducators.com/wordpress/cat ... wound-care ) - Myth 3