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Anti/Pro-biotics and Sedation

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lilmisscavy

lilmisscavy

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Hey everyone, just have a couple of quick questions.

Are vets obliged to give out pro-biotics if an owner requests it along with anti-biotics?

I was in the vets earlier with one of my boars, Harvey (he's been passing blood in his pee and the vet is treating it as cystitis), and the vet gave me Baytril, which I've used a zillion times before on my pets, but I've read, and been told before, online that they should give out both. I was going to ask him for some but due to my social phobia problems, I could barely explain what was wrong with Harvey that my mum had to speak for me most the time (which she usually has to anyway!), so I never did.

And the other question, is sedation on a (roughly) 5 year old pig too risky or not as risky as putting them right out? The vet suggested he may need to have scans, which I'm fine with in general, but if he has ill health and he's an older boy, I'm petrified he just won't come round.

Hope I can get some advice on these two things, then I'll know where to go next.

lilmisscavy
 
They arent obigled to no, but you should be able to request them if your vet is good.

Sedation vs GA, it depends on what kind of sedation is being used. You can fully knock out using a combination of drugs, this is as risky as an aneasthetic, but if only one type of drug is used such as diazepam (valium) then i would say no it isnt as risky.

x.
 
Thanks for the advice!

I'll be getting Harvey back in next week if there is no improvement but obviously by then it'll be no point asking for the pro, but for next time I'll definitely ask, or get my mum to at least lol

If he gets sent for scans, would the vets at my local one (we call it Silverdale still, that was it's old name, but it's called Best Friends now) know if this drug would be used, or would I need to wait until I get to wherever this clinic may be to ask? I'm guessing I'd have to wait to find that out from the other clinic.

I like to be prepared about things!
 
I'll be seeing my mum tomorrow (well later now, it's gone 12) so she'll have to call for me, otherwise if they don't know, I'll just wait and see.

Thanks for the advice!
 
I've had other pets on Baytril before (mainly rats with URI's) and never had a problem with it but I've only recently actually had knowledge of it's risks just giving it to them on it's own, and so wanted to know more about the pro-biotics.

I didn't know it was something you could buy? So it's like us buying paracetamol or something, doesn't need prescribing to us? I don't think I'll be able to get any before he's finished his Baytril though, that's the only problem but I'll try my best, especially if it's something you can buy over the counter. Just as long as it's safe for him.
 
Probably not helpful now as they take a few days to deliver, but you can buy probiotics online from the hay experts. They sell 2 types, one for normal use:

https://www.thehayexperts.co.uk/Health+%2526+Hygiene.12/ProC+Probiotic.351.html

and one for sick pets and those on medication:

https://www.thehayexperts.co.uk/Health+%2526+Hygiene.12/Avipro+Plus.352.html

I believe both are suitable for guinea pigs, and I'm pretty sure I have seen other brands in my local pet shop. However, my guinea pig absolutely hates the taste. If I add any probiotic to his water bottle then he won't drink it. I have to syringe feed it to him.

Just curious - what does your pig think of Baytril? I had a daily battle with Little Pig when he was on it, but he is now on Septrim instead and he loves it!
 
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Little Pig said:
Probably not helpful now as they take a few days to deliver, but you can buy probiotics online from the hay experts. They sell 2 types, one for normal use:

https://www.thehayexperts.co.uk/Health+%2526+Hygiene.12/ProC+Probiotic.351.html

and one for sick pets and those on medication:

https://www.thehayexperts.co.uk/Health+%2526+Hygiene.12/Avipro+Plus.352.html

I believe both are suitable for guinea pigs, and I'm pretty sure I have seen other brands in my local pet shop. However, my guinea pig absolutely hates the taste. If I add any probiotic to his water bottle then he won't drink it. I have to syringe feed it to him.

Just curious - what does your pig think of Baytril? I had a daily battle with Little Pig when he was on it, but he is now on Septrim instead and he loves it!
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If I could buy things online with my card, I would, but it's just a Savings account and so I can't use it online :( annoying I know!

And mine aren't too bad with Baytril, I don't actually know how much they take in as some is dribbled out but I flush it down with some water and hold their heads up to make sure they swallow. One of my boys, Jasper, he quite enjoyed it actually lol, random!

Syringing medication to pigs isn't as difficult as it is with rats lol, now that's a battle! :p
 
lilmisscavy said:
....And mine aren't too bad with Baytril, I don't actually know how much they take in as some is dribbled out but I flush it down with some water and hold their heads up to make sure they swallow.
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I know that syringe-feeding a reluctant patient can be very difficult but I'd try to avoid holding their heads up as I believe this might increase the chance of aspiration (going down into their lungs instead of them swallowing it normally).

When I syringe feed I direct the syringe sideways (i.e. towards the inside of the cheek rather than straight down the throat) and then when a small amount has been released, I wiggle the tip of the syringe in their mouth a little before taking it out, which will usually prompt the piggy to swallow.

Hope you can get Harvey back to his usual self soon x
 
Pets@home also sell a probiotic; that might be an option in your case? We usually don't recommend people to buy there, but it may be the best place in your special cricumstances.

Syringe feeding is usually a messy business. My vet recommend that you also give extra vitamin C to an ill piggy. In the case of cystitis, you can do so in form of unsweetened cranberry juice.
http://www.guinealynx.info/uti.html
 
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Acidophilus tablets crushed with water and pipette into piggy's mouth

Acidophilus is pro biotic promoted good bacteria in humans and animals and helps good bacteria grow again in their gut AFTER the antibiotics are finished - wait 3 days from last antibiotic then start the Acidophilus.

thats what i have read on guinea pig websites when i googled it :))

lots of veggies help good bacteria grow back too. If piggy not eating - maybe liquidise raw veggies and put Acidophilus in with it and spoonfeed or pipette feed.
 
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missy said:
I know that syringe-feeding a reluctant patient can be very difficult but I'd try to avoid holding their heads up as I believe this might increase the chance of aspiration (going down into their lungs instead of them swallowing it normally).

When I syringe feed I direct the syringe sideways (i.e. towards the inside of the cheek rather than straight down the throat) and then when a small amount has been released, I wiggle the tip of the syringe in their mouth a little before taking it out, which will usually prompt the piggy to swallow.

Hope you can get Harvey back to his usual self soon x
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I'm quite comfortable giving animals medication by syringe, that's not an issue, I was just saying that it helps to hold their head up slightly, and then just stroking their throat to make them swallow (like giving a dog/cat a worming tablet or something). I don't hold it right up, almost vertically, just enough I can get my thumb/finger under his chin and throat to stroke/hold it there so he swallows, and I give him a tiny drop and then some water so he's not having too much in his mouth at one time. I never just shoot the whole lot down, that's just irresponsible. I've noticed they will 'gag' a little on it because it's a foul tasting thing that they know, in their minds, shouldn't be entering their mouths so will try to remove it, it's just natural instincts. And I always go down the side of the mouth anyway, I've known that since the first time I had to do it a few years ago.

I'd have preferred it if they had given my mum the job of injecting him with it instead, that was easier when she had to before, although he wasn't impressed with that either lol, but this sort of thing is second nature to me now :)


Wiebke said:
Pets@home also sell a probiotic; that might be an option in your case? We usually don't recommend people to buy there, but it may be the best place in your special cricumstances.

Syringe feeding is usually a messy business. My vet recommend that you also give extra vitamin C to an ill piggy. In the case of cystitis, you can do so in form of unsweetened cranberry juice.
http://www.guinealynx.info/uti.html
Click to expand...

I can't get to a local Pets At Home as easy as just catching the bus for me, but I could ask my girlfriend to order me some... I just thought of that! :)

I've been giving him Cranberry juice, as well as my little Penny as she's been squealing when she goes to the toilet as well. I had a look on that website before I got it, just to double check it was the juice kind I needed. They quite like it but I have to give it to them on their own through syringe as they both share with other pigs, although I could dilute it into their bottles but if one of them doesn't like it in the group of girls, they may just refuse to drink which is obviously something I don't want.

I'll make sure Harvey's vit.C is bumped up, he shares with Jasper, but I'm sure he won't disapprove! They had some veg earlier today that I bought them yesterday (a few pieces of red pepper, cucumber, carrot and cabbage) so I'll give them some more again tonight I think with their dinner :)
 
Poo soup! Do you have a healthy pig that's not on medication? If you do, harvest a fresh poo, mix with water & syringe feed this to him. I'd say one poo an hour or so after each antibiotic dose.
 
Amanda1801 said:
Poo soup! Do you have a healthy pig that's not on medication? If you do, harvest a fresh poo, mix with water & syringe feed this to him. I'd say one poo an hour or so after each antibiotic dose.
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Poo soup? Lol, random.

So, what's beneficial for him to be given the poop from another pig that isn't one of the edible kinds? Or does that not matter? This is a new one so bare with me lol
 
lilmisscavy said:
Poo soup? Lol, random.

So, what's beneficial for him to be given the poop from another pig that isn't one of the edible kinds? Or does that not matter? This is a new one so bare with me lol
Click to expand...

Basically yes! The probiotics they'd normally get by eating their poo is killed off by the antibiotics as they don't differentiate between "good" and "bad" bacteria, so you can get it from the poo of a healthy pig instead...what are friends for?!
 
Amanda1801 said:
Basically yes! The probiotics they'd normally get by eating their poo is killed off by the antibiotics as they don't differentiate between "good" and "bad" bacteria, so you can get it from the poo of a healthy pig instead...what are friends for?!
Click to expand...

Lol! I get what you mean now :p

I'll see about that over the weekend then :)
 
I'm interested in what everyone thinks about what snugglepigs said about acidopholus tabs cos no one has answered the question?

I'm very curious too I must admit rolleyes
 
PiggyLove said:
I'm interested in what everyone thinks about what snugglepigs said about acidopholus tabs cos no one has answered the question?

I'm very curious too I must admit rolleyes
Click to expand...

I hadn't noticed their comment :red

I've just Googled the name but I'm getting lots of different kinds so I have no idea what one I'd have to go for :{
 
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