Antibiotic Drops?

[Pigglywink's Rachel]

Well, I took the girls for their first check-up tonight, and Dite got a perfect bill of health (weighs just over a pound at 9 weeks old, heart and lungs clear, gut function normal).

However, the vet was a little worried about Caramel. While she shows no signs of infection in her breathing or exam, there is the fact that she does get crusty eyes a lot. So the vet has prescribed some antibiotic drops to put in her eyes twice a day for the next five days to see if it helps. I'm not sure if I need to worry about providing her with probiotics for a topical antibiotic treatment, however, and was wondering if someone could advise?

Other than the issue with her eyes, she's perfectly healthy. Four months old and weighs just under two pounds, heart and lungs also clear, and gut function normal.

They've both been given a mite treatment, due to some scratching in both and moderate hair loss on Caramel, and the vet said that provided I continue to provide them a varied vegetable diet and they're getting plenty of hay into them, I shouldn't be concerned about the fact that they aren't very interested in their pellets, and showed me what to watch for as signs of dehydration, since they're not over interested in their water bottles.

 

[MrsM]

it takes times for some to go to the bottle. Finlay hardly drank for the first 10 weeks and now he drinks like a fish. I think it's a trick they need to learn...

 

[Pigglywink's Rachel]

Anyone, please? Should I be giving her pro-biotics or is that only when they're getting oral antibiotics?

 

[MrsM]

i think it's only for oral antibiotics.

 

[MissPiggy78]

provided I continue to provide them a varied vegetable diet and they're getting plenty of hay into them, I shouldn't be concerned about the fact that they aren't very interested in their pellets, and showed me what to watch for as signs of dehydration, since they're not over interested in their water bottles.

My vet just told me this tonight too...said that pellets - and the muesli- can often do more harm than good, especially when it comes to the teeth. Have never heard/ read about this before, though I suppose they wouldn't encounter pellets in the wild!

Lots of pigs struggle at first with a water bottle, some never really take to it. If you are concerned, try running veggies under water first, so they get some that way.

 

[Pigglywink's Rachel]

Lots of pigs struggle at first with a water bottle, some never really take to it. If you are concerned, try running veggies under water first, so they get some that way.

That's exactly what I do, plus, although I know it doesn't really have any nutrients, per se, I also give them a nice 1/4 inch chunk of cucumber each per day, to help with their fluid. And the varied diet isn't a problem, I realized, after having to dig through two fridge drawers full of guinea pig food in my quest for the three solitary oranges I was able to cram into the drawers after putting all the piggie food in. What is it a sign of that my fridge contains more food for the cat and piggies than it does for me?

 

[MissPiggy78]

What is it a sign of that my fridge contains more food for the cat and piggies than it does for me?

My piggies definitely have a better diet than me....my fridge is full of veggies for them!

 

[rw3399]

Probiotics are only needed for oral antibiotics. If your piggie doesn't like using a water bottle have you tried a heavy bowl filled with water? You could put it on the floor during floor time. They can get really messy in a cage/hutch though. Maybe syringe some water to her for a couple of days.

 

[Laura-CCC4]

Oral ABs are really the only ones to directly influence the gut flora, which is what gives the need for probiotics to counteract the negative effect. Glad to hear Dite is okay though.

 

[Pigglywink's Rachel]

Probiotics are only needed for oral antibiotics. If your piggie doesn't like using a water bottle have you tried a heavy bowl filled with water? You could put it on the floor during floor time. They can get really messy in a cage/hutch though. Maybe syringe some water to her for a couple of days.

I did give them a heavy bowl of water, in their cage, and they avoided it, completely. It was as clear and pure 12 hours after I put it in, and the bowl just as full, as when I'd put it in. They've not used the water bottles (there's three of them in there, in case they prefer one position over another) since I got them, which was about two and a half weeks ago. But they don't seem dehydrated at all, so I guess they get enough moisture from the veggies. But thanks everyone, for your answers regarding the antibiotics and the advice regarding the water issue.