• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Antibiotic & Vet Problems

Status
Not open for further replies.
laurenburns9

laurenburns9

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jan 15, 2014
Messages
21
Reaction score
5
Points
0
Hi All,
I'm looking for some help as I feel like my vets have no idea what they are talking about.
I noticed last Thursday that my piggy Ben (6 1/2 yrs old) has become impacted, I did a bit of research on this and noticed that it is quite common in older pigs and especially males. I have cleaned him out but thought it would be best just to have him checked over by our vet. (he was still eating and drinking normally at this point)
So Saturday morning I go to the vets with Ben and he firstly looked at me like I had two heads when I mentioned impaction being common in guinea pigs and he has no idea what it was and basically skirted over that issues which I had brought him in for, he then noticed bens fur around him bum was stained yellow from urine (I'm 99% sure this was due to ben having guinea pig cushions in his run which he would just wee and lay in.... my pig has always been quite lazy, however we had since been removed them from him cage and wet fur has not been a problem since. The Vet took the staining as a sign that ben could have a UTI and proscribed antibiotics for the UIT ( as a precaution because there was no other signs of infection) and pain medication for the impaction, even though he does not know what this is. I would like to also point out he did not know guinea pigs get B vitamins from their droppings (little worrying)
Ben started his medication on Sunday, by yesterday morning I noticed he was a little off his food, but when offered him his fave veggies and he did eat those so I thought maybe I was panicking. This morning I have got up and ben has had diarrhea, I have stopped with his medication and called the vet who also said to stop, he had an appointment with the Vet at 4PM today and I'm a little worried the vet is going to prescribe something that may make him worse!
any advice would be much appreciated.
 
Hello, welcome to the forum and sorry to hear about Ben.

Could you please tell us what Medications you have been prescribed and what dosage rates? any medication is hard on the system so pro-biotics should have also been provided to help replenish the good bacteria in the gut.

How has his weight been from start to finish? x
 
Hi and welcome!

Whereabouts are you located? We have got a piggy savvy UK vet locator on the top bar. If you click on your username on the same bar, go to personal details/location, you can add your country, state (US/Aus) or county/general area (UK) to your details. With members from all around the world, this makes it much easier for us to give you the appropriate advice, links and recommendations straight away.

It is very likely that the baytril you have been prescribed has caused the loss of appetite and tummy upset; it is well known for that. As baytril is the only officially licensed antibiotic for guinea pigs, it is very likely that this is the one you have ended up with.
 
Hi,

thank you for your advice, I will have a look at the vet locator. I live in the UK in Kent (Orpington) I have tried looking for another vet but none specialise in exotic animals.

He is on Baytril twice a day and Metacam once a day. I called the vet first thing this morning and he told me to stop giving him both (as they were only for a precaution and hes not actually showing signs of UTI) Will he return to normal now he is not being given them? I'm worrying that there wasn't anything wrong with him when we first went. luckily i did already know that antibiotics can cause this (the vet did not tell me) so i have been keeping a very close eye on him so he shouldn't have really lost any weight.
 
Hopefully, things will right themselves within a couple of days. Please give him probiotics or "poo soup", the water in which fresh poos from his mate have been soaked to restock his guts. Poo soup is disgusting, but very effective and usually a hit with an ill piggy.
 
That's good, I'm quite worried about him, hes not been ill in the 6 1/2 years iv had him so I'm a bit new to all this.

where will I get probiotics from? unfortunately I wasn't very guinea pig educated when I got ben so hes my only one, due to that he is my spoilt only piggy and spends most of his time with me.
 
Hello and welcome. I have a piggy on Baytril at the minute. She has been on and off a combination of antibiotics for the last few months. She is having probiotics and I am giving her Fibreplex http://www.vetuk.co.uk/rabbit-suppl...ibreplex-for-rabbits-and-small-rodents-p-1180 it comes in paste form that you give via the syringe it comes in. I got it from my vets but you can also order it online.

There are many types of probiotics, some come in powder form and your vet should be able to prescribed it if you ask.

If you have a pets at home near by, they sell a probiotic for small animals that comes in powder form http://www.petsathome.com/shop/proc-probiotic-100gm-by-vetark-15796?freeText=Pro c probiotic&msg=MSG_SEARCH_ONE_MATCHING_PRODUCT you can either sprinkle on food, add to the water or syringe it by mouth dissolved in a little water. I prefer to syringe by mouth to make sure they are actually taking it.

Here is another good one that I have also used in the past http://www.vetuk.co.uk/dog-suppleme...probiotic-products-c-5_172/avipro-plus-p-1225

But like I say, your vet should be able to prescribe you some.
 
Last edited:
Hi,

thank you, I did a quick google search and noticed Pets at home sell it so I will get some after work. the pet locator also helped, there is a vet 15 miles away from me, if I don't get a good response from his appointment today I will take him there.

hope your little piggy is ok soon! its so sad seeing them not feeling well.
 
Thank you. It isn't nice when they are poorly.

All the best at the vets and it is good you have found a cavy savvy vet close by if needed.

In the meantime, I would also suggest you stopped feeding him veggies for the next 48 hours or until his poos have returned to normal. Feed him his dry food as normal and unlimited hay.
 
I read that its best not to give them veggies till they are back to normal. :) thank you for all your advice.
 
It's always best to have some Fibreplex in your piggy first aid kit. For probiotics I use Bio-Lapis. Both of these can be got from Vet UK without a prescription but there is a postage charge for orders under £29. It's fairly easy to get over this amount because they do lots of other stuff inc. food & hay etc which you might already be buying at a higher price. Regarding the Bio-Lapis, if you're using it which on Baytril or other antibiotics then the mix you make has to be used in 24 hours. I divide 1 sachet into 3 & mix 1/3 with 16ml of water & give this by syringe in 3 sessions eg morning, afternoon & evening. I usually give 2 or 3 ml before food & the same after. If you're working then just split it into 2 sessions, morning & evening. My Minky seems to love it, definitely more than Baytril. With the Fibreplex I find that 1ml on the morning & again at night is usually enough, though you could give 3 doses a day.

Judging from what little your vet knows about impaction I would definitely not take my piggy there. I don't know how vets can have the nerve to charge for a service they don't seem qualified to treat. I would advice "Change your vet".
 
After his second visit I'm convinced the vet felt like he needed to come up with some problem to make the consultation fee worth while, clearly not realising I just wanted a check up not for a medical reason just peace of mind and wasn't worried about price!

He has changed his mind from a UTI to Ben being diabetic because we is weeing a lot... No idea who told him that, because I never. I'm so annoyed other than Ben being impacted he was fine before the "check up" eating normal ect. And everything else in the check up was perfect other than his made up problem! £110 later I have a sick piggy for the privilege!

I am going to register him with the vet I found on this website forum And pickup some probiotic.

Thank you all for your advice on brands ect really have been helpful and I'm glad I signed up today! :)
 
£110! For what?

My goodness, I am pleased to hear that you have registered him with another vet.

Diabetes can not just be assumed. Urine samples and possible blood work would need to be carried out to make this diagnosis. A life long treatment plan would then need to be drawn up.

All the best at your new vets x
 
My question exactly! for 2 consultations and medication. If he had helped in anyway I would in no way begrudge that money when he has only made piggy ill when he was fine it's annoying.

I think he don't know what he was doing and is throwing anything out there, his only assumption of diabetes is he is weeing a lot which is is not weeing anymore than normal.
Hopefully the new vet will be better.

I have just bought some probiotic and we have stopped medication for the phantom illness so he should be ok now. Fingers crossed and a new vet. X
 
Bekki2308 said:
Definitely agree with Stewy on changing your vet, I would perhaps even complain! :-) good luck OP x
Click to expand...

This is something we hear far to much of, vets taking our money "under false pretences". There must be a body where complaints can be sent to. Maybe if the vet is just an employee a complaint to their boss may be appropriate. They should have to go on courses & get certificates for the type of animal they're treating. In human medicine you wouldn't get a brain surgeon treating you for diarrhoea!
 
Oh my God that's awful, so glad you have found a new vet and have got some probiotic. Can't believe they charge so much, my vet yesterday could not make a firm diagnosis and so only charged me for the Metacam I asked for.
 
I count agree more, I took my happy piggy for a check up and come back with a poorly one. You think your doing the right thing taking them to the vets, I would have been happier if he had just said he didnt know, surely he shouldn't hand out medicine as "a precaution" another scary statement was that "antibiotics don't cause upset for guinea pigs" thankfully I had already researched this and was looking out for the signs but another owner who has not done any research might have carried on with the dose!

He is currently circled up in a little blanket asleep on my lap. :) x
 
In sorry but that is horrendous. I don't understand why you were charged for two full consultations when technically you were there the second time round as a 'follow up'.

Baytril is one of the cheapest antibiotics out there and from what I can tell, that is the only medicine you were prescribed? I really do not know how that vet can justify charging you so much.

In comparison, my Eliza had surgery in September to have an eye removed. The surgery itself cost roughly £100 and the post op meds a further £20 ish including baytril, metacam and fibreplex.

Since then Eliza has been backwards and forwards to the vets as she sadly caught a tough infection in her eye cavity and the only thing I have been charged for is any medication prescribed. Take the other day for example, I was given a course of baytril, a bag of saline, syringes and fibreplex and I was charged £12 and that includes the vets time and her cleaning Eliza's eye area for me. This has been done many times before. Thankfully the infection cleared up a couple of months ago but she is still having the a few problems.

Fair enough, this is all classed as Eliza's post op care and I appreciate that all vets are different but I think yours is a classic case of taking advantage and I worry how many other clients of theirs are put in the same position as you.

Of course we all want what is best for our animals but I am concerned that this vet is overcharging, taking advantage and providing wrong advise :(
 
Last edited:
I know, it is madness, the consultation is £30 each time (so £60 for both visits) and the rest was medication. What I find really sad is people that cannot afford that price will just leave their sick animal in pain rather than take them to the vets because its just too expensive. I totally agree I should not have been charged for the second visit, especially as he asked me to bring Ben in (and did not give any other advise than stop giving him the antibiotics, Although and this will shock you all, he said "hmm this is very weird, because guinea pigs are never allergic to antibiotics, this would explain why he never told me to watch out for the warning signs). I think that vets is clearly just a money making machine, they don't actually care about the animals.
 
I find it really sad that there are vets out there who are like this :( and £50 for baytril is ridiculous.

Vets like this put animals life in danger.

Like people, all animals can have a reaction to any medication.

There isn't any proof that this did happen but an alergic reaction to the stitches is a positibility to the infection Eliza caught in her eye socket after her eye had been removed. If this was the case, this is no fault of the vet but one of those things.

My point is that things do happen and although most likely rare, that vet should be aware of this.

I feel sorry for new clients taking there animal for a visit there :(
 
I took ben to the new vets today! Such a brilliant service but the news wasn't good, she found a lump near his liver! She has given him pain killers for now and has left us to think about whether we should have an op to remove it (if it cannot be removed they will put him down) or we just need to think about putting him down! I'm devastated and don't know what to do, he is only slightly off his food and still drinking ok, but would it be right to leave him on painkillers? Not stopped crying!
 
Oh gosh, I am so sorry to hear your sad news :(

All I can advise is to have a long discussion with your vet.

If you go for the surgery, what are his chances of him pulling through and would it improve his quality of life? Does your vet have any ideas what the lump could be I.e cancerous? If so, is there a possibility the cancer has spread or if the lump is removed, does that mean the cancer will be too?

When it comes to having an animal PTS, I always put it down to quality of life. If Ben is still happy, eating and drinking etc, I wouldn't have him PTS until his quality of life is poor and / or he is suffering.

I have sadly had 3 piggies PTS. Ellie had a mass near her kidneys and kidney failure. It got to the point where she wasn't eating so I new it was time to let her go. Erin had two illnesses playing off against each other. She had a bladder flush which she didn't recover well from but also had a ruptured eye at the same time. Sadly my vet felt that she wouldn't be strong enough to withstand another anesthetic so soon to have an eye removal so we had to let her go. Ena had a lump removed that sadly revealed she had lymphoma. Her wound wouldn't heal due to the lymphoma so when she pulled her stitches out, we made the decision to let her go rather than put her through being restitched just to keep her here for another few weeks.

Take as much time as you need and remember to ask your vet questions. But please remember that you know Ben the best so the ultermate decision as to where you go from here has to be your.

(((Hugs))) xx
 
So sorry to hear about your three piggies, it's so sad, who knew such a small little animal could take up such a bit part of your love.

I asked if he was too old for an op and she said, anaesthetic always carries a risk and with him being an older piggy the risk is increased, she is not sure what the lump is, it's got some off white bits in it... She is also not sure if this lump is attached to anything( the lump was blocking her view of his other organs) so if they do operate and find out they cannot remove it because it's attached to something else they can stitch him up and see how he goes. But I, worried will we b putting him through all that for nothing? Or could he die from having it done?!

He's not his normal self a little quieter then usual and very sleepy, but he is eating a little less but nothing major.

If he was a younger pig I would probably give surgery a try but I'm thinking he is old, does he want to go through all that? Xx
 
Thank you and yes, it is heartbreaking. These little ones fill us with so much joy.

Yes, there is always a risk that a piggy will not make it through surgery and the risk increases with age.

Eliza is also 6.5 and thankfully she made it through the surgery to have her eye removed. But it was either have the surgery done or have her PTS as leaving the eye as it was wasn't an option. My vet was fairly confident that Eliza would be ok as she is very healthy for her age but there was still the risk.

My vet explained that if they lost her whilst she was under, it is no different than PTS and I figured at least I would be giving her a chance.

The problem is with lumps is they can be a number of things ranging from harmless fatty lumps to abscesses to tumours.

Unfortunately I feel you are not dealing with a fatty lump as they are pretty easy to tell, my Ena had four of them.

Is the lump internal or external?
 
Yeah really is heartbreaking.

He is very healthy other than the lump, she even queried his age because he looked so well. Ben is the same age as Eliza.

The lump is internal. So it could be attached to something. The vet asked me to call her tomorrow as she thought I would have a lot of questions once I'd taken it all in. Having him PTS at the moment is an option I don't think, like u say he's still eating and drinking. he's a little off his usual self but nothing too bad.

It just whether he has the op or we just see how long he can go on pain medication. I don't know what's the best thing to do for him.
 
I guess you need to weigh up the pros and the cons to both. If your vet feels that Ben is healthy, there is no reason why he wouldn't survive surgery BUT there is still always the risk and then there is the question if would having it removed make any difference?

And then if you leave it, will you just make it worse?

I'm experienced with having surgery carried out in guinea pigs but not lumps so much as like I say, I have only had two piggies with tumours and they both sadly ended up badly.

I am hoping that a more experienced member will come along soon

@Wiebke
@sport_billy
@MerryPip
@Jerrybelly

I really am wishing you all the best. The only advise I can give is not to let age put you off x
 
Last edited:
Thank you so much for your advise, think I will call the vet tomoz as I have a few questions to ask now.

He seems happy enough at the moment, sitting in his guinea pig bed eating hay, oblivious to all the upset downstairs! :) thank you so much for your help, it's nice to speak to people that have had some experience with this kind of thing xx
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top