Antibiotics, Eating and Super chewing

[Pugsley's mom]

My pugsley was diagnosed with an early URI and was given antibiotics. Baytril. He didn't stop eating hay or lettuce but refused all favorite veggies. Now hes chewing on everything he can get his teeth on cage, blanket carpet whatever he can chew. Whole on antibiotics he was getting probiotics and critical care. Antibiotics finished yesterday. He has been pooping and peeing but not drinking water like he did before antibiotics. No weight loss. Just wondering if he will eventually go back to normal. I miss his wheeking and following to the kitchen for veggies. Should I stop giving critical care are this point or continue until he eats like somewhat normal. Hes refusing pellets for the most part.

 

[Wiebke]

My pugsley was diagnosed with an early URI and was given antibiotics. Baytril. He didn't stop eating hay or lettuce but refused all favorite veggies. Now hes chewing on everything he can get his teeth on cage, blanket carpet whatever he can chew. Whole on antibiotics he was getting probiotics and critical care. Antibiotics finished yesterday. He has been pooping and peeing but not drinking water like he did before antibiotics. No weight loss. Just wondering if he will eventually go back to normal. I miss his wheeking and following to the kitchen for veggies. Should I stop giving critical care are this point or continue until he eats like somewhat normal. Hes refusing pellets for the most part.

Hi and welcome!

Like all antibiotics, baytril can impact on the gut microbiome; it is one of the rougher ones although in the majority of cases it doesn't cause any major problems further than slightly softer poos.

What Pugsley is currently looking for is some rough fibre to balance his guts again. A little cardboard, brown paper or toilet roll inners will help; please do not give a lot as that is not good.

If you have a healthy piggy, then the best thing to inoculate Pugsley with exactly the 'right stuff' (i.e. live healthy guinea pig gut microbiome) is 'poo soup', which is made from just dropped ultra-fresh poos from a healthy piggy. You immediately soak them in a little water and then syringe the water that now contains live microbiome to Pugsley. This mirrors natural behaviour. If made absolutely freshly, poo soup is much more effective than probiotics.
Alternatively you can do a a course of fibreplex if things don't normalise within the next few days as they generally do.
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

I hope that that helps you?

PS: You can offer syringe feed, but I would switch to offering it from a spoon or a bowl if your boy is eating normally. The more hay he is eating, the better.

 

[Pugsley's mom]

Hes chewing his cardboard boxes and tubes like no ones business. I will take the rest of it and give it a try. Hes esting hay on his own it's the pellets I worry about.

 

[Freela]

Some pigs respond to Baytril by eating EVERYTHING in an effort to rebalance their gut bacteria. The last time Hadley was on Baytril, she tried to eat all my drywall and ripped up a patch of carpet! So I can totally relate. Things should balance out again when the antibiotic is done. In the meantime, you can try a probiotic or 'poop soup' from a healthy guinea pig not on meds to try to even things out.

 

[Pugsley's mom]

Some pigs respond to Baytril by eating EVERYTHING in an effort to rebalance their gut bacteria. The last time Hadley was on Baytril, she tried to eat all my drywall and ripped up a patch of carpet! So I can totally relate. Things should balance out again when the antibiotic is done. In the meantime, you can try a probiotic or 'poop soup' from a healthy guinea pig not on meds to try to even things out.

Thanks. Hes done with the antibiotics and actually ate pellets from my hand last night. Yay. Hes gonna get probiotics for another week I think.