Antibiotics for respiratory infection

[LucyP]

Hi all, hope this finds you well.

Our 6 year old Winnie has been making clicking and grunting noises so we are taking her to the vets this afternoon as we’re worried she may have a respiratory infection. I am guessing they may suggest antibiotics but we will see.

A couple of questions if I may:

What are typical ABs for respiratory issues?

She’s previously reacted badly to an AB (I think it was doxycycline but I could be mistaken) as it wiped her appetite. Are there some which are less harsh on the gut? I will speak to the vet too.

We have plenty of critical care if we need to top her up, she’s been having a bit on a plate most nights already as she was a bit underweight on a recent vet check up (no obvious cause but as she is an older girl, we agreed it was helpful to top her up). So we can up the feed if needed (assuming she still has some appetite). Is it worth me getting fibreplex too if we start her on ABs?

Her cage mate Dottie has heart disease and is 5 or 6 so she is also a bit vulnerable. She is on frusol and vetmedin which helps but she still struggles a bit with her breathing. I’m hoping she won’t get an infection too but there’s not much we can do about this I guess. Just watch out for signs?

We keep their house clean and try to avoid any stress and I don’t really understand how infections occur but if there’s any advice re preventing a recurrence please let me know.

Many thanks
Lucy and Winnie

 

[LucyP]

Just an update- the awful crackling and honking we heard this morning was not audible at the vets and we can’t hear it now either!

But they said there may be a very beginnings of an infection and given her age and previous respiratory issues we are starting her on Co-trimoxoxole twice a day 0.56ml. We also have a prescription for ranitadine in case her appetite gets affected but that’s very much only if needed. We’re giving her a good feed now and then will give her the AB.

 

[piggieminder]

Sending Winnie lots of healing vibes. I hope she gets well very soon. I'm glad you managed to get her to the vet. Probiotics are always a good idea when they are on ABs.
Probiotics & Live Gut Microbiome Transfer ('Poo Soup'); Recovery Formula Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links and Transfer Recipe

 

[LucyP]

Thanks very much!

 

[Wiebke]

Just an update- the awful crackling and honking we heard this morning was not audible at the vets and we can’t hear it now either!

But they said there may be a very beginnings of an infection and given her age and previous respiratory issues we are starting her on Co-trimoxoxole twice a day 0.56ml. We also have a prescription for ranitadine in case her appetite gets affected but that’s very much only if needed. We’re giving her a good feed now and then will give her the AB.

Hi

There is no set/ideal antibiotic for bacterial respiratory issues as they can respond or will not react to any of the possible antibiotics for guinea pigs; there is an increasing resistancy problem due to overuse. The only officially licensed antibiotics for guinea pigs in the UK are baytril (enrofloxacin) and septrin (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole). Doxycycline is often used for other pets in connection with respiratory issues but it tends to impact rather badly on the gut in guinea pigs.

Glad that the symptoms have subsided again at home as well, and have not just been suppressed at the vet's.

Co-trimoxazole is another brand name for septrin/bactrim if that helps.

 

[Merab]

Hope Winnie is Ok now

 

[LucyP]

Thanks all.

Touch wood, she seems to be doing well. It’s a bit confusing- on Tuesday morning she sounded honky and congested but then she sneezed and it sounded fine after, so we assumed it was a temporary blockage which we know they can get sometimes. So that was that.

No sounds on Wednesday and Thursday and she’s indoors so we spent most of the day with her. We wondered about if her nostrils were moist but not sure.

Then on Friday morning she sounded bad, very clicky and grunty, crackling, it was audible from several meters away.

By the time we got to the vets Friday afternoon, they couldn’t hear much at all and we haven’t heard a peep of chest sound since. Touch wood.

So maybe it was only a blockage after all but she sounded so chesty yesterday, it sounded very worrying, like a previous pig who had a major LRI.

Anyway she seems to be ok on the septrim (thanks for clarifying that, I do find the names confusing!). She’s eating critical care off a plate (as she does anyway) and still eating hay and veg and pellets. Maybe not 100% quite as much appetite as usual but maintaining her weight and perky enough. We have fibreplex but she won’t taken it, even mixed in with CC.

So I hope we’re not giving her AB for nothing (esp given the risk of increasing species resistance in them) but she did sound terrible yesterday, and she has had pneumonia in the past (although not recently) so as a 6.5 year old the vet felt it was safer to do so.

Many thanks
Lucy

 

[LucyP]

Ps here she is in her wicker. Dot’s having a lounge in the cuddle cup.

 

[kaidencost]

Hi, my guinea pig Buddy got pneumonia 1st October this year aswell, he got prescribed meloxicam and co trimoxazole. It wiped out his appetite and we had to feed with critial care every day. On Thursday he died. How is yours doing.

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum.
So sorry that you’re dealing lost your boy.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve

 

[Truffolo]

Hi, my guinea pig Buddy got pneumonia 1st October this year aswell, he got prescribed meloxicam and co trimoxazole. It wiped out his appetite and we had to feed with critial care every day. On Thursday he died. How is yours doing.

Sorry to hear of your loss. RIP little Buddy

 

[LucyP]

Hi, my guinea pig Buddy got pneumonia 1st October this year aswell, he got prescribed meloxicam and co trimoxazole. It wiped out his appetite and we had to feed with critial care every day. On Thursday he died. How is yours doing.

I’m so very sorry to hear this, that’s such sad news about Buddy. I think Winnie is doing ok thank you. But I know how it feels to lose a pig suddenly after an illness despite giving them treatment etc, I’ve been there myself with other piggies, and my heart truly goes out to you. Take care.

 

[kaidencost]

I’m so very sorry to hear this, that’s such sad news about Buddy. I think Winnie is doing ok thank you. But I know how it feels to lose a pig suddenly after an illness despite giving them treatment etc, I’ve been there myself with other piggies, and my heart truly goes out to you. Take care.

Thank you for replying, I keep thinking he could've gotten better on his own if I didnt rush him to the vet and give him antibiotics that made his appetite go. But that night I came down and heard his breathing it I've never hear it that bad. Hes had lots of colds before and got through it on his own, I'm worried I did too much he was 4

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for replying, I keep thinking he could've gotten better on his own if I didnt rush him to the vet and give him antibiotics that made his appetite go. But that night I came down and heard his breathing it I've never hear it that bad. Hes had lots of colds before and got through it on his own, I'm worried I did too much he was 4

Hi and welcome

We kindly ask our members to please not post your own issues on another member's thread.

You are most welcome to start your own support thread in our dedicated End of Life and Bereavement Support Corner where we offer understanding community support for our human members to talk about your own feelings in regard of Buddy's loss without two different issues running crosswise and having our full attention.

Feelings of guilt and failure and intense soul searching are normal for the onset of the grieving process but they can easily become a mind trap past which you can struggle to work past. Talking usually helps so I would hope that you can find a bit more peace in your own dedicated thread in that section.

 

[LucyP]

Thank you for replying, I keep thinking he could've gotten better on his own if I didnt rush him to the vet and give him antibiotics that made his appetite go. But that night I came down and heard his breathing it I've never hear it that bad. Hes had lots of colds before and got through it on his own, I'm worried I did too much he was 4

That is really hard, but I think being poorly can wipe out the appetite just as much, if mot more than the meds as well. You did your very best.

 

[LucyP]

Hi and welcome

We kindly ask our members to please not post your own issues on another member's thread.

You are most welcome to start your own support thread in our dedicated End of Life and Bereavement Support Corner where we offer understanding community support for our human members to talk about your own feelings in regard of Buddy's loss without two different issues running crosswise and having our full attention.

Feelings of guilt and failure and intense soul searching are normal for the onset of the grieving process but they can easily become a mind trap past which you can struggle to work past. Talking usually helps so I would hope that you can find a bit more peace in your own dedicated thread in that section.

Just seen this - sorry if I’ve added to the confusion by replying!

And thanks for the support re Winnie.