Antibiotics

[Abirose]

Abigail was given antibiotics Marbocyl P tablets on Friday 26th April as her breathing was rasping, she was fine in her self, eating drinking lots. Saturday her breathing became normal again but she has started not eating and drinking as much and her poo is a lot softer. Abigail went back to the vets yesterday evening and she was weighed again and had lost 40g.
The vet said her teeth were fine but they think she is more likely to be about 4 year old as she has loads of lumps around her middle and bottom area, they think they are fatty cysts but are keeping an eye on them. Which was a bits of a shock as we were told both Abigail and Rosie were about 18 months when we rescued them over 8 weeks ago. Rosie is about 18 months.
Abigail was the dominate pig before Abigail became poorly on Friday, but yesterday and especially last night Rosie started trying to boss Abigail wanted to sit where she was sitting wanted any food she had. I have been up most of the night with them as there was a lot of squabbling, I was worried there might be some fighting as the noise they were making but thankfully this was not the case.
Is it normal for the antibiotic to effect a guinea pig like this? is there anything I can do to help Abigail?
Thank you.

 

[DMS260820]

Abigail was given antibiotics Marbocyl P tablets on Friday 26th April as her breathing was rasping, she was fine in her self, eating drinking lots. Saturday her breathing became normal again but she has started not eating and drinking as much and her poo is a lot softer. Abigail went back to the vets yesterday evening and she was weighed again and had lost 40g.
The vet said her teeth were fine but they think she is more likely to be about 4 year old as she has loads of lumps around her middle and bottom area, they think they are fatty cysts but are keeping an eye on them. Which was a bits of a shock as we were told both Abigail and Rosie were about 18 months when we rescued them over 8 weeks ago. Rosie is about 18 months.
Abigail was the dominate pig before Abigail became poorly on Friday, but yesterday and especially last night Rosie started trying to boss Abigail wanted to sit where she was sitting wanted any food she had. I have been up most of the night with them as there was a lot of squabbling, I was worried there might be some fighting as the noise they were making but thankfully this was not the case.
Is it normal for the antibiotic to effect a guinea pig like this? is there anything I can do to help Abigail?
Thank you.

I'm not sure, but when one pig is sick, i think the tables can turn on whos the top pig. Il tag a member in who i think will know @Wiebke

 

[The3LittlePigs]

If you have a sick piggy, the other piggy will notice she is sick and take advantage! They are meanies sometimes but nature is nature! Hopefully when Abigail gets her strength back she'll remind her pal who the real boss is and things will settle again. In terms of the antibiotic, did the vet mention what it was for / the reason they suspected her breathing was raspy?

 

[Wiebke]

Abigail was given antibiotics Marbocyl P tablets on Friday 26th April as her breathing was rasping, she was fine in her self, eating drinking lots. Saturday her breathing became normal again but she has started not eating and drinking as much and her poo is a lot softer. Abigail went back to the vets yesterday evening and she was weighed again and had lost 40g.
The vet said her teeth were fine but they think she is more likely to be about 4 year old as she has loads of lumps around her middle and bottom area, they think they are fatty cysts but are keeping an eye on them. Which was a bits of a shock as we were told both Abigail and Rosie were about 18 months when we rescued them over 8 weeks ago. Rosie is about 18 months.
Abigail was the dominate pig before Abigail became poorly on Friday, but yesterday and especially last night Rosie started trying to boss Abigail wanted to sit where she was sitting wanted any food she had. I have been up most of the night with them as there was a lot of squabbling, I was worried there might be some fighting as the noise they were making but thankfully this was not the case.
Is it normal for the antibiotic to effect a guinea pig like this? is there anything I can do to help Abigail?
Thank you.

Hi!

Any antibiotic can cause loss of appetite. The active ingredient in marbocyl is stronger than baytril but from the same group.
40g weight loss is extremely borderline so I would not worry too much yet.

You can give 1 pinch of probiotic either 1 hour before (US recommendation) or 2 hours after the antibiotic (UK recommendation) but in my experience absolutely freshly made poo soup is more effective as long as you pick freshly laid poos and soak them in a little water and then syringe the water. Ideally, you sit a healthy companion outside of the cage and feed them their veg or grass, as eating seems to stimulate pooing to get really fresh poos. Do this twice a day in order to allow living microbiome reach the affected gut; poo soup contains all the 'right' stuff and mimics natural behaviour.
If the loss of appetite was total (which it isn't), then I would recommend a course of fibreplex additionally. It is stronger than probiotic and step in with syringe feeding top up.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide (includes information on support products)

Unfortunately some piggies can get rather 'lumpy' as harmless fatty lumps (lipomas) can turn up in clusters. Unless they impede movement, they are usually left be.
Guinea Lynx :: Lipoma

Illness can upset the hierarchy, especially if the dominant piggy is the sick one. Please only separate if absolutely necessary as some piggies won't go back together again where the leadership has become contested.

 

[Abirose]

If you have a sick piggy, the other piggy will notice she is sick and take advantage! They are meanies sometimes but nature is nature! Hopefully when Abigail gets her strength back she'll remind her pal who the real boss is and things will settle again. In terms of the antibiotic, did the vet mention what it was for / the reason they suspected her breathing was raspy?

Thank you, the vets said it could be narrowing of the airways or an upper respiratory infection.

 

[DMS260820]

Thank you, the vets said it could be narrowing of the airways or an upper respiratory infection.

Be at the ready if the baytril doesnt seem to be helping, you will need a different antibiotic

 

[Abirose]

Hi!

Any antibiotic can cause loss of appetite. The active ingredient in marbocyl is stronger than baytril but from the same group.
40g weight loss is extremely borderline so I would not worry too much yet.

You can give 1 pinch of probiotic either 1 hour before (US recommendation) or 2 hours after the antibiotic (UK recommendation) but in my experience absolutely freshly made poo soup is more effective as long as you pick freshly laid poos and soak them in a little water and then syringe the water. Ideally, you sit a healthy companion outside of the cage and feed them their veg or grass, as eating seems to stimulate pooing to get really fresh poos. Do this twice a day in order to allow living microbiome reach the affected gut; poo soup contains all the 'right' stuff and mimics natural behaviour.
If the loss of appetite was total (which it isn't), then I would recommend a course of fibreplex additionally. It is stronger than probiotic and step in with syringe feeding top up.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide (includes information on support products)

Unfortunately some piggies can get rather 'lumpy' as harmless fatty lumps (lipomas) can turn up in clusters. Unless they impede movement, they are usually left be.
Guinea Lynx :: Lipoma

Illness can upset the hierarchy, especially if the dominant piggy is the sick one. Please only separate if absolutely necessary as some piggies won't go back together again where the leadership has become contested.

Thank you for your reply and help. x