Anyone had any experience with URI/Allergies?

[funnehmare]

I rescued Churchill and two other boars about three or four weeks ago. He appeared to have the early signs of a URI so I whisked him off to the vets for a check over. He was put on a course of Baytril, 0.2ml twice daily for ten days. He perked up a great deal, the sneezing calmed down to one or two a day and his nose cleared up great. We finished the course of anti biotics and went back for a checkup to see how well he was progressing, although he was still sneezing it wasn't the big noticeable sneezes but the usual sneezes from grooming or clearing their nose. The vet felt he might have an allergy to something or potentially may have had something which wasn't treated and he is left with the membranes producing too much mucus.

It's been about a week and a bit since he finished the AB's but I've noticed the rate of sneezing increase. I've been changing his environment in attempt to rule it anything environmental. His sneezing reduces drastically as soon as his cage has been cleaned (every three days at the moment). But I've noticed today he has heavy mucus from his nose and his eye is starting to weep. I've booked him into the vets on Tuesday to have him looked at again.

I've read that URIs and allergic reactions can have very similar symptoms but I'm wondering if it might be that the URI never fully cleared up. The vet did say that he couldn't hear any crackling in his chest nor has has his breathing been particularly laboured. His breathing now isn't particularly laboured now either, but his nose is quite gunky.

Anyone got thoughts or things I can try to rule out the allergy theory? Have tried changing his diet and bedding, only been a short while but I haven't noticed a difference in him.

 

[funnehmare]

Anyone?

 

[Hermes]

The fact that he improved whilst on the Baytril suggests to me that it's a particularly stubborn infection, not an allergy, I'd be inclined to continue antibiotic treatment until a couple of days after the symptoms dissapear. Treating more aggressively with a higher dose or different antibiotic may be something to discuss with your vet. If you're giving antibiotics it's adviseable to give a probiotic to help the gut flora and to weigh daily to check he's not losing too much weight.

 

[pelicano]

It doesn't sound like an allergy to me either. I suspect that a different antibiotic might be needed. Your vet should be able to to send off for a laboratory culture test, although I don't think they normally do these without quite a clearance in time between antibiotic courses (in order to get an accurate result).

Vets are sometimes reluctant to use anything other than Baytril, as anything else is off license.

I have known allergies in piggies, but my experience is that they are milder and more sporadic, and have been linked more to hayfever than bedding etc. If it was bedding that was causing the problem, you ought to see a change quickly.

 

[Jerrybelly]

Bump as this has been pushed off the page by silly spammers

 

[funnehmare]

The fact that he improved whilst on the Baytril suggests to me that it's a particularly stubborn infection, not an allergy, I'd be inclined to continue antibiotic treatment until a couple of days after the symptoms dissapear. Treating more aggressively with a higher dose or different antibiotic may be something to discuss with your vet. If you're giving antibiotics it's adviseable to give a probiotic to help the gut flora and to weigh daily to check he's not losing too much weight.

Thankyou for replying Heremes! This was my thinking too, as after AB course finished he was fine for a few days but over the last two he has definitely been looking more poorly (so I decided it was time to book him back in to see the vet) and didn't seem related to anything environmental. I have been weighing him daily since he came to me but he's had no weight loss and has been happily tucking into his veggies and hay. Now that it looks like he'll be on more meds I will pick up some more pro biotics for him.

It doesn't sound like an allergy to me either. I suspect that a different antibiotic might be needed. Your vet should be able to to send off for a laboratory culture test, although I don't think they normally do these without quite a clearance in time between antibiotic courses (in order to get an accurate result).

Vets are sometimes reluctant to use anything other than Baytril, as anything else is off license.

I have known allergies in piggies, but my experience is that they are milder and more sporadic, and have been linked more to hayfever than bedding etc. If it was bedding that was causing the problem, you ought to see a change quickly.

I think I will have to have a chat with the vet about an alternative med for him as the Baytril hasn't really managed to fully clear up his symptoms. He did mention taking some cultures but he didn't think it was necessary at this stage.

Yes I thought that too. My only experience of an animal with hayfever is my dog! His reactions have only ever been sporadic and only after heavy contact with pollen. Thankyou for confirming my thoughts

 

[funnehmare]

Bump as this has been pushed off the page by silly spammers

Thanks Jerrybelly. The spammers have definitely been out in force the last few days! I can't believe how much we are getting, they seem to be adapting and get better at disguising their posts!

 

[Abi_nurse]

I think (in my opinion) Baytril is becoming far too overused and isnt being very effective. May be worth trying a different antibiotic for him. I do have a sow with a woodshaving allergy but see if different antib's can clear this up before you start considering an allergy.

x.