Bayrtil For Pneumonia - How Long?

[Sarah.aJones15]

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...lating-for-6-weeks.118918/page-2#post-1615734

Previous thread about Fergie's journey to this point linked above just for background:

Following an x-ray Fergie was diagnosed with either heart issues or pneumonia so was on Baytril (0.4mg twice daily) & Frusol (0.2mg twice daily) for 5 days which finished yesterday morning. Yesterday evening, having all but recovered from the laboured breathing & lethargy, the vet suggested stopping the Baytril working on the basis that, if it was pneumonia, it'd soon return & we'd do a longer course of antibiotics.

This evening (2 doses "missed"), Fergie's breathing was laboured again so he's back on the Baytril & I'll get another 2 or 3 weeks' worth tomorrow. And this is my question:

As Fergie's had a week on Baytril (plus replacement probiotocs), would you recommend another fortnight or another 3 weeks? Also, do you think the Frusol will do any harm if it turns out not to be his heart? He is significantly smaller than his brother so, along with his other symptoms, I'm 90% sure he's a heart pig & the pneumonia is symptomatic of that.

 

[helen105281]

I would say at least 2 weeks but your vet may want to consider a different antibiotic like Zithromax if it is Pneumonia you are dealing with. Other options are Septrin, Marbocyl or Doxycycline but it was Zithromax that got my Buzz through his first bout.

If it is not a heart issue the diuretic would still be needed for Pneumonia so in my eyes it is not a problem giving it even if he turns out not to be a heart pig.

 

[Wiebke]

Diuretics should be given with a pneumonia to help clear the lungs and ease the breathing. Frusol will not at all harm the heart; if it is a heart issue, it is needed to prevent the build-up of fluids in the body due to insufficient heart function.

As there is such a quick response to stopping the meds, I would recommend to ask your vet for a scan to check whether there is a build-up of fluids and whether it is in the lungs or the chest cavity.
If it is in chest, I'd think that it would be time to trial a heart med like fortekor for a week. You should see a noticeable improvement within a couple of days if the problem sits with the heart. If there is no improvement within a week, then it is not a heart issue you are dealing with.
@helen105281 has listed the stronger antibiotics that can be used next in line if the fluid is in the lungs and you are dealing with a pneumonia rather than a heart problem; marbocyl (a stronger form of baytril) or zithromax would be my recommendation.

I have been through this with my Tegyd, who had a big fluid build-up in her chest, but did turn out to neither have walking pneumonia or heart problems this summer.