Baytril and appetites and food to get excited over

[catslovelycats]

OK. My pig has been on baytril for a week because she's sneezing a lot.
Vet has said she needs to go on for another week.

I've not had the pig for long but it's noticeable she's not as greedy as the other 3. I've seen on some posts here that baytril can reduce their appetites. I mentioned it to the vet but she disagreed.

I am really struggling getting much baytril into her anyway, so not even sure she's getting enough to cause any side effect!

I've given my pig everything I can think of to eat and try and stimulate interest but nothing really gets her very excited. She'll eat bits of lettuce and grass but doesn't scoff it like my others and often just sniffs it and leaves it until later. Lots of things my other pigs eat, she doesn't.

I've had her 3 weeks. COuld it be that as she's on her own there isn't that element of competition taht perhaps makes my 3 pigs scoff everything in sight? Or could it be the baytril despite what the vet says? (Alos I wonder if she might be off food cos she's depressed being on her own - I got her in the hopes of adding her to my herd).

She's never eaten much since I got her, but I suspected that she was poorly on day one. (She has put on 0.06kg in the last week, so I guess that's good news.

Anyone got any ideas?

Sorry if this thread should be in another place.

 

[Lisajazz]

I think you are spot on there, Baytrill CAN cause appetite issues - I was prescribed it for Dolly yesterday and it's the side effect he told me watch out for and bring her in if it happened.

Also her being alone will make her a little more depressed and she wont want to eat up fater as no one else is scoffing the food, all of that is contributing. I have had 3 boars neutered and living next to the girls but alone and 2 of the 3 were really slow eaters then but aren't now.

Have you tried fresh herbs? Parsley, Dill, coriander? They are usually big favourites with most pigs. At least one of them maybe all 3.

Mint is good for the digestion - if she will eat it it may help things.

 

[catslovelycats]

Thanks. I've given her some of all my herbs. (Well, what the snails haven't already got to that is!). The camomile seems to be being eaten - in that it isn't in the snack bowl when I go back later. she hasn't touched anything else. she even turns her nose up at dandelion leaves - never known a pig not like them! think she's had mint but didn't eat it. will try it again.

am going to go to tesco now and try her on baby sweetcorn. she's not had that yet and my others love it.

 

[Midge&Panda]

Mine always love grass when they are a bit off colour but something else which always goes down well is spinach, not to much though I think it's quite high in calcium

 

[KazBarringer]

When I give baytril I always follow with double the amount of oxbow. One to wash it down and get rid of a possible 'yuch' taste and two to stimulate food intake.

 

[catslovelycats]

what oxbow is that you refer to, kazbarringer?

 

[Laura-CCC4]

I'd assume Critical Care, Kaz? Not a bad idea. If the appetite is really low, piggie's not eating much at all and is losing weight, syringe-feeding with something like Critical Care or alternatives would be beneficial in any case.

I have a piggie staying at the moment who is on Prednisolone and Septrin, I give the meds right before a feed, exactly as you say Kaz - to wash it down and get rid of the taste!

 

[Wiebke]

Is your girl getting any form of probiotics to help keepng the guts going? They should always be prescribed when you give any antibiotic.

Perhaps you can mix the baytril with a bit of ribena in order to get it into her better? http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36533

You can always spruce up the CC with some pureed veg. Parsley and grass are usually the things that go down best in terms of appetite teasers.

If your girl does NOT like syringes, you gan try a spoon to feed her.

Best of luck!

 

[catslovelycats]

Weibke
My vet refused to prescribe me probiotics when I asked for some on Fri! She said Biscuit didn't need any and also disagreed when I said Baytril can reduce appetite. I asked her to account for her appetite loss but she didn't. I have bought some online from Hay Experts and hope it comes quickly! (She has gained 0.06 kg in a week. Don't know if that's good or not, but at least she's putting some on)

Thanks for the link.

 

[catslovelycats]

Thanks LAura CCC4
I have been giving her critical care
She doesn't like it being syringed but I do notice she eats little bits from the dish during the day/night.
She often sniffs the food bowl but doesn't seem to eat much if anything.
She does eat hay, so that's good. But can be in her run all day and barely touch the grass she's sitting on!

 

[Wiebke]

Can you look for another, more piggy savvy vet? A vet who refuses to prescribe probiotics even when a piggy has lost its appetite is appalling and doesn't bode well if you have to face and op or a serious problem!
Perhaps you can ask which vet your nearest rescue is using (go through the rehome link at the bottom of the page in order to get addresses of rescues in your area) or look out for an exotics vet (piggies are classed as exotic pets).

It is a good sign that she is not losing weight. 60g weight gain in three weeks is not too great, but not bad under the circumstances, considering all the stress she is under. She'll catch up soon once she is feeling better!