Hi all, sorry I haven't been on for ages due to various family commitments. Just had to rush Dixie to the vet as he's straining and making an awful noise weeing. He was 3 in February and normally a very active and bossy little Piggy but was very quiet and wanted cuddles yesterday so guessed something was wrong. He hasn't lost weight but is a bit off his food today. The vet could feel a little lump and one mammary gland looks swollen. She's given him 4.5x sulfratim 0.3 ml twice a day as I asked for something other than baytril as it seems to kill their appetite. Also 2 x metacam 0.22 ml once a day. Am I right thinking this would be better split twice 0.11 a day? We're hoping it's an infection but if no improvement by next sunday the vet will arrange an x ray to check for stones or a tumour.. Obviously if he gets worse I'll take him back. Got some Pro C for him too. I'd be grateful if anyone has any other suggestions to help him. Thanks for reading.
Hi!
I am very sorry; never the thing you want to come across!
Sulfatrim is now replacing septrin; it is unflavoured adult strength septrin.
Your vet has been very conservative with the metacam; you can safely give 0.22 ml twice daily seeing from the sulfatrim dose that your boy must be over a kilo in weight.
Please be aware that any antibiotic can cause a negative reaction in sme guinea pigs. Baytril is by far the most prescribed (as the only officially licensed antibiotic for guinea pigs worldwide) and the one that seems to impact on the guts slightly more, so it is no wonder that is has garnered such a bad reputation. However, when you ask long term owners here on the forum (as we have done), they will tell you that the vast majority of their piggies have had no problems with baytril except for some slightly softer poos during treatment. If baytril really was as bad as it is reputed, it would have long been replaced by another product.
The problem with doing online research is that it tends to give you a somewhat skewed view on things - you come across all the horror stories or the very episodal miracle cures praised by somebody which are them picked up by others and distributed; but you hardly ever come across the unglamorous every day success stories, which make by far the majority of all treatments. It is important that you factor in this uneven reporting at all times.
It is the same with probiotics. You can give them if you wish to as they do no harm and make owners that have anxiety better, but in many cases there will be actually no difference in whether they are taken or not. I know that from my own experiences.
The only thing that really makes a difference if you are actually dealing with loss of appetite from an antibiotic is a course of fibreplex which is stronger than the normal probiotics; but I would not recommend to give it just for the sake of giving it and only use it when really needed. Fibreplex can also be useful during a tricky operation recovery or ongoing digestive problems.
Please switch to weighing your boy on a daily at the same time instead of weekly. See your vet if the downhill trend continues or if there is a sharp sudden drop in weight - they reflect pain that is impacting on the appetite. Step in with syringe feeding support whenever necessary and see a more experienced vet if necessary. Monitoring the daily food intake (considering that hay should make over 80%, which you cannot otherwise control) is a vital tool in health monitoring.
Please see a vet promptly if the mammary lump is growing further or if your boy is in pain.
Guinea Pig Vet Locator
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Tips For Post-operative Care
First Aid Kit For Guinea Pigs
