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Ear Infection Recovery

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piggylover

piggylover

Junior Guinea Pig
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hi my avatar pig dash developed a suspected ear infection (head tilt and rolling eyes and walking "drunk") on Monday evening, I took him to see simon maddock on Tuesday and was prescribed Zithromax (think that's spelt correctly). now things have improved immensely theres no more eye rolling although one eye is still staring upwards and hes walking much better but still has a head tilt. Anyway Wednesday he was eating but not as much as he normally does so to be safe I was giving him some science recovery approx. 15 ml 3 times in that day as I was so worried he was going to go anorexic and his body shut down.Today he is eating much better although still not his usual amount so today he has had 15ml 2 times as I don't want to overfeed him so he doesn't eat for himself. in total hes probably lost bout 20 grams since his last weekly weigh in however I shall now weigh him daily. My question is I'm still waiting for the probiotics to arrive as that is one thing I didn't have in my cupboard ( I have recovery food and vitamin c). I don't think its going to arrive before the weekend and I'm worried that he might get ill without it, at the moment ive noticed hes constantly eating any poo he finds in the cage (he shares with his friend),. Will he be ok until the probiotics arrive and am I doing the right thing giving him some handfeeds?
 
I must add hes quite a plump pig anyway and I was trying to get his weight down by reducing his pellets which could explain some of the weightloss
 
piggylover said:
hi my avatar pig dash developed a suspected ear infection (head tilt and rolling eyes and walking "drunk") on Monday evening, I took him to see simon maddock on Tuesday and was prescribed Zithromax (think that's spelt correctly). now things have improved immensely theres no more eye rolling although one eye is still staring upwards and hes walking much better but still has a head tilt. Anyway Wednesday he was eating but not as much as he normally does so to be safe I was giving him some science recovery approx. 15 ml 3 times in that day as I was so worried he was going to go anorexic and his body shut down.Today he is eating much better although still not his usual amount so today he has had 15ml 2 times as I don't want to overfeed him so he doesn't eat for himself. in total hes probably lost bout 20 grams since his last weekly weigh in however I shall now weigh him daily. My question is I'm still waiting for the probiotics to arrive as that is one thing I didn't have in my cupboard ( I have recovery food and vitamin c). I don't think its going to arrive before the weekend and I'm worried that he might get ill without it, at the moment ive noticed hes constantly eating any poo he finds in the cage (he shares with his friend),. Will he be ok until the probiotics arrive and am I doing the right thing giving him some handfeeds?
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Hiya! Great that your boy is doing so well.

Zithromax is a very strong antibiotic, which like all ABs not only attacks the bad bacteria, but also the good ones in the guts. You are doing right by topping him up with hand feed, as much as he will take.

Probiotics are not a medication per se; they are simply a supplement to help prop up the besieged guts. You can either get a probiotic from p@h, which will do the trick in a pinch, or you can collect some very fresh poos from a healthy piggy, soak them in water and then syringe the water; this contains all the right stuff and is usually quite a hit with piggies, as it mimics their recovery behaviour when they hunt their friends' bums for new poos to re-stock their guts. ;)

Wishing your boy a good an continued recovery!
 
the pets at home near me as unfortunately closed while it relocates to a new development across the road, ive ordered some avipro plus online but they haven't dispatched it yet :( . Hes already nudging his friends bum and eating any poo he can find so does that mean hes recovering well and I don't need to worry too much?
 
hopefully it means I don't have to make a poo soup lol
 
furryfriends Excellent Adventure Sanctuary said:
I use Zithromax a lot with the sanctuary piggies and have never used probiotic when giving it. I find the piggies generally tolerate it very well. xx
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Did none of your piggies appetites go down? today is the first day in 6 days that dash has eaten more like he used to , I'm still topping him up with syringe feed twice a day mainly for my peace of mind . Hes actually taking poop straight out of his friends bum for last day or so and I think this may be why his appetite is slowly coming back . hes back at simons on Friday just for a check up and I think I shall ask him to check his teeth as well just incase. Poor dash has really been through the mill and hes supposed to be having a lump removed in in his throat area on June 12th :(
 
and I'm very worried about that op as hes 6 years old now
 
piggylover said:
Did none of your piggies appetites go down? today is the first day in 6 days that dash has eaten more like he used to , I'm still topping him up with syringe feed twice a day mainly for my peace of mind . Hes actually taking poop straight out of his friends bum for last day or so and I think this may be why his appetite is slowly coming back . hes back at simons on Friday just for a check up and I think I shall ask him to check his teeth as well just incase. Poor dash has really been through the mill and hes supposed to be having a lump removed in in his throat area on June 12th :(
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Zithromax has never affected the appetite of any of the piggies here Obviously at times their appetite might not be as good as normal as they aren't eating well because of being poorly, but not because of the antibiotic. What time are you seeing Simon on Friday? I am there too, but will have to check my diary for the time. I am sure Simon will only go ahead with the op if he feels Dash is up to it xx
 
well it poor dash was sounding hollow on one side Thursday so it appears after being confirmed by simon that he has now developed a touch of bloat :( hes currently on zantac and we decided to keep giving him his Zithromax as that finishes today and we didn't want to risk his infection coming back, things aren't looking good as his lymph nodes in two legs have come up as well which is either because hes feeling unwell or a sign of leukemia :(. very worried for him as hes still not really eating but hes pooing quite normally again . do these lymph nodes come up often? or should I prepare myself for the worst?
 
Got my fingers crossed for you both - big hugs.

Sorry don't have any experience with lymph nodes though :(

XX
 
thankyou alanaf ive been following your thread and using the advice on there xx i really hope your piggy has a speedy recovery too xx
 
Thank you - I don't know what I would do without everyone on here, even for just an understanding hope your okay.

Keep us updated on Dash, he's got the best help :)
 
well I thought I would update you and its not good news at all. everything was going well ,dash seemed to be perking up and was pooing well and he even went out in his run but I did notice his head was turning like he was trying to focus . anyway I went to give him some more syringe feed at about 7.30pm and he was lying totally still on his side then suddenly rolled on his back and got stuck and was frantically kicking his legs in air. I grabbed him out of cage and instantly noticed how floppy he was he couldn't even control lifting his head :( . he was paralysed down one side and I think he had a massive stroke. we all were kissing him and crying thinking he was dying then about an hr later he was trying to pull himself up to a piece of lettuce that his friend was eating (we had his friend on bed with him as thought he was going to pass away ) he started trying to eat lettuce but we had to support him to eat it. I then syringed fed him and looked on peter gurneys stroke advice , I gave him lots of water about 25ml and he did a big wee so I knew he was hydrated. I syringed fed him every 3 hrs (about 15ml each feed) throughout night and today hes still quite paralysed although he is dragging himself to various beds etc around the cage, I'm syringe feeding him and sometimes hes eating well other times not so well. I'm so worried and been crying constantly as I really don't want to lose him but I also ldont want him to suffer. I'm still giving him metacam twice a day (originally for his arthritis) and hes still having the zantac. If it was a stroke how long does it take to recover and when should I give up and realise hes not going to recover and put him to sleep. Please advise someone as I don't know what to do for the best :(
 
oh I cant even take him to vet as simon is away all week and I don't trust the local vets as they are not cavy savy
 
Wiebke said:
Hiya! Great that your boy is doing so well.

Zithromax is a very strong antibiotic, which like all ABs not only attacks the bad bacteria, but also the good ones in the guts. You are doing right by topping him up with hand feed, as much as he will take.

Probiotics are not a medication per se; they are simply a supplement to help prop up the besieged guts. You can either get a probiotic from p@h, which will do the trick in a pinch, or you can collect some very fresh poos from a healthy piggy, soak them in water and then syringe the water; this contains all the right stuff and is usually quite a hit with piggies, as it mimics their recovery behaviour when they hunt their friends' bums for new poos to re-stock their guts. ;)

Wishing your boy a good an continued recovery!
Click to expand...

furryfriends Excellent Adventure Sanctuary said:
I use Zithromax a lot with the sanctuary piggies and have never used probiotic when giving it. I find the piggies generally tolerate it very well. xx
Click to expand...

hi sorry to quote you both but I really need you both to read last thread as things have changed and you both are knowledgable x
 
Am sorry it is looking like he has had a stroke, I have been advised that the first 48 hours after a stroke are crucial. My Phoebe had one once and recovered quickly but I think it was very mild. If Simon and Kim are away is there any other vet you could talk to on the phone for advice? I am also tagging @MintyAndGarry who may be able to help if Debbie is not around.

I have heard of Aspirin being given to pigs who have had strokes but you would need to run this past a vet first. The pig in question was also given swimming therapy but I don't think that is an option at the moment.
 
no none of the vets close to me have a clue about piggys they would just either prescribe baytril or advise putting to sleep .
 
I've only ever had one piggy who had what I would recognise as a stroke. He was only 5 months old at the time and, despite keeping him relatively comfortable, hydrated and fed over the weekend, he didn't make it and had to be PTS.

Anything neurological is very difficult to come back from and it may be that the culmination of all your piggy's ailments have become too much. It's difficult to know what to do for the best, (particularly without a knowledgeable vet) although if he does seem to be in pain, then I would be inclined to make a decision sooner rather than later.
Sorry I can't be more positive. :(
 
:( as to regards to pain I'm pretty sure hes not in any (or I hope not) but quality of life would be rubbish . I cant stop crying but I will do whats best for him but part of me is hoping he will just get up have a shake and been fine :(
 
I'm so sorry @piggylover icsont have any medical advice to give, but all I'll say is thinking of you this evening - I hope you're ok, you're doing everything you can for your little one.

Do make sure you look after yourself as well, I'll be awake late tonight with my one again so if you need a kind word over the night just drop me a message xx
 
if there is no improvement tomorrow then I shall take him to the local vets to be pts but I'm really worried they will hurt him as ive read some horrible stories on here and I don't think I can bear that
 
If you do need to do that tomorrow just be really clear with what is going to happen before they begin.

Ask whether they will sedate first etc I know we've seen some stories recently when vets have made some poor actions during the pts procedure, but from reading those threads you'll know what to ask them before it happens - if it needs to.

Everyone on the forum is here for you, and don't worry at all I meant it when I said you can message any time ill keep checking the forum and do my best to reply as quickly as possible.

The biggest hugs to you all xx
 
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