Guinea on antibiotics

[Guinea Wiggies]

Hello again,

I posted yesterday to ask about Lilly weeing blood.

Took her to the vets (tried a new vet) and they still think that it is cystitis and have given her baytril again. This morning she didn't quite seem her usual self and wasn't showing must interest in food

I know that baytril can be bad for guineas guts, does anybody know anything I can give her to stop her going off her food?

Thanks

 

[Laura-CCC4]

Welcome to the forum, sorry to hear your guinea has cystitis.

Baytril can have this effect on some piggies. The use of a probiotic may go some way to restoring appetite, but the only way to have a sure reduction in side-effects is to stop the Baytril altogether.

Septrin is the ideal antibiotic for cystitis, and much gentler on piggie tummies, but some vets won't hear of its use as it's actually a human antibiotic.

 

[Guinea Wiggies]

Welcome to the forum, sorry to hear your guinea has cystitis.

Baytril can have this effect on some piggies. The use of a probiotic may go some way to restoring appetite, but the only way to have a sure reduction in side-effects is to stop the Baytril altogether.

Septrin is the ideal antibiotic for cystitis, and much gentler on piggie tummies, but some vets won't hear of its use as it's actually a human antibiotic.

Thanks for the welcome!

I have asked the vet for different antibiotics but it seems they won't give them to me as Baytril is the one they use for guinea pigs.

Just keep fingers crossed for a quick recovery!

 

[Amy1218]

I was given Baytril today. Should I use a probiotic as well then?
xx

 

[Wiebke]

I was given Baytril today. Should I use a probiotic as well then?
xx

Yes, please - you should always ask for probiotics when your piggy is on any antibiotics, simply because the digestive system is so vital for a guinea pig. Baytril is harsher on the guts than septrin, though and can have severe side effects. Sadly, it is the only antibiotic that is licensed for guinea pigs and many not specialised vets will refuse to treat a piggy with another AB. With some of the old school vets, you will have to insist on being given probiotics and painkiller.

Please give the probiotic about an hour after the anitbiotic if possible; it's better sprinkling it on food than putting it in the water bottle. Water with probiotics in goes green in no time flat and many piggies won't drink it in the first place.

You may have more success with printing out this link and showing it to your vet: http://www.guinealynx.info/uti.html
(Pediatric septrin is an orally administered form of trimethoprim sulfa, and as it is a childrens' medicine it comes with banana flavour which goes VERY well down with piggies!)

It took me some tries, but eventually I got one of my vets to prescribe septrin and they have become much more open to suggestions from the forum since then.

When your piggy is ill, please weigh it daily on your kitchen scales at about the same time, so you can monitor its food intake. Daily fluctuations of 30-50g are within the normal range; what you are looking for is a trend or a sudden big weight loss.

 

[Amy1218]

Yes, please - you should always ask for probiotics when your piggy is on any antibiotics, simply because the digestive system is so vital for a guinea pig. Baytril is harsher on the guts than septrin, though and can have severe side effects. Sadly, it is the only antibiotic that is licensed for guinea pigs and many not specialised vets will refuse to treat a piggy with another AB. With some of the old school vets, you will have to insist on being given probiotics and painkiller.

Please give the probiotic about an hour after the anitbiotic if possible; it's better sprinkling it on food than putting it in the water bottle. Water with probiotics in goes green in no time flat and many piggies won't drink it in the first place.

You may have more success with printing out this link and showing it to your vet: http://www.guinealynx.info/uti.html
(Pediatric septrin is an orally administered form of trimethoprim sulfa, and as it is a childrens' medicine it comes with banana flavour which goes VERY well down with piggies!)

It took me some tries, but eventually I got one of my vets to prescribe septrin and they have become much more open to suggestions from the forum since then.

When your piggy is ill, please weigh it daily on your kitchen scales at about the same time, so you can monitor its food intake. Daily fluctuations of 30-50g are within the normal range; what you are looking for is a trend or a sudden big weight loss.

Thank you!

Can I buy a probiotic from the shops? x