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Head Tilt/inner Ear Infection

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Pitterpat

Pitterpat

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi piggie peeps, just wondering if anyone has any experience of treating head tilts/inner ear infections with Septrin?

Vespa has been on Septrin (0.6 ml once a day) and Loxicom (0.19 ml once a day) for two weeks. I noticed an improvement - her tilt almost completely dissappear.

However, the past few days she has seemed a bit more tilty to me. She's also looking a bit grubby so I was worried the tilt might be affecting her ability to groom herself.

She's been back to the vets today (the boyfriend took her while I was at work). The vet thinks she has improved since she last saw her, however she said Vespa has slight paralysis on her left (tilty) side which she thinks is due to the infection in Vespa's body?

The bf asked vet if we should try different medication. However vet said to stick with Septrin and go back in another 2 weeks for check up. The lable on the new bottle of Septrin now says 0.6 ml twice a day (going to double check dosage with vets in morn as they're shut now).

Apart from being a bit tilty and looking slightly scruffy Vespa still has a very good appetite, i'm weighing her daily and she's not lost any weight (she's put a bit on). She's still very active and is happy hopping in and out of the hay trays.

Has anyone had success in treating their tilty piggies with Septrin?

Thanks :)
 
Septrin is OK for treating an ear infection. It is usually impacting less on the digestive system than baytril. Your vet is obviously maxing out on the dosage, which goes by weight, but it is within the parameters for a guinea pig that is somewhat over a kilo and comparable to the dosage required for urinary tract infection.
@Adelle @helen105281 @Elwickcavies
 
Thanks for your reply Wiebke. She is now weighing over a 1kg which must be why the dose has increased. Hopefully we can get rid of her tilt.
 
My Pheobe had a head tilt and was on Baytril though I had originally asked for Zithromax. It does sound like the Spetrin has helped and that she may need a longer course but if it doesn't clear up entirely maybe ask your vet about Zithromax (Azithromycin)?
 
Thank you helen105281. I will keep Zithromax in mind. Hope your Phoebe is doing well after her head tilt.
 
Pitterpat said:
Thank you helen105281. I will keep Zithromax in mind. Hope your Phoebe is doing well after her head tilt.
Click to expand...
Thank you, sadly we lost her a few months later but it was unrelated to the head tilt (a freak accident). Was a year or so ago.
 
Hi,

Baytril can penetrate deeper than septrin but it sounds like the septrin has worked so far, although would be concerned about her symptoms returning. I have always been prescribed septrin twice a day bar one time at once a day purely as the antibiotic was a precaution for potential infection setting in rather than an acute infection.

I would give her 3 days on the twice a day dose, failure to improve in that time and id be seeking for another antibiotic such as baytril. Any deterioration before then, take her back sooner and request the baytril.

All the best x
 
She is very unique! Absolutely gorgeous. Hopefully the increased septrin will help kick it xx
 
Oh how cute is she. That doesn't look too bad, it must have improved a lot already.
 
Fingers crossed the increased medication will get rid of it completely.

Thanks for all your replies, much appreciated x
 
A lot of you may remember Minky who over 3 years ago suddenly came down with a head tilt & though the infection cleared she had a full life and was the alpha female until she passed away last December. A head tilt boy also came into our rescue in April. It was something that had happened earlier in his life & the infect had gone. His was only mild, what I call 5 to or 5 past the hour. He was eventually neutered & bonded with 2 girls & was just adopted yesterday. So not to worry, the head tilt is the symptom & not the cause. They can live live with the tilt after the infection has gone. They do sometimes have a blank look as if there as been neurological damage but they tend to be really loving & trusting piggies :) x
 
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