How Long Should I Use Nebuliser For?

[Qualcast&Flymo]

I'm currently nebulising Zebedee as he has yet another URI, but not sure how long to carry it on for.
I started 12 days ago, just once a day, after I noticed the occasional grunty breathing etc. I increased it to twice a day at the beginning of last week (8 days ago) as the grunty breathing was getting more frequent/ almost continuous. Following the vet instructions, I use 0.02ml of F10 in 5ml of saline, for 10-15 minutes each time.

After a week, Zebedee's breathing is still noisy, so I am wondering, will the nebulising with F10 cure the URI, and if so will it take some time as oral antibiotics do? If it isn't going to make him better, then I ought to get him to the vet, as although he is still eating and drinking, he is losing weight ( I'm going to start giving him some Critical Care later today).

I'd be grateful if anyone could advise me whether or not I am treating him correctly, so I can make sure he gets better as soon as possible.
If necessary I will try to get him an appointment to see the vet who originally recommended a nebuliser - apparently she has a particular interest in rabbit medicine, so perhaps she is also more knowledgeable than some about guinea pigs.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Tiamolly123]

I could be wrong, I thought a URI was an infection & needs antibiotics to treat the condition. The nebuliser is merely to make him breath easy. As a URI can be a quick killer I would get him off to the vet.

 

[DM030819]

Yep you're right @Tiamolly123 . F10 is an antiseptic solution and so doesn't tackle an infection. If there is an URI present then antibiotics will be needed. You can get antibiotics which can be used with a nebuliser if it is a stubborn URI. I've never tried it though but it makes sense that it would be more effective as it's getting straight to the problem area instead of going in via with stomach.

I used a nebuliser regular with my Anselmo @Qualcast&Flymo. The vet was certain that he had damaged airways and any small irritation would cause his breathing to be more strained. The F10 was used to help open his airways so he could breathe easier. He never had a URI.

It might be worth trying the nebuliser in combination with some oral antibiotics.

 

[VickiA]

I’ve always used the nebuliser in conjunction with antibiotics for treating URIs. It works well as part of a combined treatment. Some vets will prescribe treatments to put into the nebuliser but I don’t think F10 alone will be enough to kill any infection that’s present. I’d ask the vets to check him over and decide what further to add.

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

Thanks, @Tiamolly123 , @Jaycey and @VickiA . I must have been misunderstanding what the vet meant. I'll make an appointment as soon as I can to see the vet who originally suggested the nebuliser, for antibiotics and further advice.

@Jaycey , when you used one for your boar, did you only use it when he was snuffly, or does one use it in between as a preventative or to clear the airways before a blockage becomes noticeable?

 

[DM030819]

@Qualcast&Flymo I just used it whenever he started to snuffle. Sometimes once would be enough but occasionally he'd have to go in 3 times before he was clear again.

We could never work out exactly what caused the snuffles so couldn't predict when we needed to use it, so we were never able to use it as a preventative measure.

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

Got an appointment for this evening - sadly not with the vet I wanted to see, she isn't available until next week. I hope the one I see will be able to answer my questions or if not will be ok to ask the other one and get back to me.

 

[Katiedid]

How did the appointment go? We were given a nebuliser to use with antibiotics if the antibiotics alone weren’t working. The F10 as an antiseptic must have some effect on the bacteria in the airways. We were told to continue nebulising after we had finished the course of antibiotics. If she gets sniffy agin she gets popped back in.

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

@Katiedid , thanks for asking. The vet prescribed Zithromax for 10 days and Loxicom, which is what Zebedee usually has, so hopefully he will be clear in a week or so. She said continue to use the nebuliser to help his breathing also. I didn't ask about having antibiotics in the nebuliser instead, but in the New Year (assuming he doesn't get another URI before then) I may well book an appointment with the vet who originally suggested the nebuliser, to talk about future treatment including ab's in the nebuliser etc.
His weight seems to have stabilised now, fortunately he seems to like the Critical Care/mushed nugget mix and will eat it off a spoon which makes life easier. (unfortunately Squeaks also seems to like the mix, so I can't just leave a dish in the cage for Zeb, as Squeaks will gobble it all first!)

 

[Katiedid]

That’s good news. I hope it clears the infection up.