Ic Treatment

[kaja979]

Hi everyone, happy new year

My 3 year old sow Harriet has suffered for a couple of years with IC, we have managed to drastically reduce instances through low calcium diet, filtered water, grainless pellets, frequent fleece changes, cystese, and diluted cranberry juice. She has normally had septrim and loxicom during flare ups. Unfortunately, during this instance, she is showing blood in her urine, the vets have given us sulfatrim, 0.2mls once a day, she weighs 1.1kg, this seems a low dose, has anyone else used this AB? Also, does anyone have any other ideas on how to treat her? She's not squeaking when she urinates either so doesn't appear to be in pain. She's eating/drinking/pooping as normal!

 

[kaja979]

And thanks in advance

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone, happy new year

My 3 year old sow Harriet has suffered for a couple of years with IC, we have managed to drastically reduce instances through low calcium diet, filtered water, grainless pellets, frequent fleece changes, cystese, and diluted cranberry juice. She has normally had septrim and loxicom during flare ups. Unfortunately, during this instance, she is showing blood in her urine, the vets have given us sulfatrim, 0.2mls once a day, she weighs 1.1kg, this seems a low dose, has anyone else used this AB? Also, does anyone have any other ideas on how to treat her? She's not squeaking when she urinates either so doesn't appear to be in pain. She's eating/drinking/pooping as normal!

Hi! You are doing all the right things. IC cannot be healed as things stand. It generally eventually goes away on its own, but that can take 2-3 years. the good news is that once it is gone, it won't come back again and it does not impact on the life span or causes stones. If it is any consolation for you, my Nerys had another 3 years of life after her 3 years of IC and died aged 8 years from old age.

Sulfatrim is the new exotics vet brand name for septrin without any flavourings. It is adult strength, i.e. you have to give half the dosage of pediatric septrin.

 

[kaja979]

Thanks Wiebke! How long would u say the course of AB should last?

Also, have u noticed they've stopped selling guinea pig monthly mag at pets @ home! I'm gutted!

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks Wiebke! How long would you say the course of AB should last?

Also, have you noticed they've stopped selling guinea pig monthly mag at pets @ home! I'm gutted!

I would use it only for acute phases if at all. Blood in urine is typical for the acute spikes of IC that pass with or without antibiotics. These spikes should hopefully become less frequent and eventually stop completely. I would recommend to mark them in your agenda.

P@h has stopped selling all pet magazines in their branches without giving us a chance to bring out the next issue with a warning that you have to switch to direct subscription. Guinea Pig Magazine is still going; in fact we have produced another couple of issues since then (#40 in September and #41 in November). The next issue #42 is coming out in a few days!
You can order your issues directly from the magazine website as a printed version (sent directly to you by mail) or more cheaply as a download version. https://www.guineapigmagazine.com/
If you have questions, you can also contact GPM via their facebook page Guinea Pig Magazine, via their website email contact or post in our GPM sticky thread at the top of Guinea Pig Chat on the forum where we try to keep our forum members updated about what is happening.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

That's a very low dose of sulfatrim. For a piggy weighing that much, our vet would prescribe 0.5 mls twice daily.

 

[kaja979]

Thanks again Wiebke, she hadn't had an occurrence in many moths so I'm hoping its becoming less frequent!

I'm going to order direct from website! I love that magazine! Even if I get teased mercilessly by everyone who sees me reading it! Just as an aside, has everyone seen the gorgeous guinea pig merchandise from cath kidston, I'm in love

It might be worth me phoning the vets tomorrow and ask about upping her dosage then

Thanks x

 

[kaja979]

Hi, so Harriet has been on the AB for 5 days, she realllllly doesn't like the taste (she LOVED septrim!) She still has blood in her urine

I forgot to mention, I dont know if this is completely unrelated, she has always been the dominant sow, but lately she's been extremely dominant, climbing on Poppy's back and rumblestrutting frequently. Do u think the two tho GS could be connected? I'm taking her back to the vets on Tuesday if no better.