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Millie Has A Uri

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Pets Palace TV

Pets Palace TV

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I found one of my guinea pigs Millie was sneezing really badly yesterday and she wouldn't eat or hardly move. We took her straight to the vets and she has URI. We have been given pain relief and baytril to help her recover. She will not eat or drink anything so I have been syringe feeding her pellets and water to keep her hydrated. She seems very unwell and I'm started to get concerned - she is really not keen on the syringe feeding and it's becoming really difficult. I don't want to stress her out by syringe feeding her all the time but I know that it is really important that I keep trying because she is not eating anything. This is really strange but I noticed that she is sneezing up some of the mashed pellets that I gave to her through the syringe which I am really confused about and I have no clue what could be causing this. Does anyone have any experience with pigs who have had this infection and treating it? I'm also worried that the other guinea pigs might have caught it too as Millie lives with 9 other guinea pigs but I separated her from them as soon as I noticed something was wrong. Is there anything else I can do?
 
Is she still in the same airspace as her friends? i.e. same room? if so then I would put her back with them as she may feel better having them around and quarantine is only really effective in a separate room. As Lee has said, she may need a diuretic if she has fluid on her chest? did the vet say whether she had fluid? Bisolvon is also good for clearing mucous from the nasal passages. For tonight you could place a bowl of boiling water next to the cage with a couple of drops of Olbas oil in which may help. I also do this with a steam inhaler and hold over the nose in 5 second bursts but I appreciate you may not have one.

I am not too sure about the sneezing up of pellets, unless maybe they are still in her mouth and she is opening her mouth as she sneezes? my sister did have Ribena come out her nose once though so I would say there must be a reason for it.

Your vet may also want to switch to a different antibiotic if the Baytril is not effective enough, I have treated URIs with Septrin but also Zithromax.
 
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I would suggest hitting the infection with Zithromax or Marbocyl. Baytril will do absolutely nothing, but unfortunately it is the first antibiotic on the cascade and is the only antibiotic licenced one for pigs. Zithromax and Marbocyl are the two big guns that are suitable and effective for pigs.
 
My vet prescribed Baytril for my Max. when I suggested Zithromax on a follow up visit I was told Baytril more suitable. I lost my Max within a week. I still wonder if Zithromax may have saved Max.
 
worried val of york said:
My vet prescribed Baytril for my Max. when I suggested Zithromax on a follow up visit I was told Baytril more suitable. I lost my Max within a week. I still wonder if Zithromax may have saved Max.
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I wish more vets were willing to try something more than Baytril. When I first started going to Simon almost 9 years ago he used Zithromax for the no-hopers, with the view that they weren't going to make it, so it was worth a go. The majority recovered, which is why he doesn't waste precious time using Baytril now.
 
Sorry to hear your little one is unwell.

I would certainly suggest taking her back on Monday if she is making no improvement. You are doing the right thing by syringe feeding her. If she doesn't get any better then a different antibiotic may well be needed and potentially an X-ray to see what her lungs and heart look like. Sport_billy is right in mentioning a directric but until the vet is sure about any fluid on the lungs I would hold off on that idea, but there is a chance she could have heart issues.

Good luck with any future vet visits. I do hope she starts to pick up soon.

x
 
agree with others that i wouldn't separate her as it will cause more stress. they would have been exposed to anything by now anyway sharing the same air space. also agree that another antibiotic would be best. it's good you have been given pain relief though (i assume metacam which will help with any nasal inflammation)
 
helen105281 said:
Is she still in the same airspace as her friends? i.e. same room? if so then I would put her back with them as she may feel better having them around and quarantine is only really effective in a separate room. As Lee has said, she may need a diuretic if she has fluid on her chest? did the vet say whether she had fluid? Bisolvon is also good for clearing mucous from the nasal passages. For tonight you could place a bowl of boiling water next to the cage with a couple of drops of Olbas oil in which may help. I also do this with a steam inhaler and hold over the nose in 5 second bursts but I appreciate you may not have one.
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They live in a shed joined onto an outdoor enclosure but it is too cold for her to be out there with her being unwell, this is why we have moved her into our conservatory. I also read that URI's are really contagious? So I am reluctant to put her back with the others because if would be a disaster if they all got it. The vet gave us some Bisolvon. Thanks, I'll try the Olbas oil tonight!
 
Abi_nurse said:
Sorry to hear your little one is unwell.

I would certainly suggest taking her back on Monday if she is making no improvement. You are doing the right thing by syringe feeding her. If she doesn't get any better then a different antibiotic may well be needed and potentially an X-ray to see what her lungs and heart look like. Sport_billy is right in mentioning a directric but until the vet is sure about any fluid on the lungs I would hold off on that idea, but there is a chance she could have heart issues.

Good luck with any future vet visits. I do hope she starts to pick up soon.

x
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Thank you! Syringe feeding is not going so well - she just can't seem to swallow anything now :(
 
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