Nebulising piggies - F10 Antiseptic or just Saline?

[DougyMac79]

Hello my piggy enthusiasts!

I adopted a little girl in Pets at Home in March 2025. She was returned by some swine because she had the sniffles. She was in a cage on her own and I felt awful for her so I immediately took her under my wing and added her in with my other 3 girls and 1 boy. They all accepted her instantly and she is now the life and soul of the group. The lady at Pets at Home said that she had been treated for a URI since being returned. I have tried my best to get the medical history for her from them but no joy at all. The Vet I took her to today said that Pets At Home had a massive URI outbreak in a bunch of guinea pigs about 6 months ago so my girl is probably one that was caught up in that.

I have just returned from the exotic vet £721 lighter and armed with a months worth of Co-Trimoxazole for my 6 month old girl who has a bad case of the sniffles. X-ray done and showing infection in the lungs. Prior to visiting the exotic vet I went to a regular vet who gave me a weeks course of Baytril but that did nothing to clear up the infection.

Before taking my piggy to the vet - I had been nebulising her once a day for 25 minutes with F10 pre mixed Antiseptic solution using an OMRON C28P nebuliser. When I advised my exotic vet of this, he recoiled in horror and said that he discontinued use of F10 for piggies 20 years ago and says he considers it a big no no. This is Chine House Vets in Sileby Leicestershire. He said I should just use Saline. I was surprised at what he said as I had already scoured these forums and seen many people using the F10 and get good results. My Piggy's symptoms did improve for a couple of days but then she had the sniffles again.

What is the general feeling on F10 versus Saline? Happy to do Saline but I want the maximum effect for my little girl. He also said including antibiotics in with the nebuliser is a big no no and ineffective unless you have an extremely high end nebuliser costing thousands.

As soon as I brought her back from the vets she sprang back into life and started running around the lounge having a good sniff!

 

[Wiebke]

Hello my piggy enthusiasts!

I adopted a little girl in Pets at Home in March 2025. She was returned by some swine because she had the sniffles. She was in a cage on her own and I felt awful for her so I immediately took her under my wing and added her in with my other 3 girls and 1 boy. They all accepted her instantly and she is now the life and soul of the group. The lady at Pets at Home said that she had been treated for a URI since being returned. I have tried my best to get the medical history for her from them but no joy at all. The Vet I took her to today said that Pets At Home had a massive URI outbreak in a bunch of guinea pigs about 6 months ago so my girl is probably one that was caught up in that.

I have just returned from the exotic vet £721 lighter and armed with a months worth of Co-Trimoxazole for my 6 month old girl who has a bad case of the sniffles. X-ray done and showing infection in the lungs. Prior to visiting the exotic vet I went to a regular vet who gave me a weeks course of Baytril but that did nothing to clear up the infection.

Before taking my piggy to the vet - I had been nebulising her once a day for 25 minutes with F10 pre mixed Antiseptic solution using an OMRON C28P nebuliser. When I advised my exotic vet of this, he recoiled in horror and said that he discontinued use of F10 for piggies 20 years ago and says he considers it a big no no. This is Chine House Vets in Sileby Leicestershire. He said I should just use Saline. I was surprised at what he said as I had already scoured these forums and seen many people using the F10 and get good results. My Piggy's symptoms did improve for a couple of days but then she had the sniffles again.

What is the general feeling on F10 versus Saline? Happy to do Saline but I want the maximum effect for my little girl. He also said including antibiotics in with the nebuliser is a big no no and ineffective unless you have an extremely high end nebuliser costing thousands.

As soon as I brought her back from the vets she sprang back into life and started running around the lounge having a good sniff!

Any mild antiseptic, from homemade saline solution to hibiscrub to F10, should work.

For some of our members with complex cases, F10 turned out to be the one that did the trick but like with all medication, there are always negative experiences that can influence the advice that you give as a vet. The picture is rarely just black or white but it is some shade of grey when it comes to any medication or support treatment.

Antibiotics are best given orally to ensure that your piggy is getting the correct dosage.

 

[LucyP]

Sorry to hear about your piggy.

I’m not a medical expert and every case is different I know, but in case helpful this was the generic info sheet we were given by the London RVC vets a couple of years ago when one of our girls needed nebulising. She had a chronic breathing issue and it seemed to help her quite a bit (not totally but it definitely seemed worth doing). We used ready to use F10 and the same machine you have. Interesting to read that your vet considers F10 a no-no. If we’re ever asked to do it again I’ll ask my vets more about this, but at the time we were assured it was generally considered safe and commonly used. Your case may be different though and presumably your vets have their reasons.

All the best

 

[piggieminder]

The vets I go to recommend nebulising with F10 antiseptic and I have used it successfully several times. We have just finished a 6 week course of ABs and nebulising as above post for a 6 year old piggy with pneumonia so I know they are still recommending F10. I have the Omron C28P as the vets recommended it, piggies need the finer mist.
Sending your girl healing vibes. I hope she gets well soon.

 

[eileen]

I use chine house,i find the exotic vet knows his stuff....but i feel he has very little bedside manners !
Ive use F10 with a very poorly piggies with pneumonia and bisolvon powder,and antibiotics,and my piggie of 2years pulled through.This was 5 years ago,but the nebuliser really helped.
I use the guinea pig vet in Matlock as well.
I hope your piggie gets better soon.x

 

[DougyMac79]

Thanks everyone. It seems that my vet seems to go against the general consensus. I was advised not to use F10 before any investigation into my piggy's illness has taken place. I just want to give her the best shot at beating her URI. Seems like F10 is the way to go.