Newton has been unwell

[Hannah_xx]

Hello Forum!
On Christmas Eve Newton presented unwell.
Newton has on going dental issues with a missing front incisor. He goes for 8 week checkups for the past 2 years. His last appointment was at the start of December and the vet was really happy with his teeth.

I examined Newtons mouth as soon as I found him not looking like himself. It did seem there was a slight bit of hay stuck in the gum of his missing tooth, but when I pulled it out it came out very easy so I’m not sure if that was the problem or not.
Newton wasn’t eating and sitting around looking unwell, being Xmas eve and everywhere shut and I presumed he perhaps had an infection like he has had before (but never seemed unwell). So I took it upon myself to start him on loxicom for pain and Septrin for antibiotic.

I picked him grass and he eagerly tucked in.
But I feared the worse. It’s not like Newton to be show illness.

The next morning I was surprised and happy to see him. Though still unwell.
He hasn’t pooped either.
I managed to get him to eat grass throughout the day, and over the weekend. He also hasn’t stopped eating his veg dinners, still wheeking at dinner time and tucking in!
I also started critical care and he also would pick at chaff (plain horse Oaten and bit of Lucerne). And continued with the medications twice a day.
Newton started pooping on Saturday/sunday. With more normal looking poops on Sunday/monday. And he had also become more active though still sleeping a lot.
Finally vets where open on Monday and I took him in first thing.
Unfortunately Aaron (my exotic vet). Is away for 2 weeks so I had to see another vet, and annoyingly she was a bit useless. She agreed that perhaps it’s his teeth and to continue with the medications. She was also meant to phone me on Wednesday after consulting with a more Guinea savy vet that she was going to show a photo of his teeth too. But Alas no phone call. And it’s now new years so they’re shut again. After seeing the vet I am actually thinking that the problem is not his teeth.

Anyway, if Newton continues the way he is I will book in with Aaron as soon as he returns.

On Wednesday night I let Newton have the run of the pig room and he was actually popcorning and exploring which was great! And he is also now pooping lots.
And as of today I’ve actually seen him eating some hay..yay!
However apon cleaning him out today I have noticed some dark coloured urine and am concerned that he in fact has a UTI. Perhaps the original problem or maybe one that has occurred from eating mostly grass, veg and some Lucerne chaff (high in calcium..though be really hasn’t had much).
So my question is should I change his antibiotic to baytril which targets UTI’s much better than septrin (to my understanding?)

Thank you.

Please may someone turn my photos the right way up

 

[weepweeps]

Oh Hannah I’m sorry Newton has been poorly over the holidays. I can’t advise about the antibiotics sorry. I hope he’s soon feeling better soon and Aaron is more helpful.

With regards the photos the attach files button is placing photos the wrong way up.

What you have to do now is press the three dots next to the chain icon and another bar drops down (see my photo). Press the picture icon and you can add pictures that way.

 

[Truffolo]

Sending healing vibes, stay strong

 

[Hannah_xx]

Oh Hannah I’m sorry Newton has been poorly over the holidays. I can’t advise about the antibiotics sorry. I hope he’s soon feeling better soon and Aaron is more helpful.

With regards the photos the attach files button is placing photos the wrong way up.

What you have to do now is press the three dots next to the chain icon and another bar drops down (see my photo). Press the picture icon and you can add pictures that way.

View attachment 279922

Thank you weepweeps!

 

[Mrs Tiggy Winkle]

Sending healing vibes

 

[Eriathwen]

Dark urine can be a sign of dehydration, has he been drinking from his water bottle while he's been unwell? It might be worth upping his fluid intake and monitoring the colour of his urine over the next 24 hours, they can also have certain flavourless human rehydration powders in an emergency (I use dioralyte) but there's also bio lapis for rabbits if available to you which has probiotics and electrolytes.

I hope he's feeling better soon!

 

[Roselina]

Oh I’m sorry to hear sweet Newton is unwell - I’m hoping he’s getting better

 

[Hannah_xx]

Dark urine can be a sign of dehydration, has he been drinking from his water bottle while he's been unwell? It might be worth upping his fluid intake and monitoring the colour of his urine over the next 24 hours, they can also have certain flavourless human rehydration powders in an emergency (I use dioralyte) but there's also bio lapis for rabbits if available to you which has probiotics and electrolytes.

I hope he's feeling better soon!

Thank you!
I have seen him drinking quite a lot from his water bowl over the past couple of days so I can’t imagine he’s dehydrated. But I will keep monitoring, thank you!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

I am very sorry that you are faced with an illness over the holidays. It is always a lot more worrying.

In my understanding, septrin/bactrim is the preferred antibiotic for urinary tract infections over baytril but please never switch them halfway through anyway. It may take a bit longer course though.
Antibiotics build up over several days to maximum efficiency which lasts for a few days beyond the end of the course and then they take several after the end to gradually fade away.
Breaking a course off arbitrarily, only helps with contributing to growing resistency issues but as you are not allowing them to do their job properly, you are also not allowing the problem to heal. And then you have to give the new antibiotic time to get to work.
Antibiotics is not a group of medication that kicks in fast, unlike analgesics.

Dark urine is more likely connected to the lack of hydration or to the production of only a small amount of porphyrin; not enough to colour the urine distinctly dark red.

Wishing your poorly boy all the best.

Wiebke's Guide to Pees and Stones

 

[Merab]

So sorry that Newton is poorly.
Holding you in my thoughts

 

[Hannah_xx]

Hi

I am very sorry that you are faced with an illness over the holidays. It is always a lot more worrying.

In my understanding, septrin/bactrim is the preferred antibiotic for urinary tract infections over baytril but please never switch them halfway through anyway. It may take a bit longer course though.
Antibiotics build up over several days to maximum efficiency which lasts for a few days beyond the end of the course and then they take several after the end to gradually fade away.
Breaking a course off arbitrarily, only helps with contributing to growing resistency issues but as you are not allowing them to do their job properly, you are also not allowing the problem to heal. And then you have to give the new antibiotic time to get to work.
Antibiotics is not a group of medication that kicks in fast, unlike analgesics.

Dark urine is more likely connected to the lack of hydration or to the production of only a small amount of porphyrin; not enough to colour the urine distinctly dark red.

Wishing your poorly boy all the best.

Wiebke's Guide to Pees and Stones

Thank you! I will keep him on the septrin, I appreciate your response.
Considering he is feeling much better it must be doing something.
Thank you!

 

[Roselina]

Lovely Newton I hope he gets back to his normal self asap