Poorly Piggie - Uti After Back Leg Paralysis

[brillmini]

Hi All

I've had such a worrying week with my little Truffle. It started last Friday she was fine in the morning and by lunchtime she couldn't move her back legs. I took her straight to the vets who couldn't find any obvious things wrong with her no injuries her heart was fine. So she had an injection of anti-inflammatories. I took her home and read in one of my guinea pig books that this could be a lack of calcium and to give Osteocare which I did and amazingly she was walking within a couple of days. She seemed ok but didn't seem to eat that much but nibbled on some veg and hay but by last night she had done a wee and it was proper red and blood like which was scary! By this morning she'd eaten nothing and didn't even come out of her house for cucumber so it was straight to the vets again and they are fairly certain it is a UTI so she has got some critical care sachets of food for 3 days or until she starts to eat again (a little bit of a trial trying to get the syringe in but we'll get there!). She's also got a 7 day course of Septrin to take 0.7ml once a day. I was just wondering is this quite a good antibiotic for her to take?
Sorry for the long post and thanks for the advice.x

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

I am very sorry for all the upsets!

How old is Truffle and how much does she weigh (this for checking the dosage) - this is a dosage for a piggy well below a kilo. Septrin is the best antibiotic for UTIs, but she may need a longer course. I would strongly recommend to split the dose in view of the quick metabolism.

Do you still have some of the anti-inflammatories? Which brand were you given? they can additionally help with a UTI, depending on what you did get.

Please hand feed and water her if she is not eating to help keep up her strength. Give some probiotics in order to buffer the guts against the antibiotic, a pinch 1-2 hours after the antibiotic. I would also recommend to give her additional vitamin C to boost the immune system, whether it is Oxbow (info at the end of the hand feeding thread) or unsweeteened cranberry juice (if wished, mixed with water). Once she is eating, you may want to tempt her with mildly diuretic veg like fresh dandelions, lettuce or cucumber, but not so much as to cause soft poos or diarrhea. Make sure that you change her bedding area often if she is not moving much, so she is as dry as possible.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/complete-hand-feeding-guide.115359/

 

[brillmini]

Hi!

I am very sorry for all the upsets!

How old is Truffle and how much does she weigh (this for checking the dosage) - this is a dosage for a piggy well below a kilo. Septrin is the best antibiotic for UTIs, but she may need a longer course. I would strongly recommend to split the dose in view of the quick metabolism.

Do you still have some of the anti-inflammatories? Which brand were you given? they can additionally help with a UTI, depending on what you did get.

Please hand feed and water her if she is not eating to help keep up her strength. Give some probiotics in order to buffer the guts against the antibiotic, a pinch 1-2 hours after the antibiotic. I would also recommend to give her additional vitamin C to boost the immune system, whether it is Oxbow (info at the end of the hand feeding thread) or unsweeteened cranberry juice (if wished, mixed with water). Once she is eating, you may want to tempt her with mildly diuretic veg like fresh dandelions, lettuce or cucumber, but not so much as to cause soft poos or diarrhea. Make sure that you change her bedding area often if she is not moving much, so she is as dry as possible.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/complete-hand-feeding-guide.115359/

Hi
Thanks for your reply. Truffle is nearly 4 I don't know what the anti-inflammatory was she had another injection of one today. She weighs just over 1kg. Would you give her the critical care food before or after the antibiotic? She has had a half a piece of cucumber. Hate it when she's ill. Thanks for your help x

 

[Wiebke]

Hi
Thanks for your reply. Truffle is nearly 4 I don't know what the anti-inflammatory was she had another injection of one today. She weighs just over 1kg. Would you give her the critical care food before or after the antibiotic? She has had a half a piece of cucumber. Hate it when she's ill. Thanks for your help x

You can give Critical Care anytime. How often depends on how much she is eating in each session; the less she is eating, the more often round the clock. You can find all the relevant information in the guide; please read it!

The dosage is on the low side for her weight; my own current 1kg UTI piggy is on 0.5ml septrin twice daily for 3 weeks. She is also additionally getting metacam (anti-inflammatory/painkiller).