Quite urgent - respiratory infection medicines.

[Jenoi]

Hi there,

We are going to go to the vets today, but I wanted to find out a bit about which medicines are suitable first.

One of our boys has suddenly become unwell today.... he was fine yesterday, but today his breathing is really quite bad. You can hear a noise very slightly when you hold him up but apart from that you can't hear anything from him.

I'm assuming Baytril might be given, I was wondering if we could also suggest Prednisalone (steroid) to the vets, it's something that we've been given a lot for our rats but I don't know if it's okay for guinea pigs too.

Thanks in advance,
Rae

 

[sport_billy]

Hi there,

We are going to go to the vets today, but I wanted to find out a bit about which medicines are suitable first.

One of our boys has suddenly become unwell today.... he was fine yesterday, but today his breathing is really quite bad. You can hear a noise very slightly when you hold him up but apart from that you can't hear anything from him.

I'm assuming Baytril might be given, I was wondering if we could also suggest Prednisalone (steroid) to the vets, it's something that we've been given a lot for our rats but I don't know if it's okay for guinea pigs too.

Thanks in advance,
Rae

If breathing is particulary bad and there may be fluid in the lungs, it may be worth discussing the use of a diruetic called furosemide to help clear the lungs.

Hope your little boy will be ok x

 

[Jenoi]

Thanks for replying

His breathing doesn't sound like there's really any fluid, he doesn't sound congested etc (I know it's hard to tell for sure though).

Is prednisalone okay for them? Sorry to ask again, it has really helped some of our ratties so just wondered if it's worth asking about.

 

[sport_billy]

I honestly dont know as regards to the steroid - sorry.

It may be worth getting some pro-biotics to go along with the antibiotics something such as avi-pro plus, as anti-biotics can be harsh on the tummy.

 

[Toffeewoffee]

One of my piggies recently had a steroid injection for breathing and it made no difference, (but i do not know the name of it) I would imagine an injection suitable for rats would be suitable for piggies too, but your vet will be able to confirm, you can always suggest it. Baytril is usually good for respiratory problems, so try a course and see if it helps. But as sport_billy says pro-biotics are a must as AB's can be harsh on their guts and put them off their food.

x

 

[Pebble]

Thanks for replying

His breathing doesn't sound like there's really any fluid, he doesn't sound congested etc (I know it's hard to tell for sure though).

Is prednisalone okay for them? Sorry to ask again, it has really helped some of our ratties so just wondered if it's worth asking about.

NO! Prednisolone is NOT OK

On NO account press for a steroid esp predinosolone at this point i.e. early in in a possible URI - keep to the anitbiotis baytri/marbocyl/septrin). Better still -Take a culture (throat and nasal swabs) before first anitbiotics are given and test for antibioitic sensitivity and identification of the causative organism

Pred is powerfully immunosuppressive and can make any underlying infection worse/fatal. It is normally only used in piggies suffering from cancer to delay the progress of the disease.....and is a double edged sword because it can also cause early death from systemic infection in cancer piggies owing to it's immunosuppressive properties.

This current situation needs antibiotics (baytril/marbocyl/septrin) as first action.......with possibly fruseamide diuretic if the respiratory infection has reached the lungs rather than remain in the nose/pharynx.

HTH
x

 

[Jenoi]

Thanks for your replies.

Thank you Pebble, we will definitely not ask for preds, that's good to know. We're just going to the vets right now and I'll update soon.