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Recurring URI

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Phoebe-PP

Phoebe-PP

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Pumpkin had a URI about a month or so ago and was given Baytril to clear it up, she's been fine up until now when I've noticed her breathing's a bit heavy again. I have Baytril left from the previous URI so could I use this alongside poos from her healthy friend to ease up her breathing? If so, what dosage, and how much/many poos?
 
With antibiotics you usually need a full course in order for them to be effective. I'd take her to the vet if you think the uri's back. I'm sure someone else will be along to advise soon. Hope she's feeling better soon. x
 
Baytril will only work if the breathing problem is a symptom of infection by a bug and even then, a lot of bugs these days are resistant to baytril so an alternative antibioitic may be more suitable gievn she's already had one course.

However the fact that she has breathing issues would suggest this is not an upper resiratory infection (URI). Either there is an infection in the lungs (lower respiratory infection) or there is some type of inflammation/fluid affecting her breathing.

If the only symtpom is breathing issues and there is no discharge from the eyes or nose, I would suggest a vets visit is in order as this might not be a URI and an alternative treatment may be found to be more suitable.
Frusemide diuretic can help shft fluid in the lungs and ease breathing and is often used in combination with anitbiotics (spetrin or baytril or marbocyl) or heart meds (such as fortekor) if the piggie is found to have heart condition - which often first preents as multiple URI's.

Are your vets cavy-savvy as unfrotunately not all vets are, and many just rely on treating guinea pigs with baytril. We can hlep you find a vets tha knows more about guinea pigs if you let us know whereabouts in the country you are based.

HTH
x
 
Pebble said:
Are your vets cavy-savvy as unfrotunately not all vets are, and many just rely on treating guinea pigs with baytril. We can hlep you find a vets tha knows more about guinea pigs if you let us know whereabouts in the country you are based.
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Oh yes, I'm with Jenny Towers at Tilehurst, and she definitely knows her stuff!
 
Okay thank you everyone. I will book her in at the vets asap. I'm concerned that she will just be sent away with a course of antibiotics (even though she's with a fab vet!) so is there anything which I can suggest/say to prod the vet into investigating further?
 
Hiya

Jenny treats one of my girls who has had something similar to yours. She was getting repeated URI's, hooting, wheezing etc. We were very worried that continued treatment with Baytril would make her resistant to the antibiotics and also was not really making much difference long term.

She is now on Fortekor and Frusemide (the diuretic Pebbles referred to). This has helped her tremendously. She is also on something called 'Nose Relief' a homeopathic treatment for cats and dogs which helps them breath better (http://www.petplanet.co.uk/shop_store/Homeopet_Nose_Relief_p50570.html)

You have to play around with the doses of Fortekor and diuretic until you get it right (Jenny will tell you what to do if she believes this is the right treatment). I have had two others (sadly now RIP with old age) with the same treatment and all lived healthy and happy lives. Its taken my current little girl a long time to get it right and she still has down days but she is improving a lot.

Hope that helps...Jenny is great is;nt she :-)
 
Oh yes, one other thing which I was not aware of until recently. Baytril only has a shelf life of one month so best not to use it after a month. I know you mentioned you had some left over which you thought about using (which is exactly what I used to do for emergencies!) but best to get fresh (and under vet supervision of course) if you need it.
 
Best to see a vet to be honest. I am having a similar ongoing issue with an older boar of mine. Hes popping to work with me on Monday for a work up on the matter. Possibly having a sedation, nasel swabs, xrays and full mouth/throat examination. We cannot find much wrong with him. Ive tried numerous beddings and environments. If any swabs done are inconclusive then its likely he has some form of asthma.

x
 
Abi_nurse said:
Best to see a vet to be honest. I am having a similar ongoing issue with an older boar of mine. Hes popping to work with me on Monday for a work up on the matter. Possibly having a sedation, nasel swabs, xrays and full mouth/throat examination. We cannot find much wrong with him. Ive tried numerous beddings and environments. If any swabs done are inconclusive then its likely he has some form of asthma.

x
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Abi Nurse

Thats really interesting I'd love to know how you get on? My little sow definitely has a bad heart so I know the current medications are helping her but I am still not 100% its all heart related. I would be very interested to hear how your examination goes. Thank you.
 
Guinea Slave said:
Oh yes, one other thing which I was not aware of until recently. Baytril only has a shelf life of one month so best not to use it after a month. I know you mentioned you had some left over which you thought about using (which is exactly what I used to do for emergencies!) but best to get fresh (and under vet supervision of course) if you need it.
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I double checked with Jenny first off, and she said it's worth a shot, because it wasn't too old; it hasn't helped anyway though. It's a bit of a pain though, because that probably means it's not something that can easily be fixed with a bit of antibiotics :(
 
Guinea Slave said:
Hiya

Jenny treats one of my girls who has had something similar to yours. She was getting repeated URI's, hooting, wheezing etc. We were very worried that continued treatment with Baytril would make her resistant to the antibiotics and also was not really making much difference long term.

She is now on Fortekor and Frusemide (the diuretic Pebbles referred to). This has helped her tremendously. She is also on something called 'Nose Relief' a homeopathic treatment for cats and dogs which helps them breath better (http://www.petplanet.co.uk/shop_store/Homeopet_Nose_Relief_p50570.html)

You have to play around with the doses of Fortekor and diuretic until you get it right (Jenny will tell you what to do if she believes this is the right treatment). I have had two others (sadly now RIP with old age) with the same treatment and all lived healthy and happy lives. Its taken my current little girl a long time to get it right and she still has down days but she is improving a lot.

Hope that helps...Jenny is great is;nt she :-)
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*Scribbling notes frantically* I spoke with Jenny earlier to update on whether or not to continue with the Baytril (that's a no, considering it hasn't made the blindest bit of difference) so I've got an appointment tomorrow with another vet as Jenny isn't working so I'll discuss all these things with him/her. I'm slightly concerned about letting someone other than Jenny help, do you know if the other vets at Tilehurst are any good?
 
Abi_nurse said:
Best to see a vet to be honest. I am having a similar ongoing issue with an older boar of mine. Hes popping to work with me on Monday for a work up on the matter. Possibly having a sedation, nasel swabs, xrays and full mouth/throat examination. We cannot find much wrong with him. Ive tried numerous beddings and environments. If any swabs done are inconclusive then its likely he has some form of asthma.

x
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How strange ?/ Is his triggered by something or is it continuous? My Pumpkin's is pretty much continuous, but I've never considered the thought of asthma. It'd be interesting to hear how you get on on Monday.
 
Pumpkin's been to the vets today. She has fluid on her lungs and is a bit crackly and rattly. She was given an injection of Baytril and Metacam, which she absolutely hated! She has to continue her Baytril until Wednesday when we have a repeat appointment. If this doesn't clear it up, we'll have to investigate heart conditions, or something on her lungs (a growth perhaps?)
 
Has the vet prescribed Frusemide like Pebble suggested? It is imperative to get the fluid off the lungs in this sort of situation, & Frusemide will do that hopefully.
 
Poppy'sMum said:
Has the vet prescribed Frusemide like Pebble suggested? It is imperative to get the fluid off the lungs in this sort of situation, & Frusemide will do that hopefully.
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No she didn't, just the Metacam and Baytril. We thought we'd try this first because it worked when she had fluid on her lungs previously. We have another appointment Wednesday to check it's doing the job.
 
Yep Frusemide will help a lot, worth checking. Sally Ward is another vet there which is very good with guineas as well, I have used her as well. The others are all very nice but I would not use them for guineas.

Good luck!
 
Okay, thanks for the advice :) I am also slightly baffled as the vet we had yesterday (not our usual one) told me to give her Baytril twice a day up until Wednesday,yet she didn't actually give me any? I have some left, but only about one more 0.4 ml dose so I'm not really sure what she wants me to do.
 
How stupid! She must have forgotten to write out a prescription. I'd call them tomorrow as it sounds like a mistake to me.
 
Sorry to hear about Pumpkin being ill :(

I wonder if the other vet just presumed you had enough baytril?

Good luck and....

HEALING VIBES FOR PUMPKIN XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
Glynis said:
I wonder if the other vet just presumed you had enough baytril?
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Guinea Slave said:
How stupid! She must have forgotten to write out a prescription. I'd call them tomorrow as it sounds like a mistake to me.
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It does seem like a very stupid mistake to me! I'm hoping that I'll be able to call them up and get some today, but the silly thing is, I only need 0.8ml more as she's nearly finished her course mallethead
 
Well good news, there doesn't seem to be anything underlying causing the infections; it's just a very stubborn one! We've got another week of the Baytril/Metacam and then (hopefully) we'll be home and dry!
 
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