Septrin Dose, Urgent Advice Needed

[saman]

My piggy is on a 2 week course of Septrin for suspected UTI. The bottle states "Septrin Paediatric suspension x 37.0, 2.5ml twice daily. Surely this is way too much? Help appreciated.

 

[babydoll]

My piggy is on a 2 week course of Septrin for suspected UTI. The bottle states "Septrin Paediatric suspension x 37.0, 2.5ml twice daily. Surely this is way too much? Help appreciated.

It must be a misprint its properly 0.37ml that's what my boy was on when he had cystitis just about half way inbetween the 3 and 4 mark on a 1ml syringe

 

[saman]

It must be a misprint its properly 0.37ml that's what my boy was on when he had cystitis just about half way inbetween the 3 and 4 mark on a 1ml syringe

I think the 37 is the amount in jar. The 2.5ml is what it is saying to give him twice a day. He is just under a kg. This must be a mistake.

 

[babydoll]

I think the 37 is the amount in jar. The 2.5ml is what it is saying to give him twice a day. He is just under a kg. This must be a mistake.

that would mean 2 and a half syringes full which seems too much?

 

[babydoll]

this was juniors he weight about 1kg

 

[saman]

that would mean 2 and a half syringes full which seems too much?

The syringes they put in with it, are bigger ones 2.5ml if full. It seems way too much. I wonder if its more diluted than normal. Going to have to give them a call in the morning to see if this is correct .

 

[saman]

Thanks. Yeah this just doesn't feel right.

 

[flintstones]

It's the child version of Septrin so it's more dilute than the adult version. I'd call and check just to be sure but I have known of a pig to be given a similar dose.

A word of caution - please use a 1ml syringe and break the dose down. My friend had a pig on a similarly high dose of Septrin and aspirated her by accident when administering the dose in a bigger syringe. The little pig was lucky to survive one of it's lungs was completely destroyed and it was a long hard battle to help the little pig recover. X

 

[saman]

It's the child version of Septrin so it's more dilute than the adult version. I'd call and check just to be sure but I have known of a pig to be given a similar dose.

A word of caution - please use a 1ml syringe and break the dose down. My friend had a pig on a similarly high dose of Septrin and aspirated her by accident when administering the dose in a bigger syringe. The little pig was lucky to survive one of it's lungs was completely destroyed and it was a long hard battle to help the little pig recover. X

Thank you for that advice. I have the smaller syringes here, so will use them. I have phoned the vet to check, just waiting for a call back. But even if he says it is correct, I don't have complete faith in them, so will still be concerned.
Just wondering what Weibke view on this would be. I have searched on the forum, and cant find any others being given such a high dose.

 

[Katherine]

This sounds odd. When one of our pigs was on a 2 week course of Septrin for a UTI, she had 0.3ml twice a day.

Tagging @Wiebke

 

[Wiebke]

2.5 ml a day is too high a dose, you are right. Could you please ring the clinic and confirm with your vet that it isn't meant to be 0.25ml, which would make it a rather low dose? Mistakes like that can happen.

 

[saman]

2.5 ml a day is too high a dose, you are right. Could you please ring the clinic and confirm with your vet that it isn't meant to be 0.25ml, which would make it a rather low dose? Mistakes like that can happen.

Thanks. I phoned them and the receptionist confirmed that it is 2.5ml twice a day, I asked if she was sure as I felt that it was extremely high, she said its definitely what they have marked down. She said she would check with vet and get back to me.

 

[saman]

2.5 ml a day is too high a dose, you are right. Could you please ring the clinic and confirm with your vet that it isn't meant to be 0.25ml, which would make it a rather low dose? Mistakes like that can happen.

Spoke to the vet now, he continues to say 2.5ml twice a day, despite me kind of arguing that that's to much. He said it due to the amount of antibiotic that is actually in the banana flavouring. I understand what he means, but surely this would be like giving a child a loads of spoonfuls. I just don't know what to do now. Should I just give 0.3ml twice a day instead?

 

[Katherine]

I'd be inclined to exercise caution and wait for more advice - it is very difficult if the professional is saying one thing, and your own judgement / instinct is saying another. The dose prescribed sounds massive. Hope someone can help you decide what to do.

@Wiebke @Pebble

 

[Wiebke]

Spoke to the vet now, he continues to say 2.5ml twice a day, despite me kind of arguing that that's to much. He said it due to the amount of antibiotic that is actually in the banana flavouring. I understand what he means, but surely this would be like giving a child a loads of spoonfuls. I just don't know what to do now. Should I just give 0.3ml twice a day instead?

I have been given 1 ml daily of double strength adult septrin for a frail, small piggy (700g and less) with massive bladder problems by a guinea pig specialist, so the 2.5ml pediatric dose is not way over the top. Cariad didn't have any ill effects from the high dose. If your vet is confirming that dose, then please give it! However, I would recommend to split it into two doses and give half in the morning and the other half in the evening for best effect. Guinea pigs have a very fast metabolism and generally require higher dosages than a cat of the same weight, for instance.
0.3 ml once daily is too low to be really effective except in very young piggies, but as one possible dose was very much at the high end and the other very much a the low end of the possible spectrum, it is good that you have asked for confirmation.

 

[saman]

I have been given 1 ml daily of double strength adult septrin for a frail, small piggy (700g and less) with massive bladder problems by a guinea pig specialist, so the 2.5ml pediatric dose is not way over the top. Cariad didn't have any ill effects from the high dose. If your vet is confirming that dose, then I would give it! However, I would recommend to split it into two doses and give half in the morning and the other half in the evening for best effect. Guinea pigs have a very fast metabolism and generally require higher dosages than a cat of the same weight, for instance.
0.3 ml once daily is too low to be really effective except in very young piggies, but as one possible dose was very much at the high end and the other very much a the low end of the possible spectrum, it is good that you have asked for confirmation.

The vet has confirmed the 2.5ml, but at twice a day, making it 5ml a day in total. I am really confused as to what to do. I have scoured the web, and have found others that have been given this much. Caramel is just under a kg, and is 5 and a half years old, so getting on a little. I did give him the 2.5ml yesterday (just one dose) before the worry set in. Its really hard, when there is so much conflicting information. I think it will give the 2.5ml, but separated into two doses, like you mentioned. I know its a lot less than prescribed, but don't want to cause him any damage

 

[Wiebke]

@Pebble - your medical expertise is needed here. I am not a medications specialist nor do I have a vet's experience or knowledge, so I cannot comment any further. The dosage is usually based on the type and severity of the problem, so it can vary.

 

[saman]

@Pebble - your medical expertise is needed here. I am not a medications specialist nor do I have a vet's experience or knowledge, so I cannot comment any further. The dosage is usually based on the type and severity of the problem, so it can vary.

Thanks for your help Wiebke, its appreciated anyhow.

 

[babydoll]

a few years ago I do remember Junior was on 0.8ml twice a day

 

[saman]

a few years ago I do remember Junior was on 0.8ml twice a day

That does sound more reasonable to me. But 5ml a day worries me so much. Its so hard as he a an exotic pets vet, and I feel like he is a good vet and trust worthy, but if he is wrong, it could be really wrong. I have found other threads on the web with the same dose, but you never get to find out what the end result is

 

[Wiebke]

That does sound more reasonable to me. But 5ml a day worries me so much. Its so hard as he a an exotic pets vet, and I feel like he is a good vet and trust worthy, but if he is wrong, it could be really wrong. I have found other threads on the web with the same dose, but you never get to find out what the end result is

I would have trust in your vet; he has certainly made experiences which have prompted him to make that particular judgment! Small animal specialists tend to prescribe higher doses than general vets who often scale down from cats.

 

[Pebble]

Could you please either upload a photo of the label or type up exactly what it says (not just dosage ut description of the drug etc)

 

[Pebble]

Septrin is actually a combination of TWO antibiotics that work on successive metabolic stages in the bacterial life cycle to achieve their results.

Most liquid preparations of septrin, including paediatrtic suspension, (but NOT tablets which vary considerably in concentrations) - contain the following quantities of the two drugs in 5ml:
Trimethoprim: 40mg
Sulfadiazene: 200mg

Therefore, in a 5ml dose of paediatric septrin ("the banana one") the overall concentration of the combined drugs is 240mg/5ml = 48mg/ml

The British Small Animal Formulary states the dose range for guinea pigs for septrin to be 15-30mg/kg orally....this refers to the COMBINED DRUGS.
:For a 1kg guinea pig therefore the dose range of paeditatric septrin would be 0.3-0.6ml approx

I suspect that your vet has calculated dosages based ONLY on ONE of the drugs (ie trimethoprim).
I suggest this because working backwards: Trimethoprim concentration alone in paediatric septrin is 8mg/ml. (i.e. 40mg/5ml - see above)
For a 1kg piggie on 15-30mg/ml (assuming this was "just" tripethoprim ) - this would equate to a 2-3ml dose.

Howveer - there is also the higher metabolic rate of piggies to consider compared to eg rabbits so a higher dose to combat a sever ijnfection would be justified.
Nevertheless - 2.5ml orally twice daily dose of commercially available paediatric septrin (if that is what you have) is excessive.

You need to print out this post and go back to your vet. The only reason I can comment on the high dosage is because I made a "wrong assumption" a couple of years ago i.e. that the recommended dosages referred purely to the trimethprim content rather than the combined drugs.

Thankfully a few days overdosing on septrin did not affect my guinea pig long-term.

HTH

 

[Jess]

Yikes, when Rory was on septrin he was on 0.5 twice a day! I thought that was a lot and they assured me it was okay...

 

[Pebble]

Yikes, when Rory was on septrin he was on 0.5 twice a day! I thought that was a lot and they assured me it was okay...

That was OK
x

 

[JackJack1]

Septrin is actually a combination of TWO antibiotics that work on successive metabolic stages in the bacterial life cycle to achieve their results.

Most liquid preparations of septrin, including paediatrtic suspension, (but NOT tablets which vary considerably in concentrations) - contain the following quantities of the two drugs [you]in 5ml:[/you]
Trimethoprim: 40mg
Sulfadiazene: 200mg

Therefore, in a 5ml dose of paediatric septrin ("the banana one") the overall concentration of the [you]combined[/you] drugs is 240mg/5ml = 48mg/ml

The British Small Animal Formulary states the dose range for guinea pigs for septrin to be 15-30mg/kg orally....this refers to the COMBINED DRUGS.
:For a 1kg guinea pig therefore the dose range of paeditatric septrin would be 0.3-0.6ml approx

I suspect that your vet has calculated dosages based ONLY on ONE of the drugs (ie trimethoprim).
I suggest this because working backwards: Trimethoprim concentration alone in paediatric septrin is 8mg/ml. (i.e. 40mg/5ml - see above)
For a 1kg piggie on 15-30mg/ml (assuming this was "just" tripethoprim ) - this would equate to a 2-3ml dose.

Howveer - there is also the higher metabolic rate of piggies to consider compared to eg rabbits so a higher dose to combat a sever ijnfection would be justified.
Nevertheless - 2.5ml orally twice daily dose of commercially available paediatric septrin (if that is what you have) is excessive.

You need to print out this post and go back to your vet. The only reason I can comment on the high dosage is because I made a "wrong assumption" a couple of years ago i.e. that the recommended dosages referred purely to the trimethprim content rather than the combined drugs.

Thankfully a few days overdosing on septrin did not affect my guinea pig long-term.

HTH

Hi Pebble

Can you clarify? I thought Septrin was made up of Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole. Is animal Septrin different to human Septrin? I know that Sulfamethoxazole and Sulfadiazine is from the same drug group - Sulphonamides, but just wondered if it was a different sulphonamide in animal Septrin?

 

[Pebble]

It's the same depeneding upon which website you read!
xx