Septrin Query

[Midge&Panda]

Sandy has been put onto septrin (1ml twice daily)for an infected open wound. She did it herself from scratching with mites she also has isoderm gel to be applied twice a day. She has lost some weight since the mite situation started as far as we and the vets can tell there is no problem with her teeth. She is still demolishing the piles of forage and timothy hay we are putting down for her. We thought once the treatment started that the weight might improve. I'm thinking now that it might be the septrin she is having, I know it is usually better tolerated than baytril but has anybody else's piggies had a reaction to it?

 

[Lilly]

My Peanut Butter has been on Baytril, Septrin & Zithromax. He didn't react badly to any of them but only the Zithromax helped his infection. However he did lose quite a bit of weight on each even though I gave him pro-biotics & Critical Care. When they don't feel good I just don't think they eat as much as they need even though it is hard to tell just how much they are eating.

 

[Wiebke]

Sandy has been put onto septrin (1ml twice daily)for an infected open wound. She did it herself from scratching with mites she also has isoderm gel to be applied twice a day. She has lost some weight since the mite situation started as far as we and the vets can tell there is no problem with her teeth. She is still demolishing the piles of forage and timothy hay we are putting down for her. We thought once the treatment started that the weight might improve. I'm thinking now that it might be the septrin she is having, I know it is usually better tolerated than baytril but has anybody else's piggies had a reaction to it?

Bad reactions to septrin are rarer than to baytril, but you can get them with any antibiotic. They all kill off vital gut bacteria; most guinea pigs cope well (even with baytril). You can give a pinch of probiotic (any brand) or "poo soup" (i.e.water in which you have soaked fresh healthy poos) 1-2 hours after the antibiotic in order to support the guts.

Did the weight loss coincide with the septrin? How massive is it?

 

[Merrypigs Sanctuary]

Might be worth checking for fungal infections too. They often come along with mite infestations, and if Sandy has been cleaning herself she could have ingested spores. Internal fungal infection could then begin and can line the intestines, reducing nutritional uptake from food and causing weight loss, even in a hungry, well-eating pig!
Just a thought

 

[Wiebke]

Might be worth checking for fungal infections too. They often come along with mite infestations, and if Sandy has been cleaning herself she could have ingested spores. Internal fungal infection could then begin and can line the intestines, reducing nutritional uptake from food and causing weight loss, even in a hungry, well-eating pig!
Just a thought

While secondary stuff like fungal or microbes can get into an open wound and should be taken into consideration if there are ongoing problems with the wound healing, please accept that we do not hold with the rodentology tenet of internal mucosis. It is one of the concepts that has not stood the test.
PS: We have got a number of members with rodentology qualifications on here.

 

[Midge&Panda]

The weight loss started with the mite problem (started about 7 weeks ago). It was put down to her being aggravated with the itching. She's had 3 x xeno and just had her 3rd panomec injection. We have seen 3 different vets - 2 experienced with guineas and all have said the weight loss was down to the mites. Along with the infection that was enough for her to loose condition/weight. I might be hoping for things to improve too soon. Also I've never had a pig on such a high dose of septrin before. She has another follow up on Friday.

 

[Merrypigs Sanctuary]

The weight loss started with the mite problem (started about 7 weeks ago). It was put down to her being aggravated with the itching. She's had 3 x xeno and just had her 3rd panomec injection. We have seen 3 different vets - 2 experienced with guineas and all have said the weight loss was down to the mites. Along with the infection that was enough for her to loose condition/weight. I might be hoping for things to improve too soon. Also I've never had a pig on such a high dose of septrin before. She has another follow up on Friday.

Poor little thing I hope she gets better soon!

 

[Wiebke]

A severe mites infection can cause weight loss, as the discomfort can be so great that it inhibits the appetite. I hope that she will pick up again once she is well in herself. It can sometimes take a little while for that to happen; the slower and the less the older a guinea pig is, though.