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Snotty Nose & Sneezing

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Sarah-jane

Sarah-jane

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi not been on here for a long time but in desperate need of advice.
The last few days I've notice my piggy has been sneezing an awful lot more than usual. He is quite a sneezy piggy so didn't think much of it at first, until late last night. After a particular batch of sneezing I noticed he had a runny nose.
I stayed up most the night to monitor his sneezing and heard nothing else so went to bed.
This morning and so far I've heard no sneezing, but I have seen him washing - or so I thought, after looking more closely he was wiping his nose and saw that he had a slight runny nose.

My previous experience and gut instinct tells me he's got a URI.
Due to our situation with work (I'm covering the rest of the week and have hospital appointments today, and my partner is working all week) we are completely unable to take him to see the vet at the moment.

He has been diagnosed with a URI when we first got him and he was given some Bytril for it.

We do have some Septrin left over from when our other piggy was ill (sadly died :() and was wondering if I might be able to give him that if we need to?

I totally understand that he should been seen by a vet but I'm terrified that if we don't act fast we could loose him and because of work commitments (which couldn't have come at a worse time) we are completely unable to take him and don't have anyone else that could take him either.
Being a manager and having to cover means I can't even fake a sicky.

I've had to take my previous piggys to the vets before with the same thing and I know that the first course of action is to either prescribe Bytril or Septrin.

Has anyone else been in this situation, knowing whats wrong with your piggy and giving them medicine before seeing a vet? If so how did it turn out?

Please help, I'm hoping that someone could reassure me.

Thanks
Sarah

P..s I haven't actually given him anything yet, just asking if anyone else has done this.
 
It would be really good if you could see a vet for a proper diagnosis, but if you really can't, would it be possible for you to ring your vets to ask them what you can safely do with what you have got at home and make an appointment for as soon as you can? the septrin should do the trick for a few days, but it would be good to weigh your piggy before talking to the vets re. appropriate dosage.
 
I did call the vets first but got blocked by the receptionist telling me I have to come in, which at this moment is impossible to fit in.
I am confused about the dosage, he weighs about 2 and a half pounds which is about 1133 grams. That sounds very heavy is that normal?

He was previously on 0.16ml of Bayril once a day, but he was very small then and is now a fatso piggy.

His friend was on 0.7 twice a day and he weighed exactly 2 1/2 pounds as well.
 
Sarah-jane said:
I did call the vets first but got blocked by the receptionist telling me I have to come in, which at this moment is impossible to fit in.
I am confused about the dosage, he weighs about 2 and a half pounds which is about 1133 grams. That sounds very heavy is that normal?

He was previously on 0.16ml of Bayril once a day, but he was very small then and is now a fatso piggy.

His friend was on 0.7 twice a day and he weighed exactly 2 1/2 pounds as well.
Click to expand...

His weight is very average for an adult guinea pig. The dosage for respiratory infections is generally lower than for urinary infection, for which septrin is mostly prescibed. I am tagging @Pebble for you re. what you can do. She may want to message you.
 
Ok thanks a lot for your help. I'm not doing anything until I'm 100% sure. I feel so rotten not being able to get him checked out. Each time in the past when we have taken them to the vets they've basically done the same thing and said there's not a great deal you can do with guinea pigs and given us the same medicine and just prayed.
:(
 
If it's the best you can do for now, then give him the Septrin. If he is about the same size as his mate, use that dose. It's better for him to have something than nothing.

If you can, try and find a more positive vet! You will need to let them know what he has been having when you get him to an appointment.
 
I think it's worth pointing out to everyone that giving prescription meds (in this case anitbiotics) to an animal without vet surgeon authorisation is contrary to the Vet Surgeons Act....and many vets will take a dim view of someone who turns up at their surgery with a sick pig that they have already self-treated with left-over meds without prior vets authorsation.. I am therefore not surprised that the receptionist is insisting you take the pig in....but it does suggest that perhaps this is not the vets who will best serve you and your piggies in the future.

Many cavy savvy vets are prepared to authorise meds over the phone to avoid delay in piggie treatment given how uickly they can go downhill - provided they know you, trust you and have developed a relationship with you. Although I have a well-stocked piggie pharmacy with many different antibiotics, gut motility meds, pain relief etc - I would NEVER give anything to my pigs without getting authorisation over the phone from my vets first and, luckily, because my vets have 24hr cover and are highly regarded exotics/piggy vets, even the permanent night vets are cavy savvy and have been happy to help at unearthly hours in the morning without wanting to see the pig there and then.

I notice you are in Dartford. Perhaps it is time to think about a new vet, one who is cavy savvy and whom you can develop a good relationship with over time. Would you be prepared to take him to Trinity Vets in Maidstone.(see Mark Rowlands) or Putlands vets in Paddock Wood (Nicola Logan). Both are cavy savvy vets and would be worth considering as, given your distance away, they would be more likely than your own vets to agree to you giving septrin before you can get to visit on friday. Also, as we have often seen on the Forum, one trip to a cavy savvy vet to get proper diagnosis and treatment can actually save a lot of time/money/worry/stress than repeated trips to a more local vet who has little experience of piggie health and, (as you have observed), "just throws baytril" at the problem.

So my suggestion would be to think carefully about perhaps registering with a cavy savvy vet. Ring them up to register/make an appointment for friday and say to the receptionists that you are choosing their practice because of their reputation with guinea pigs. Then go on to say how worried you are that it may be a URI and can you please speak to the vet today on the phone.......then take it from there!

HTH
x
 
Unfortunately the OP does not have access to car. so can;t travel....we are now working on alternative solutions.
x
 
Just to put other forum members minds at rest...a care plan with vets visit and treatment has now been agreed for tomorrow.

Well done Sarah Jane!

Hugs
x
 
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