• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Steroids - short or long term use?

Status
Not open for further replies.

flintstones

Senior Guinea Pig
Joined
Sep 17, 2009
Messages
15,077
Reaction score
2,532
Points
1,345
Location
Never never land
Does anybody have any experience of 'one off' steroid shots or long term steroids given via injection?
 
Princess and Kitty also had these last week. My vet said long term steroid use in guinea pigs causes diabetes.

What is your piggy having it for?
 
Milo has inflamed skin and bald patches as he's been treated for mites and also had a fungal cultural done previously (Bald patches appear in Rings) ie Ringworm, have both been negative.

My vet suggested he may have an allergy and to try a one off steriod shot, to try and reduce the inflammation. Another option I was given was a skin biopsy to find out what is going on.

I have also been considering speaking to my vet about Patrick, as his bladder is very inflamed which can be seen on ultrasound, plus the fact he's cried for 6 months, periodically passing blood with no infection so I thought this could be considered to reduce inflammation but this is me merely speculating on a possible solution.
 
Last edited:
The rescue girls will be having their skin looked at under a microscope next.

I think a one off shot would be okay - it's repeated use that causes diabetes (my vet said). I would have a go with one time shot - but it will wear off in the end and the itching come back.

I wonder what he has, have you tried piriton to see if that stops him itching? It would work if it was an allergy wouldn' it?
 
Flumpet had a single steroid injection when she had a couple of open sores to stop her itching (she had mites, so had ivermectin jabs as well). I was a fairly new owner and didn't question what the vet suggested. But she did mostly stop scratching within an hour or two.

I would consider a single shot as worth a try for Milo. You've been down other routes already. :)
 
I wonder what he has, have you tried piriton to see if that stops him itching? It would work if it was an allergy wouldn' it?

I would worry if or not it's safe may have to speak to my vet about it, this is my problems with the steroids for Milo it wouldn't be a long term solution. Due to his age and the fact he's to live till he's 10 so he will need his organs working correctly to get him there :))!
 
I believe infants piriton is safe at 0.5ml dose x 2 daily.

I was advised to try it on the rescue girls by a rodontologist. Didn't work for them though but i believe its safe.
 
Jazz had a one off shot of steriods when he had an unexplained upper breathing/sneezing episode about 18 months ago - in the end we think he had a tiny hay seed/strand stuck up his nose because he did an almighty sneeze one day, coughed like mad and was then absolutely fine!

The only side effect we experienced was a thinking of the hair on his tummy, he lost most of the hair but it did grow back.
 
Oh noes! Jo you are really going through it with the piggies mallethead, god job they are all so lovely! Milo has to live until 10!:)) xx>>>

Hope you find the solution...xx
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top