streptococcus zooepidemicus

[flinklater01]

Hi,
My two piggie have been treated for Bordatella bronchispetica and Streptcoccus pneumoniae since early October 2025. This was diagnosed with a swab and treated with doxycycline and metacam. Whilst this had cleared up most of the illness, one of the girls had swollen lymph nodes (not too large, size of a large pea)

Fast forward to today we received the results of a second swab that found they also had streptococcus zooepidemicus the whole time but it had a longer incubation phase so they missed it with the tests. We are now adding baytril into the doxycycline and metacam med routine.

The vet had stated that this bacteria usually is persistent and they probably won’t get better so we should put them to sleep (i’m not going to let that happen, they are such active, happy pigs). The vet isn’t a exotic specialist, I will be taking them to one though if the baytril has no effect.

Has anyone got any more guidance/info on this illness and if there is any truth to what the vet has said? I keep looking it up online but I can’t make sense of all the scientific talk!

Thanks!

(pictures of piggies for context

 

[Truffolo]

Pets at Home had a problem with Srrep and were in the news about it. There was a bit of discussion on the forum, I'll have a look for it. It could be a problem if you ever wanted to get more pigs in case your new pigs were to get it. I hope your piggies are doing OK. I'm not sure about whether it persists despite treatment. I hope someone on here will know.

 

[Truffolo]

Hi,
My two piggie have been treated for Bordatella bronchispetica and Streptcoccus pneumoniae since early October 2025. This was diagnosed with a swab and treated with doxycycline and metacam. Whilst this had cleared up most of the illness, one of the girls had swollen lymph nodes (not too large, size of a large pea)

Fast forward to today we received the results of a second swab that found they also had streptococcus zooepidemicus the whole time but it had a longer incubation phase so they missed it with the tests. We are now adding baytril into the doxycycline and metacam med routine.

The vet had stated that this bacteria usually is persistent and they probably won’t get better so we should put them to sleep (i’m not going to let that happen, they are such active, happy pigs). The vet isn’t a exotic specialist, I will be taking them to one though if the baytril has no effect.

Has anyone got any more guidance/info on this illness and if there is any truth to what the vet has said? I keep looking it up online but I can’t make sense of all the scientific talk!

Thanks!

(pictures of piggies for context

View attachment 280264View attachment 280265View attachment 280266

Your piggies are absolutely beautiful Welcome to the forum ❤

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m sorry to hear this.

It is not something I have personal experience of. It also doesn’t appear to be something mentioned on the forum much either - I have found two threads where it is mentioned and linked them in below - but what I have found is below

Long term antibiotics - Baytril, chloramphenicol or sulfatrim are mentioned. Azithromycin (Zithromax) is a good antibiotic for abscesses generally but I did see online that it isn’t a good choice for streptococcus zooepidemicus. It is a persistent infection requiring knowledgeable and exotic vet care.
The swelling of swollen lymph nodes can be abscesses and can need to be surgically lanced and flushed or removed entirely. Antibiotics alone may not be enough to deal with the abscesses.
Pain meds.
Other Routine support care: daily weight checks and lots of syringe feeding. Disinfection of the cage

Below are two forum threads I found. The first one (the last post in that thread) is by a member with medical experience but she is not routinely active on the forum.

Specialist - Abscess on face - HELP

‘I'm filled with anxiety and need propping up’
Unfortunately the link to this thread is not working but this is its title

Our other support guides

Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support Levels
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

I hope they are ok

 

[Truffolo]

The commercial breeder for P@H did cull guinea pigs, very sadly, but then that is a commercial industry. I think for pet owners, as long as you are caring for your piggies, and your piggies are extremely well cared for, there should be no necessity to put them to sleep unless they become very unwell.

 

[flinklater01]

The commercial breeder for P@H did cull guinea pigs, very sadly, but then that is a commercial industry. I think for pet owners, as long as you are caring for your piggies, and your piggies are extremely well cared for, there should be no necessity to put them to sleep unless they become very unwell.

Yes I think it must have just been ‘uneconomical’ to treat them especially if it was a large number but I’m more than happy to put the time in. They are the sweetest piggies and love zooming around the cage.

 

[flinklater01]

I’m sorry to hear this.

It is not something I have personal experience of. It also doesn’t appear to be something mentioned on the forum much either - I have found two threads where it is mentioned and linked them in below - but what I have found is below

Long term antibiotics - Baytril, chloramphenicol or sulfatrim are mentioned. Azithromycin (Zithromax) is a good antibiotic for abscesses generally but I did see online that it isn’t a good choice for streptococcus zooepidemicus. It is a persistent infection requiring knowledgeable and exotic vet care.
The swelling of swollen lymph nodes can be abscesses and can need to be surgically lanced and flushed or removed entirely. Antibiotics alone may not be enough to deal with the abscesses.
Pain meds.
Other Routine support care: daily weight checks and lots of syringe feeding. Disinfection of the cage

Below are two forum threads I found. The first one (the last post in that thread) is by a member with medical experience but she is not routinely active on the forum.

Specialist - Abscess on face - HELP

‘I'm filled with anxiety and need propping up’
Unfortunately the link to this thread is not working but this is its title

Our other support guides

Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support Levels
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

I hope they are ok

Thank you so much for this. It’s hard because there isn’t much information on this but I will have a read through this all now.

I'm trying to find an exotic vet with experience in this then I can get them booked in. I’m in south Wales but happy to travel anywhere for the right vet if you have any suggestions.

 

[Roselina]

What lovely piggies
what a horrible time you’ve had with this.
I can’t offer advice but I just wanted to say hello.
I hope you can find an exotic Vet to help your piggies

 

[flinklater01]

What lovely piggies
what a horrible time you’ve had with this.
I can’t offer advice but I just wanted to say hello.
I hope you can find an exotic Vet to help your piggies

Thank you
Yeah it’s been a bit rubbish. Especially when the piggies seem so healthy and happy in themselves

 

[Truffolo]

Thank you so much for this. It’s hard because there isn’t much information on this but I will have a read through this all now.

I'm trying to find an exotic vet with experience in this then I can get them booked in. I’m in south Wales but happy to travel anywhere for the right vet if you have any suggestions.

The Cat and Rabbit Clinic in Northampton is extremely well regarded. There is a vet known as The Guinea Pig Vet, but I am not sure where they are located. Hope this helps

 

[flinklater01]

The Cat and Rabbit Clinic in Northampton is extremely well regarded. There is a vet known as The Guinea Pig Vet, but I am not sure where they are located. Hope this helps

Fab I will look into these today. Thank you

 

[piggieminder]

5 of my piggies had something in 2021 thought to be Bordetella. We didn't test as it was responding slowly to Baytril and the vet felt it wasn't in the interests of the sick piggies to sedate them. One boar was on Baytril for 2 months before he got the all clear. They were also on Metacam, some had Bisolven we were nebulising, syringe feeding, giving prebiotics in some instances gut stimulators etc. It was a long hard time for them and their humans getting them through but in all but one we got there in the end.
The surgery we use is Highcroft in Bristol, on Wells Road. The head exotic vet Sonya Miles is excellent with piggies as is her team. They were as engaged with getting the piggies through their illness as we were. Given where you are located you would probably find it easier to get to Bristol than Northampton.