Two antibiotics at once and where to find probiotics

[Mirandapple]

Hello! I am in the US, our guinea pig vet has always been great but she recently prescribed our guinea pig Marie a second antibiotic (doxycycline) because the baytril was not working for a URI after 5 days. The vet also advised we put Marie on a probiotic but I am having a hard time finding any and they did not offer any in office. We had her on the oxbow digestive health but I am thinking she needs something else like bene bac but an Amazon order won’t get here for a couple of weeks for some reason. Marie is eating and drinking fine and running around but is definitely still having issues as I noticed her puffed up last night (that is what prompted a late night call to the vet). After our appointment today I feel we need a second opinion but the next nearest guinea pig savvy vet is three hours away and can’t get us in for 3 weeks. I am concerned about the double antibiotics as well as my inability to find a probiotic so looking for any advice. Marie is a year old and lives with two other 1 year old rescues. Thank you!

 

[Siikibam]

Below is the guide on syringe feeding. I’ve no experience with double antibiotics so wait for someone more experienced to come along and help.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

 

[Wiebke]

Hello! I am in the US, our guinea pig vet has always been great but she recently prescribed our guinea pig Marie a second antibiotic (doxycycline) because the baytril was not working for a URI after 5 days. The vet also advised we put Marie on a probiotic but I am having a hard time finding any and they did not offer any in office. We had her on the oxbow digestive health but I am thinking she needs something else like bene bac but an Amazon order won’t get here for a couple of weeks for some reason. Marie is eating and drinking fine and running around but is definitely still having issues as I noticed her puffed up last night (that is what prompted a late night call to the vet). After our appointment today I feel we need a second opinion but the next nearest guinea pig savvy vet is three hours away and can’t get us in for 3 weeks. I am concerned about the double antibiotics as well as my inability to find a probiotic so looking for any advice. Marie is a year old and lives with two other 1 year old rescues. Thank you!

Hi and welcome

We have seen a rising number of respiratory infections where standard antibiotics are not working in the last 3-4 years; this is likely due to overuse in the animal industry (including commercial breeders and chain pet stores) and a growing resisitance problem.

Unfortunately both baytril and doxycycline are antibiotics that tend to impact on the gut microbiome a bit more than others; adverse reactions can happen to any antibiotic. Antibiotics can be given in combination as long as they are not in the same class.

You should be able to get a probiotic for small pets in any larger pet shop; they are pretty much all the same.
If you have a healthy companion not on medication, then absolutely freshly made 'poo soup' (i.e. transfer of live healthy guinea pig gut microbiome is even more effective than probiotics provided you do it properly so the microbiome is still alive when it reaches the affected gut.
You can find more information and the poo soup 'recipe' in this link here: Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

Please step in with weighing daily and topping up with syringe feeding if and as necessary; mushed up pellets with do (see our emergency guide). You cannot judge the hay intake by eye; yet it should make around 80% of the daily food intake and be the main food source - not veg; which should only be around 15% or the equivalent of an afternoon snack.

Here is our comprehensive emergency care information collection, which also contains the above link as well as a chapter on how to improvise until you can access a vet and any online orders arrive with a little first aid kit. We have included all the necessary information and practical tips to help people in their hour of need: Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

 

[Mirandapple]

Thank you so much! We tried the ‘poo soup’ this evening and started her on the doxycycline so hopefully we will see some improvement. I will begin weighing her as well. Thanks again.

 

[jmo0214]

Hey @Mirandapple! I'm in the US as well. So I am not an expert or experienced. I am only a guinea pig guardian to my son's guinea pig, T-Tot, who we adore. He was also taking the same 2 antibiotics. He first started with a URI, and developed into pneumonia. I posted a really long thread on T-Tot and his story. But his vet did give him Bene Bac and he took it twice a week, which did help a lot. Since T-Tot had to be on antibiotics longer, Bene Bac didn't seem to work anymore, so we had to find something else. I posted an update on the thread today because I wanted to share what I was giving him and how he has improved a little so far. I tend to post super long posts , so I'll just direct you to my thread. T-Tot's Story on battling pneumonia and after. I hope it helps you out.

 

[Mirandapple]

Hey @Mirandapple! I'm in the US as well. So I am not an expert or experienced. I am only a guinea pig guardian to my son's guinea pig, T-Tot, who we adore. He was also taking the same 2 antibiotics. He first started with a URI, and developed into pneumonia. I posted a really long thread on T-Tot and his story. But his vet did give him Bene Bac and he took it twice a week, which did help a lot. Since T-Tot had to be on antibiotics longer, Bene Bac didn't seem to work anymore, so we had to find something else. I posted an update on the thread today because I wanted to share what I was giving him and how he has improved a little so far. I tend to post super long posts , so I'll just direct you to my thread. T-Tot's Story on battling pneumonia and after. I hope it helps you out.

Your situation seems very similar to ours! We have three guinea pigs, two were rescues from a breader and one (Marie) is from a bonded pair that came to us when they were both in very bad shape. Unfortunately one of the pair was too far gone and passed away but we are fighting to try and save the other and like t-tot, she seems like she’s not really getting any worse or any better. I have had rabbits my whole life but I have not had a guinea pig for a few years and it seems like the URIs are much more brutal than they used to be

 

[Mirandapple]

Your situation seems very similar to ours! We have three guinea pigs, two were rescues from a breader and one (Marie) is from a bonded pair that came to us when they were both in very bad shape. Unfortunately one of the pair was too far gone and passed away but we are fighting to try and save the other and like t-tot, she seems like she’s not really getting any worse or any better. I have had rabbits my whole life but I have not had a guinea pig for a few years and it seems like the URIs are much more brutal than they used to be

Also, t-tot is such a handsome little guy.

 

[jmo0214]

Your situation seems very similar to ours! We have three guinea pigs, two were rescues from a breader and one (Marie) is from a bonded pair that came to us when they were both in very bad shape. Unfortunately one of the pair was too far gone and passed away but we are fighting to try and save the other and like t-tot, she seems like she’s not really getting any worse or any better. I have had rabbits my whole life but I have not had a guinea pig for a few years and it seems like the URIs are much more brutal than they used to be

Thank you for reading his story! He's gone through so much this passed month, but honestly, as of right now he's doing soooooo much better. He's running around again, and going up and running towards us when he sees us. Hes kinda wobbly still, but I'm just glad hes up and about and not laying lifeless anymore... it's such a blessing to see him improve. We just figured taking him off all antibiotics and meds would make him feel better. Gave him goats milk for probiotics for 7+ days and he improved so much. He's been off goatsmilk for awhile already and just yesterday, on his 1st birthday, he started nibbling on hay again. Today he started drinking water from his bottle!

Please keep us updated on Marie! Has she developed any new symptoms or shown improvement? Praying for your sweet Marie.

 

[Mirandapple]

Thank you for reading his story! He's gone through so much this passed month, but honestly, as of right now he's doing soooooo much better. He's running around again, and going up and running towards us when he sees us. Hes kinda wobbly still, but I'm just glad hes up and about and not laying lifeless anymore... it's such a blessing to see him improve. We just figured taking him off all antibiotics and meds would make him feel better. Gave him goats milk for probiotics for 7+

Thank you for reading his story! He's gone through so much this passed month, but honestly, as of right now he's doing soooooo much better. He's running around again, and going up and running towards us when he sees us. Hes kinda wobbly still, but I'm just glad hes up and about and not laying lifeless anymore... it's such a blessing to see him improve. We just figured taking him off all antibiotics and meds would make him feel better. Gave him goats milk for probiotics for 7+ days and he improved so much. He's been off goatsmilk for awhile already and just yesterday, on his 1st birthday, he started nibbling on hay again. Today he started drinking water from his bottle!

Please keep us updated on Marie! Has she developed any new symptoms or shown improvement? Praying for your sweet Marie.

days and he improved so much. He's been off goatsmilk for awhile already and just yesterday, on his 1st birthday, he started nibbling on hay again. Today he started drinking water from his bottle!

Please keep us updated on Marie! Has she developed any new symptoms or shown improvement? Praying for your sweet Marie.

I’m so happy to hear he is doing better! Unfortunately Marie is still struggling but we are doing everything we can.