URI AND Fungal Infection?!

[HarlowDarling]

Hello again, some of you might remember my post from the other day in regards to my piggies fungal (http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?105773-HELP!-Really-BAD-fungal!).

Okay well last night I noticed him sneezing a little bit, and today he has a very slight runny nose on and off. I have done the test that was recommended online to check for a URI (putting him on my shoulder and listening to his breathing) and it seems clear. He doesn't have a runny nose either. His cage mate however hasn't sneezed and hasn't got a runny nose.

I am feeling EXTREMELY frustrated because his health seems to have gone down since I brought him home from the shelter where he was boarding when I was overseas! I brought him home from boarding a little over a week ago and really wish I had left him with my mother instead...I paid A LOT of money to come home to a guinea pig that has lost a lot of fur and potentially contracted a URI. I am so upset because I feel he was neglected but don't have the guts to contact the organization and complain...! I am pretty certain that he could not have contracted a URI (if that's what it is) while he has been home because my guinea pigs have been sleeping inside every single night! I don't leave them out in the cold!

[*]Anyway here is my biggest problem:[/*]
The advice I have received on my question regarding to fungal was a Malaseb bath. Well, I am in Australia and it's winter here at the moment! If he has a URI, does it mean I can't treat him for fungal? I am feeling really overwhelmed by all of this and I'm terrified that I am going to be battling two illnesses at once. It is cold (15 - 17C at the coldest) so I am scared of giving him the Malaseb bath and killing him...

Could the slightly runny nose be connected to fungal? And if he has a URI and goes on antibiotics, should I still bathe him in the Malaseb?

This is doing my head in! I will never, ever take my guinea pigs to board anywhere again, and I also wouldn't recommend it to others!

 

[helen105281]

First of all he needs to go to the vet about both things, especially the URI though as he will need antibiotics. A good antiboitic would be Zithromax (Azithromycin), also depending on if there is any fluid on his chest he may also need diuretic (Frusemide, Lasix, Frusol). As for the baths, as the fungal is so virulent if it was my pig I woud still do the baths but make sure he is kept warm afterwards and dried fully, so that he does not get a chill. Speak to the vet though as they may say to hold off on the baths until treatment is underway for the URI. It may even turn out to be allergy related rather than a URI. Bad fungal can affect a pig systemically though and lead to symptoms which mimic other conditions. I have had this with my own pigs, some of which were systemically affected by fungal that came into the herd a long time ago and we have had them all on medication for URI at one point (14 pigs at the time) and also oral fungal meds (which I mentioned on your other post).

 

[*Nibbles&Nugget*]

First of all he needs to go to the vet about both things, especially the URI though as he will need antibiotics. A good antiboitic would be Zithromax (Azithromycin), also depending on if there is any fluid on his chest he may also need diuretic (Frusemide, Lasix, Frusol). As for the baths, as the fungal is so virulent if it was my pig I woud still do the baths but make sure he is kept warm afterwards and dried fully, so that he does not get a chill. Speak to the vet though as they may say to hold off on the baths until treatment is underway for the URI. It may even turn out to be allergy related rather than a URI. Bad fungal can affect a pig systemically though and lead to symptoms which mimic other conditions. I have had this with my own pigs, some of which were systemically affected by fungal that came into the herd a long time ago and we have had them all on medication for URI at one point (14 pigs at the time) and also oral fungal meds (which I mentioned on your other post).

Perfectly put. I have experienced both URI's and Fungal separately but it must be awful together. A vet can help you come up with an action plan on how to beat these.

Healing huggles to your little one

Amy
x

 

[Abi_nurse]

I would firstly get some good antibiotics on board for the URI, not sure what you can get over there. Zithromax is fab stuff over here, but not sure you can get it. Have a discussion with your vet.

As for the fungal. Over here I use imavarol and it works wonders for even the smallest amount of fungal, i often wont bathe my whole piggie if there is an isolated area affected. The temperature over there isnt too bad. I have bathed piggies in the middle of winter here in England at 0 degrees or below outside and although not ideal its doable if you bathe them in warm water and dry them well. Obviously you don't want to make the URI worse so try waiting a few days to get some antib's into the system before starting the baths.

Sorry i rabbit on. Hope that makes sense.

x.

 

[helen105281]

Yes definitely use Imaverol too (I mentioned this on your other thread).

 

[HarlowDarling]

Hello

Just wanted to say that my boys are on Bactrim now for their cold Unfortunately the vet could not recommend anything more than Malaseb for the fungal and Aoveen to soothe the irritation. With the URI the fungal treatment is going to have to wait