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URI? - trimethoprim

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Isobel

Isobel

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It seems like both of my pigs have are poorly now. Peppa with her never healing wound and Nela had a noisy chest for a few days.

They both occasionally sneeze or make a cough type of sound (especially with fresh hay when they get over excited), but it happens literally a few times a year and last maybe a minute?

However

About 10 days ago Peppa was breathing loudly, making this 'bubbly sound' and definitely had stuffed nose. I gave her some vit c, kept her warm and she was fine ever since, she behaved as normal anyway, the only thing was the noisy breathing.

I gave Nela vit c to prevent her from catching it too (I can't separate them really as she get's really distressed), but 3-4days later she showed exact same symptoms. She is doing this weird thing where she starts breathing really loud (her nose is blocked I supposed), gets louder and faster for 5-10seconds, chokes - coughs to clear the airways and then continues to breath as normal. The tricky thing is that it only happens around 1-2times in the evening time, and throughout the day she breath fairly normal, occasionally a bit louder than normal. Sometimes you can hear the 'bubbles' but other times not ;s she is 100% fine other than that, really naughty and cheeky as always!

The earliest appointment at the vet I can get would be around next week, as it's the average waiting time for a non emergency condition. And it's not an exotic vet so it's likely that if at the time she breaths normally he'll try to convince me 'she is ok'. I've paid to hear 'she is so cute' and 'she is ok' a few times before.

According to guinealynx, Bactrim - (trimethoprim sulfa; SMZ-TMP; sulfamethoxazole trimethoprim; Tribrissen, Septra) can be safely used to treat URI. I have got Trimethorpic Tablets 200mg (each tablets contians Trimethorpim BP 200mg) which were prescribed for me, but never used. And since pigs are treated with human antibiotics I suppose I could use it with correct dosage BUT is it the same antibiotic? The Bactim contains trimethoprim sulfa or sulfamethoxazole trimethoprim whereas the one I've got contains Trimethoprim BP. Is it just a different brand name or are these two completely different medications?

I'd really appreciate any opinions:)
 
Hi sorry to hear your piggies are poorly. Please don't try to use human antibiotics the septrin given to piggies at the vets is a pediatric version. It can be very dangerous to self medicate and certain antibiotics are deadly to guinea pigs, it is something that is not worth the risk.

I would get to the vets as an emergency appointment if their breathing is bad. URI's are classed as this at our vets and normally the first line of treatment would be Baytril as that is quite effective at treating URI's. Where abouts are you? We may be able to suggest a more cavy savy vet in your area.
 
You really need to get her seen by a vet, it does sound like a URI and without fast treatment it can be fatal, and they go down hill so fast, next week is too late, it would pay you to find an exotics vet ASAP and get her in as an emergency. Please do not self diagnose and self medicate, that could be very dangerous.

I have a girl who has the exact same symptoms, it flares up every couple of months (she is a special piggie anyway) and the vet has said its chronic respriatory problems, and she is treated with baytril which clears it up within 48 hours.

What hay are you giving, i would stronly advise using dust extracted hay, as you mentioned they cough when fresh hay is put in the cage.

Please have her seen my an exotics vet ASAP.

xx
 
A recommended vets in Yorkshire is


Holly House Veterinary Hospital (James Brooks)
468 Street Lane
Moortown
Leeds
LS17 6HA
0113 2369030
http://www.hollyhousevets.co.uk/
*
I will search further for you if you can provide a more exact location
 
Thank you. Is it an exotic vet the one in Leeds? I've been to the exotic vet in York before but didn't get the best impression.(nobody really ever diagnosed what was wrong with Peppa's leg when she was lame) Anyway Nela is breathing normally now, her breathing is good in general, she is really energetic and eats well it's just the noise that occurs. But I think she has a bit of running nose too ;s The soonest I can take her to an exotic vet is Monday, but if she gets worse over the weekend I'll take her to the local practise where she is registered.
At the moment they are both really busy doing this :)
34rsln5.jpg
 
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Sorry to be blunt, but you need to get her there sooner, i would hate to see a post sunday night saying she had died.

The poor little things go down so quickly, they are prey animals and as a result hide illness very well, if her breathing is noisy then she most probably has breathing problems and without the right treatment this could well prove fatal very quickly. I dont want to scare you, nor do i want to upset you, but we have all seen it too often on here, "we'll see how she is over the weekend and if she's no better we'll take her to the vets next week" and sadly 9 times out of 10 its too late.

She would really benefit from a proper diagnosis and the correct treatment, i believe these symptoms could also be connected to heart problems.

xx

p.s she is absolutely gorgeous! And looks so cosy!

xx
 
We haven't been to the vets yet. For the past 3 days she has NO symptoms of URI (according to guinealynx). Nose is dry and there are no 'bubbles'. Chest sounds to be clear too. I've been giving her the Vit C for 4 days now and put some vapour rub around the cage. She eats well etc. I'm always ready to take her to the emergency vet but it doesn't seem to be essential as she seems 100% fine! :)
 
It's always worth having her checked over - one of my girls last year had a suspected onset of a URI and didn't improve after a course of Baytril. We rushed her to an exotic vet as her breathing sounded worse and I thought we would lose her. She was immediately diagnosed pleurisy 8...
A course of Marbocyl, Metacam as an inflammatory and Bisolvon for two weeks cured the problem but she is left with lung scar tissue so any further chest problems could be fatal for her now. I keep her pen cosy with heat pads and deep clean daily as a precaution.
Better to be safe than sorry as piggies are little devils for hiding illness :(
 
She is just as naughty as always, really bright, energetic and has good appetite. Her breathing is steady and no wheezing etc (listening to the chest) :)
 
As I said Nela is fine, but I woke up in the night to find out Peppa is breathing noisily. Took them to the vets first thing in the morning. Nela's temperature is fine, weight ok, and chest clear. The vet said that because she is so young she cleared the infection herself with the vit C. Peppa's fine too, but chesty. And because she is 5, she may not be able to clear the infection on her own. They were both given Baytril 0.2ml twice a day diluted in water. The vet was unsure whether Nela needs it too, so I decided not to give it to her to prevent a secondary infection from happening. There is a small chance of her picking the infection up again from Peppa. So if Nela shows any symptoms again the antibiotic is there ready for her. Fingers crossed for Peppa though, she just had her first dose! :)

PS. The vet didn't state the amount of water I should dilute the Baytril with. Any ideas?
 
You shouldn't dilute it in water, just give it neat via a syringe straight into the mouth (but have a leafy treat to feed straight after, as it has a bitter taste) I would treat both as they have both shown symptoms of being chesty within the last week or so. So hopefully the antibiotics will clear up any infection and send it packing, While they are on baytril it would be a good idea to give them some probiotic in their water as it can be harsh on their tummies and put them off their food and the probiotic will help prevent this.

xx
 
Why not to dilute? It clearly says on the bottle to dilute with water, hmm ;s What kind of probiotic and where can I get it? :)
 
Because by diluting it, you cannot fully control the intake and it weakens the strength, i and most other members have given baytril many times and not diluted it, some to add a tiny drop of ribeena to sweeten the taste, but not dilute it.

I give Johnsons Pro-C probiotics from pets at home, but you can buy it online also.

xx
 
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I suppose I won't dilute it next time then. The Pro-C probiotics is a powder added to the water. The problem is that they don't really drink a lot as they get the water from their veggies. A small bottle of water would probably last them a month.. where my friend's pig drink almost one whole bottle of water daily.. Can it be added to food in any way?
 
Yes you can srpinkle it over their food, or you can syringe them water with ****-biotics in.

x
 
Can you post a picture of the baytril, the strength etc. Just want to chck the vets not given a strong one and thats why it need diluted.
x
 
That is the normal baytril prescribed for piggies, and i have never diluted it, my bottle does not suggest to do this. Its never done mine any harm to give it neat, and it has always worked very effectively, very quickly.

How are they today?

xx
 
I'll give it neat then, in fact it'll be easier this way especially in the morning before school:) Peppa was chesty the night before vets, all day on Wed and yesterday night, after 3rd dose of antibiotics she's been 'quiet' as in breathing was clear. Nela had 2 doses of antibiotic even though she's been breathing normally for a long time now, I caught her coughing/chocking today though.
 
Both pigs lost their appetite which was why I didn't want to give it to Nela. I'll **** have to discontinue the treatment with Nela, Peppa only has 3 doses left and she eats slightly better than Nela. Will try to syringe feed them but they are not allowing the syringe in their mouths after antibiotics ;s They haven't lost any weight though and are in fact very chubby. They can't stand each other and have gotten really grumpy! At least the infection is gone.
 
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