Curtis Cavies
Junior Guinea Pig
Latest update on Sasha and Aneka. Took both to vets again last Tuesday. Very long discussion with vet regarding these two. Tried to find my old thread to continue and not repeat but after trolling 7+ pages in the H&I, decided just easier to start new thread!
Previously both been on baytril, with Sasha on Septrin and Frusol sol as well, treating for Uri in both. Aneka's symptoms were rapid breathing and an intermittent cough, lethargy, lolling out after a bit to eat as if worn out. Little clicking in lungs but no nose discharge or any sign of heart problem.
Sasha, has been poorly since purchase. Severe mite infestation to stat with, culminating in E.cunniculi. Nearly running round completely flat to her right side, poor love! Excellent vet gave(can't remember names) paediatric drugs and her head was almost level in just two days, running round happily and enjoying life with the cavy clan and back to her wonderful antics well before the 10days treatment finished. Imagine how sick I felt when after all this she's gone through already and already falling behind my other new clan members in weight, the next morning after losing Echo to a gut distortion, I find her all huffled up, very weak to her head tilt side again and as listless as anything, breathing extremely sluggish as if it were just too much effort to be bothered. Emergency rush to vets left her in overnight on oxygen. X rays were startling. No lungs showing up as black spaces as they should, just see the trachea and (?) bronchials (the feeders that get the air in them, forgotten name!) faintly.
This is a long thread sorry, lots to cover to give full history so answers may be relevant.
Both girls started on above mentioned treatment, baytril, frusol sol, septrin,although not sure at that point in time as to whether contagious infection as both similar symptoms.
Returned Tuesday to vets. Aneka was still coughing and I say her breathing pattern does seem more rapid than my other piggy clan members. But she had only had baytril to this point. Little Sasha, although having a brief pick up point, was back to just sitting looking very forlorn. She weighs so little now that we discussed and agreed that these next treatments would be probably the final help we could give. If no improvement, her quality of life had to be considered.
These were the meds given and still on going.
Metacam twice daily, continuing with baytril twice daily, Karidox twice daily, Bricanyl syrup three times daily and lastly Bisolvon powder pinch on food twice daily.
Results: Both piggies have picked up extremely well, back to taking foodstuffs reasonably well, beginning to wheek at the world again. Now for some weight gain ideas, both drastically thin, especially little Sasha.
There are several exotic pet specialists at this vets I was referred to, initially with Echo. The one I seem to see most regularly is Italian. He has advised the use of a nebuliser, something which is apparently standard practice at most vets in his country for respiratory problems in small furries, reptiles and birds. He has suggested that if I would want to purchase one from eBay he would write up some drugs that will be beneficial for respiratory symptoms. As the animal breathes in the drugs are delivered much more directly to the lungs with greatly increased recovery time. You place them in a small transport cage or similar and enclose it with a plastic bag, vented at the opposite side to the nebuliser, which you would put through the front door grid(no bedding but I will check if newspaper is okay unless anyone on here knows differently).
Has any one else ever tried this type of treatment on cavies and what were the outcomes? I have ordered one as I'm willing to give it a try.
Sorry so long but can anyone help? Also, what to use for weight gain? Both are 5 months old, little Sasha looks 8weeks!
Thanks everyone look forward to your help and advice.
Previously both been on baytril, with Sasha on Septrin and Frusol sol as well, treating for Uri in both. Aneka's symptoms were rapid breathing and an intermittent cough, lethargy, lolling out after a bit to eat as if worn out. Little clicking in lungs but no nose discharge or any sign of heart problem.
Sasha, has been poorly since purchase. Severe mite infestation to stat with, culminating in E.cunniculi. Nearly running round completely flat to her right side, poor love! Excellent vet gave(can't remember names) paediatric drugs and her head was almost level in just two days, running round happily and enjoying life with the cavy clan and back to her wonderful antics well before the 10days treatment finished. Imagine how sick I felt when after all this she's gone through already and already falling behind my other new clan members in weight, the next morning after losing Echo to a gut distortion, I find her all huffled up, very weak to her head tilt side again and as listless as anything, breathing extremely sluggish as if it were just too much effort to be bothered. Emergency rush to vets left her in overnight on oxygen. X rays were startling. No lungs showing up as black spaces as they should, just see the trachea and (?) bronchials (the feeders that get the air in them, forgotten name!) faintly.
This is a long thread sorry, lots to cover to give full history so answers may be relevant.
Both girls started on above mentioned treatment, baytril, frusol sol, septrin,although not sure at that point in time as to whether contagious infection as both similar symptoms.
Returned Tuesday to vets. Aneka was still coughing and I say her breathing pattern does seem more rapid than my other piggy clan members. But she had only had baytril to this point. Little Sasha, although having a brief pick up point, was back to just sitting looking very forlorn. She weighs so little now that we discussed and agreed that these next treatments would be probably the final help we could give. If no improvement, her quality of life had to be considered.
These were the meds given and still on going.
Metacam twice daily, continuing with baytril twice daily, Karidox twice daily, Bricanyl syrup three times daily and lastly Bisolvon powder pinch on food twice daily.
Results: Both piggies have picked up extremely well, back to taking foodstuffs reasonably well, beginning to wheek at the world again. Now for some weight gain ideas, both drastically thin, especially little Sasha.
There are several exotic pet specialists at this vets I was referred to, initially with Echo. The one I seem to see most regularly is Italian. He has advised the use of a nebuliser, something which is apparently standard practice at most vets in his country for respiratory problems in small furries, reptiles and birds. He has suggested that if I would want to purchase one from eBay he would write up some drugs that will be beneficial for respiratory symptoms. As the animal breathes in the drugs are delivered much more directly to the lungs with greatly increased recovery time. You place them in a small transport cage or similar and enclose it with a plastic bag, vented at the opposite side to the nebuliser, which you would put through the front door grid(no bedding but I will check if newspaper is okay unless anyone on here knows differently).
Has any one else ever tried this type of treatment on cavies and what were the outcomes? I have ordered one as I'm willing to give it a try.
Sorry so long but can anyone help? Also, what to use for weight gain? Both are 5 months old, little Sasha looks 8weeks!
Thanks everyone look forward to your help and advice.
it was such an important part of keeping them stable. 
