What Antibiotics Best For Uri?

[Hank288]

Just over a month ago I adopted a little boar from the pets at home adoption centre. Normally I would avoid that place for getting animals but he was my favourite colour and wanted to offer him a lovely home.

He almost no surprise is sick. Pets at home are paying for his treatment as he got sick 3 weeks after I had him. He has a URI and his front teeth are too long. He also has to go to the vets for pets within the stores. The vet I saw last Saturday was actually quite knowledgeable and seemed to know what he was doing.
Orick was prescribed 0.2mls of Sulfatrim twice a day for 10 days. He finishes his course on Tuesday but to me he doesn't seem much better. I have also been giving him 0.4mls of metacam (dog strength) left over from 2 weeks ago when Daisy had a URI and it was prescribed along with antibiotics by an exotics vet.
Just want to know what is best to ask the vet for as he didn't want to give baytril as its not as strong as sulfatrim. He only seemed to want to give either of those 2 as they are the only ones licenced . What else can I ask him to prescribe to treat him, even unlicenced for guinea pigs. Just don't 100% trust the vets judgement.
All help appreciated, just want to be prepared for Tuesday.

 

[gizzy]

Guinea Lynx :: UTI

Guinea Lynx :: Medications,

Guinea Lynx :: Pain (this may help your vets assessment of how mutch "pain if any !! " your pig is in )

Sorry you're fallen foul of pets at home, and l hope Orick is ack to full health very soon! Personaly l would look at the above links and discuss with your vet before you give such a strong dose of metercam,
What can you do? You could always ask your vet to take a nose swab to get a culture done at a laboratory! That will tell him exactly what type of infection he is dealing with, and give him a better idea of what antibiotics will best suit him

Culture costs around £50 but with an uri it could be money well spent

 

[Hank288]

I gave him 0.4mls once a day working off that Daisy was on 0.6mmls twice a day to take down any swelling to make sure that the infection can't harbour on the inflamed areas in the throat. I just followed similar advice from a trusted exotics vet, however I will speak to the vet about it on Tuesday.
I'm not sure whether pets at home would pay and do cultures but again I will broach the subject with the vet.

 

[helen105281]

That Metacam dosing is in line with what my vet suggests except that I split it so that they get 0.2ml twice a day. This does takes into account the metabolism of the pig. Just let your vet know you have given it.

Other antibiotics the vet could consider are Zithromax or Doxycycline. If it is a URI sometimes a diuretic can help as it will clear any fluid on the chest and Bisolvon can help clear mucous in the nose. You could place a bowl of steaming water next to the cage too with 2 drops of Olbas oil.

 

[Wiebke]

That Metacam dosing is in line with what my vet suggests except that I split it so that they get 0.2ml twice a day. This does takes into account the metabolism of the pig. Just let your vet know you have given it.

Other antibiotics the vet could consider are Zithromax or Doxycycline. If it is a URI sometimes a diuretic can help as it will clear any fluid on the chest and Bisolvon can help clear mucous in the nose. You could place a bowl of steaming water next to the cage too with 2 drops of Olbas oil.

I fully agree with @helen105281 and her advice on supportive care. If in doubt, please speak to your vet.

Metacam is an anti-inflammatory and not just a painkiller. Is also now recognised that it can be given safely in higher dosages than recommended in previous times because the quick metabolism also means that the kidneys are much less impacted than in other species.

 

[Hank288]

We have our appointment for a check up today at 10am after his 10 day course of antibiotics.
I will speak to the vet about the issues that are ongoing and possible other treatments that could be used.

What confuses me about all this is he is so bright and happy in himself. He loves his food, and runs and popcorns all around his cage. He doesn't show a lot of symptoms of being ill, but his breathing is just that bit crackly and he sneezes only a few times a day. Vet first thought he might be allergic to his bedding. Now on fleece with a hay tray and still not 100% so assuming it may not be an allergy.
Could his teeth be causing this issue with his breathing? His front teeth are long, although the vet says that his back teeth looked fine but he said there was a lot of food in his mouth and wouldn't flush it out before looking.
Just not sure what pets at home will agree to pay for to get him right. Also not sure what you do when it isn't your trusted vet but you have to go to the vets in the pets at home stores.

 

[Hank288]

Back from our appointment now. Am to continue with the sulfatrim for 5 days and now to add in some metacam twice daily and some Bisolvon twice a day for 5 days as well.
Check up again on Sunday to see how things are going and a stronger antibiotic then if there hasn't been any changes and still isn't well.

He has had his back teeth checked properly today and they are fine. Had his front teeth burred as well today. They have given him a small bag of Oxbow western timothy hay as a treat for having his teeth done.

 

[Freela]

What antibiotic will work really depends on the source of the infection. Recent Hadley went through two courses of sulfatrim for a URI without any lasting improvement (she would improve a bit on the meds and then relapse again right after they were stopped.) She did get better on Baytril. Whatever bacteria she was carrying must have been resistant to sulfatrim. If he is still not improving after this extension of the sulfatrim, it is probably time to try a different antibiotic. Hope he feels better soon!

 

[Hank288]

So we went for a check up last Sunday and was told that his chest and lungs sound clear and that he was absolutely fine.

Told to continue Sulfatrim, metacam, bisolvon until Tuesday. I have continued with this and he has been off medicine since Wednesday morning. He has now got clear discharge from his nose and is sounding a little snuffly again and sneezing a couple of times again.

Going to the vets again today but I am stuck with vets4pets who are not the greatest with guinea pigs, have to go here as pets at home are paying.

What should I ask for? Is there any other test that they can do? Or should I just ask for a stronger antibiotic like Doxycycline or Bactrim?

I assume that continuing with Bisolvon is a good idea as well?

Any help appreciated we have to go in an hour.

 

[Wiebke]

So we went for a check up last Sunday and was told that his chest and lungs sound clear and that he was absolutely fine.

Told to continue Sulfatrim, metacam, bisolvon until Tuesday. I have continued with this and he has been off medicine since Wednesday morning. He has now got clear discharge from his nose and is sounding a little snuffly again and sneezing a couple of times again.

Going to the vets again today but I am stuck with vets4pets who are not the greatest with guinea pigs, have to go here as pets at home are paying.

What should I ask for? Is there any other test that they can do? Or should I just ask for a stronger antibiotic like Doxycycline or Bactrim?

I assume that continuing with Bisolvon is a good idea as well?

Clear discharge, sneezing and a snuffy nose point towards something irritating up the nose that is likely unconnected to URI, like some hay dust or hay pollen.

Any help appreciated we have to go in an hour.