Zithromax....

[Midge&Panda]

Panda has been given Zithromax for her breathing problems. She weighs 1250g and has been prescribed 0.25mls daily. Apart from runny poos any other side effects I should look out for. The vet hasn't prescribed it for pigs before but he said it worked very well for rats when he's prescribed it for them. Thanks.

 

[gizzy]

Hi there, few and far between the only side effect that I have ever experienced with Zithromax is when l used the ready mixed solution for more than 10 days, NB: that Was with one individual pig

and for some reason the effect was pasty poo's(why after 10 days I do not know)

personally if the powder has already been made up and it is a 15ml box I would discard it and after seven days and get some new stuff! but that's just me, and One bad experience does not a side effect make !!

apart from that I have had no trouble at all and have been using it for a couple of years now

That sounds like a very low dose to me, as I understand that Zithromax dosage protocols are 0.1 ml per 100 g of pig

so if Panda is 1250g then the dosage should be 1.2ml either in 2 doses of 0.6ml or one complete dose, of 1.2ml,

different vets have different thoughts on this, time x2 per day or x 1 per day but an but if you give it as one dose I would make sure that you give a pro biotic like fibre plex of an hour before,

I know Zithromax does not have a reputation for upsetting the tummy, but with a respiratory infection , the last thing you need is dehydration due to sloppy poo's

I would recheck with your vet just to be on the safe side, as the dose is definitely 0.1per 100g of animal.
And with respiratory problems they can crash and burn so quickly.
What exactly are her symptoms by the way

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

Hi
How old is Panda? Side effects of zithromax are more common in very young pigs but many will have no side effects at all. Sometimes they may have reduced appetite(although this may be a result of the illness not the drug) and if on it for a while (over 10 days) there is an increased risk of bloat so it is best to be giving probiotics too.

The dose you say Panda is on seems low. Assuming the zithromax you have is 200mg/5ml a 1.25kg pig would usually be on 1.25ml once daily. I would check this with your vet.

 

[Midge&Panda]

Thanks for your replies, I spoke to a different vet yesterday and the dosage is specific to Panda. She told me to speak to him again on Friday when he returns to work. Panda is quite reluctant to eat and I'm not quite sure what the next step will be. She doesn't have difficulty in eating just not interested. She's being topped up with critical care but how long can this be done with out an impact on the teeth? Going to phone the vets today concerning a pain killer, cant use metacam because she's on steroids. She has long term breathing problems caused by scar tissue and is nearly 5yrs old. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[helen105281]

I have heard that Zithromax can turn their wee orange but is the only side effect that I am aware of. Each pig is different though.

 

[gizzy]

Hi there I'm not suggesting you should be second guessing your vet,

but they have often been known to the wrong!

if Panda. Was my pig I would be asking your vet to get in touch with the knowledgeable Guinea pig vet like Simon Maddox http://www.catandrabbit.co.uk/html/contact_us.html to discuss Panda's dosage protocols. He is very approachable and always willing to talk to all the vets regarding Guinea pigs.

Regarding the scar tissue, a few years ago a branch of the rspca successfully treated a pig with respiratory problems with a combination of baytril and septerin , but they would not put him out for adoption because his lungs were badly scarred, and he had a chronic weepy eye as a result of this.

And it was decided by them to put this pig to sleep, As long-term vet bills would be likely

luckily one of their volunteers, got in touch with a friend who in turn got in touch with me, and I agreed to take over the Vet bills and long term care and maintenance of this piggy,

Apart from his weepy eye's, he did experience breathing difficulties if there is a high level of dust in the air, for this reason and also for the well-being of my other pigs, I installed HEPA the air filters in my pig room, and devise my own dust hay extraction system ,

since I have kept a close watch on the dust levels in my pig room, the pig in question, plus another one that would hoot and wheeze like an old man, are now totally fine .

I don't know whether panda is an indoor or outdoor Piggie, but maybe keep an eye to the dust levels
Just a thought

I really hope you manage to fix pander

 

[Midge&Panda]

Thanks for the replies, Panda it seems has an intolerance to certain drugs, terramycin being one and now Zithromax. We saw another vet yesterday and it was decided not to proceed with the drug but put her back on to baytril and 1/4 steroid daily. The pigs share a room with my daughter who suffers with unknown allergies (tests were inconclusive but probably hay) but dust levels are kept to a minimum. I will look into a hepa air filter it will do them both good. . The only thing we can pinpoint her breathing problems to is an allergy and because we don't use any chemicals in the room- we are presuming its either from the hay or possibly the cat.

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

Hi, I agree with Gizzy in suggesting your vet get in touch with Simon maddock or Kim at the cat and rabbit care clinic, they have a huge amount of expertise. It would be worth them discussing the use of steroids too as most cavy savvy vets seldom use them as they surpress the immune system in guinea pigs, so if Panda does have some type of infection they will not be helping her fight it off.
I hope Panda starts to improve soon.