Hello,
This forum has been very helpful to us and our Guinea pigs. We purchased a female about 7 months ago to be a playmate to our older female. Got her home from PETCO and noticed a sneeze or two and took her to the vet just to be sure (had lost male Pig a few months prior to URI, IMOI), Vet sent us home with Baytril and TMP/SMZ. Fortunately the vet also sent an extra coarse of both antibacterial meds in case our other pig caught the same thing.
Here we are about 6 months later and she begins sneezing, some wet clear stuff , not real bad. I immediately started her on the meds we had saved in the refrigerator, the third day she did not sneeze once, but I kept with the meds and the 4th day and now 5th day she has been sneezing quite a lot. I purchased a stethoscope in hopes of getting a better idea whats going on, but there is no shortness of breath (maybe because we caught it early?) no wheezing, just the normal quick clear breaths between purs and normal chatter (she is a real talker). the pigs both have large cages next to each other (usually have playtime twice a day), fleece bedding laundered in non-allergenic perfume free soap and close line dried, all the normal veggies, vitamin C in the water, and foods w/vitamin C.
I keep thinking I jumped the gun and am making the poor little thing suffer through the meds for no reason but about that time she lets out a big wet sneeze or two.
Main worry now is that it is not going away and I am almost out of the meds. I am taking her to the vet tomorrow. Wanted to ask if anyone has any ideas about some alternative meds that might take care of this illness, or do we just continue with the same meds for another coarse. I worry about side effects, although I make sure she has food on her stomach, and she still has a good appetite.
Sorry for the long read, and thank you in advance for any ideas you might share!
URI="Baytril,TMP/SMZ," Whats next?
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bpatters
- And got the T-shirt
Welcome to the forum!
Unfortunately, you've discovered the hard way that pet store pigs often are not in the best of health. Consider yourself lucky that you didn't get a pregnant baby sow.
The sneezing may not be a URI at all. Is the hay extra dusty? Is there anything different about the bedding? Is she getting any new foods?
A clear discharge is not suggestive of an infection. In a human, you'd think allergies, and that might be her problem. If it were me, I'd very carefully examine everything in her environment and see if I could find a trigger. And, I'd stop the meds. A baby pig should never have been given Baytril in the first place unless there was no other med that would do the trick.
Just an FYI... Vitamin C in the water is useless. C dissolved in water degrades very quickly in the presence of light, and within a short time, all you've got is funny tasting water that the pigs may or may not want to drink. You're far better off with high-C foods. If you have to supplement, then use a tablet, or syringe it to the pigs.
Unfortunately, you've discovered the hard way that pet store pigs often are not in the best of health. Consider yourself lucky that you didn't get a pregnant baby sow.
The sneezing may not be a URI at all. Is the hay extra dusty? Is there anything different about the bedding? Is she getting any new foods?
A clear discharge is not suggestive of an infection. In a human, you'd think allergies, and that might be her problem. If it were me, I'd very carefully examine everything in her environment and see if I could find a trigger. And, I'd stop the meds. A baby pig should never have been given Baytril in the first place unless there was no other med that would do the trick.
Just an FYI... Vitamin C in the water is useless. C dissolved in water degrades very quickly in the presence of light, and within a short time, all you've got is funny tasting water that the pigs may or may not want to drink. You're far better off with high-C foods. If you have to supplement, then use a tablet, or syringe it to the pigs.
Well bpatters, where we live we are unable to trap them so have to resort to buying them in town, I dont consider it "lucky" getting a sick animal,haven't changed anything I can think of,be pretty hard pressed to taste 8 drops of absorbic acid in a pint of water, besides they drink it just fine, we have a roof and curtains and the water is changed daily, besides I dont see any harm in getting nutrients from an extra source, I began giving her the medicine because i didnt think it wise to let her get to the point where she has yellow slime running down her face and stands in the corner with her mouth open trying to breath like some i see on the web, I guess we should have refused treatment with baytril, then we wouldn't be in this predicament huh? Could have just went and found a farm and got a new one! Admin please delete this thread, Im evidentally such a backwards fool I shouldn't have animals. BTW Im getting a second opinion from a small animal specialist, not sure i trust this advise! This forum is a much better read than write!
Unsubcribed, pleasure to meet you all!
Unsubcribed, pleasure to meet you all!
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Catie Cavy
- Supporter 2011-2020
I think some communication signals might have gotten mixed over the internet. bpatters was just being factual. Her only jab was at pet stores for selling sick and pregnant guinea pigs, not at you.
Vitamin C supplementation is fine. In fact, it’s a good idea for a sick guinea pig. bpatters only noted that it’s best to provide it directly rather than put it in water.
As for the Baytril, it’s not normally the first antibiotic given for a young guinea pig as it can affect their growth, but that’s not an absolute. Sometimes there are no alternatives and Baytil is the best choice for the situation.
There are a few other antibiotics as well as other methods for delivering them, but my guess is your vet will want you to continue on one that you have already tried but perhaps for a longer course.
As to the small animal vet, look for one specialized in “exotics” such as guinea pigs or rabbits or “pocket pets.” “Small animal vet” frequently means they are experienced in cats and dogs only (as opposed to a large animal vet for horses). An “exotic” vet will be experienced specifically in guinea pigs, which is what you want.
Good luck and let us know how it goes at the vet (if you want).
Vitamin C supplementation is fine. In fact, it’s a good idea for a sick guinea pig. bpatters only noted that it’s best to provide it directly rather than put it in water.
As for the Baytril, it’s not normally the first antibiotic given for a young guinea pig as it can affect their growth, but that’s not an absolute. Sometimes there are no alternatives and Baytil is the best choice for the situation.
There are a few other antibiotics as well as other methods for delivering them, but my guess is your vet will want you to continue on one that you have already tried but perhaps for a longer course.
As to the small animal vet, look for one specialized in “exotics” such as guinea pigs or rabbits or “pocket pets.” “Small animal vet” frequently means they are experienced in cats and dogs only (as opposed to a large animal vet for horses). An “exotic” vet will be experienced specifically in guinea pigs, which is what you want.
Good luck and let us know how it goes at the vet (if you want).
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Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
Ditto bpatters and thanks Catie Cavy for "translating".
The moderators here are interested in providing sound information. The introductory email you were sent emphasized that we encourage adopting vs. purchasing from pet stores, since there are so many homeless guinea pigs.
I hope you are able to get it cleared up. Meanwhile, start weighing daily. A drop in weight can be an indicator you may need to hand feed. We don't know what is causing the signs of illness your guinea pig is displaying so it is important to look at multiple possibilities.
Mold can also cause sneezing. Hay can be dusty and moldy.
The moderators here are interested in providing sound information. The introductory email you were sent emphasized that we encourage adopting vs. purchasing from pet stores, since there are so many homeless guinea pigs.
I hope you are able to get it cleared up. Meanwhile, start weighing daily. A drop in weight can be an indicator you may need to hand feed. We don't know what is causing the signs of illness your guinea pig is displaying so it is important to look at multiple possibilities.
Mold can also cause sneezing. Hay can be dusty and moldy.
No guarantee it is the same thing but we have two Pet store bought Piggies who are currently being treated for URIs. One used to sneeze on a regular basis but when the vet checked her out she said the lungs seemed fine. However about a week or so later she started coughing and had crackling breath and a day or two later the other one developed the same issues.
Like I said it may not be the same issue but emergency vet we saw prescribed TMZ/SMP (Sulfatrim) but Doxycycline rather than Baytril. We also had them on 1 ml of Vitamin C supplement for 7 days as well which they weren't so keen on so we mixed it in with some Critical Care for each one.
One of the piggies is on Day 13 of the Antibiotics and the other on Day 10. The vet suggested we keep them on the meds until all signs of sneezing, coughing and other abnormal breathing sounds have subsided.
They seem to be doing OK and the incidents of sneezing and coughing and other breathing issues seems to have died down and bpatters advice on also giving them Benebac to keep their appetite up has really seemed to help.
Like I said may or may not be the same issue as you are having but thought the advice on the alternative meds might be helpful.
Like I said it may not be the same issue but emergency vet we saw prescribed TMZ/SMP (Sulfatrim) but Doxycycline rather than Baytril. We also had them on 1 ml of Vitamin C supplement for 7 days as well which they weren't so keen on so we mixed it in with some Critical Care for each one.
One of the piggies is on Day 13 of the Antibiotics and the other on Day 10. The vet suggested we keep them on the meds until all signs of sneezing, coughing and other abnormal breathing sounds have subsided.
They seem to be doing OK and the incidents of sneezing and coughing and other breathing issues seems to have died down and bpatters advice on also giving them Benebac to keep their appetite up has really seemed to help.
Like I said may or may not be the same issue as you are having but thought the advice on the alternative meds might be helpful.
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