Olive's gas problem

Olive · Post » Fri Mar 20, 2020 3:04 pm

I do not have any other pets in the house. Will just continue with the increased metoclopramide dosage for now then, till we have something concrete for internal parasites.

Sef · Post » Fri Mar 20, 2020 7:53 pm

I would still have a conversation with your veterinarian about the stool sample results. If this is indeed hookworm, hookworm is not a parasite specific to guinea pigs -- it's fairly common in dogs and cats. You can at least ask for verification; hookworms are easy to detect and have a very distinctive appearance. The vet can give you an idea of how heavily infested the sample was, and can talk with you about treatment. There are a lot of different cavy-safe oral anti-parasitics such as Ivermectin, Albon, Metronidazole, etc. From what I've been reading, though, Panacur (Fenbendazole) does seem to be the most common drug to use for hookworm in most animals. In guinea pigs, the dosage appears to be 20mg/kg every 24 hours for 5 days. You can also try doing a search on these forums for Panacur.

I tend to associate internal parasites with diarrhea, but I haven't been able to find any information on how hookworm presents in guinea pigs. In humans, the symptoms are listed as abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue and anemia.

I'm sorry that I can't be of more help.

Olive · Post » Fri Mar 20, 2020 10:16 pm

The urine sample should also have traces of the parasite, isn't it? The urine report will be a more detailed one which will give information about the bacteria and/ or parasite found along with the appropriate antibiotic for it. If the problem in hand is not REALLY URGENT, I think I should wait till I have the urine report before I talk to a vet?

bpatters · Post » Fri Mar 20, 2020 11:45 pm

No. Parasites are not usually found in urine, but in the digestive tract. That report was from a stool sample.

Olive · Post » Sat Mar 21, 2020 1:10 am

I did a bit of digging in my own and it seems that a 20mg dose of fenbendazole for 5 days should do the trick, followed by a similar process after 14 days to prevent regrowth. Most of the clinics here are shut in fear of the fast spreading COVID-19. I'll try reaching out to vets on LinkedIn and see if I can get any help. If not, I'm afraid I'll have to take it in my own hands.

Olive · Post » Sat Mar 21, 2020 5:49 am

I just noticed that the left side of her body just before where her leg begins in swollen. It is also visible on the x-ray (most clearly visible on the 3rd picture that Lynx uploaded. Is this a reaction caused by possible bacteria/ parasite? I also noticed that she has lost a lot of fur around that area.

Sef · Post » Sat Mar 21, 2020 8:33 am

It could very well be her body's autoimmune response to the parasites. Also, internal parasites deplete nutrients from the body, which is why anemia is common. You might try increasing her vitamin C intake, as swollen joints and hair loss could be indicative of vitamin C deficiency.

Olive · Post » Sat Mar 21, 2020 9:10 am

Is there a link available on the forum for Vitamin C? Also, if I use supplements, what is the appropriate dose?

Update: The country is in a lockdown drill tomorrow to prepare for the virus. It might well stretch till Monday. So, I'm starting the treatment using a 20mg per day dose of fenbendazole. There's also a visible fall in her appetite now. I do not think I should wait till Tuesday.

Sef · Post » Sat Mar 21, 2020 10:04 am

This may be helpful:
https://www.guinealynx.info/diet.html#c

Olive · Post » Sat Mar 21, 2020 10:23 am

Thank you so much. I'm also finding it difficult to massage her as she's in a lot of pain because of her swelling. She keeps squeaking as soon as I start massaging her. Is it advisable to wait out the massaging for some time?

Also, she's already getting an increased dose of metoclopramide along with a standard dose of simethicone and meloxicam. Is it safe to administer fenbendazole along with these drugs? If so, how much should be the gap? If not, which ones should I forego at the moment?

Sef · Post » Sat Mar 21, 2020 11:46 am

I would probably forego massage for now if it's too painful for her. If you have a vibrating pillow or vibrating toothbrush, those can be a good alternative.

According to Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook (6th edition), there are no known drug interactions with Fenbendazole. I would say that you can use it concurrently with Metacam and Simethicone.

Do keep in mind that none of us here is a veterinarian, and very few of us (if any) have actually dealt with internal/intestinal parasites. It's just not that common in the US. My best advice would be for you to continue to research this online and see if there are any resources or veterinarians elsewhere who might be willing to consult with you over the phone.

Olive · Post » Sat Mar 21, 2020 11:50 am

I thoroughly understand that your advice comes from your experience and not from medical expertise. I have also simultaneously been backing up everything that is advised here with my own research. Thank you so much for all the help. Will keep updating. To be on the safe side I'll keep some time-gap between the doses.