Hercules

[Lynx]

Man, you and me both! Many words I start searching for!

[daj]

I'm sorry for your loss. Seems like the prognosis with these is not encouraging. The vet took a culture today and told me to switch to Vetrimycin VF twice a day in the meantime. I could take a week or more for the results. Meanwhile he spends a lot of time hiding and sleeping. On another note, I was shocked at the cost of the culture: $289 and total for the visit $350 for a total of $500 for last week and this. Will just hope for the best for little Hercules.

[Lynx]

I am sorry this was so expensive. It would be helpful if vets proactively let clients know the cost of services.

[ItsaZoo]

I hope they figure out what’s going on for little Hercules. The cultures are expensive and I think they can then customize the antibiotics to treat the specific bacteria causing the infection.

[daj]

Today there is a little clucking sound when he breathes. Jut now when I checked him his right eye was sealed shut with mucus. He hasn't had any crusting before. So there definitely seems to be infection and he needs to get on an antibiotic. It seems it will be best to wait for the results of the culture though, i would think. Wouldn't it be a bad idea to put him on one for possible URI and then switch to something to target the ears? Or would it be best to get him on something ASAP? The A few days ago I also noticed swelling on one of his toes, so it looks the start of possible bumblefoot.

[Lynx]

Can you pose this question to your vet? I understand worrying about the direction his health is going. Your vet would be able to prescribe a reasonable interim antibiotic.

[ItsaZoo]

I had two different antibiotics for Gidget. The vet prescribed one for the ears, then the other when she developed the URI. The vet advised we could start one and make a switch as long as you skip one dose, or wait 24 hours. So the one that was prescribed every 12 hours, I had to wait 12 hours before switching to anything else.

Check with your vet. Since they already saw Hercules and they know you are experienced with guinea pigs, they will probably be able to prescribe something in the meantime or give other advice.

As far as bumblefoot, you can use an OTC salve like polysporin if you massage it in well. The vet can also prescribe Mupirocin, which is what I got for Millie. Extra vitamin C is also recommended.

[daj]

I have been waiting for the results of the culture, and I think he seems a bit better. I don't see any URI type symptoms. I may be a bit hypochondriacal with this little pig. The vet called with the results of the culture, and he said it shows two irritating organisms that are common on the skin of animals like cats and dogs. I don't have the report, but I think I will call back and see if they can email it to me. Wow, I seem to not have retained much from the conversation now that I am trying to recall it. He doesn't want to use an oral antibiotic. He is going to look into having something compounded to administer topically. I asked if this could travel deeper into the ear. He said it tends not to, but there is always the potential. I'm not sure why he seems so concerned about impacts to the gut. He was using the technical names for antibiotics, so I was clear on which ones he was mentioning. One was doxycycline, I think. But I agreed to try the topical first, and he said he will research which will be best and hopefully get it called in today.

[daj]

Got the lab report on Hercules' culture of the ear. It shows staphylococcus aureus (1+) and staphylococcus epidermis (few). The antibiotics that the staphylococcus aureus are sensitive to are cephalexin, ciprofloxicin, ceftiofur, oxacillin/methacillin, gentamicin, enrofloxacin, marbofloxacin, doxycycline, minocycline, mupirocin, chloramphenicol, rifampin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.

If I look up staphylococcus aureus it looks like it can affect the respiratory system and skin. All three of my pigs itch. Only Hercules is shaking his head. I've had one pig pass away from an ear infection and two from what I suspect was URI. I have been running an air purifier lately, because I had been starting to suspect there may be an organism that is prevalent in this house. If I could, I would empty it and run an ozone generator in here. Does anyone have advice on trying to sanitize the house? I feel like, maybe the topical antibiotic is not the right course of action.

Hercules has also gotten bumblefoot since arriving here. We have it under control with daily a daily soak with chlorhexidine and twice daily application of blue coat and a wrap. But the clues seem to me to be pointing to this environment.

[daj]

He called in enrofloxacin 0.5 in glycerin
I will also order a UV lamp to see if it helps

[daj]

Now I just noticed his right eye is sunken a bit. It's not protruding in proportion to his left eye. This is the one that was sealed shut one morning. I don't see anything in the eye as best I can tell. I see it can be a sign of kidney problems or dehydration. He does drink more than has seemed normal to me, and I think I mentioned above that I had one who drank a full bottle a day. Herc is not taking a full bottle, but he's small. And I think I mentioned a coworker said a pig of his that drank a bottle a day was diagnosed with a defective large intestine.

[Lynx]

I hope you are able to improve his situation.

The antibiotics listed, I started really worrying because several if used orally are really dangerous. I believe you are already aware of these issues:
https://www.guinealynx.info/dangerous_medications.html

Glad to see he's prescribed an antibiotic commonly used in guinea pigs.

Watch the eye closely. If you see it worsening or have any serious concerns, let the vet know. An xray might show if there is some sort of infection.