8 year old guinea pig with a URI

[weepweeps]

I’m so pleased he’s feeling brighter today.

 

[Merab]

Glad the news is better.
You’re having something of an emotional rollercoaster at the moment.
Look after yourself.

 

[rosequartz]

It really is an emotional rollercoaster. I have gone from sobbing thinking he needs to be put down, to feeling like he could live another year happily. It’s hard because I know their health can change so rapidly.

His lungs look good, just a couple more days of the Baytril then I think his GI stuff will return to normal. With the Metoclopramide, he’s pooping really good. There are times when it’s not very much but for the most part he is pooping good with medication while on the antibiotic.

The X-ray showed there is still gas in his stomach but not as much and that things are starting to move. She recommended a low dose of Simethicon (spelling error probably) baby gas drops but I don’t really feel safe using that. If it comes to it okay but right now I don’t feel the need to give him that.

Today the bloating is down even more so that’s a good sign. I’m still syringe feeding him in the morning and before bed because I don’t think he can always keep up on his hay intake, but he’s showing interest in and is eating well.

She prescribed him a higher dose of Meloxicam. .15cc instead of just .1cc. He seems to be hurting less with this dose.

He’s itchy but no mites. She checked again. Gave me gabapentin in case of emergency pain situations.

And she went ahead and treated him with a single dose of Revolution just in case of fleas or mites because he’s got black specks in his hair.

There was no “wrong medication” prescribed it *did* look like meloxicam but it’s a different flavor or something. She took it very seriously and checked it and I really appreciate that.

I struggle with depression and anxiety chronically, and have for years so I’m starting to focus on self care during this time because it’s really taking a toll on me.

But I think he’s gonna beat this and he’ll be able to stay with us for a bit longer. <3

 

[Piggies&buns]

It really is an emotional rollercoaster. I have gone from sobbing thinking he needs to be put down, to feeling like he could live another year happily. It’s hard because I know their health can change so rapidly.

His lungs look good, just a couple more days of the Baytril then I think his GI stuff will return to normal. With the Metoclopramide, he’s pooping really good. There are times when it’s not very much but for the most part he is pooping good with medication while on the antibiotic.

The X-ray showed there is still gas in his stomach but not as much and that things are starting to move. She recommended a low dose of Simethicon (spelling error probably) baby gas drops but I don’t really feel safe using that. If it comes to it okay but right now I don’t feel the need to give him that.

Today the bloating is down even more so that’s a good sign. I’m still syringe feeding him in the morning and before bed because I don’t think he can always keep up on his hay intake, but he’s showing interest in and is eating well.

She prescribed him a higher dose of Meloxicam. .15cc instead of just .1cc. He seems to be hurting less with this dose.

He’s itchy but no mites. She checked again. Gave me gabapentin in case of emergency pain situations.

And she went ahead and treated him with a single dose of Revolution just in case of fleas or mites because he’s got black specks in his hair.

There was no “wrong medication” prescribed it *did* look like meloxicam but it’s a different flavor or something. She took it very seriously and checked it and I really appreciate that.

I struggle with depression and anxiety chronically, and have for years so I’m starting to focus on self care during this time because it’s really taking a toll on me.

But I think he’s gonna beat this and he’ll be able to stay with us for a bit longer. <3

Black specks which are stuck fast to the hair shaft are indeed a clear sign of mites - the specks which are stuck are the egg casings.
Piggies do not get fleas.

I don’t know if revolution works differently so you would need to check whether a single dose is actually enough. It is a selamectin based product which I am not familiar with. The most common ivermectin product used here requires three separate doses to fully cure mites (one treatment isn’t enough as it doesn’t kill eggs so you have to wait for the eggs to hatch and then repeat treatment).

New Guinea Pig Problems: Sexing & Pregnancy; URI, Ringworm & Parasites; Vet Checks & Customer Rights

We don’t recommend simethicone is used in piggies. It gathers gas into one big bubble which is fine for human babies but piggy gut is different and using simethicone can make passing gas more painful.

Make sure you are weighing him yourself every morning so you can monitor food intake daily.

Sending you hugs

 

[Wiebke]

Wishing you all the best. Glad that things are looking up a bit more again. Frailer oldies can really put you through the ringer.

 

[rosequartz]

Black specks which are stuck fast to the hair shaft are indeed a clear sign of mites - the specks which are stuck are the egg casings.
Piggies do not get fleas.

I don’t know if revolution works differently so you would need to check whether a single dose is actually enough. It is a selamectin based product which I am not familiar with. The most common ivermectin product used here requires three separate doses to fully cure mites (one treatment isn’t enough as it doesn’t kill eggs so you have to wait for the eggs to hatch and then repeat treatment).

New Guinea Pig Problems: Sexing & Pregnancy; URI, Ringworm & Parasites; Vet Checks & Customer Rights

We don’t recommend simethicone is used in piggies. It gathers gas into one big bubble which is fine for human babies but piggy gut is different and using simethicone can make passing gas more painful.

Make sure you are weighing him yourself every morning so you can monitor food intake daily.

Sending you hugs

Ah well I don’t know. She looked at it under the microscope, and didn’t see anything.

And thank you!

 

[rosequartz]

I don’t think it’s fleas as I haven’t seen any on him but it is possible from what I’ve read. My vet’s guinea pig had fleas. I live in the USA in an area that has a lot of fleas so maybe. Idk.

 

[rosequartz]

I think she believes it to be skin flakes though. Like dandruff. She said that’s all she saw in the microscope and the revolution is just in case

 

[Piggies&buns]

Fleas are species specific and there are no such thing as guinea pig fleas.
Fleas from other animals may land on piggies but they don’t stay on them as piggies are not the right type of ‘food’ for those fleas so they would die if they don’t leave.

Run your thumb and index finger down the hair shaft where you see the black specks in the hair.
If the black specks feel like tiny beads actually stuck on the hair shaft and do not come of when you run your finger down, then they are mite egg casings. Mites themselves are not visible to the human eye.

Skin flakes would move and just come off when you run your finger down so can easily be identified

 

[Wiebke]

I don’t think it’s fleas as I haven’t seen any on him but it is possible from what I’ve read. My vet’s guinea pig had fleas. I live in the USA in an area that has a lot of fleas so maybe. Idk.

Please never try any common flea treatments because they contain substances that fatal for guinea pigs. Guinea pigs don't have species specific fleas.
Fleas And Flea Powders - Risk of Death Warning

 

[rosequartz]

Please never try any common flea treatments because they contain substances that fatal for guinea pigs. Guinea pigs don't have species specific fleas.
Fleas And Flea Powders - Risk of Death Warning

Well he’s already had the revolution put on his neck. I can’t do anything about it now.

 

[rosequartz]

They do not look or feel like tiny beads no. I’m trying my best. Now I’m worried

 

[Wiebke]

Well he’s already had the revolution put on his neck. I can’t do anything about it now.

Revolution is a selamectin based safe US brand that works against any skin parasites so your vet is keeping their options open.
Guinea Lynx :: Antiparasitics (see bottom of the page; brand names can vary depending on the country)

My previous remark was aimed at pet shop products and home treatment against fleas. I am very happy that you have seen a vet. We see a case with a fatal outcome every so often, sadly, and we have plenty of people who do their own searches so this is more in the way of a warning to future readers.

All the best!

 

[rosequartz]

Upping his syringe feedings to three times a day instead of two times a day, just to get his weight up a little. Does anyone have any suggestions on how often I should be syringe feeding him in a day and how much? He is eating independently and there doesn't seem to be too much of a significant decrease in eating, but at times throughout the day he eats a little less if he doesn't feel good/or is sleeping a little more, so I'm trying to supplement for that slight lack.

Monitoring his weight carefully. He lost a little after his bloat went down, I assume that's what it's from - (went from 780 to 760). Today he is still not bloated, and he's doing well. Moving around his cage, eating, drinking, looking over at me (he has his own room, and there's a bed in this room that I sit on a good bit throughout the day on the laptop, reading, etc.) and I talk to him often and get him out several times to cuddle, kiss him, and talk to him. He has a fleece baby blanket that I wrap him in or let him lay on and I can tell how safe he feels.

He loves his cuddles. <3

He's gotten to where he seems to want to be cuddled a second time after being put in his cage for the night before I got to sleep. I wonder if this is some sort of separation anxiety, but either way, he gets lots and lots of attention and I can tell he knows how loved he is. After putting him back in his cage sometimes, he'll chew on his cage, because I know he wants me to cuddle him again. I generally do, then when he seems content eating I put on soft lullaby music for him (as a sort of signal that I'm going to bed) and this has seemed to help him know what to expect.

The increased Meloxicam is really helping him move around easier and I can definitely tell it doesn't hurt as much and I don't have to be QUITE as careful when picking him up, though I am still very careful. I will be stopping the Baytril on Monday, so that should stop the need for the .4cc Metoclopramide dose twice a day, or maybe I could at least lower the dosage - but I will just take it as it comes, monitor him very carefully as I have been, and see what seems to be the best for him at the moment.

Sorry for writing a novel, but long story short: Considering that he is 8 years old, he is doing very well and consistently showing signs of improvement.

 

[Piggies&buns]

The amount you syringe feed depends entirely on how much he is eating independently gauged by what his weight checks are telling you.

A few top up feeds a day if piggy is otherwise eating hay for themselves right up to feeding every 2 hours throughout the whole day where there is loss of appetite.

 

[rosequartz]

The amount you syringe feed depends entirely on how much he is eating independently gauged by what his weight checks are telling you.

A few top up feeds a day if piggy is otherwise eating hay for themselves right up to feeding every 2 hours throughout the whole day where there is loss of appetite.

Thank you!

 

[rosequartz]

Alright he had his last dose of Baytril Saturday evening. I heard a sneeze Sunday morning, could be possible he has allergies. Because he's itching a lot, but she's testing several times for mites and other stuff and seen nothing (nonetheless was treated with a small bit of Revolution on his neck, which is a safe medication against fleas and mites.) The itching does seem less the past few days, though.

I haven't heard a sneeze since the other day, thankfully. He goes to the vet today to x-ray his lungs again to make sure they're still looking good, and to x-ray to see if there is still gas in his stomach. The last x-ray for his stomach was looking better, like things were moving through there definitely but slight bloat (this was caused by Baytril.)

I listened to his lungs and heart with a stethoscope, sounded good, but I'm not a doctor, obviously.

I expect his GI system will return to normal now that he's off the Baytril.


If his URI symptoms reappear again, we will know the low dose of Baytril was ineffective at healing it completely, though it took the symptoms away. He was only on .1cc once a day.

This is his second time on Baytril. But the first time he was only on it for 6 days, the vet told me to stop when his symptoms disappeared though I didn't really like that idea. He started having URI symptoms again three days later, so I immediately restarted the Baytril.

She agreed with me and prescribed .074cc twice a day, but I did not feel safe giving it twice a day this second time around since the one dose was already causing GI issues.

So this second time, he took it once a day for 8 days. I was going to do one extra day, but I do not feel comfortable because of the on-and-off GI bloat.


At this point there are no URI symptoms other than that one sneeze I heard 24 hours ago.

The plan is, only if his symptoms return/the infection does not appear to be fully healed, we will start him on Doxycycline.

(My question: I have read that Doxycycline is a lot easier on the gut, is that true?) If so, that does make me feel hopeful, in case he does end up needing a different antibiotic. I'm hoping this time the infection is fully cleared, though, and he won't need another one, but we'll take it one step at a time.

His stomach is less bloated already, and he's pooping better. Note that he never stopped eating, but I did and am still doing a couple of syringe feedings a day, because he is 8 years old and sometimes I don't think he can quite keep up with the amount he needs to eat, especially when his stomach was hurting from the bloat. BUT was still eating MOSTLY normally. He does have Meloxicam at a dose of .15cc which seems to give him good quality of life.

All in all he is doing well right now. He will be rechecked at the vet today.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Doxycycline tends to be much harder on the gut than baytril. It unfortunately can really wipe out he gut and affect appetite

I hope he is ok

 

[Merab]

Hope the vet check went well.
Holding you in my thoughts

 

[rosequartz]

Doxycycline tends to be much harder on the gut than baytril. It unfortunately can really wipe out he gut and affect appetite

I hope he is ok

I looked it up online and I keep seeing different information about Doxycycline? Some saying it's less harsh, some saying it's more?

 

[rosequartz]

But more often I am seeing that Baytril is worse.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I looked it up online and I keep seeing different information about Doxycycline? Some saying it's less harsh, some saying it's more?

Any antiobiotic is harsh on the gut - doxy tending to be more likely to cause loss of appetite but unless and until you have to try, you won’t know how yours will be affected by it. I’ve never had any issue with any of mine on baytril.

 

[rosequartz]

What about Bactrim?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Generally it is not as harsh on the gut - but it comes down to how the individual deals with it, use of probiotics can help etc.
A consideration the vet will take into account is which antibiotic is right one to deal with the type of bacteria which is present.

 

[rosequartz]

Well apparently the vet doesn't have a doctor today so he can't get in today anymore. I asked what about tomorrow, they said they're booked up. So until Thursday he can't be seen. I will take him somewhere else if I absolutely have to.

But, he was fine this morning, but when I got home from work, he was grinding his teeth a lot. I gave him Meloxicam, his usual dose, at the usual time when I got home. So that should be kicked in soon. However, I heard a light popping noise when he was sniffing. Signs of URI, in my opinion, which worries me a lot.

I'm going to directly ask the doctor if they're able to get him in tomorrow. Will keep y'all updated.

Do you guys know, if I listen to his lungs - I have a stethoscope - what should I listen for? What should it sound like?

Is it possible this is just allergies? Could I give him a small dose of the Benadryl the vet said he could take for the itching and see if that makes the slight URI signs better?

I am looking up exotic vets near me now and will call around. Will take him an hour or more away if I have to but there really aren't many exotic vets around at all.

 

[Wiebke]

Alright he had his last dose of Baytril Saturday evening. I heard a sneeze Sunday morning, could be possible he has allergies. Because he's itching a lot, but she's testing several times for mites and other stuff and seen nothing (nonetheless was treated with a small bit of Revolution on his neck, which is a safe medication against fleas and mites.) The itching does seem less the past few days, though.

I haven't heard a sneeze since the other day, thankfully. He goes to the vet today to x-ray his lungs again to make sure they're still looking good, and to x-ray to see if there is still gas in his stomach. The last x-ray for his stomach was looking better, like things were moving through there definitely but slight bloat (this was caused by Baytril.)

I listened to his lungs and heart with a stethoscope, sounded good, but I'm not a doctor, obviously.

I expect his GI system will return to normal now that he's off the Baytril.


If his URI symptoms reappear again, we will know the low dose of Baytril was ineffective at healing it completely, though it took the symptoms away. He was only on .1cc once a day.

This is his second time on Baytril. But the first time he was only on it for 6 days, the vet told me to stop when his symptoms disappeared though I didn't really like that idea. He started having URI symptoms again three days later, so I immediately restarted the Baytril.

She agreed with me and prescribed .074cc twice a day, but I did not feel safe giving it twice a day this second time around since the one dose was already causing GI issues.

So this second time, he took it once a day for 8 days. I was going to do one extra day, but I do not feel comfortable because of the on-and-off GI bloat.


At this point there are no URI symptoms other than that one sneeze I heard 24 hours ago.

The plan is, only if his symptoms return/the infection does not appear to be fully healed, we will start him on Doxycycline.

(My question: I have read that Doxycycline is a lot easier on the gut, is that true?) If so, that does make me feel hopeful, in case he does end up needing a different antibiotic. I'm hoping this time the infection is fully cleared, though, and he won't need another one, but we'll take it one step at a time.

His stomach is less bloated already, and he's pooping better. Note that he never stopped eating, but I did and am still doing a couple of syringe feedings a day, because he is 8 years old and sometimes I don't think he can quite keep up with the amount he needs to eat, especially when his stomach was hurting from the bloat. BUT was still eating MOSTLY normally. He does have Meloxicam at a dose of .15cc which seems to give him good quality of life.

All in all he is doing well right now. He will be rechecked at the vet today.

Wishing you all the best. Doxy in our forum experience is one of the harshed antibiotics on the gut, even more so than baytril. We just see more baytril cases because it is the most prescribed antibiotic by far.

Fingers crossed for your old boy.

 

[rosequartz]

Wishing you all the best. Doxy in our forum experience is one of the harshed antibiotics on the gut, even more so than baytril. We just see more baytril cases because it is the most prescribed antibiotic by far.

Fingers crossed for your old boy.

Thank you. I've had Baytril cause GI stasis in all three of the three guinea pigs I've had that took it so I'm always so nervous about Baytril particularly but I will keep that in mind.

 

[rosequartz]

I googled it, listened to his lungs, I hear like a... breathy sound? for lack of a better word? but that's probably normal? just sounds like he's breathing hard or something. but didn't hear any popping or crackling noises

 

[Suki&Indie]

I googled it, listened to his lungs, I hear like a... breathy sound? for lack of a better word? but that's probably normal? just sounds like he's breathing hard or something. but didn't hear any popping or crackling noises

Hi!
Sorry for such a late reply I have insomnia and like to read posts when I can’t sleep

Crackle/pop noises are what you want to listen for however I’m a vet student who’s done years of stethoscope work and honestly even I still struggle to hear them! You also need quite a high quality stethoscope to get good audio quality so I would definitely focus on also keeping an eye on weight and behaviour to gauge any oncoming illness.

Baytril is a fab antibiotic because it covers a large spectrum of bacteria but that can also cause tummy upset due to it killing off ‘good’ bacteria. I’d super highly recommend buying a probiotic (I personally like fibreplex), I have a permanently icky tummy piggy and fibreplex is a lifesaver especially when she’s getting Baytril because it helps replace all those good bacteria!

I’m not as sure about this so please other forum members feel free to correct me (or discuss with your vet!) but I THINK it’s possible to get Baytril injected subcutaneously meaning it bypasses the stomach and causes less issues (please double check this with your vet I’m not fully sure if this is correct) I’ve had it done for my piggies once at the start of a course (and then continue with oral Baytril after) just to give them a booster that won’t upset their tummy however I can’t find many other people mentioning this so it may just have been my vet

 

[Wiebke]

I googled it, listened to his lungs, I hear like a... breathy sound? for lack of a better word? but that's probably normal? just sounds like he's breathing hard or something. but didn't hear any popping or crackling noises

Hi

That doesn't sound worrying; things often echo down from the throat when you are holding your ear against the chest. Crackling/rasping in the throat and clicking from lungs (chest - indicates pneumonia) are the key sounds to listen out for an acute respiratory both upper and lower.