Another vet visit for Winston - back sores

[ricear]

Hi! So, backstory: on November 24, the vet gave my boy antibiotics and pain medicine for some sores on his back. (Arthur, our youngest boar, tried to play with Winston. Winston took it as a threat and got hurt)*. We stopped the baytril early because it gave him an upset tummy. NOW a sore on his back hasn’t gotten better so we’re at the vets *again*. Let’s hope this is the last time. There haven’t been any altercations.

*picture this: Winston was eating a fresh handful of hay. Arthur, obviously excited and popcorning about the hay, approached Winston from behind and scared him. Winston scurries away and Arthur zoomed over to see what was happening. One thing led to another and Winston was chattering his teeth. Nothing has happened before and nothing has happened since. They all coexist peacefully*

 

[Bill & Ted]

Aw,poor Winston hope you can get his back sorted x

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

Please ask your vet for bactrim instead of baytril; it can cause adverse reactions like any antibiotic but loss of a appetite is much rarer compared to baytril.

It sounds like you could be dealing with an abscess by now, which would need to be lanced, kept open and flushed regularly to allow to heal from the inside out.

All the best!

 

[ricear]

Hi!

Please ask your vet for bactrim instead of baytril; it can cause adverse reactions like any antibiotic but loss of a appetite is much rarer compared to baytril.

It sounds like you could be dealing with an abscess by now, which would need to be lanced, kept open and flushed regularly to allow to heal from the inside out.

All the best!

Hi! Update is she took a sample to send off to the lab for a specific bacteria so she knows what to give him. Until then, we have special wipes to use 2-3 times daily

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! Update is she took a sample to send off to the lab for a specific bacteria so she knows what to give him. Until then, we have special wipes to use 2-3 times daily

All the best! That will hopefully help your vet to find the most effective antibiotic.

 

[ricear]

All the best! That will hopefully help your vet to find the most effective antibiotic.

Yeah, but on a real note, I feel like I’m failing as a guinea pig parent with how many vet trips he’s made.

 

[Wiebke]

Yeah, but on a real note, I feel like I’m failing as a guinea pig parent with how many vet trips he’s made.

HUGS

Sometimes you come up against issues that tax you; nothing to do with your level of care but rather with the limitations that vets come up against all the time in terms of diagnosis and a very limited range of safe medications that can be used for guinea pigs. It is the bad luck of the draw when you come up against one of the less standard bugs or problems but not your personal fault.

Would it help you feel better if you knew that any long term owner will end up there sooner or later, and often repeatedly with different issues?
I have one boy with recurring skin issues/parasites due to a slightly defective immune system that have persisted for the whole 4 years he's been here and another one with irritable bowel-like symptoms that occasionally flare up really badly but where the most effective medication (steroids) is a strict no no when it comes to rodents and the second most effective medication (zantac) has been taken off the market. That's been going on for one year and may last for the remainder of his life.

Hang on in there. As long as you care and work with vets you are doing everything any good and responsible pet owner should do. The rest is out of your control.

 

[Flutterby]

Sending healing vibes!

 

[Merab]

Holding you in my thoughts

 

[Rivervixen]

All the best for winston