Azithromycin Dose

[RosieMaia]

My guinea pig has an abscess that is set deeply, it's not right under the skin. I'd like to use azithromycin, as the abscess is large and refills almost instantly. Azithromycin isn't used in my country for guinea pigs, so I'd like to know what dosage you were presecribed for your guinea pigs. Azithromycin it's available as 100 mg/5 ml powder for oral suspension, and my guinea pig weights exactly 1000 grams. I'd be really grateful for any advice regarding the appropriate does - and I will of course also discuss it with my vet prior to administering it. Thank you!

Edit:
I just saw a post by Wiebke regarding the dose:
"Zithromax doesn't keep long and you have to keep it in the fridge. The correct dosage is 0.1 ml per 100g of body weight (or 0.05 ml per 100g if you give twice daily).
I have split my the dose and giving it half in the morning and half in the evening in view of the fast cavy metabolism, but that it is up to you. My Hywel is currently on 0.45-0.5 ml Zithromax twice daily for his jawbone/dental root abscess. I am adjusting the dose according to his body weight, which has been a bit up and down between 900-1000g."

I wonder if it's the same concentration, or the higher one. I know the European Commission has approved azithromycin in two concentrations: 100 mg/5 ml and 200 mg/5 ml.

 

[Wiebke]

@furryfriends (TEAS) @Abi_nurse

 

[RosieMaia]

Thank you Wiebke! I was browsing through Sian25's thread and actually found the answer to my question: both Simon Maddock and Sian25's vet use the 200 mg/5 ml suspension, and prescribe it at 1ml/kg bw. I just went and purchased a bottle, and I'm going to give him the dose.

My vet hasn't used azithromycin on a guinea pig before, and was hesitant to agree to it. It will be my own responsibility to administer it right. However, as neither enrofloxacin, nor trimetoprim/sulfametoxazol have had any effect whatsoever, and the abscess is very deeply set in his stomach, so it is hard to keep a shunt or anything to facilitate proper drainage. I only hope it works.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you Wiebke! I was browsing through Sian25's thread and actually found the answer to my question: both Simon Maddock and Sian25's vet use the 200 mg/5 ml suspension, and prescribe it at 1ml/kg bw. I just went and purchased a bottle, and I'm going to give him the dose.

My vet hasn't used azithromycin on a guinea pig before, and was hesitant to agree to it. It will be my own responsibility to administer it right. However, as neither enrofloxacin, nor trimetoprim/sulfametoxazol have had any effect whatsoever, and the abscess is very deeply set in his stomach, so it is hard to keep a shunt or anything to facilitate proper drainage. I only hope it works.

My Hywel is currently on it for a massive abscess under his jaw. I hope that it works for you! I am just not so good with computing dosages - especially not after several rather sleepless nights with two ill piggies.

 

[RosieMaia]

Oh, I'm ever so sorry about your piggy! I hope he recovers quickly.

I also feel very hesitant with doses, but it appears that 1ml/40 mg/kg is the dose that is prescribed for abscesses usually, and my pig is exactly 1 kg, so it's as straightforward as it gets. My only concern is that the abscess doesn't appear to be shrinking. It's as large as a walnut, thought very squishy. Yesterday the vet used fine needle aspiration to completely empty the abscess, removed nearly 5 ml of puss, and it's already full again. The vet said that we supposedly have a good chance of clearing it with antibiotics, because the ultrasound showed it wasn't "capsulated", but I'm now leaning towards a surgery, because it's just too big and deep.

We aren't sure if the abscess is a delayed complication of his neuter back in January, or unrelated. It's near his belly button, slightly to the left, around his inguinal canal and not where the incisions were. Strangely enough, he doesn't seem to notice the abscess at all and feels well.