Bene-bac and Baytril

[Mo & Stubbins & Vani]

Hi!
Sorry that I post so often!
My guinea pigs have had some health issues over the past month. First, I realized that their poops had become very mushy, and then, one of the piglets began sneezing.
I promptly took them to the vet, where she prescribed Bene-bac for the mushy stool and Batryil for the sneezing. The vet said that she could not figure out why my piggies had either issue!
She asked about diet, water intake, veggies, etc., but nothing was out of the ordinary.
After 10 days of Baytril and 7 days of Bene-bac, everything was back to normal.
Then, last night, everything was back to the way it was before introducing the medications! I have my little piggy, Stubbins, sneezing, and the others producing mushy poop.
I have tried everything (as recommended by the vet). Supplements, different veggies, changing out all of the hay, etc. Nothing seems to work.
I am going to call the vet either today or tomorrow to see what my options are (I am very worried).
I have a couple of questions, though.
1. Wouldn't the antibiotic (Baytril) reverse the effects of the probiotic (Bene-bac)?
2. What could be causing this? (Any advice is welcome).
Thank you!

 

[sport_billy]

How many are producing mushy pop? And have they been on baytril or was that just the one sneezing?

 

[Mo & Stubbins & Vani]

Oops!
Forgot to update this. I called the vet yesterday and she prescribed another round of both medications. She also said that for most of her piggy patients, one round isn't enough to halt the infection.
To answer your questions:
1. They all produce mushy poops.
2. They were all on Baytril.

 

[Siikibam]

I think baytril can affect some piggies and not others. I can’t remember what is suggested so I’ll tag @Wiebke @VickiA @Piggies&buns

 

[Wiebke]

Oops!
Forgot to update this. I called the vet yesterday and she prescribed another round of both medications. She also said that for most of her piggy patients, one round isn't enough to halt the infection.
To answer your questions:
1. They all produce mushy poops.
2. They were all on Baytril.

Hi

Baytril is well known for causing softened poos as it also affects the bacteria in the gut that are crucial for the nutrient absorption to individually varying degrees.

Any probiotic like bene-bac and comparable products may help a little or may not do much for it. Give any probiotic either 1 hour before (US recommendation) or 2 hours after the antibiotic (UK recommendation); it works about equally well.
The most effective way of supporting a guinea pig with digestive issues (provided you have a healthy piggy not on medication) is actually 'poo soup', i.e. live transfer of healthy guinea pig gut biome. It mimics actually natural behaviour in recovering piggies.

Here is more information on probiotics and how to make poo soup properly so it actually does what it should do: Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links
Please note that these products are all classed as food supplements and not as medication.

The poos should normalise some time after the end of the antibiotic to the degree in which the gut microbiome recovers.

 

[Mo & Stubbins & Vani]

Hi

Baytril is well known for causing softened poos as it also affects the bacteria in the gut that are crucial for the nutrient absorption to individually varying degrees.

Any probiotic like bene-bac and comparable products may help a little or may not do much for it. Give any probiotic either 1 hour before (US recommendation) or 2 hours after the antibiotic (UK recommendation); it works about equally well.
The most effective way of supporting a guinea pig with digestive issues (provided you have a healthy piggy not on medication) is actually 'poo soup', i.e. live transfer of healthy guinea pig gut biome. It mimics actually natural behaviour in recovering piggies.

Here is more information on probiotics and how to make poo soup properly so it actually does what it should do: Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links
Please note that these products are all classed as food supplements and not as medication.

The poos should normalise some time after the end of the antibiotic to the degree in which the gut microbiome recovers.

Thank you so much! This was very helpful and I will definitely be reading the guide. I am super appreciative of your response!

 

[Mo & Stubbins & Vani]

I think baytril can affect some piggies and not others. I can’t remember what is suggested so I’ll tag @Wiebke @VickiA @Piggies&buns

Thank you so much for helping me!

 

[Mo & Stubbins & Vani]

How many are producing mushy pop? And have they been on baytril or was that just the one sneezing?

Thank you for helping me!

 

[Mo & Stubbins & Vani]

The piggies have been on Baytril and Bene-bac for about four weeks now.
Mo and Vani are doing great, but Stubbins is still unwell.
Although her sneezing has gone away, her breathing is very pronounced and sounds odd.
I may phone the vet if this continues.
Do you have any advice? Should we be seeing more progress by now?

 

[LMPigs]

Hi there, I'm sorry to hear Stubbins isn't doing well.

I am not a health specialist poster but there is a forum guide that is intended to help working out how urgent a vet visit is: How Soon Should My Guinea Pig See A Vet? - A Quick Guide

It says that if you are seeing any of the following its urgent and you should see a vet asap:

"- breathing problems, this can include a visible effort with your piggie’s breathing (usually the abdomen sucking in and out showing they are using their abdominal muscles to breath) and any kind of open mouth breathing, these are signs of respiratory distress"

I hope she is ok and am sending good wishes to you and her.

 

[Siikibam]

I’m sorry I can’t remember the background. Were they diagnosed with a URI or something else? If her breathing seems laboured I’d take her back to the vet.

 

[Bill & Ted]

My Ted had a very sudden and nasty RTI and the vet gave him Marbocyl injections firstly and tablet form which is similar Batryil but much stronger. It did the trick and his breathing became better very quickly.

 

[VickiA]

I’ll try to find the original thread and merge the posts.

 

[VickiA]

I’ve merged the threads. If you are at all concerned about breathing I would give the vet a call.

 

[Mo & Stubbins & Vani]

Thank you, everyone.
Her breathing is back to normal this morning.
I am not sure exactly what was causing the heavy breathing, but my mom predicts that it may have been due to constant wheeking for over 30 minutes.
I am super appreciative of your support. I am keeping a close eye on her and will phone the vet if I hear anything abnormal.
@Siikibam - The vet did not say exactly what! Over the phone (because we could not meet in person), I remember her saying, "Sometimes these nasty infections can be hard to fight off" (this was a couple of weeks ago). I am assuming this means the diagnosis was a URI.

 

[Josie_lg]

I’m glad she is doing slightly better. Two of my piggies reacted really badly to Baytril and we actually had to stop the treatment because of how poorly they became from it. It was a very scary time. Is it just the sneezing she is having URI wise? Any discharge from eyes or nose? Did the vet say if her chest was clear? Xx

 

[Mo & Stubbins & Vani]

I’m glad she is doing slightly better. Two of my piggies reacted really badly to Baytril and we actually had to stop the treatment because of how poorly they became from it. It was a very scary time. Is it just the sneezing she is having URI wise? Any discharge from eyes or nose? Did the vet say if her chest was clear? Xx

Other than the sneezing, she was cleared as a healthy piglet by the veterinarian. All of the piggies were having problems with loose stool, as well, which is why she prescribed Bene-bac along with the Baytril.
Stubbins does not show any other signs of a URI, though.
All of the piglets are on both medications. ☺

 

[Josie_lg]

Ah that’s good. I know some veggies cause loose stools. Has the vet asked for a stool sample? It is usually about £90-100 which is a lot but is worth it to rule out infection or internal parasites (I had this scare when they’re poops became super smelly) my piggies have shown the occasionally sign of a URI but each time I’ve taken them to the vets (four times since March) the vet has said nothing is wrong. it can be so hard to accept nothing is wrong when you get so convinced it is wrong!
Are you located in USA or UK? I’m in the UK and fibreplex helped my piggies within a day with their soft poops when they were on Baytril xx

 

[Mo & Stubbins & Vani]

Ah that’s good. I know some veggies cause loose stools. Has the vet asked for a stool sample? It is usually about £90-100 which is a lot but is worth it to rule out infection or internal parasites (I had this scare when they’re poops became super smelly) my piggies have shown the occasionally sign of a URI but each time I’ve taken them to the vets (four times since March) the vet has said nothing is wrong. it can be so hard to accept nothing is wrong when you get so convinced it is wrong!
Are you located in USA or UK? I’m in the UK and fibreplex helped my piggies within a day with their soft poops when they were on Baytril xx

The vet did mention bringing in a stool sample. I am just trying to find the right time to bring it in! I was planning on stopping by the vet's office tomorrow because the surgery center where my dog has an appointment is right next door. It turns out, though, the vet doesn't work on Sunday's or Monday's! I am in the US. ☺

 

[Mo & Stubbins & Vani]

Things are not going well.
Tonight, Stubbins' breathing sounded like a whistle. She is making me so worried.
About a week ago, the vet and I were speaking over the phone. She believed that the sneezing was caused by a Vitamin C deficiency. I still am unsure of how that could be, though. The piggies get large amounts of diverse, Vitamin C rich veggies.
My dad and I are going to go pick an over-the-counter supplement for her tomorrow, and I really hope that it helps.
I am so stressed and having trouble sleeping over this.
I hand fed her two large chunks of red pepper tonight. I really hope that it helps.

 

[Josie_lg]

Look into oxbow vitamin c treats too! I’ve heard good things about them. I’m sorry Stubbins isn’t doing great. Is the whistling sound often? X

 

[Siikibam]

What is the supplement you're picking up for her, and was it the vet who said you should give it to her? Make an appointment and have her seen.

 

[Mo & Stubbins & Vani]

Hi!
The supplement was prescribed by the vet.
Unfortunately, the vet is not in on Sundays or Mondays, which is why I am trying to comfort her until I can come in.
I am calling the vet tomorrow.
Thank you for your help!

 

[Mo & Stubbins & Vani]

I forgot to add that the abnormal breathing comes and goes.
Last night, I could hear a whistling sound, but this morning, her breathing seems a lot clearer.
I will listen more closely when I administer her medicine this morning.

 

[Mo & Stubbins & Vani]

Hi!
Stubbins has not been doing very well recently.
Her sneezing is almost gone, but her breathing is still noisier than usual.
I phoned the vet today and described the issue. She prescribed a second antibiotic to be administered along with Baytril and Bene-bac.
My two other piglets have to be kept on Baytril and Bene-bac to prevent them from contracting the infection from Stubbins, but the new medication is exclusively for her.
I am stopping by the office tomorrow to pick it up.
Fingers crossed that this works and we can finally get Stubbins better again.
She will be on all three medications plus a supplement for a week before we reassess her health.

P.S.
I wasn't sure whether to add this to my old thread or just start a new one!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!
Stubbins has not been doing very well recently.
Her sneezing is almost gone, but her breathing is still noisier than usual.
I phoned the vet today and described the issue. She prescribed a second antibiotic to be administered along with Baytril and Bene-bac.
My two other piglets have to be kept on Baytril and Bene-bac to prevent them from contracting the infection from Stubbins, but the new medication is exclusively for her.
I am stopping by the office tomorrow to pick it up.
Fingers crossed that this works and we can finally get Stubbins better again.
She will be on all three medications plus a supplement for a week before we reassess her health.

P.S.
I wasn't sure whether to add this to my old thread or just start a new one! View attachment 144984

Hi!

Can you please use your ongoing support thread on the same case so we can keep all information together and don't have to advise blindly, not being able to check up on what has been going in. It also helps to keep the number of different threads in this section as low as possible, which is a great help when we are jumping between lots of different threads in a day.
You can easily get a very different answer from somebody who is not aware of what has been gone on, recommended and done before - and it can get very confusing.

A vet can prescribe a combination of two antibiotics in certain cases but it would help enormously if you please told us what they are?

 

[Mo & Stubbins & Vani]

Hi!

Can you please use your ongoing support thread on the same case so we can keep all information together and don't have to advise blindly, not being able to check up on what has been going in. It also helps to keep the number of different threads in this section as low as possible, which is a great help when we are jumping between lots of different threads in a day.
You can easily get a very different answer from somebody who is not aware of what has been gone on, recommended and done before - and it can get very confusing.

A vet can prescribe a combination of two antibiotics in certain cases but it would help enormously if you please told us what they are?

Thank you so much! I'm sorry!
I am not sure what the name of the second medication is! I will add the name to this thread when I pick it up tomorrow. This medicine will be administered along with Bene-bac and Baytril. ☺

 

[Mo & Stubbins & Vani]

Vibramycin?

 

[Mo & Stubbins & Vani]

I just picked up the medicine and it is called Vibramycin.
I am supposed to give 0.4CC orally every 12 hours.
I am not going to give the piglets their veggies tonight. Just in case Stubbins was to have a bad reaction, I want to be able to rule out veggies as the culprit.
Let's hope this works! ☺