Dear Guinea Pig Lovers,
Hope one or more of you can help.
Our beloved guinea boy, Jack, is poorly.
Treated at vets for chest infection, breathing improved but is now losing weight.
Back in September we took him to the vet as he was "bobbing" i.e.rocking back and forth while sitting. His sides were going in more than usual. He clearly struggled with his breathing. Antibiotics (Baytril) significantly improved the bobbing (he was eating fine throughout), but not eliminated it completely. The vet declared that he was infection free. I had my reservations but went along with it especially since I thought he may not be allowed more antibiotics. After just a few days the bobbing i.e. breathing difficulties returned. This time with more force. At one time his breath rate was just 31 BPM. Baytril was started again, then anothe antibiotic added (Co-Trimoxazole). This semed to have made a difference. Vet also recommended nebulising with F10 disinfctant - but Jack seemed distressed by it, wheezed and whimpered and his breath rate dropped by 20 straight after (I was careful to measure it just before he went in) so this was clearly making him worse. Now discontinued.
Vet also added diuretic (Furosemide) - scan showed what looks like fluid in the lungs. It seemed to make no difference after the injection but as another day later things got worse, the vet gave us the tablets to give at home.
Then stasis came. Most likely because all Jack wanted to eat was lettuce! Now almost resolved thanks to Emeprid (cisapride). Metacam (maloxicam) for pain was added.
The vet doesnt think she can do any more. She has been kind and helpful but the problem seems to be rare here in the UK and it seems that the UK vets are not very experienced at treating this problem.
Thanks very much for bearing with me - there is a bit more!
In the summer, Jack's companion passed two tapeworms (Hymenolepis Nana). We are in the UK, and it seems that obtaining praziquantel, the drug of choice for this, for a guinea is impossible! Not by injection, anyway. I was advised to use spot on treatment for cats, Droncit, sadly that was very difficult to administer and we clearly didnt get the dose right (also because we were told to do it once, rather than twice which is the correct way). We found three tapeworms coming out of poor Jack in the last week.
I actually think that the heavy tapeworm infestation could have caused Jack's chest infection. I have come accross medical articles which document Hymenolepis nana migrating in the body and causing all manner of problems, for example pneumonia and even camouflaging as Crohn's (scans looked exactly like actual Crohn's disease) in humans! The reason I believe this is that Jack's brother, Tutu, died last year with symptoms that looked like what Jack has at the moment, only after antibiotic treatment failed, he developed neurological symptoms and also went blind...He actually died of a heart attack at the vets table when she was trying to take his temperature - it was very upsetting to see and we still think it was not a good idea to do so. He was only 3 years old. Jack was ill also but recovered fine. Parasites were never mentioned or considered. I suspect they could have caused the problem.
I feel that to get Jack better the tapeworm needs to be treated. Even if the tapeworms are not the root cause of his current chest infection. They can be transferred to humans! We have been washing our hands very dilligently and implementing additional hygiene measures.
For the tapeworm we were finally offered Panacur (fenbendazole) but it only has 86 percent success rate with this particular parasite, unlike praziquantel which always seems to work. So no gold standard, sadly, just what the vet seems to have available here in the UK.
There are Droncit tablets containg praziquantel for cats and dogs but the vet was reluctant to give those as she was unsure of dosing. They have been used in mice and gerbils and rats successfully.
There is also Droncit spot on treatment for cats. I was not able to find anywhere whether the dose of praziquantel transdermally woyuld be the same as the oral dose. Internet sources say Guines would need 10mg praziquantel per 1kg of body weight. Others say it is 5-10mg.
Have any of you ever used the Droncit tablet (praziquantel) or Droncit spot on for your guinea pig's tapeworm problem safely and successfully?
Or had success with Panacur for tapeworm? (Vet says he will need to take this for 5 days). Another vet suggested once weekly treatment for 4 weeks...
Could Metacam or Furosemide cause lack of appetite?
Jack lost 140 grams in the last few days. Spits out Critical care. Just had some spinach and kale and a few strands of hay but it is not quite enough. Trying another brand for feeding (Recovery care) he seems to resist it less but still manages to spit most of it out. All the usual treats like parsley are refused. He is drinking fine from his bottle. Breathing much better, breath rate almost 60. Was 31 at his worst.
Jack has the loveliest nature in the world. Cuddly, affectionate and gives my daugther cuddles back! And gentle licks. The connection they have is simply amazing. He rests his head on her chest so contentedly and closes his eyes to go to sleep there... He is trying to eat for her but is clearly struggling and needs help.
Thank you so much in advance!
Hope one or more of you can help.
Our beloved guinea boy, Jack, is poorly.
Treated at vets for chest infection, breathing improved but is now losing weight.
Back in September we took him to the vet as he was "bobbing" i.e.rocking back and forth while sitting. His sides were going in more than usual. He clearly struggled with his breathing. Antibiotics (Baytril) significantly improved the bobbing (he was eating fine throughout), but not eliminated it completely. The vet declared that he was infection free. I had my reservations but went along with it especially since I thought he may not be allowed more antibiotics. After just a few days the bobbing i.e. breathing difficulties returned. This time with more force. At one time his breath rate was just 31 BPM. Baytril was started again, then anothe antibiotic added (Co-Trimoxazole). This semed to have made a difference. Vet also recommended nebulising with F10 disinfctant - but Jack seemed distressed by it, wheezed and whimpered and his breath rate dropped by 20 straight after (I was careful to measure it just before he went in) so this was clearly making him worse. Now discontinued.
Vet also added diuretic (Furosemide) - scan showed what looks like fluid in the lungs. It seemed to make no difference after the injection but as another day later things got worse, the vet gave us the tablets to give at home.
Then stasis came. Most likely because all Jack wanted to eat was lettuce! Now almost resolved thanks to Emeprid (cisapride). Metacam (maloxicam) for pain was added.
The vet doesnt think she can do any more. She has been kind and helpful but the problem seems to be rare here in the UK and it seems that the UK vets are not very experienced at treating this problem.
Thanks very much for bearing with me - there is a bit more!
In the summer, Jack's companion passed two tapeworms (Hymenolepis Nana). We are in the UK, and it seems that obtaining praziquantel, the drug of choice for this, for a guinea is impossible! Not by injection, anyway. I was advised to use spot on treatment for cats, Droncit, sadly that was very difficult to administer and we clearly didnt get the dose right (also because we were told to do it once, rather than twice which is the correct way). We found three tapeworms coming out of poor Jack in the last week.
I actually think that the heavy tapeworm infestation could have caused Jack's chest infection. I have come accross medical articles which document Hymenolepis nana migrating in the body and causing all manner of problems, for example pneumonia and even camouflaging as Crohn's (scans looked exactly like actual Crohn's disease) in humans! The reason I believe this is that Jack's brother, Tutu, died last year with symptoms that looked like what Jack has at the moment, only after antibiotic treatment failed, he developed neurological symptoms and also went blind...He actually died of a heart attack at the vets table when she was trying to take his temperature - it was very upsetting to see and we still think it was not a good idea to do so. He was only 3 years old. Jack was ill also but recovered fine. Parasites were never mentioned or considered. I suspect they could have caused the problem.
I feel that to get Jack better the tapeworm needs to be treated. Even if the tapeworms are not the root cause of his current chest infection. They can be transferred to humans! We have been washing our hands very dilligently and implementing additional hygiene measures.
For the tapeworm we were finally offered Panacur (fenbendazole) but it only has 86 percent success rate with this particular parasite, unlike praziquantel which always seems to work. So no gold standard, sadly, just what the vet seems to have available here in the UK.
There are Droncit tablets containg praziquantel for cats and dogs but the vet was reluctant to give those as she was unsure of dosing. They have been used in mice and gerbils and rats successfully.
There is also Droncit spot on treatment for cats. I was not able to find anywhere whether the dose of praziquantel transdermally woyuld be the same as the oral dose. Internet sources say Guines would need 10mg praziquantel per 1kg of body weight. Others say it is 5-10mg.
Have any of you ever used the Droncit tablet (praziquantel) or Droncit spot on for your guinea pig's tapeworm problem safely and successfully?
Or had success with Panacur for tapeworm? (Vet says he will need to take this for 5 days). Another vet suggested once weekly treatment for 4 weeks...
Could Metacam or Furosemide cause lack of appetite?
Jack lost 140 grams in the last few days. Spits out Critical care. Just had some spinach and kale and a few strands of hay but it is not quite enough. Trying another brand for feeding (Recovery care) he seems to resist it less but still manages to spit most of it out. All the usual treats like parsley are refused. He is drinking fine from his bottle. Breathing much better, breath rate almost 60. Was 31 at his worst.
Jack has the loveliest nature in the world. Cuddly, affectionate and gives my daugther cuddles back! And gentle licks. The connection they have is simply amazing. He rests his head on her chest so contentedly and closes his eyes to go to sleep there... He is trying to eat for her but is clearly struggling and needs help.
Thank you so much in advance!
