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Guinea pig nose congestion - initial stage uri

Prasiddha

Prasiddha

Junior Guinea Pig
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My male guinea pig icy had sneezing with wheezing sound while he was breathing. I took him to the local vet. Since in my place I don't have exotic pets veterinarian I discussed with him elaborately the symptoms. After a check up and examining online the prohibited antibiotics for guinea pigs. He prescribed 0.3 cc of septran (same as Bactrim) twice daily. But he failed to specify the period of treatment. He just said give him the antibiotics till he recover. Gods grace I clearly see visible improvement with icy after just two dosage. How long should I give him the antibiotic? He weighs 750 GMs. Is his dosage right? Please help
 
Personally, I would give them until you run out of antibiotics (at least a week.) Discontinuing too soon can make symptoms recur (as the germs weren't all gone) and also adds to the rise of antibiotic resistance, which is not good for pigs or for us!
 
@Prasiddha What type of Bactrim is it? There is an adult and paediatric version. The adult is clear and the paediatric is the banana medicine that kids have.

If it's adult then the dose is okay, if the other it seems low.
 
Thank you so much.
It is 48mg/ml ... it has 200 mg of sulfamethoxazole and 40 mg of trimethoprim in 5 ml. On seeing the medicine's label it looks like it is a paediatric version. The medicine is a light pink stuff.
Even though he is recovering I will continue the antibiotic for a week as you guys suggested.
If it is a paediatric version how low the dosage is. Could u please help me the right dosage?
 
@Prasiddha We aren't qualified to give an alternative dosage as you need to follow vet instructions. But you can give the vet a call and say you've been searching online and it seems that the dose is low and ask for them to review it.
 
thank you @Jaycey . Will call him this evening to know the right dosage.

Should I keep him in alone from the other Guinea pigs. IS URI contagious?
 
Need help.. have anyone of your piggy had uri previously? Is there any specific diet I need to follow with him. From the day he started sneezing and wheezing breath I don't see change of behaviour with him. He is still active, poopcorns and has his food. No change in his poop nor urine. Please help.
 
Prasiddha said:
thank you @Jaycey . Will call him this evening to know the right dosage.

Should I keep him in alone from the other Guinea pigs. IS URI contagious?
Click to expand...

It can be but your other piggy will already have it so I would leave them together.

There is no specific diet to follow. Just make sure he has access to lots of hay like normal, pellets, veg and water
 
Thank you @Jaycey. Only his 55days old son stays with him. I don't see any symptoms of URI with brownie (Icy's son). Do u advise me to take brownie to the vet and do a check up. For ruling out any possibilities of him also Affected with uri. If the doctor suggests septran (Bactrim) for him also, can 55 days pups safe on antibiotics? Since vets are little clueless treating guinea pigs I need experienced suggestions.
 
Ask your vet about exactly how long. Stopping antibiotics too soon can mean you have not fully treated the bacteria and is also a cause for antibiotic resistance. Your vet should have given you a time/coursenot just until he's better.

Hope you get him sorted.
 
Thank you friends. I took brownie and icy again to the vet today. I asked him to examine brownie if he has uri and if he needs medication like icy. I also specified to the vet that browsing online I felt Icy's dosage could be low. Checking online he said he will call be back on the dosage. Brownie doesn't have uri but the vet felt there might be very mild congestion. So he asked me to provide him with the same medicine septran (bactrim) once in the night.
An hour back I called the vet and he specified 0.45 cc for icy (weight - 750 GMs) twice a day for a week and asked me to come back for checkup. And for brownie 0.25 cc (weight - 415 GMs) once a day for a week. I am quiet convinced with Icy's dosage and I am pretty sure he will recover soon. But I am concerned if brownie needs medicine for this mild congestion. If so, is just 0.25 cc of antibiotic once a day good enough. I don't want his body to develop intolerance to this antibiotic. Since this antibiotic cures many common illness on guinea pigs. Please provide suggestion as to what should I do.
 
Friends am I doing the right thing with brownie?
 
@Prasiddha If the vet has told you to give Brownie medicine then we can't tell you not to use it. A short course on that dose should be fine for him and he won't suffer any ill effects if he needs the medicine again in the future.
 
Thank you @Jaycey both brownie and icy have stopped sneezing. Icy has just very mild wheezing here and then while breathing. I can hear his wheezing sound only when I hold him very close to my ears. They are visibly recovering. Eating and drinking like always. Poopcorning and playing with each other. Their poop and pee looks healthy. I am happy for them. It is very funny that brownie finds it exciting to take his medicine. He poopcorns every time he has his dose... my funny pup. Thank you guys for all your support. Icy and brownie will update you guys when they are fully recovered.
 
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