Guinea pig not getting better

[Nyk]

Hello there,

I have three female Guinea pigs (Ruby, Violet, and Oreo) that are nearly 5 years old. They have lived in a 6x2 C&C cage their whole life, eat a diet of hay, veggies, and pellets, and have always been quite happy and healthy.

Then in December, Ruby was treated with baytril for an upper respiratory infection, briefly improved, and then became ill again. The second time she received a sulfa antibiotic but didn’t seem to improve much so the vet switched her back to baytril at a larger dose, and added antibiotic drops for her eyes and nose as well. Ruby also had an X-ray that day that showed pneumonia, fluid near her heart, and a slightly enlarged heart so the vet started her on furosemide.

After that vet visit, Ruby seemed to improve a bit but on Wednesday, I came home from working night shift, to find Ruby sitting in what appeared to be blood and so weak she could barely move. Ruby’s regular exotic vet is on vacation this week so a non exotic vet was our only option. That vet stopped the furosemide, gave Ruby subq fluids, and stated prednisolone.

Now, I’m feeling like we are nearing the end because nothing seems to be helping much. Ruby seems no better. I am syringe feeding her critical care, she is still nibbling hay, and eating her veggies. She also is still eating treats and nibbling on toys so we want to do everything to help her as long as her quality of life isn’t too affected. Her exotic vet is back in the office this Wednesday and Ruby has an appointment on Thursday but that’s very far away.

Sorry to be so long winded. I am just looking to see if anyone had any additional advice or tips? Is there any secret antibiotic I could mention to my vet?

Thanks so much for reading,
Nyk

 

[Popcorns & Wheeks]

Oh dear, I am so sorry to hear that poor Ruby isn't well. I do not have any advice for you but just wanted to wish you and Ruby the best of luck.

The only thing I would say is continue with syringe feeding and add a little probiotics to the feed too. If her hay intake is poor then aim to feed her at least 40 - 50ml of critical care or mushed pellets in warm water (allowed to cool) within a 24 hour period, ideally feeding her around every 3 hours.

Also try giving her a little water too, as much as she will take but do not force it as she will get water within her syringe feed also. Always try small amounts around 0.3ml before every syringe feed and water to make sure she can swallow and to avoid choking.

 

[lauryn1289]

I wish I had any advice but I just want to offer support, I’m so sorry to hear she’s not well. I hope she starts to pick up and something works for her. Best wishes to you and your piggies

 

[Wiebke]

Hello there,

I have three female Guinea pigs (Ruby, Violet, and Oreo) that are nearly 5 years old. They have lived in a 6x2 C&C cage their whole life, eat a diet of hay, veggies, and pellets, and have always been quite happy and healthy.

Then in December, Ruby was treated with baytril for an upper respiratory infection, briefly improved, and then became ill again. The second time she received a sulfa antibiotic but didn’t seem to improve much so the vet switched her back to baytril at a larger dose, and added antibiotic drops for her eyes and nose as well. Ruby also had an X-ray that day that showed pneumonia, fluid near her heart, and a slightly enlarged heart so the vet started her on furosemide.

After that vet visit, Ruby seemed to improve a bit but on Wednesday, I came home from working night shift, to find Ruby sitting in what appeared to be blood and so weak she could barely move. Ruby’s regular exotic vet is on vacation this week so a non exotic vet was our only option. That vet stopped the furosemide, gave Ruby subq fluids, and stated prednisolone.

Now, I’m feeling like we are nearing the end because nothing seems to be helping much. Ruby seems no better. I am syringe feeding her critical care, she is still nibbling hay, and eating her veggies. She also is still eating treats and nibbling on toys so we want to do everything to help her as long as her quality of life isn’t too affected. Her exotic vet is back in the office this Wednesday and Ruby has an appointment on Thursday but that’s very far away.

Sorry to be so long winded. I am just looking to see if anyone had any additional advice or tips? Is there any secret antibiotic I could mention to my vet?

Thanks so much for reading,
Nyk

HUGS

I am very sorry for your long, agonising wait. Was that sheer blood or bloody/red urine? I am more concerned about that but cannot comment as to what is going based on just your remark.

There are other antibiotics that can be given to guinea pigs although they are not licensed. However, in the case of a stubborn URI you'd better have a lab test from a nasal swab done in order to see to which one she will react to. We have seen increasingly resistancies building up with respiratory bacteria due to overuse of antibiotics over the last 5 years. There is unfortunately no 'secret' super-weapon antibiotic that will work for all cases, as much as we all crave a magic wand solution in a desperate situation.
We would never recommend to give antibiotics on spec, even more so any unlicensed ones. Here in the UK, all antibiotics and painkillers are classed as prescription-only medications (POMs) anyway and as a public forum we have to abide by the laws of the country we are based in.

You can see whether a bowl of steaming water next to the cage can help ease the breathing a little.
Here is our emergency and crisis care advice; it also includes a chapter on what to do if things take a turn for the worst before your poorly piggy can be seen but I sincerely hope that it won't come to that: Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

 

[Merab]

Holding you in my thoughts

 

[Nyk]

Thank you for the replies. All antibiotics are prescription here in the US as well, so I will have to wait to talk with my vet to see if changing would be beneficial. I will also definitely mention taking a culture to see if a better antibiotic is out there.

Ruby actually seems a little better today. She’s still very weak but a bit perkier. She weighed the lowest she ever has though, at 536 grams. I fed her 80 cc of critical care over 24 hours, so I’m not sure why the drop. She readily eats the critical care and is also still nibbling on her own. A healthy weight for her is around 900 grams so she is very, very thin.

The bloody discharge was thick, dark red to maroon in color. It was only on her bottom, around her genital area. The non exotic vet she saw that day really didn’t have many answers for it and it hasn’t happened again. I will definitely mention it to Ruby’s primary vet at her appointment. I know cancers of the reproductive system can cause bleeding but wouldn’t the blood be more frequent than once? Either way, I doubt Ruby would be eligible for surgery due to her current state. Violet, one of our other pigs, is having a spay done next week to remove what is suspected to be a uterine mass, that was found on a routine vet visit.

Thank you again. We will keep plugging along until Ruby tells us that it’s time or she gets better.
Nyk

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for the replies. All antibiotics are prescription here in the US as well, so I will have to wait to talk with my vet to see if changing would be beneficial. I will also definitely mention taking a culture to see if a better antibiotic is out there.

Ruby actually seems a little better today. She’s still very weak but a bit perkier. She weighed the lowest she ever has though, at 536 grams. I fed her 80 cc of critical care over 24 hours, so I’m not sure why the drop. She readily eats the critical care and is also still nibbling on her own. A healthy weight for her is around 900 grams so she is very, very thin.

The bloody discharge was thick, dark red to maroon in color. It was only on her bottom, around her genital area. The non exotic vet she saw that day really didn’t have many answers for it and it hasn’t happened again. I will definitely mention it to Ruby’s primary vet at her appointment. I know cancers of the reproductive system can cause bleeding but wouldn’t the blood be more frequent than once? Either way, I doubt Ruby would be eligible for surgery due to her current state. Violet, one of our other pigs, is having a spay done next week to remove what is suspected to be a uterine mass, that was found on a routine vet visit.

Thank you again. We will keep plugging along until Ruby tells us that it’s time or she gets better.
Nyk

Bleeding from the anus, as yours seems to be can come from both the reproductive tract and the urinary tract.
In either case, it should be taken seriously, especially when it comes with a marked loss of weight and loss of appetite. With more than one issue going on, it is of course very difficult to tell whether it is cause by one issue or by a combination of both. You can just place a piece of paper with the date next to the patch so yu have both in your picture.

All the best. If there are further bleeds, please document them and write down the dates on which they happened; this is going to help your vet.

I would recommend that you take a picture to show to the vet, as it can be a one-off or a a rather irregular occurrance.

 

[Nyk]

I actually do have picture of the blood

 

[Nyk]

And here is sweet Ruby.

 

[lauryn1289]

And here is sweet Ruby.

Such a pretty girl, I hope things improve Keeping you both in my thoughts

 

[Wheekallweek]

How she's feeling better soon, pretty girl!

 

[Popcorns & Wheeks]

In March last year I found my piggie Heidi bleeding heavily from her vagina/Anus. We immediately rushed her to the vets and she was scanned. It turned out she had a huge uterine tumor, it was that large it was actually obstructing her stomach poor girl.

She was rushed straight into surgery to have it removed and be emergency spayed. The blood you describe sounds a lot like what I experienced with my Heidi, there was quite a lot of it and it was deep red in colour. I hope Ruby will be OK and also Violet too.

 

[BabyBears]

Wow, poor you and guineas. The fact that they are quite old and have just developed a URI is strange, along with the dark, bloody wee - that’s not bladder stones. Generally URIs in guineas are caused by bacterial infections - not viral. Could they have been poisoned by something?