Guinea Pig Taking Antibiotics

[Tony the tiger]

Hi, so my little cookie dough has a URI and I've been giving her antibiotics. Any pointers on how to best take care of her while she's getting better? And how long should it take for her to get better.

 

[VickiA]

Sorry if I've missed a post somewhere else but what antibiotics are you giving and what are the antibiotics for?
And how is she? Is she eating and drinking and weeing and pooping ok? If not then you may need to top her up with some syringe feeding to help her maintain her weight and gut movements while she recovers.

 

[Wiebke]

What antibiotic is your piggy on and what is the dosage? Baytril, which is the most commonly prescribed antibiotic, is also the most horribly tasting. In my own experience, the way to give it is by getting it in as quickly as you can and the immediately follow it up with some strong tasting juice like ribena, if you are in the UK. Do not use their favourite veg as it is going to taste of baytril and your piggy is likely to go off it.
Here are our tips on medicating guinea pigs, cooperative ones and not so cooperative ones: Administering Medications

You can give a pinch of a probiotic powder if you wish to to help to bolster the guts; either 1 hour before (US recommendation) or 1-2 hours after the antibiotic (UK recommendation). Probiotics are usually available in chain pet shops if you need them in a hurry, as they are not a medication.

If your guinea pigs is experiencing an adverse reaction to the antibiotic, which can happen to any antibiotic, and is losing its appetite, please step in with syringe feeding promptly (in a pinch with mushed up pellets). Weigh your piggy daily at the same time instead of weekly while it is ill to monitor the food intake; just watching it chew is not enough.
Contact your vet promptly if there is an adverse reaction and asap if your guinea pig is looking very apathetic and lethargic with heavy breathing.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
First Aid Kit For Guinea Pigs

Please keep all questions and updates for the same ongoing illness to one thread to prevent us from giving you confusing or duplicating advice and to allow us to refer back, so we can support you most efficiently. We jump between lots of threads in a day, so having all the relevant data together is to all our advantage. You can put a watch on your thread via the function on the right, just above the start of it in order receive notifications.

Since we have members from all over it would also help us a lot if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details, so we can tailor any advice to the available brands and conditions where you are instead of keeping it as general as possible. Please click on your username ont the top, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. This is making it appear in every post you make. Thank you!

 

[Tony the tiger]

Sorry if I've missed a post somewhere else but what antibiotics are you giving and what are the antibiotics for?
And how is she? Is she eating and drinking and weeing and pooping ok? If not then you may need to top her up with some syringe feeding to help her maintain her weight and gut movements while she recovers.

I'm giving her doxycycline, and they're for a URI. She's still not very active and hasn't been drinking or eating as much as usual, so I've been hand feeding her hay and pellets and some romaine lettuce and syringe feeding her water. Today she got up and ate from her hay Manger and took two sips of water then laid down again. Her poop and pee has decreased.

 

[Tony the tiger]

What antibiotic is your piggy on and what is the dosage? Baytril, which is the most commonly prescribed antibiotic, is also the most horribly tasting. In my own experience, the way to give it is by getting it in as quickly as you can and the immediately follow it up with some strong tasting juice like ribena, if you are in the UK. Do not use their favourite veg as it is going to taste of baytril and your piggy is likely to go off it.
Here are our tips on medicating guinea pigs, cooperative ones and not so cooperative ones: Administering Medications

You can give a pinch of a probiotic powder if you wish to to help to bolster the guts; either 1 hour before (US recommendation) or 1-2 hours after the antibiotic (UK recommendation). Probiotics are usually available in chain pet shops if you need them in a hurry, as they are not a medication.

If your guinea pigs is experiencing an adverse reaction to the antibiotic, which can happen to any antibiotic, and is losing its appetite, please step in with syringe feeding promptly (in a pinch with mushed up pellets). Weigh your piggy daily at the same time instead of weekly while it is ill to monitor the food intake; just watching it chew is not enough.
Contact your vet promptly if there is an adverse reaction and asap if your guinea pig is looking very apathetic and lethargic with heavy breathing.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
First Aid Kit For Guinea Pigs

Please keep all questions and updates for the same ongoing illness to one thread to prevent us from giving you confusing or duplicating advice and to allow us to refer back, so we can support you most efficiently. We jump between lots of threads in a day, so having all the relevant data together is to all our advantage. You can put a watch on your thread via the function on the right, just above the start of it in order receive notifications.

Since we have members from all over it would also help us a lot if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details, so we can tailor any advice to the available brands and conditions where you are instead of keeping it as general as possible. Please click on your username ont the top, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. This is making it appear in every post you make. Thank you!

I'm giving her doxycycline. And the dosage is 0.08ml. And is there a specific type of probiotic I should give her? I live in the US and she's been somewhat lethargic and really only gets up to eat every so often so I'll start weighing her. There hasn't been any sneezing or coughing since we started her on the antibiotics shes just gotten more lethargic and has eaten less than usual. The only thing she still gobbles up pretty quickly is lettuce.

 

[sport_billy]

That's a most unusual Antibiotic for a guinea pig. Are you US based by any chance?

I would speak to the vet at changing the Antibiotic as soon as possible baytril is the most commonly prescribed AB for piggies Guinea Lynx :: Antibiotics

How long as she been on the AB?

 

[Tony the tiger]

That's a most unusual Antibiotic for a guinea pig. Are you US based by any chance?

I would speak to the vet at changing the Antibiotic as soon as possible baytril is the most commonly prescribed AB for piggies Guinea Lynx :: Antibiotics

How long as she been on the AB?

She's been on it for about for about 3 days and I'm actually waiting for a return call from the vet and yes I'm US based

 

[sport_billy]

What were her symptoms of the URI and have they stopped now? I would get her back to a vet ASAP, all piggies react differently to AB's but I would say from the sound of it they are not suiting her. Here is a link to US vets stateside from a US based medical site Guinea Lynx :: GL's Vet List

 

[Tony the tiger]

What were her symptoms of the URI and have they stopped now? I would get her back to a vet ASAP, all piggies react differently to AB's but I would say from the sound of it they are not suiting her. Here is a link to US vets stateside from a US based medical site Guinea Lynx :: GL's Vet List

Her symptoms were sneezing coughing and runny nose and yes they have subsided for the most part now she's gotten just lethargic with some heavy breathing.

 

[sport_billy]

Yes, please get her seen by a vet as soon as you can. In the meantime, hand feed her and give her some watery veg to keep her moisture up. If poo is decreasing I would advise speaking to the vet about some motility drugs a gut stimulant such as Metachlopromide often known as Emeprid it will help keep her guts pushing everything through. Sending lots of healing vibes, please let us know how you get on and love to Cookie Dough.

 

[Tony the tiger]

Yes, please get her seen by a vet as soon as you can. In the meantime, hand feed her and give her some watery veg to keep her moisture up. If poo is decreasing I would advise speaking to the vet about some motility drugs a gut stimulant such as Metachlopromide often known as Emeprid it will help keep her guts pushing everything through. Sending lots of healing vibes, please let us know how you get on and love to Cookie Dough.

Thank you so much it means alot, and will do!

 

[Tony the tiger]

Thank you so much it means alot, and will do!

And any veggies you recommend? She's a big fan of lettuce

 

[Tony the tiger]

Good news! She seems to have buried most of her poop under the bedding near where she'd been laying down.

 

[Wiebke]

I'm giving her doxycycline. And the dosage is 0.08ml. And is there a specific type of probiotic I should give her? I live in the US and she's been somewhat lethargic and really only gets up to eat every so often so I'll start weighing her. There hasn't been any sneezing or coughing since we started her on the antibiotics shes just gotten more lethargic and has eaten less than usual. The only thing she still gobbles up pretty quickly is lettuce.

Doxycycline is an antibiotic that is regularly used for guinea pigs with respiratory infections in the US.
Here is more information, including dosages for guinea pigs (but for that you also need to know your piggy's weight).

Please start topping up with syringe feed; it is absolutely vital that you keep your guinea pig going right now - your care in that respect can make all the difference! Around 80% of the food intake is hay, which you cannot control. Just seeing your piggy nibble on a bit of lettuce is perhaps 2% of the daily food intake...
Our guide is very step-by-step and illustrated to guide inexperienced owners through every and help them save their piggies' lives. Please take the time. We have included tips on what you can do with what you have got at home or easily available from a pharmacy/supermarket in an emergency.

Be aware that there can be negative reactions to any antibiotic; they do not just work on the targeted bacteria, they can also kill digestive gut bacteria. Please contact the vet clinic again, the heavy breathing can indicate pneumonia. Your vet may up the dosage of doxycycline and also prescribe a diuretic to help drain the fluid build-up in the lungs.

Place a bowl of steaming water next to the cage and keep it refreshed to help ease her breathing until you can see a vet.