Inner Ear Infection?

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

What dose Zithromax are you giving? How much does your piggy weigh? Are you giving it twice a day!

 

[Potatofriend]

What dose Zithromax are you giving? How much does your piggy weigh? Are you giving it twice a day!

His dose is 29.6mg/kg (0.37ml of 200mg/5ml, at a weight of 520g) once a day.
I did half around the dose in the morning when I found the diarrhoea, before I found information saying to discontinue if loose stools occur. Since then he’s had two more doses of sulfatrim and one dose of metacam.
I’ve found information stating 15-30mg/kg is the standard dose range, so perhaps if I put him back on it at the lower end?
Currently looking to see if I can get a nebuliser before the azothromycin goes off, to bypass the gut.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

We dose at 1 ml per kilo body weight, so for a piggy who weighs just over 500g, we would give 0.25ml of zithromax, twice daily. Are you giving probiotics too? If Zitrhomax really isn't suiting your guinea pig, then I would suggest trying a combination of Metronidazole and Marbocyl, as this is a good alternative to using Zithromax.

Are you thinking of giving zithromax by nebuliser? Not sure this would be effective, although your vet would be able to advise.

 

[Potatofriend]

I’m really struggling with vets tbh- he’s been through 3 with this, and the current one said in the last visit that he’s not comfortable prescribing any more antibiotics and he wants to refer me, so I’m currently trying to get a vet to be referred to (live in Lincoln, no car, waiting on reply from small pets vets)
I suggested the Marbocyl and he said it was the same family as Baytril so wouldn’t do any good. I’ll keep the other one in mind for when I get another vet though.
What concentration of Zithromax are you using with that dose?

 

[Potatofriend]

Oh and the probiotic I’m using is fibreplex

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

That is the Zithromax we use.

Such a shame you can’t travel or I’d suggest you get your vet to refer to our vet, Simon Maddock.

Marbocyl is the same family as baytril but given in combination with the metronidazole, it’s very effective.

You’re using a good probiotic

 

[Potatofriend]

He was also on Bisolvon, could this be what caused it instead perhaps?
Also you seem knowledgable- the vet said with the azithromycin that it was supposed to be used only for ten days but maybe after was fine, use my own judgment - I don’t know enough to have my own judgement, can you advise please?

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

He was also on Bisolvon, could this be what caused it instead perhaps?
Also you seem knowledgable- the vet said with the azithromycin that it was supposed to be used only for ten days but maybe after was fine, use my own judgment - I don’t know enough to have my own judgement, can you advise please?

I doubt the bisolven would've caused the issue. Although it states that zithromax should be used within 10 days, this is guidance for human use (it is a human antibiotic). However, it keeps well for around 2 weeks.

 

[Potatofriend]

Thank you so much for your advice! I think I’ll try giving him a half dose of azithromycin at 6pm, no sulfatrim, his usual metacam, and see how he gets on.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

Thank you so much for your advice! I think I’ll try giving him a half dose of azithromycin at 6pm, no sulfatrim, his usual metacam, and see how he gets on.

That sounds like a plan! Give me a shout if you need any advice. I've dealt with so many different issues, so can often come up with ideas. It doesn't look like he's given up, so definitely worth fighting on for now! x

 

[Potatofriend]

He’s had the Azithromycin at half his normal dose, and his metacam, along with 3ml critical care and his fibreplex- so now I just hope he’ll be ok with it.
Poops wise he had made four very small but firm poops, which shows recovery- I’ll report back on how he gets on.

 

[Potatofriend]

Quick Theo update- no diarrhoea this morning! I was very nervous after giving the Azithromycin again but so far so good!
I’ve given him a bit of critical care to give him a morning boost, and I’ll weigh him again when I get back from work.

 

[Potatofriend]

Theo update- he’s doing well on just azithromycin and metacam so far, no signs of an upset stomach. I’ve been feeding him fibreplex but he’s starting to hate it so I might mix some in with his critical care.
He had some sniffles when I was moving him back over from sulfatrim to azithromycin, but they’ve gone again now.
I’m doing 2 doses, one in morning one in afternoon, 12 hours apart, azithromycin 0.15ml and metacam 0.09 ml, and he hasn’t had any more stomach issues so far fingers crossed
Weighed him today and we’ve managed to put on 20g, which is 1/5 of his lost weight- he’s also got his strength back (he pulled the critical care syringe out of my hand and threw it today when he’d had enough Earlier he was eating from it like a water feeder though)
Hopefully he’ll continue improving. The small pet vet has got in touch with me, and I’ve filled in a form registering him for the referral, and rung my vets to give them the information for the vet I’m asking to be referred to- I just hope it goes through before we run out of medicines. I’ve never been referred before, so I’m not sure goes long it takes. Good luck Theo!

 

[Potatofriend]

Theo update- he’s still doing ok!
We haven’t had any more diarrhoea
I’ve been focusing on getting his gut moving, as we had a stasis situation - I found Wiebkes support guide (Digestive Disorders: Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement) And Not Eating) very helpful during this time. He starting producing poops again Thursday, small and only a few, but he’s been steadily increasing production every day and it’s looking good! He’s eating lots of critical care- he loves it, shouts for the syringe, runs over, and sits there munching away. His weight is back up to 500g!
I’ve kept on with the Azithromycin and Metacam, and his infection symptoms are coming along nicely - balance wise, today he jumped over a food bowl and landed without falling over!
He is also eating hay and pellets, although it’s hard to track those as easily with 3 pigs going at them. My questions are:
When he has critical care, he does seem to be chewing-is this actual chewing of fibre, will it help keep his teeth down like hay?
Should I feed him as much critical care as he wants, or should I start reducing so he eats more hay and wears his teeth down?
The last thing we want is a dental issue on top of all his other problems, and I’d hate to cause one by syringe feeding him so much he that he’s not hungry and doesn’t eat enough hay.

 

[Potatofriend]

One thing I’ve found useful, and as he’s so keen to eat the critical care I can do this- the critical care does spill/fall out his mouth/drop down the syringe etc. To prevent wastage, I feed him the syringe over the bowl, so anything that drops drops back into the bowl for the next round.

 

[Betsy]

I found that using a 1ml syringe with the end cut off easier than the big syringe and there is less wastage but that's just personal preference. I find that the big syringe is more awkward.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Theo update- he’s still doing ok!
We haven’t had any more diarrhoea
I’ve been focusing on getting his gut moving, as we had a stasis situation - I found Wiebkes support guide (Digestive Disorders: Diarrhea - Bloat - GI Stasis (No Gut Movement) And Not Eating) very helpful during this time. He starting producing poops again Thursday, small and only a few, but he’s been steadily increasing production every day and it’s looking good! He’s eating lots of critical care- he loves it, shouts for the syringe, runs over, and sits there munching away. His weight is back up to 500g!
I’ve kept on with the Azithromycin and Metacam, and his infection symptoms are coming along nicely - balance wise, today he jumped over a food bowl and landed without falling over!
He is also eating hay and pellets, although it’s hard to track those as easily with 3 pigs going at them. My questions are:
When he has critical care, he does seem to be chewing-is this actual chewing of fibre, will it help keep his teeth down like hay?
Should I feed him as much critical care as he wants, or should I start reducing so he eats more hay and wears his teeth down?
The last thing we want is a dental issue on top of all his other problems, and I’d hate to cause one by syringe feeding him so much he that he’s not hungry and doesn’t eat enough hay.View attachment 193739View attachment 193740

The critical care won’t stop him from eating hay if he wants to eat hay but you can’t stop the critical care until he is eating enough hay for himself to keep his weight going up ie if you stop or reduce cc and his weight goes down, then he isn’t eating enough hay for himself

 

[Deleted member 145660]

I have a young Guinea pig, Theo, who I adopted recently (age 8 weeks, adopted on day 1). He presented with signs of respiratory disorder, which were treated with baytril (days 2-7); it didn’t improve and the vet discontinued the treatment, saying the symptoms were environmental. The symptoms worsened (days 8-10), and he was taken to a second vet, where he was prescribed baytril again (day 11). He then presented with drool and a head tilt, and was prescribed metacam (day 14) and, as symptoms worsened, sulfatrim (day 17). He improved, and received these medicines and a probiotic (fibreplex) since, and an antibiotic eyedrop (since day 27) for a squint he developed on the eye tilting downward. His weight dropped initially then increased, and his weight gain is going well.

Euthanasia was suggested on day 11, however due to improvements the vet decided discontinuing the medication on day 35, pm, was the right choice.

He went without 3 doses, 1.5 days, and symptoms resumed - he started drooling again (lightly), sniffling, dried mucus around the nose, and the tilt and balance seemed worse- he also had a red lump at the bottom of his ear, around where the auditory meatus meets the tympanic bulla. Sulfatrim, baytril, metacam, and fibreplex were resumed on day 37, am. The lump is smaller and no longer red in the centre. His tilt and balance are worse, but respiratory symptoms have ceased. It is now day 38. I have an appointment in two days with the vet.

I was wondering if anyone could advise:

What medicines/treatments should I ask for? The vet said previously that blood tests won’t tell us what the infection is, ear drops will not be helpful as there’s no pus/ discharge from the ear and so it’s too deep in to reach. Is there a stronger antibiotic I could ask for? Something better designed for this type of infection?

Thank you for your time

Hello, I’m so sorry to hear that your piggy isn’t feeling well. I have a similar situation with one of my boys. We started with baytril and metcam at his regular vet and then as the symptoms worsened we were recommended to a vet a Cornell Veterinary Hospital (in the US). They did x-rays and scans of his body, head, eyes, and ears. They concluded that he had an inner ear infection that had spread to his brain and/or nerves (I can’t exactly remember it was over a year ago now). Even though it was quite pricey we were able to get a better understanding of what was going on and what my Oz needed to have to fix it. We continued on with baytril, metcam, an antibacterial/lubricating eye gel, and one other medication that is slipping my mind right now (I can check in the morning). That combination seemed to clear up his ear infection after about a month but he is unfortunately still left with an eye that he can’t blink, partial face paralysis, the occasional head tilt (there’s good days and bad with that), teeth issues, and a poor sense of balance. We now give him that same eye gel 2-3 times a day, critical care to help maintain his weight (he struggles with chewing and keeping food in his mouth because of his paralysis), and metcam as needed (sometimes after teeth trimmings or just on one of his bad days). Wishing nothing but the best for you and your piggy!

 

[Deleted member 145660]

Hello, I’m so sorry to hear that your piggy isn’t feeling well. I have a similar situation with one of my boys. We started with baytril and metcam at his regular vet and then as the symptoms worsened we were recommended to a vet a Cornell Veterinary Hospital (in the US). They did x-rays and scans of his body, head, eyes, and ears. They concluded that he had an inner ear infection that had spread to his brain and/or nerves (I can’t exactly remember it was over a year ago now). Even though it was quite pricey we were able to get a better understanding of what was going on and what my Oz needed to have to fix it. We continued on with baytril, metcam, an antibacterial/lubricating eye gel, and one other medication that is slipping my mind right now (I can check in the morning). That combination seemed to clear up his ear infection after about a month but he is unfortunately still left with an eye that he can’t blink, partial face paralysis, the occasional head tilt (there’s good days and bad with that), teeth issues, and a poor sense of balance. We now give him that same eye gel 2-3 times a day, critical care to help maintain his weight (he struggles with chewing and keeping food in his mouth because of his paralysis), and metcam as needed (sometimes after teeth trimmings or just on one of his bad days). Wishing nothing but the best for you and your piggy!

Oops just noticed that lots have already responded and you have been making some fantastic progress! This was showing up as newly posted on my phone for some reason? Anyways I’ve attached a picture of my very brave and strong Oz (who went through a similar situation)! We are wishing nothing but the best for you and your piggy

 

[Bill & Ted]

little Theo is on the mend, keep up the good work Mummy x

 

[Potatofriend]

Hello everyone!
So we finished the Azithromycin a few days ago and Theo is looking good, which is a good sign- previously he’d started going downhill within 3 missed doses!
His weight is back up at pre diarrhoea weight, although he’s still a bit underweight so I’m keeping on the syringe feed in the hope of giving some extra help - Clyde, who is two weeks younger, is 580g so I’m hoping with support he’ll get up to over 600 and then maintain.
Initially I thought his low weight was due to the antibiotics, but I’m watching for indications it might be difficulty eating instead- I have seen him chewing pellets and eating hay, but I’m worried about his teeth or jaw being not quite right- I’ll ask the new vet on Monday.
Also, new vet on Monday! Got the referral to the small pet vet that was recommended on here, so hopefully that will go well.
My main problem at the moment is stopping the other boys from getting jealous of the critical care- Zizi comes up and tries to pull the syringe out of his mouth! I’ve let them have a bit but then been firm that the rest is for Theo.
Here’s a photo of him helping with the very important job of dismantling the hay cube (what’s left of it), and eating veggies with .

 

[Potatofriend]

Another Theo update - so we've got the new vet, The Small Pet Vet, and she is brilliant - she seems to know what she's talking about, and has been absolutely wonderful, especially after other vets had given up on Theo. She prescribed more Azothromycin - I wish my biology was good enough to remember but basically she said that with young guinea pigs, the bacteria that causes the respiratory diseases responds to Azithromycin and not the other antibiotics he's had - it's not antibiotic resistance, they just aren't right for this particular organism.
So Theo is on the mend, she says a standard course is 4 weeks, which sounds good to me as his 2 weeks nearly sorted it all out (a week after I took him off it he got sensitive around the affected ear and his balance was a bit worse, so he's back on it but he's responding well).
I have spent some time trying to figure out the best way to represent the data on Theo, and I think I've got a good solution. What I've done is made a simple colour based medicine tracker, and then put the symptom tracker and weight tracker directly underneath, with the dates lined up so peaks and events can be matched and cross referenced. You can see how the weight loss incidences correspond to increased balance issues (with the exception of the big dip for diarrhea, after which I discontinued the sulfatrim). The main issue we've had is, because the infection is internal and the symptoms are permanent to an unknown extent, it's been difficult to tell when he's better; however, the data indicates that even the small weight loss is representative of infection increasing, and so it is my hope that this can be used as a diagnostic tool in Theo's case - I know the advice is 50g or more, but I think for Theo anything over 30 might be indicative?


Anyway, the good news is we are hopeful that all will end well, and he's loving hi critical care still.

 

[Potatofriend]

Theo update:
We’ve got less than a week to go on the Azithromycin, and we’re optimistic! His weight has been steady around 570g, and his tilt and balance have improved. He has some paralysis on one side of his face, but he seems to be eating ok - I’ve started reducing the critical care slowly to wean him back onto the hay.
I’ve read Wiebkes post on calcified bulla and found it very informative- the vet agreed with me a few weeks ago that that’s likely to be what has happened. The post raises issues that I myself have been concerned about - tooth growth from reluctance to eat hay (but he is eating some hay, and his weight not dropping as I reduce the soft feed makes me think he’s eating more) due to the facial paralysis - my vet said to encourage eating leafy greens to help with this.
My other concern was also on the post which is recurrence of bacterial infection as the bacteria are walled up inside the bulla - he’s had a wide range of antibiotics and has been on one or another since November 6th (with gaps of 1 day, 3 days, and 1 week), which in hoping will have got them all.
One thing which hasn’t been mentioned - on one of his no antibiotic periods he got a raised lump just under/behind his ear - just where the external wall of the tympanic bulla is. This has since gone down, and is mentioned in my earlier posts - could this be another symptom of cbs? I’ve got some diagrams I’m going to add, the purple shading is where the lump was.
Also included is a photo of Theo, being his happy self despite the issues he’s had

 

[Viennese Furbabies]

I don't have any experience with this syndrome (and I hope it will stay this way - I really don't need personal experience with everything), nur could the lump be an abscess?

 

[Potatofriend]

I don’t know, it seems possible - but the location of it given everything else is a bit interesting.