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Long term URI

C

coconutty

New Born Pup
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Hey guys. I have a 6.5 year old *estimated* guinea pig that I rescued from the shelter about 2.5 years ago. October 2024 she got a URI. We basically haven't shaken it completely since. She went on a 2 week antibiotic and was healthy for about a month and it came back. Went on another 2 week dose that turned into a 4 week dose and was doing fine. 4 weeks later came down with the same symptoms. She's now been on doxycycline for 4 weeks and just got prescribed enrofloxacin to add to the original doxy. Has anybody had a similar experience with their pig and seen the URI vanish? It's never progressed to lower resp or pneumonia. When she's sick her symptoms are only wheezing, she otherwise acts normal and hungry. When she's on antibiotics she doesn't eat much at all and I support her with critical care. Recently her eye has been bulging and watery which I assume is from being sick for so long and pressure in her sinuses, but the vet doesn't have any other guesses besides tumor.
 
I know CBS piggies can get recurring URIs. The antibiotics have a hard time penetrating because of the hardened bulla. That's how it was with my CBS piggy who got ear infections. He had to be on antibiotics two and a half months to kick the recurring infection. Not sure if it's the same with URIs.

Has your guinea pig had an X-ray? The vet could check the bulla.
 
Hi and welcome

I am very sorry about your problems. It is obvious that you love your girl very much.

We have seen an increase of resistance to antibiotics for URI due to widespread overuse in recent years. A lab test from a nasal swab may help?

Have you tried to see whether a bowl of steaming water next to the cage may help to ease the breathing? If you , you and your vet may want to look at nebulising. It doesn't work for all piggies and can even make some worse so it is always worth doing a tester first.

Please keep her eye hydrated with eye gel three times a day (or eye drops 6 times a day if you cannot get any plain human gel) if she can no longer produce cleaning fluid or is able to blink. She may go eventually blind otherwise.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi and welcome

I am very sorry about your problems. It is obvious that you love your girl very much.

We have seen an increase of resistance to antibiotics for URI due to widespread overuse in recent years. A lab test from a nasal swab may help?

Have you tried to see whether a bowl of steaming water next to the cage may help to ease the breathing? If you , you and your vet may want to look at nebulising. It doesn't work for all piggies and can even make some worse so it is always worth doing a tester first.

Please keep her eye hydrated with eye gel three times a day (or eye drops 6 times a day if you cannot get any plain human gel) if she can no longer produce cleaning fluid or is able to blink. She may go eventually blind otherwise.
Click to expand...
I'll try the steaming bowl thank you. She is still blinking and when I touch near her eye she closes it. I just fear it getting worse I think!
 
Ramia said:
I know CBS piggies can get recurring URIs. The antibiotics have a hard time penetrating because of the hardened bulla. That's how it was with my CBS piggy who got ear infections. He had to be on antibiotics two and a half months to kick the recurring infection. Not sure if it's the same with URIs.

Has your guinea pig had an X-ray? The vet could check the bulla.
Click to expand...
She's had an xray everytime we visit the vet and the only issue they ever find is "gas" due to her gasping for air...but I recently stopped opting for them as they are nearly 200$ and haven't been beneficial for diagnoses
 
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