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Penicillin G Injections

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heftysmurf

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My 5 1/2 year old cavy has been dealing with some sort of infection for a while.

They prescribed Penicillin G and gave him one shot of it. I am supposed to give him 13 more.

Than I read everywhere it was bad. :-(

He has been eating less now and poop is small so been on the critical care and Bene-bac.

Is it safe? I called them once and they said yes but am going to call again on Monday. They are an exotic vet. FYI.

Want him better and dont know what to do.
 
As far as I know penicillin is toxic to guinea pigs, but I’m not entirely sure. What does the bottle say? Where do they think the infection is?

Start weighing him once daily at the same time and adjust the syringe feed accordingly. For now you can top him up every couple of hours. Small poops mean he wasn’t eating enough 1-2 days ago.
I’ll tag @Wiebke @VickiA @Piggies&buns
 
Welcome! When given orally it will usually kill guinea pigs, injections however do not go through the digestive system and cannot destroy the good bacteria, causing the fatal enterotoxemia and so are considered safe, albeit not the first port of call. I know of a few piggies who have been successfully treated with injections of penicillin, and have had them offered for one of my own should the treatment we initially tried not have worked.

But absolutely never, ever to be given orally and it should be injected carefully to ensure none is left on the coat after injecting as the piggy may groom it off and ingest it.
 
Thanks Siikibam and Betsy. I have been weighing him. Thankfully he is a big boy and 2 lb 11oz but is down 2lb 10oz. I am giving him 10ml critical care every 4 hours. He got the first shot last Wednesday. I called the Vet and they checked with the formulary tech and said it was OK. I am still scared as heck and want to do something.
I saw some things where it is OK injected and dont know how true that is but know it can knock out strep which the vet suspected.
Just weird that he pooped at the vet and after the shot that was the best poop I have seen since.
 
I agree with @Eriathwen

One of my rabbits was poorly a few months ago and her and her cagemate both needed treatment (transmissible illness). The vet explained that the only option for treating it was penicillin but that it would be injected as oral penicillin cannot be given to rabbits or guinea pigs but injected was ok and in this case had to be done if the illness bacteria was to be killed effectively.
 
Thanks Eriathwen and Piggies&buns. That is a very good point about stuff on his fur. He may have had some because they had a devil of a time giving him his first shot. I am going to clean him up real good.
I just find it darn weird that go to vets=small poop.
Mind you he was not eating great before we went and this has been going on for a bit of time.
His eye has come a super long way as I had some left over eye cream from another incident.
 
heftysmurf said:
Thanks Eriathwen and Piggies&buns. That is a very good point about stuff on his fur. He may have had some because they had a devil of a time giving him his first shot. I am going to clean him up real good.
I just find it darn weird that go to vets=small poop.
Mind you he was not eating great before we went and this has been going on for a bit of time.
His eye has come a super long way as I had some left over eye cream from another incident.
Click to expand...

Hi!

Please step in with weighing daily at the same time (instead of weekly) and with the necessary level for feeding support for as long as needed. Get hold of some probiotics to support the gut.
Small poos signal diminished appetite and food intake. Keep in mind that poos run about 1-2 days behind (depending how quick the gut is running), so only weighing daily weighing will give you an up-to-date insight. Cheap kitchen scales from the supermarket are perfectly adequate for the job. Also keep in mind that hay is making around 80% of the daily food intake but that you cannot control it by eye.

Here is more information on caring for ill piggies and what you can do in an emergency, including when you cannot be seen by vet with a very ill or potentially dying guinea pig straight away:
Weight - Monitoring and Management
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig Safely

Not Eating, Weight Loss And The Importance Of Syringe Feeding Fibre
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
Probiotics, Recovery Foods And Vitamin C: Overview With Product Links

Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

Fingers crossed!
 
I think tonight I am going to start the shots. Still super scared.
He is such a good boy and the last thing I want to do is hurt him.
 
I think I need to call the vet because I am scared. I am surprised injections are not mentioned more and everywhere i look just says penicillin=bad. Thanks again @Eriathwen and @Piggies&buns . Just feeling so confused and desperate.
 
I’m surprised a vet has asked you to give your piggy the injections yourself.
Please do call a vet and ask for help
 
If you feel unable to do the injections then your vet should be more than happy to do them for you, after all..it was them that decided the course of treatment! It isnt nice having to inject your own pet so I'm sure they will understand your reluctance :) I've only ever injected sheep and oranges and it's still not what I'd consider fun or easy.
 
It sucks but if it makes my buddy OK 100% willing to do the shot. The vet is a good 40 minute drive from me.
Just so scared about the penicillin g @Eriathwen . I dont even know exactly what Penicillin G is and the irony that he seems worse post vet visit after that 1st shot.
Dont know if it was that one shot or just the natural progression of what he has going on.
Would you give the shot?
 
heftysmurf said:
It sucks but if it makes my buddy OK 100% willing to do the shot. The vet is a good 40 minute drive from me.
Just so scared about the penicillin g @Eriathwen . I dont even know exactly what Penicillin G is and the irony that he seems worse post vet visit after that 1st shot.
Dont know if it was that one shot or just the natural progression of what he has going on.
Would you give the shot?
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You need to trust and be guided by your vet. Are they cavy savvy? If not, then it may be worth finding another vet if you aren’t sure about what you are being asked to do.
 
It should be only given as an absolute last resort. We have never had to resort to it and have always found safe antibiotics to give. Also, you must ensure that it goes in properly, because if any of the solution leaks onto the skin, then the guinea pig could injest it, whilst grooming and this could potentially be fatal. When injecting guinea pigs, I always draw up the injection using one needle and then change the needle to a new one, so it is very sharp. Guinea pig skin is very tough (tougher than bunnies) and because they vocalise when you inject them, it can be quite off-putting.
 
Thanks again. This is the vet I went to - Specialized Care for Avian & Exotic Pets | Erie, PA | Exotic Animal Care
They gave me new needles for each injection and had a hard time due to the skin and it took 3 different ones to get it in.
Just wondering should it have ever went in?
They specialize in exotics and was the only one in the area really listed as exotic.
It was the first time I went there and most vets are not exotic in my area.
I called once before but going to call again tomorrow.
If this is strep would baytril be effective or something else?
It is still so weird that he got picky so quick after the first visit and the shot.
Some say it should be OK but was kinda surprised that I was given injections right off the bat.
I hope the say something that makes me feel better about giving my little buddy that stuff or something different.
I am starting to understand that it should be safe as it is injection vs oral. Hoping @Eriathwen and @Piggies&buns are correct because penicillin can be very effective.
I just gave him another 10ml of critical care before I grab a bit of sleep.
Hope my call goes well tomorrow.


🤞
 
There are so many other antibiotics you can use, other than just baytril. For very severe issues we have found Zithromax (azithromycin) very good, as well as a combination of Marbocyl and Metronidazole. Injecting guinea pigs is very difficult. Did anyone actually show you how to do it? I've found it very frustrating, during covid, how vets aren't always showing clients how to do procedures with their animals and just explaining over the phone.
 
They did the first one. They had a devil of a time and it took 3 different needles to get it in. I was able to go in the office and thankfully have one dose of my covid shot done. Maybe it was a sign? Just so scared of the penicillin g and if there is something safer would be a lot better but if it's all that can treat him I will do it. Happy to hear about some success here with it and you are making me think about the difficulty they had.
 
Sorry I've not been able to reply, I've been on the road rescuing a pair of hamsters. If this was their first port of call I would absolutely request trying a different, oral antibiotic first!
I completely agree with furryfriends, there is a good range of safe oral antibiotics that can be tried before opting for injectable, especially to be administered at home.
 
Thanks @Eriathwen . I hope your mission was successfulv with those little fur babies.
I called the vet was off today. The lady at the desk told me they do that script all the time and to keep up with the injections and he will call me tomorrow if something else could be used.
Making me think of i should give Smokey one today or wait.
 
You know your stuff. Found this after reading a lot of research articles.
One advantage of the parenteral route in hind gut fermenters is that the antibiotics bypass the digestive tract and avoid potentially disturbing cecal microorganisms.
Taken from The pneumonias of small mammals (Proceedings)
 
This stuff is hard. Was reading this - Contraindications: Penicillin G(Benzyl penicillin) -Do not administer penicillins to hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs or chinchillas. Use with caution in rabbits, and never orally, though it has been used in injectable forms long term for abscesses. Tekn from
https://corvid-isle.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Small_Animal_Formulary_7th_Edition.pdf.
Been gibing Smokey Bene-Bac (just ran out more comes tomorrow) and feeding him his poop gross but needed.
This has been so very confusing. Especially with some sucesses being noted with Penicillin and Cavys here but man its scary.
If after the call tomorrow going to also call my normal non exotic vet and see what they say.
 
Spoke with the vet. he stated he never had a problem with Penicillin and it was listed in the formulary for guinea pigs but only as an injection. He believes it may be an abscess and it is the best way to get rid of it. H econsulted with another vet an the location as well.
As his poop is somewhat smaller he said I could get a script to increase appetite and after start an oral antibiotic but may not do the same work and if that happened may be looking at surgery for the abscess.
 
Having my wife take my little buddy to a different vet today. I am starting to get concerned with statsis and bumping up his critical care.
This sucks.
 
heftysmurf said:
Having my wife take my little buddy to a different vet today. I am starting to get concerned with statsis and bumping up his critical care.
This sucks.
Click to expand...
I hope it goes well with the different vet.
I know it's hard (and financially draining) but finding a vet you can work with makes all the difference.
 
I went to another beer. He gave me baytril and oflaxin solution for his eye. It looks bad today. Funny thing is he is eating better.I am tempted to try the shot now because of his eye. The other vet was not totally against the shot of penicillin but said it's used very rarely. That kinda surprised me.
 
Have follow-up this week. Spoke with newer vet more. Said last resort even though I am still tempted. He is eating OK. Just so scared for his eye and dont know what to do.
 
Baytril has done nothing.
In a way now feel like an ass doubting the exotic vet as he may have been right.
I am wondering if that fear of penicillin cost my little buddy his eye and he is still not 100%. Go back back to the new vet tomorrow and may start the injections because even with stimulant he is down a bit of weight. His max was 2lb 11oz and now he was solid at 2lbs 7oz when all this crap started and touches the 2lb 6 oz weight range.
Trying to resist the temptation because of the fears embedded in me now of all penicillin. Of course he is eating hay right now.
I wonder who has been successful with penicillin based treatments?
So desperate.
I love my little Smokey :-(.
 
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