Possible URI?

[Kilo11]

Hello, looking for a bit of advice if anyone can help. One of our sows, around 8-9 weeks old, had begun sneezing quite a lot. She was at the vet on Friday and they advised there was no sign of infection so may just be an allergy to the hay dust, but prescribed Metacam for 5 days incase of sinus issues.

Come Saturday there was a crust round her nose and there’s a clicking noise when she breathes and sounds like she’s blocked up.
So we called the vet and took her back in, she has been given Baytril antibiotics to take twice daily for ten days. Although the vet wasn’t 100% sure there was an infection.

It’s been four days since starting the antibiotics and her breathing is like this constantly now though and sounds louder. And you can visibly see her breathing in and out. The sneezing had pretty much stopped. Other than this she is still running around and eating a lot. But I’m extremely worried and feel that the antibiotics should have shown at least some kind of improvement by now? I’m not sure how long it should take for the antibiotics to take in. Has anyone else had a similar issue?

I’m unsure if I should ring the vets again tomorrow or to persevere with the antibiotics to see if there is improvement. I just feel so bad and helpless listening to the noises she makes when breathing

 

[Siikibam]

I’m not entirely sure how long it takes before the antibiotic kicks in. Has she still got crusty nose off is it just the clicky breathing?

How is her weight? At this point in time you should switch from weekly weighing to daily (at the same time) to monitor it. You can’t judge hay intake by eye.

The other thing is that baytril kills off the good bacteria as well. So it’s a good idea to give a probiotic either 2 hours before or 2 hours after the antibiotic.

 

[nugget22]

Hello, looking for a bit of advice if anyone can help. One of our sows, around 8-9 weeks old, had begun sneezing quite a lot. She was at the vet on Friday and they advised there was no sign of infection so may just be an allergy to the hay dust, but prescribed Metacam for 5 days incase of sinus issues.

Come Saturday there was a crust round her nose and there’s a clicking noise when she breathes and sounds like she’s blocked up.
So we called the vet and took her back in, she has been given Baytril antibiotics to take twice daily for ten days. Although the vet wasn’t 100% sure there was an infection.

It’s been four days since starting the antibiotics and her breathing is like this constantly now though and sounds louder. And you can visibly see her breathing in and out. The sneezing had pretty much stopped. Other than this she is still running around and eating a lot. But I’m extremely worried and feel that the antibiotics should have shown at least some kind of improvement by now? I’m not sure how long it should take for the antibiotics to take in. Has anyone else had a similar issue?

I’m unsure if I should ring the vets again tomorrow or to persevere with the antibiotics to see if there is improvement. I just feel so bad and helpless listening to the noises she makes when breathing

hello

when was the last time you've been to a vet? if it has been a week or so and possible, i would say take a vet visit. one thing that I'm pretty sure of is that baytril should be used in older guinea pigs. 8-9 weeks old is pretty young, and although i haven't dont enough research on URI's (which i should) i am very surprised that a vet gave you that. anyways, good luck and sending prayers your way.

 

[PigglePuggle]

Hi @Kilo11 it may take the full week of baytril for you to see improvement, and then you should go back to the vet because piggy may then need a higher dose, or longer course, or even a different antibiotic prescribing. You might also ask your vet to prescribe bisolvon (bromhexine) mucolytic which is an excellent decongestant. Baytril is a very safe and well tolerated antibiotic so you neednt worry about piggy having it, but it may like many antibiotics affect the gut bacteria, so you may want to give a probiotic a couple of hours before or after the baytril if you see any sign of unusual poops.
If piggy is still active and eating it is safe to wait until the course of baytril is finished before returning to the vet- but of course if the breathing problems begin to affect her ability to eat and move around then of course see the vet immediately as an emergency. Best of luck!

 

[PigglePuggle]

hello

when was the last time you've been to a vet? if it has been a week or so and possible, i would say take a vet visit. one thing that I'm pretty sure of is that baytril should be used in older guinea pigs. 8-9 weeks old is pretty young, and although i haven't dont enough research on URI's (which i should) i am very surprised that a vet gave you that. anyways, good luck and sending prayers your way.

@nugget22 we politely ask that new members do not give out advice on the health and illness thread, as it is monitored and the queries answered by a specialist team who do have considerable experience of URIs and veterinary medicines.

 

[Kilo11]

Thanks for your replies. I dont think the crusts appear to be so bad, I’m wiping them off with a warm cloth. The clicking breathing is non stop now though apart from when she is eating. This wasn’t the case before so I’m worried it getting worse rather than better.

Her weight is stable although she is still small only 330g. We have probiotics that we have put in her water. She is completely fine in herself apart from the breathing. I just feel awful for her incase a she’s in discomfort.

She was last at the vet on Saturday. Antibiotics were prescribed for 10 days. Today will be day 5.

 

[Piggies&buns]

If you are worried then do speak to your vet again. We can only give general advice and aren’t vets so any worrying symptoms or lack of improvement does needs a hands on check. An antibiotic will take time to work but there is little benefit in waiting if you becoming increasingly concerned that things are getting worse.

Is that a probiotic adding to drinking water that your piggy drinks at will, or are you directly syringing it to your piggy? If you aren’t directly syringing a probiotic, then I would suggest that you do as it is the only way to ensure piggy is actually getting them. It can be added to syringe feed as well if you do need to start syringe feeding due to a reduced appetite/weight loss.

 

[Kilo11]

It was a probiotic added to her water, but I’ve syringed it for her today and she’s taking it no bother.
I will give the antibiotics maybe another day or two and if still no signs of improvement I’ll contact the vets again. She’s still very lively and eating plenty but am I right in saying that could change suddenly when they are unwell?

 

[Piggies&buns]

It was a probiotic added to her water, but I’ve syringed it for her today and she’s taking it no bother.
I will give the antibiotics maybe another day or two and if still no signs of improvement I’ll contact the vets again. She’s still very lively and eating plenty but am I right in saying that could change suddenly when they are unwell?

It could change - antibiotics can upset their tummies which can make their hay intake drop. Plus with a URI, the inability to breathe clearly means they can stop eating as much as their need to breathe comes before the need to eat. Ensure you weigh her every day while she is unwell (at the same time each day) as it is the only way to ensure she is eating enough hay (you cant judge hay intake accurately by eye)

 

[Kilo11]

Thanks very much for your advice. Hopefully she improves soon

 

[PigglePuggle]

It was a probiotic added to her water, but I’ve syringed it for her today and she’s taking it no bother.
I will give the antibiotics maybe another day or two and if still no signs of improvement I’ll contact the vets again. She’s still very lively and eating plenty but am I right in saying that could change suddenly when they are unwell?

Yes a respiratory infection is definitely something to monitor at home every few hours even after a vet trip and while receiving treatment, it could possibly progress to a bad pneumonia in a few hours- but it may well not do, often piggies with respiratory issues sound worse than they are to the worried hoomans who love them! Appetite, weight and activity levels are good indicators of how piggy is really doing, if they still trot over to you for a snack they are probably doing ok but if they are lethargic and not interested in food or hunched up in a corner with fluffed up fur those are signs to phone the emergency vet and get them seen in the next few hours.
Paws crossed the baytril kicks in soon and piggy keeps eating and active x