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Treatment for cystitis

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vickie

vickie

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Are there any human cystitis treatments that can be used on guinea pigs?

Billiam is in a very bad way today, despite having started on Zithromax his pain is worse and he very drowsy and wobbly. He actually seemed brighter this morning - that was until I gave him 0.4ml of Zithromax. He then went to a corner of his cage to lie down and has not moved at all. He is now not eating anything on his own so we are syringe feeding him as much as we can. He wants to eat leaves but just can't - it's like he hasn't got the energy. He had a GA to have his bladder flushed on Wednesday, surely he should be a bit brighter by now. Does it sound like the Zithromax is causing this?

If there is any other drug (human meds?) we can try please please let me know. If he survives the night I will be surprised.
 
I was warned by my own vet that zithromax is a very strong "last ditch" antibiotic and I have been told that it should only be given together with lots and lots of probiotic as its effect on the body would be pretty drastic. (Thankfully, I didn't need it in the end; but my vet contacted guinea pig specialist Simon Maddock in Northampton for information on the use of zithromax.)

I'm not sure whether the dosis is right, but then my vet researched it for me for a URI where the correct dose would be lower.

I have put my Nerys on cystease (bladder lining supplement for cats) since last weekend. So far, it seems to be working, but it is early days. You would have to clear it with your vet, though, as I would be VERY careful in giving Billiam other meds in conjunction with such a strong AB.
http://www.vetuk.co.uk/digestive-su...cystitis-glucosamine-sprinkle-capsules-p-1146

Sending vibes to your poorly boy!
 
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Oh dear - this sounds very unfortunate. Just as with humans - some piggies can also have reactions to certain antibiotics. Ring your vet and report the problem straight away and he might instruct you to take Billam off it and see if he improves - which will be the "test" to see if he can tolerate the antibiotic or not. Yes - there is a risk in taking him off the antibiotics - but maybe you can at aleast maintain him on another one he has had previously (ie septrin or baytril)

Other treatments - pearl barley gloop with concentrated cranberry juice - and keep giving metacam.....(PM me for details)

Plus cymalon (they now do a liquid form) or the standard cystitis treatments in effervescence tablet/sachet form

If he is drowsy - it may be he is dehydrated and needs subq fluids - pelase ring your emergency vet and have a conflab with them tonight . Kepp up the syringe feeding - min 5-10ml at two hourly intervals if you can -

sorry - Haven;t kept up to date with the rest of your posts - has he had an X ray to rule out [*]kidney[/*] stones recently?

Keeping fingers and paws crossed here for you both

x
 
Ring your vet and report the problem straight away and he might instruct you to take Billam off it and see if he improves
Click to expand...

I rang my vet earlier today and hoped to be able to speak to him about Bill's drowsiness but had a message relayed back to me through the receptionist saying that they had done all they could for him and that I could take him in tonight but it would either be to pts or for them to nurse him, which she said would be no different to the care I would be giving him at home..... pretty disappointed to be honest. I've spent a huge amount of money on his treatment in the last few weeks and 5 minutes on the phone with the vet wouldn't have been too much to ask.

Kepp up the syringe feeding - min 5-10ml at two hourly intervals if you can -
Click to expand...

I thought it should be approx 40ml daily for a pig of his size (he is now down to 700g from 1kg). Is this wrong - I want to make sure I am giving him enough. I've managed to get 20ml of critical care in him tonight since 4pm. He's taking it very slowly. I'm trying to get water into him too inbetween each feed. He shows interest in food but can't seem to manage to eat it, I'm finding this a bit worrying.

sorry - Haven;t kept up to date with the rest of your posts - has he had an X ray to rule out
[*]kidney[/*] stones recently?
Click to expand...

He's had x-rays that have shown he has stones in his ureter which they cannot do anything about. I'm not sure if there's anything sinister going on in his kidneys.
 
I'm sorry he's not doing well. :(

5-10ml every 2 hours would equate to 40ml or more over the 24hr period.

How is he doing today?
 
How about some diuretic drops? I give mine 3 drops of "Dr. A Vogel Solidaforce" (Solidago virguarea L) and "Echina 5 Complex" (Purpurea herb, Not sure it's called so) twice a day to keep their bladder clean. I'm not sure that this exists in UK, but maybe something similar?
Mine gets it because og bladder problems as well...

My vet also says that antibiotic (such as baytrill) can upset the stomach. Metacam can as well...

Have you tried Fibreplex?

Good luck!
 
I've searched a bit on the internet:

[ame]http://www.amazon.co.uk/HealthAid-Ursi-Arctostaphylos-uva-ursi-Liquid/dp/B002QWIU8E/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=drugstore&qid=1278750199&sr=1-9[/ame]


And this:

[ame]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cleavers-Herbal-Tincture-50ml-Diuretic/dp/B002V0YEU4/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=drugstore&qid=1278750199&sr=1-5[/ame]

It's for humans, but so are those I'm using for my pigs...
 
Laura-CCC4 said:
I'm sorry he's not doing well. :(

5-10ml every 2 hours would equate to 40ml or more over the 24hr period.

How is he doing today?
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Well he's still with us. I heard him crying in the night now and again so gave him a bit more Tramadol. I've given him 5ml of feed this morning and have just presented him with his veggies which he excitedly (but slowly) trundled over to sniff at. It's the same every time though, he wants to eat, he'll pick up a bit of sliced carrot or cucumber, takes it out of his bowl to eat but gives up without having had any. He's had a tiny nibble of cucumber and then sloped off to the other side of the cage looking sorry for himself. It's really odd. The vet said he checked his teeth though and they were fine.

I've not given him his Zithromax yet, I'm a bit frightened of it but I know it's got to be done. How long should it be before we start noticing a difference?
 
I use the twice daily or if they are hurting three times a day. But I don't know if that's the case with these medications. We don't have them in DK, but I suspect it to be the same - or as good as.

On mine it says 40 drops 3 times a day for a human. I narrow it down to 3 drops per pig.

There is alcohol in mine so it doesn't take long to work...

But read the label carefully. I will be happy to try and help you figure it out. :)
 
Pebble said:
.....
Plus cymalon (they now do a liquid form) or the standard cystitis treatments in effervescence tablet/sachet form
Click to expand...

I once gave one of my pigs a course of Cystopurin to clear a stubborn case of Cystitis, after the usual treatments had failed to clear it. It definitely seemed to work.

I think many people are (understandably) reluctant to recommend human meds for use in guinea pigs as you generally never quite know how safe they are, even if they seem to be ok and/or you've heard of others using them without any apparent adverse reactions. In an ideal world I'd only ever use meds officially approved as safe for use in guinea pigs but, as we all know, that's just not always possible.

If you are going to buy a human cystitis preparation, I've heard that the potassium citrate versions are better than the sodium citrate ones. (Not sure why.) I'm also not sure if it's ok to give this type of preparation to a guinea with stones, as in your case.
 
So sorry to read on your other thread that Billiam has passed away. You certainly did lots of research and kept seeking out help and advice but, as we all know, sadly some things are just not meant to be, despite our very best efforts. You tried so hard for him. So sad x
 
vickie said:
Are there any human cystitis treatments that can be used on guinea pigs?

Billiam is in a very bad way today, despite having started on Zithromax his pain is worse and he very drowsy and wobbly. He actually seemed brighter this morning - that was until I gave him 0.4ml of Zithromax. He then went to a corner of his cage to lie down and has not moved at all. He is now not eating anything on his own so we are syringe feeding him as much as we can. He wants to eat leaves but just can't - it's like he hasn't got the energy. He had a GA to have his bladder flushed on Wednesday, surely he should be a bit brighter by now. Does it sound like the Zithromax is causing this?

If there is any other drug (human meds?) we can try please please let me know. If he survives the night I will be surprised.
Click to expand...


i know for us its cranberry juice,I'm not sure weither it would suit guinea's,i suppose you could give then the actual berries,worth a try.
 
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