Very stubborn URI

[ashleyaalbright]

Hello! My guinea pig Bessie is about 2 years old, I got her from her previous owner along with her sister Louise in December of 2020. In the beginning of March, I noticed both girls had some eye crusties and took them to the vet. They were diagnosed with a URI and given a 10 day course of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. We finished that and they seemed to be doing well, but after a few days Bessie’s came back so we went back to the vet and saw a different doctor.

This doctor told me that she may have just needed a longer course of the antibiotics to fully kick the infection, so she prescribed the same medicine for three to four weeks this time. If after four weeks Bessie still wasn’t healthy, we would try another antibiotic. It’s been four weeks, and again, she was fine for a few days and now has eye and nose crusties again. The vet called a new prescription in for me which I will pick up tomorrow, I’m not sure what it’s called yet. If that doesn’t work, she said we’ll have to run some tests. I was just curious if anyone had similar experiences with a URI this stubborn? I feel so badly for her that every time she starts to feel well she just gets bad again and I’m so worried that we can’t kick this. Hopefully this second antibiotic will work better but if anyone has any input or advice I would greatly appreciate it!

 

[Freela]

It's possible that the antibiotic that you were given just was not a good match for the bacteria causing the problem. A few years ago, Hadley (the pig in my avatar) had hooting with breathing and was diagnosed with a chest infections... we did a round of antibiotics and she got better, then started hooting again a couple days later. She did a longer round of the same antibiotic and the same thing happened. We changed to a different antibiotic and that did the trick. If no culture was done to identify the bacteria (and a lot of vets don't do this routinely, it takes time to grow a culture) then choosing the antibiotic is a best guess, and sometimes the antibiotic chosen just doesn't kill all of the bacteria involved, though it may suppress them, leading to a temporary improvement while on the meds that doesn't last once they are stopped, as the remaining resistant bacteria just regrow as soon as the antibiotic suppressing them are removed. Hope this helps and hope the next antibiotic works better! Your vet could still attempt to do a culture of sputum/nasal discharge, but generally they aren't that accurate after antibiotics have been given, so it may not give you that much useful information.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello! My guinea pig Bessie is about 2 years old, I got her from her previous owner along with her sister Louise in December of 2020. In the beginning of March, I noticed both girls had some eye crusties and took them to the vet. They were diagnosed with a URI and given a 10 day course of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. We finished that and they seemed to be doing well, but after a few days Bessie’s came back so we went back to the vet and saw a different doctor.

This doctor told me that she may have just needed a longer course of the antibiotics to fully kick the infection, so she prescribed the same medicine for three to four weeks this time. If after four weeks Bessie still wasn’t healthy, we would try another antibiotic. It’s been four weeks, and again, she was fine for a few days and now has eye and nose crusties again. The vet called a new prescription in for me which I will pick up tomorrow, I’m not sure what it’s called yet. If that doesn’t work, she said we’ll have to run some tests. I was just curious if anyone had similar experiences with a URI this stubborn? I feel so badly for her that every time she starts to feel well she just gets bad again and I’m so worried that we can’t kick this. Hopefully this second antibiotic will work better but if anyone has any input or advice I would greatly appreciate it!

Hi and welcome

In the last couple of years, we have unfortunately been seeing more cases with URI that is resistent to the most commonly used antibiotics; the one you have been given initially is usually better known as bactrim (USA) or as sulfatrim/septrin in the UK. Which one are you currently on?
Baytril (enrofloxacin) is the only one licensed worldwide athough bactrim (sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim) is now also licensed in some countries for guinea pigs like the UK.

Has your vet commented on the lungs being free? What yours seem to mainly have is a persistent sinusitis in the nasal cavities. Crustiness is generally a symptom of a well developed un- or undertreated URI (which they have likely come with) and not an early onset symptom; especially as you do not mention any raspy/crackly or heavy breathing. It can sometimes be hard to clear.

There are several more stronger antibiotics which are safe to give to guinea pigs but at that stage it is more expedient to take a nasal swab for lab testing which antibiotic would be most effective.

Try and see whether a bowl of steaming water next to the cage is easing symptoms somewhat. If it does, you may want to look into nebulising. Has your vet also considered a mucus-thinning product?
@Piggies&buns has more experience with nebulising than I.

 

[ashleyaalbright]

It's possible that the antibiotic that you were given just was not a good match for the bacteria causing the problem. A few years ago, Hadley (the pig in my avatar) had hooting with breathing and was diagnosed with a chest infections... we did a round of antibiotics and she got better, then started hooting again a couple days later. She did a longer round of the same antibiotic and the same thing happened. We changed to a different antibiotic and that did the trick. If no culture was done to identify the bacteria (and a lot of vets don't do this routinely, it takes time to grow a culture) then choosing the antibiotic is a best guess, and sometimes the antibiotic chosen just doesn't kill all of the bacteria involved, though it may suppress them, leading to a temporary improvement while on the meds that doesn't last once they are stopped, as the remaining resistant bacteria just regrow as soon as the antibiotic suppressing them are removed. Hope this helps and hope the next antibiotic works better! Your vet could still attempt to do a culture of sputum/nasal discharge, but generally they aren't that accurate after antibiotics have been given, so it may not give you that much useful information.

Okay thank you! I was just curious if a lot of people had been through this and if there was any hope the second antibiotic would work, which you have given me. Thanks so much!

 

[ashleyaalbright]

Hi and welcome

In the last couple of years, we have unfortunately been seeing more cases with URI that is resistent to the most commonly used antibiotics; the one you have been given initially is usually better known as bactrim (USA) or as sulfatrim/septrin in the UK. Which one are you currently on?
Baytril (enrofloxacin) is the only one licensed worldwide athough bactrim (sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim) is now also licensed in some countries for guinea pigs like the UK.

Has your vet commented on the lungs being free? What yours seem to mainly have is a persistent sinusitis in the nasal cavities. Crustiness is generally a symptom of a well developed un- or undertreated URI (which they have likely come with) and not an early onset symptom; especially as you do not mention any raspy/crackly or heavy breathing. It can sometimes be hard to clear.

There are several more stronger antibiotics which are safe to give to guinea pigs but at that stage it is more expedient to take a nasal swab for lab testing which antibiotic would be most effective.

Try and see whether a bowl of steaming water next to the cage is easing symptoms somewhat. If it does, you may want to look into nebulising. Has your vet also considered a mucus-thinning product?
@Piggies&buns has more experience with nebulising than I.

Hi! The new antibiotic I’ve been given for her is the baytril or enrofloxacin. I have been using a warm mist humidifier since this whole thing started as I’m very worried about her being able to breathe alright, it does seem to help even though it makes it terribly humid in my room. I’m willing to do whatever will help though. Do you think I should ask about nebulising if this new antibiotic doesn’t seem to help? She’s been prescribed for 30 days of this one now.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! The new antibiotic I’ve been given for her is the baytril or enrofloxacin. I have been using a warm mist humidifier since this whole thing started as I’m very worried about her being able to breathe alright, it does seem to help even though it makes it terribly humid in my room. I’m willing to do whatever will help though. Do you think I should ask about nebulising if this new antibiotic doesn’t seem to help? She’s been prescribed for 30 days of this one now.

Baytril is the worldwide licensed basic antibiotic for guinea pigs.

If it doesn't work and the breathing remains obstructed, then you and your vet should ideally have a lab test done as to which of the possible unlicensed and stronger antibiotics your piggy is reacting to; it is ultimately cheaper.

Nebulising is only helping to ease the symptoms, it cannot clear them. If it does bring some relief, I would recommend looking into either twice daily steaming half hour long sessions in your shower or into building your own nebulising chamber.
As I haven't had any issues with URI in my own piggies for nearly a decade, other members may have to help you with the practicalities of that.

@Piggies&buns @Siikibam
@Lady Kelly @VickiA @Swissgreys

 

[Lady Kelly]

I can't really add to the advice given. My only experience of a URI was on top of an abscess and some jaw defects likely to be a result of inbreeding. It was a very difficult and complex illness and one we lost the fight against very quickly. I was prescribed zithromax though which is a really good, strong antibiotic