Winston needs help

[Winston the Piggy]

Winston is about 2 years old, and has had a cold for a while. We are going to take him to the vet soon but haven’t gotten the chance. Every time we go to the vet and they give us an antibiotic, he always relapses. We think it’s a vitamin C problem so we are giving him vitamin C. His breathing has slowed. Also seems to have an eye infection. I want to give him guaifenesin but I don’t no how many mg to give him. Just so that he can breath better. Any one knows how many mg of guaifenesin to give him?

 

[Zorro1]

Sorry, I don't know how many mg of guaifenesin to give him, but I know of a resource that may educate you on eye infections if this helps. Common Eye Problems in Guinea Pigs and What You Can Do
Hope your pet fells better soon.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Guinea pigs do not get colds. They get bacterial respiratory infections which need to be treated with antibiotics.
If the antibiotic isn’t the right one, or the course isn’t long enough then some bacteria can remain and set them off feeling unwell again.
What antibiotics were you given previously and how long were the courses each time?
He must see a vet straight away, particularly if his breathing is slowing. Upper respiratory infections can be very serious and need treatment.

Vitamin c deficiency is rare in guinea pigs, it of course can happen. Hay and grass (which is their natural diet) contains vitamin c, their pellets are fortified with vitamin c and they should have a vitamin c rich veg each day. Therefore, a piggy on a balanced health diet does not normally have vitamin c problems. A poorly piggy can be given a short course of supplementary vitamin c to boost the immune system. If we see vitamin c deficient piggies on here. (which is not very often at all) it can be down to piggies routinely being given supplementary vitamin c products as routine . Their bodies become used to it and then if the level drops below which their body has been accustomed to, they develop vitamin c deficiency symptoms (even if the level is normal to any other piggy).

Please do not give your guinea pig anything that has not been prescribed by a vet.

Eyes are classed as urgent and if this is something unrelated to the URI then a vet needs to carry out a proper examination and prescribe the correct treatment. Eye crustyness can sometimes be related to a URI.

 

[Free Ranger]

The eye may be related to the lung infection if there is a lot of mucus. If the antibiotics work but then he relapses it's telling you there is a bacterial problem, not a virus, and you just need to find the right one and have it for long enough to clear everything like @Piggies&buns said. Antibiotics have not effect on viruses. Good luck Winston, I hope you get this sorted quickly because you are still young