URI/Upper Respiratory Infection How much Baytril solution? - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**Gemma375** · #1 11-05-09, 03:23 pm

Okay, I took my 3 piggies to the vet today because last night I heard a LOT of sneezing, enough to make me worried even though there was a lack of any other symptoms.
Anyway, my vet checked them over and said he can't hear any problems in their chest, but that the amount of sneezing is worrying so perhaps its the early start of an URI, so he sent me away with a little bottle of Baytril to mix 0.3ml in 50ml of their water. I've also used the syringe to take some of the mixed solution out the bowl to syringe feed it to each of them to ensure each is getting some of the solution. Do you have any suggestions of how much of the mix I should ensure each of them are getting? I think I gave them each 0.3ml and left the rest of the Baytril/water solution in their water bowl and bottle. Should I try and syringe feed them more of it, in case they don't drink enough of it voluntarily?

**Paula** · #2 11-05-09, 03:27 pm

I wouldn't mix it in their water. And actually I'd find a different vet. Any experienced guinea pig vet would know better than to suggest you mix anything in their water.

If they need antibiotics, they need a premeasured dose given to EACH pig. Weights are different and therefore the dose is different for every animal.

I'm also a little curious as to why a vet would suggest antibiotics if there isn't a clear reason to give them. Yes, sneezing can be an early symptom of URI, but if there are no other symptoms, I'd be very cautious with giving an antibiotic. Did they also give you probiotics?

**Peggysu** · #3 11-05-09, 03:30 pm

I would find a new vet. No medication should be mixed in their water. This can cause a lot of problems.

It needs to be measured so that you can be sure that they are getting the correct amount of antibiotics.

**Ly&Pigs** · #4 11-05-09, 03:33 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paula

I wouldn't mix it in their water. And actually I'd find a different vet. Any experienced guinea pig vet would know better than to suggest you mix anything in their water.

If they need antibiotics, they need a premeasured dose given to EACH pig.

Ditto. The reasons it's never a good idea to mix medications with water is that you can't be sure how much if any the pigs will even get plus the problem that they will each need a dose based on their own weight. If the medicine distorts the taste of the water, it could put them all off drinking and that's bad too.

**Gemma375** · #5 11-05-09, 03:56 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ly&Pigs

Ditto. The reasons it's never a good idea to mix medications with water is that you can't be sure how much if any the pigs will even get plus the problem that they will each need a dose based on their own weight. If the medicine distorts the taste of the water, it could put them all off drinking and that's bad too.

This is why I'm trying to syringe feed some to each of them so I'm sure they're all at least getting some. My vet also said that this will protect them from infection if it starts to take hold but assured me it will not cause any harm to the piggies that are healthy.

If it cannot be mixed in with their water then how am I meant to give it to them? As I can't give it to them straight? The prescription says it needs to be mixed. Maybe syringe feed the mix and leave the bottle of water with no meds?

I would not change the vets because of this, as the experiences I've had with him have been very positive, especially considering the vets I've had before. He always gives each of them a thorough check up, handles them well and has all the knowledge off the top of his head: the "normal" weights for each stage the pups are at, what they should be eating, the problems with dust in the hay and woodchip, etc, so I won't swap just because he's said to mix with their water bottle rather than mix separately.
Also, the area I'm living in at the moment has only 2 vets in the area that I know of, and one won't let me register there because I'm not on benefits. The vets I'm at currently already costs upwards of £15 taxi fare to get there and back, on top of the £25 consultation fee and however much the medication costs. I'm a student so that's already a big chunk out of my student loan and there's no way I can afford to run a car. Obviously, if the vet seemed incompetent, I would switch even if it was out of my way, but as I said my previous experiences with him have been positive ones and the water issue is easily remedied.

**Paula** · #6 11-05-09, 04:04 pm

Did he give you a probiotic?

**Peggysu** · #7 11-05-09, 04:08 pm

You should be syringing the antibiotics to them, having a measured doseage. Just giving them antibiotics for kicks without measuring can cause problems. It can cause resistant bacteria and having the antibiotics in their water bottle can deter them from drinking, possibly resulting in dehydration.

I would call your vet, but most likely you need to find a vet that is experienced with guinea pigs. As for your vet suggesting to give antibiotics in their water bottle is a big concern and seems a little incompetent to me.

**Gemma375** · #8 11-05-09, 04:10 pm

As for the probiotic question, no, he didn't. It's only a once-a-day, 5 day prescription so they'll only have a tiny bit, and my vet checked that none of them are having diarrhea or any digestive problems before he prescribed it.

**Peggysu** · #9 11-05-09, 04:15 pm

Guinea pigs should always have a probiotic with an antibiotic. Five days isn't really long enough to fight off the bacteria. Typically any URI symptoms need to be aggressively treated.

**Paula** · #10 11-05-09, 04:23 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemma375

As for the probiotic question, no, he didn't. It's only a once-a-day, 5 day prescription so they'll only have a tiny bit, and my vet checked that none of them are having diarrhea or any digestive problems before he prescribed it.

I'm sorry to say, but no matter how well you may like him, he absolutely does not sound like a competent cavy savvy vet. You would be quite well advised to find another one.

**Gemma375** · #11 11-05-09, 04:24 pm

Wouldn't that lesser dose be because the symptoms haven't manifest themselves yet? Seems as if its been caught very, very early so this is more a precautionary measure?

These comments have actually made me quite nervous now, as obviously I want to do the right thing by my little piggies and until about 5 or 10 minutes ago had a lot of trust in my vet! I've only had my piggies for just under 3 months and have already changed vets a few times because I was not happy with their treatment, and this was the only one I found that I trusted that they knew what they were talking about! I mean, even checking the animal health websites for this antibiotic, it seems that its standard practice to give Baytril with their water... :s
As for the probiotic, I really don't know what I can do about that, without him giving me the prescription?!
And, as I said about the vets, I've been searching and there are only 2 I know of in my area!

**Paula** · #12 11-05-09, 04:33 pm

You can buy acidophilus tablets and mix them for them. Syringe to them about 45 minutes before giving the antibiotic. You can also sprinkle it over their food if you can be sure they're eating it.

Mixing baytril in water is not a standard practice and I don't know any vet that would recommend doing so.

I personally would not give antibiotics based on sneezing alone and I would not expect a vet to suggest doing so either. There's too much margin for error. And in any case I absolutely would not give an antibiotic without also giving a probiotic - whether or not it's a "cavy safe" antibiotic or not.