Probiotics and Vitamin C with Baytril

[dreamsofwinter]

Hello All this is my first post :) Our little Frank has been poorly recently, he started off with squeaking when he was going to the loo, we had him x-rayed and good news is there are no stones :D really didn't want to put him through an op being so little :/ But he's been put on Baytril for a month, we have started to see an improvement, he's brighter, not screaming as much and his poo seems firmer and more normal looking, but after reading up on how strong Baytril is I was wondering what probiotic to use and if this vitamin C powder from Holland & Barrett would be safe to use? Pure Vitamin C Powder (2500mg) | Bladder Health | Holland & Barrett I can't find any tablets or powder in any pet shops near me they just sell the liquid which my vet advised against. Thanks for any help :) & from Frank too :p

[SurfingPigs]

First and foremost, Frank looks quite regal with his crest!

That vitamin C powder seems like it would be difficult to dose the proper amount. It says on the bottle that it is 2500mg of vitamin C per serving. Guinea pigs need 1/100th of that amount, 25mg daily. I don't know what the "serving size" is for that vitamin powder, but if you can't accurately measure one one-hundredth of the serving size, I would go a different route.

Here is what I recommend: A plain vitamin C tablet that contains far less vitamin C (perhaps anywhere from 50mg to 100mg per serving).

If you can find plain acidophilus caplets at the pharmacy those would be good probiotics. Sprinkle probiotics on some lettuce 2 hours after you give antibiotics. Personally, I use a soy-based liquid acidophilus probiotic that I can administer with a syringe, but any plain acidophilus you find will work.

[spy9doc]

Isn't he cute! As usual, Surfing Pigs has some great advice.

Personally, I prefer to dose anything as a liquid because then I'm certain that it has been consumed. That could be difficult in the case of Vit. C unless you can find it as a liquid.......which I doubt because Vit. C breaks down quickly in water. Most powdered Vit. C is at least 1000mg/teaspoon so it would be difficult to accurately dose 25mg. You *could* mix some in water and administer it via syringe. The body will eliminate what it doesn't use. However, too much Vit. C in one dose could cause diarrhea (at least it will in humans).

My boy actually prefers vitamins in his water, unlike many cavies. If you change the water daily, you could add some powered Vit. C to the drinking water. Just observe Frank to see if he drinks the water.

[dreamsofwinter]

Hi surfingpigs and spy9doc :) Sorry for late reply, Frank's much happier now, we're giving him acidophilus that you recommended and he actually loves that but still hates having the Baytril - we have to bribe him with a bit of carrot! :p Just hope the month doseage will be enough to knock the infection out completely. Not had as much luck with the vit c tablets though can't seem to find any that can be worked out to a proper doseage so we're just making sure he gets plenty of veg high in vit c. x