How to tell if my guinea pig doesn't have URI any more?

[pandaloki]

It's been a week since the vet diagnosed Loki with URI. When I took him to the vet he was making snorting like sounds and the vet heard crackling noises in his lungs. He got antibiotics for a week (today's the last day).

How can I tell if he's fully cured? His snorting stopped but his breathing still looks rapid. I can't tell the difference between a crackling sound from his heart beat and teeth grinding. He never had crusty eyes and nose and he eats a lot.

[Catahoula]

Most reputable vets will to a re-evaluation at no charge. If this is the case with your vet, I would just take him back in to be examined. The vet should be able to tell for sure.

[bpatters]

You may not be able to. But just watch him and make sure he doesn't relapse. If you see the symptoms getting worse, he'll need either more of that antibiotic, or a different one.

[ChadWPB]

Most reputable vets will to a re-evaluation at no charge. If this is the case with your vet, I would just take him back in to be examined. The vet should be able to tell for sure.

My vet always schedules a follow up around the end of the antibiotic course. From my experiences if the antibiotics are working the pig should show signs of improvement within 48 hours and sometimes as little as 12 hours.

A week of AB's seems like a short course. My vet always prescribes 14 days/2 weeks.