URI/Upper Respiratory Infection Baytril not working??

[grace505]

My Turbo has been on Baytril for three weeks now and does seem better, but still lots of sneezing and snot when sneezing, but not a runny or crusty nose, with labored breathing that's gotten lots better but not completely going away. Should i ask the vet to give him somthing else b/c it's been so long, and if so, what should i ask for, Bactrim? He's never had any other symtoms, just sneezing with snot and labored breathing. I've read about a mix of ab's, maybe Baytril and Doxy, but shouldn't i take the length of time as a sign that Baytril is not doing the job and switch to something else completely? I read about every thread on URI's and Baytril but did not find the answer i needed, sorry!!

 

[SurfingPigs]

Yes, I would call the vet and request a change, especially since it has been 3 weeks. Doxycycline has been a successful drug for some hard to kick URIs in the rescue community. Bactrim isn't the first choice for URIs but could also work.

How old is Turbo?

 

[grace505]

I inheirited Turbo and Diesel in Jan '12 and from what i was told, they should be about five months now. Turbo is 1 lb, 13 oz and Diesel is 1 lb, 9 ounces, if that helps at all.

 

[lemonham]

Are Turbo and Diesel isolated from one another?

 

[grace505]

Not currently, they have been together this whole time and he doesn't seem to be sick, although when i changed them over to fleece-two weeks ago??-he had some crusty eye kind of stuff, but just a little, not goopy or severe or anything. The vet said i could put him on some Baytril and after four doses Diesel had a SEVERE reaction to it, lost two ounces in two days, didn't eat, drink, had to handfeed CC, etc. That was the 19th/20th and now he's back up to his regular weight, i stopped giving him the Baytril right away. He still has small poops, but not soft, and they're getting bigger day by day as he is eating and drinking normally again, although his favorite, bell peppers, he doesn't want anymore, he wants lots of cilantro now. His eyes cleared up just in those two days and it hasn't been back and the vet will give me AB's i'm sure, but i think maybe it was just the fleece?? I'm going to wash all their stuff in some free and clear detergent too, b/c when they were on the pine bedding that came with them Diesel had the same eye stuff, but as soon as i switched to Carefree it went away. Should i still seperate them? The only problem is that Turbo didn't eat as much while Diesel was out sick and being handfed so much and that worries me, he seemed real depressed. Should i have the vet just put them both on something different or wait and see? Sorry for the long post!

 

[SurfingPigs]

I do not separate herd members unless someone is being prevented from eating. After 3 weeks whatever Turbo has, Diesel has already been well exposed to, and separation would honestly probably have a negative effect on both pigs. More than one vet that the local rescues recommend have shared this opinion with me.

Baytril is pretty strong and not recommended for extended use on young pigs, which your pigs are, so I would definitely inquire about a change.

 

[grace505]

That's kind of what i figured, that Diesel had already been exposed. Should i ask for the Doxy then, not Bactrim? And should i do both pigs or wait and see how Diesel is? He's seemed okay except when i changed to the fleece, then the very next day he had some eye crusties, but nothing major. He also had them on the pine bedding they came with and as soon as i switched them to Carefresh, gone! As i said, i'm going to wash all their bedding in some free and clear detergent and see, but the crusties are gone for now at least!

 

[lissie]

Did the vet do a culture? It might help better to determine what antibiotics to use.

 

[SurfingPigs]

I am not aware of any reason why switching to fleece would cause eye crusties. However, if you haven't seen any other signs of Diesel being ill other than the one incidence of eye crusties I wouldn't be too concerned about him.

I would just call the vet and explain that 3 weeks of the current ABx haven't done the job and you would like to switch meds. There are multiple options worth exploring so I would trust his judgement. If you don't see any improvement after a week on ABx I would always inquire about switching.

 

[grace505]

Thank you so much!! The vet just called back and is going to switch Turbo to Bactrim and i'm supposed to let him know next week, if not sooner, what's going on and how it's going.

 

[grace505]

They didn't do one and i read here or on GL that after he's on the Baytril it doesn't help to do one, is that right? Vet is going to switch to Bactrim and try that for a while, at least he doesn't seem to be getting worse, he's just not clearing up completely and it's three weeks later now and i worry about the effect of being sick so long will have on him, although he's eating, drinking, pooing and peeing just fine. They both seem a little lethargic but i didn't have them long enough before this started to really see what was normal for them. Also, when i got them and started reading here and on GL, i realized everything they had was not right and had to change everything, from eating the right veggies and hay and pellets to bedding to cage size, floor time, etc.!! I ordered pellets and hay from Oxbow and the last thing will arrive today, and i already built them a new 2x4 cage with a 2x1 upper kitchen and they seem much happier!!

 

[SurfingPigs]

Doing a culture is a good idea; it will determine the organism causing the illness and the best antibiotic for that can be selected.

 

[grace505]

Hey everyone, new questions, sorry! My boy Diesel had two days on Baytril and had a BAD reaction to it, see dates and more info previous to this, how long should it take for his poops to get back to normal? At first they were small but well-formed but now, a few days later, they seem to be more mushy again and the right general size, but bigger, and some clumps. I'm going crazy with this! Thanks!

 

[bpatters]

How long has he been off the Baytril? And what is he eating and how much of each thing?

 

[grace505]

He was on it for four doses, one in the evening on the 17th, morning and evening on the 18th and morning of 19th. He stopped eating and drinking almost completely, had diarrhea and lost two ounces over two days, so i stopped the Baytril and contacted vet, he said stop, which is what i figured. I handfed him CC, Pedialyte, acidophilis powder, etc, the 20th and some on 21st. On the 21st and on he was eating regular food, hay, pellets, eating lots of cilantro and some romaine but no bell pepper, which used to be his favorite, still won't touch it as of today. He really seems to just want to eat cilantro and the romaine, more the cilantro, and i figured if he would eat, that was good. He will eat broccoli but i know it's not good to give too much, so very limited. He had one half of a slice of apple last night, maybe that's why soft poop again? I'm worried that he doesn't seem to want many veggies, but as of the 22nd he was back at his regular weight and has gain a bit every day since then. Sorry for the long post!

 

[bpatters]

First off, no fruit if he's had soft poops. Fruit alters the chemical balance in the upper part of their colon, and can make them have soft poops or even diarrhea. Some pigs can tolerate more fruit, some less, but if they're have soft poops or diarrhea, you need to cut out the fruit altogether until things are well back to normal.

I'd keep weighing daily, at the same time of day. Before breakfast is best if you can swing that, because then whatever he eats during the day won't affect his weight. If he's not losing, or is actually gaining, then keep on feeding him whatever veggies he will eat as long as his poops stay normal. Keep offering him his regular veggies -- he'll start on them again one of these days. We hope....

 

[grace505]

So no fruit for now, got it. I do weigh him every day before breakfast, so that's perfect. Should i withhold veggies and just give hay or maybe only do that if your previous suggestion doesn't firm things up? Should i give him probiotics? Maybe he's still working on good gut flora after his reaction to the Baytril?? Sorry for all the questions!

 

[bpatters]

I'd cut back on the veggies to small amounts, which you could hand feed to make him think he hasn't been abandoned. And no fruit for a while. See what that does for a few days, and if his poops improve. If not, cut the veggies out altogether and see what happens.

I'd also continue with a few more doses of the acidophilus. It may or may not help, but it won't hurt.

 

[grace505]

Thank you SOOOOOO much, i really appreciate all your help. He doesn't usually get fruit very often at all, so that should be easy.

 

[Gigabyte]

My guinea pig is not improving on Baytril, either. It's only been a week, but really...it's not the best.