Guinea pig diarrhea - Paw Talk

SpottyPoo · #1 05-25-2003, 02:20 PM

Hey,

I've got a 6 month old female piggie who has had diarrhea for 2 months. The vet ran cultures on her stools and put her on SMZ antibiotic. This seemed to clear it up slightly during the 12 days she was on it, but it all came back. Her latest treatment has been Panacur, an anti-parasitic which has actually made it worse. The vet said he's not sure what to do now.

Does ANYbody have any advice? I feel so badly for her -- she eats and drinks and plays normally, but I can tell her runny butt is getting to her. I'm at a loss for what to do for her...

Thanks for any info.

#2 05-25-2003, 05:18 PM

I posted this at Guinealynx for some help there, I just don't have anything to add to it. I'm sorry she's had to go through this though,very discouraging for you I bet.

http://www.guinealynx.info/forums/vi...397&highlight=

SpottyPoo · #3 05-25-2003, 07:47 PM

Thanks Erin! I posted it over there, too. I didn't even think to do that!!

Linda Lee · #4 05-26-2003, 01:44 AM

Let us know the responce you get. It seems like an uncommon kind of problem and I'd like to hear what you could do for it .
Good Luck.

SpottyPoo · #5 05-26-2003, 10:10 AM

Nice signature, Linda Lee.

Per the vet's recommendation, I have started SMZ again and will keep her on that for at least 20 days. I'll keep everyone updated on her progress. She's such a little mess!

Catherine · #6 05-26-2003, 11:53 AM

Awww I hope you figure it out and she feels better soon.

Catherine

***Jade*** · #7 05-26-2003, 10:39 PM

At least 2 hours before/after the antibiotic, I would give her a pro-biotic such as acidophilus to help re-build the natural flora in her intestines. This is what I use: Link

The anti-biotic, while safe and generally effective, is going to kill most bacteria that will respond to it, good OR bad. You need to replace what good she's losing. I'd give it four hours after each trimeth-sulfa dose (SMZ). Probably 1/2 a CC twice a day will do the trick.

Also make sure she's on a high fiber diet, mostly hay if you can. The veggies work against you on this one due to the lack of rough fiber. When my chins have diarrhea, they get hay ONLY. Granted, this won't work as well for a guinea pig long term but might be worth the bland diet for a day or two to help soothe the intestines.

Has your vet sent a sample off to the lab to look for Cryptosporidium or Giardia? I'd ask if that's a possibility. It takes a certain test most labs don't have.

Best of luck!

SpottyPoo · #8 05-27-2003, 10:01 AM

Quote:


	Originally posted by Jade At least 2 hours before/after the antibiotic, I would give her a pro-biotic such as acidophilus to help re-build the natural flora in her intestines. This is what I use: Link The anti-biotic, while safe and generally effective, is going to kill most bacteria that will respond to it, good OR bad. You need to replace what good she's losing. I'd give it four hours after each trimeth-sulfa dose (SMZ). Probably 1/2 a CC twice a day will do the trick.

Okay, I'm a little confused -- you say give her the pro-biotic 2 hours before/after the SMZ and then you say give it to her 4 hours after the SMZ -- ???? And can I get the acidophilus OTC?

***Jade*** · #9 05-27-2003, 01:03 PM

I said at least.

I prefer 4 hours, but 2 hours is the minimum time you should wait. It's easier for me to do it after than before too.

You can get the acidophilus OTC, yep. The linked product is what I use. I have seen fantastic results with it!

SpottyPoo · #10 05-27-2003, 03:45 PM

I just got off the phone with my vet. He did some research on metro and said it would be fine to give to Olivia in this situation and to completely stop the SMZ. As for the acidophilis, he suggested I give yogurt with live cultures because it would produce the same result as anything I could purchase OTC. He also recommended a bland diet of just hay and pellets and a small amount of kale each day for the vita c.

I'm going to pick up the metro tomorrow morning and will have her on it for 7 days.

Thanks again for all the advice -- the vet was not even aware of metro as a treatment for intestinal problems in pigs (he new about it for rabbits). It goes without saying that I will keep you posted on her progress. Thanks sooo much!!

***Jade*** · #11 05-27-2003, 09:27 PM

Which vet are you seeing?

I'd forgo the yogurt, it has lots of sugar which can aggravate the already aggravated intestines. I'd opt for Bene Bac or straight acidophilus instead, but that's me.

SpottyPoo · #12 05-27-2003, 10:24 PM

(Tails California...I love that song!!)

Russell Breckwoldt -- have you heard of him? And I'd use plain, non-flavored yogurt anyway.

***Jade*** · #13 05-27-2003, 10:32 PM

Yep, I've heard of him. I was hoping that's where you were!!

SpottyPoo · #14 05-27-2003, 10:56 PM

Yeah, he's one crazy dude!!

I wish I just had 1/4 of his energy... :blob2:

SpottyPoo · #15 05-29-2003, 09:31 AM

Update:

Olivia has had only one dose of the metro (Flagyl) AB and this morning she is running around her cage, voraciously eating hay and drinking water like it's going out of style!! Of course, it's too early to tell if the diarrhea's any better, but she's acting like she feels better at least. I'll keep you posted.