Beth has Cystitis

[Dawn - Admin]

Today I noticed Beth was a bit smelly underneath and wet. I checked her and she had some sores around her genitalia.

I checked on The Peter Gurney Guinea Pig Health Guide and I think it could be Cystitis.

He says to boil some barley and use the water in a syringe. I did this and also used the barley and blended it with cucumber.

I put the bowl in and straight away she had a nibble.
I have also got her cranberry juice and she likes it she drank two 10 ml syringes full

I also went out and got the ointment he recommended to treat the sores.
She is such a good girl taking her juice and having her ointment put on

I have just two questions:

1. How long do I try curing her myself before going to the vet and getting antibiotics?

2. When should I see an improvement, will it be quick like tomorrow or will it take a few days, a week, can anyone help?

[kellie]

/Poor Beth, she must be so sore

[Dawn - Admin]

Yes I feel for her ouch!!

[heatherjhenshaw]

admin said:

Today I noticed Beth was a bit smelly underneath and wet. I checked her and she had some sores around her genitalia.

I checked on The Peter Gurney Guinea Pig Health Guide and I think it could be Cystitis.

Hi Dawn, go along to the chemist and ask for some 'Potassium Citrate' dilute a teaspoonful in a bottle of water and get her to drink as much as possible, its doubtful she will drink it willingly (tastes foul) so you will have to syringe it, but it works wonders.

Its basically the same stuff thats in all these remedies we use such as cystopurin etc

Once you get her on that the effects are really quick, but keep it up for about 3 days to prevent a relapse

Luv Heather

[karenrgpr]

I use Cystopurin or Cystemme for mine. If this doesn't take effect within a week she may need antibiotics. I have always given mine Septrim a paediatric medecine that works well on UTIs, (recommended by CCT too). Give by syringe so you know she takes it (Cystopurin). Make up as directed and give four times daily.

[Dawn - Admin]

Thanks so much for your help Karen, and thanks Heather too. I will let you know how she goes.

Just out of interest where will I get cystoprin if I need it?

[amigococoa]

We thought she might be getting better, but no change yet, she loves the cranberry juice!

[Dawn - Admin]

I am going to the vet with her on Monday. I know you can't be too careful with piggies health issues so better to be safe than sorry I think
I will let you know how we go if I manage to get an appointment that is hopefully they will have a vacancy and wont have to wait too long

[Dawn - Admin]

Been to the vet with Beth, they gave her 10 days supply of Baytril, hopefully that will make her better

[greeneracres2001]

When in doubt with an infection you cannot beat baytril. I have a supply on hand and if I beleive it to be an infection I dose them up on the baytril.... I use it as well on my cat... When they get colds the vet prescribes baytril and it just clears up any congestion in their little chests.
Hope she is doing better now.
Linda

[beth]

Fingers crossed Dawn!
one thing that will help her through the course of antibiotics is some avipro plus (from vet ark) added to her water. Baytril is great for rodents, a real breakthrough, but its non-specific which means it will kill off some of the 'good' bacteria in her gut.

As hind gut fermenters these 'good' bacteria are essential not only for correct nutrition, but for preventing nasties (such as e coli etc) from taking over the gut and causing enteritis.

I can personally recomment avipro plus as a rodent probiotic and vet ark as a company, prices are fully inclusive of postage and the delivery is frightenly fast!

[Dawn - Admin]

Thanks Linda, I am sure she will in a few days once it have chance to get into her system

[Dawn - Admin]

beth said:

Fingers crossed Dawn!
one thing that will help her through the course of antibiotics is some avipro plus (from vet ark) added to her water. Baytril is great for rodents, a real breakthrough, but its non-specific which means it will kill off some of the 'good' bacteria in her gut.

As hind gut fermenters these 'good' bacteria are essential not only for correct nutrition, but for preventing nasties (such as e coli etc) from taking over the gut and causing enteritis.

I can personally recomment avipro plus as a rodent probiotic and vet ark as a company, prices are fully inclusive of postage and the delivery is frightenly fast!

Thanks so much, Beth for the link I am going to order some of that

[karenrgpr]

Avipro Plus is available from SPH Supplies and of course, the rescue guins get a donation of hay when you porder and mention the rescue... www.rspcareadingguineapigs.co.uk/index_files/oxbowproducts.htm

Cystopurin is available from Superdrug. If the Baytril doesn't do the trick ask for Septrim.

[Dawn - Admin]

karenrgpr said:

Avipro Plus is available from SPH Supplies and of course, the rescue guins get a donation of hay when you porder and mention the rescue... www.rspcareadingguineapigs.co.uk/index_files/oxbowproducts.htm

Cystopurin is available from Superdrug. If the Baytril doesn't do the trick ask for Septrim.

Thanks Karen I will keep that in mind, hopefully the baytril will do the trick

[Dawn - Admin]

It's amazing, can't believe it

Beth has only been on baytril a day and I can see improvement already.
She is 10 times better

[kellie]

Aww I am glad she is starting to make an improvement!!

[Dawn - Admin]

Well Beth has finished her 8 day course of Baytril Monday and I thought she was better but today the problem is back again Do you think the course was too short or do you think maybe the problem is something else other than Cystitis afterall? I can't get an appointment until Saturday morning either which makes me worry.

[karenrgpr]

Give her Cystopurin from Supergrug for now and ask for Septrim its more specific to Urinary Tract problems. You also need to give a Probiotic alongside it just in case. Like Beth I use Avipro Plus but from Sph Supplies of course

The normal course for Baytril is 0.4ml x2 daily for 10 days, you must continue giving the Baytril/antibiotic even if symptoms disappear. (Source: CCT) Unless she is particularly small then a little less Baytril.

[Dawn - Admin]

karenrgpr said:

Give her Cystopurin from Supergrug for now and ask for Septrim its more specific to Urinary Tract problems. You also need to give a Probiotic alongside it just in case. Like Beth I use Avipro Plus but from Sph Supplies of course

The normal course for Baytril is 0.4ml x2 daily for 10 days, you must continue giving the Baytril/antibiotic even if symptoms disappear. (Source: CCT) Unless she is particularly small then a little less Baytril.

Erm.. yes you know I think they gave me too little amount of the Baytril. I only had 0.25ml once daily for 7 days.

I have been giving the Avipro Plus like Beth suggested

Thanks Karen.

[karenrgpr]

Whatever she has she needs to have it twice daily, and I'd guess that 0.4ml would be OK. Phone Vedra at CCT with Beth's weight and ask her how much she should be having. That way you can say you've done some research and have it on good authority. I bet she says to use Septrim too!

Remember you're paying the bill, she's your pig and his last effort didn't work, you have all that on your side.

Let us know how you get on.

[Dawn - Admin]

karenrgpr said:

Whatever she has she needs to have it twice daily, and I'd guess that 0.4ml would be OK. Phone Vedra at CCT with Beth's weight and ask her how much she should be having. That way you can say you've done some research and have it on good authority. I bet she says to use Septrim too!

Remember you're paying the bill, she's your pig and his last effort didn't work, you have all that on your side.

Let us know how you get on.

I have phoned the vet about collecting some more baytril, so that Beth doesn't have to wait until Saturday to get treatment (I don't like leaving it so long) They said to call back about picking some up. I told them what you said about it should be twice a day and that I don't think they prescribed enough. I am just waiting now until after 5pm and hopefully when the vet has seen the notes will let me have some

I will keep you updated. Thanks again for your help Karen.

[amigococoa]

We went to the vet and got some medication, They gave us twice as much as they did before!

[beth]

well if she improved on the antibiotics then its likely that that it is a bacterial infection which is causing the problem. Sometimes non-bacterial problems can arise which weaken the animal so that a secodary bacterial infection kicks in too. Usually it is the secondary bacterial infection which is the most immediately worrying.

But lets see if the course of 0.4mls twice per day works. Is she suffering urine scalding?

[Dawn - Admin]

beth said:

well if she improved on the antibiotics then its likely that that it is a bacterial infection which is causing the problem. Sometimes non-bacterial problems can arise which weaken the animal so that a secodary bacterial infection kicks in too. Usually it is the secondary bacterial infection which is the most immediately worrying.

But lets see if the course of 0.4mls twice per day works. Is she suffering urine scalding?

Got the Baytril today, it is 6.00 X Baytril Oral Solution 25mg/ml 0.25ml once daily. Is that ok?

Last time they gave me 2.00 X Baytril Oral Solution 25mg/ml 0.25ml once daily and it lasted 7 days so this time it should last at least 2 weeks.

I asked about getting 0.4ml twice daily for at least 2 weeks, but the vet said they don't like to give such a high dose because it can cause diarrhea or other problems.
I just hope it works this time

[beth]

well yes Dawn there are serious risks to small herbivious rodents when antibiotics are involved long term. They are non specific and will wipe out bowl flora, still the probiotic will help hugely with that. Make sure she is eating plenty of hay too.

[karenrgpr]

It can cause diarrhoea but its pointless giving an inferior dose. If you're giving probiotics all should be well.
Its up to you but I would be giving her 0.4ml x2 daily, I've never had those problems when I give them with probiotics.

[Dawn - Admin]

beth said:

well yes Dawn there are serious risks to small herbivious rodents when antibiotics are involved long term. They are non specific and will wipe out bowl flora, still the probiotic will help hugely with that. Make sure she is eating plenty of hay too.

Yes she has loads of hay Thanks Beth

[greeneracres2001]

Dawn, how is Beth doing.... Are the antibiotics working on the cystitis.....

Linda

[Dawn - Admin]

HI Linda,

Yes they seem to be working now Thanks for asking

Dawn