Recurring head tilt?
Exactly one week ago my 2 year old guinea pig had a pretty bad head tilt. We took him to the vet and were prescribed baytril for 10 days. After about 3 or 4 days his head was no longer tilting. Since that first day he's had an interest for food but won't eat anything but grapes and the colored pellets. We've had to put his medicine onto the colored pellets for him to even get near it. Today I'm noticing that his head tilt is coming back. It is very slight but I am worried about it. Is this a serious problem? Should I just continue with the course of baytril and maybe he'll get better or do I need to go back to the vet?
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- And got the T-shirt
You do need to continue the Baytril, but he also needs a serious diet upgrade.
Colored pellets are junk, and are not good for them. He needs a plain timothy pellet -- KMS Hayloft and Oxbow are the best two brands.
You give liquid medications by syringe, not by putting it on food. He may not like it, but he's a guinea pig and you're a large human. You're equipped to win this battle.
You also should be giving a probiotic an hour or so after every dose of antibiotic. Bene-Bac is good if you can get it locally. It's definitely available from Amazon.
Grapes should be only a very occasional treat. They've got a lot of sugar, and too much of it can cause a bad GI upset. You don't want him with another illness in addition to his ear problem.
Colored pellets are junk, and are not good for them. He needs a plain timothy pellet -- KMS Hayloft and Oxbow are the best two brands.
You give liquid medications by syringe, not by putting it on food. He may not like it, but he's a guinea pig and you're a large human. You're equipped to win this battle.
You also should be giving a probiotic an hour or so after every dose of antibiotic. Bene-Bac is good if you can get it locally. It's definitely available from Amazon.
Grapes should be only a very occasional treat. They've got a lot of sugar, and too much of it can cause a bad GI upset. You don't want him with another illness in addition to his ear problem.
- Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
I don't know if it would affect the ability of it to work but it might mean he's not getting a full dose. Baytril tastes pretty bad, from what I understand.
Read over www.guinealynx.info/tips.html too.
Read over www.guinealynx.info/tips.html too.
One of my piggies will wander off no matter what, so I use a large (and clean!) cottage cheese container since the sides keep them from going out. I don't know how big your guinea pig is but the fit doesn't need to be too spacious; plop him in, write down the weight, and take him out.
Also, if you think there is ANY chance he might get out, make sure you weigh him in a place where he can't jump out and hurt himself, like on the floor.
I hope this helps! Good luck!
Also, if you think there is ANY chance he might get out, make sure you weigh him in a place where he can't jump out and hurt himself, like on the floor.
I hope this helps! Good luck!