Guinea Lynx A Medical and Care Guide for Guinea Pigs

MEDICATIONS :: OVERVIEW

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MEDICATIONS

SAFE MEDICATIONS

  • Antibiotics -- Safe antibiotics list.
    • Advice -- Antibiotics can affect appetite. What you must know.
  • Analgesics -- Use pain relievers only under veterinary supervision.
  • Antifungal Agents -- Treat fungal infections easily.
  • Antiparasitics -- Skin mites, lice, and intestinal parasite treatments.
  • Cardiovascular Agents -- Heart problems are common. Proper diagnosis and treatment can extend their lives.
  • Diarrhea/Motility -- Diarrhea can be deadly. Seek treatment immediately. Other conditions benefit greatly from motility drugs.

SOURCES AND REFERENCES FOR DRUG DOSAGE

MEDICATIONS INDEX


ACE INHIBITORS
ANTIBIOTICS
ANTIPARASITICS
Acetylsalicylic acid
Advantage®
Aspirin
BENZODIAZEPINES
Bactrim®
Banamine®
Baytril®
Benazepril Hydrochloride
Bio-Sponge™
Buprenex®
Buprenorphine
Butorphanol
Carprofen
Chloramphenicol
Chloramphenicol palmitate
Chloramphenicol sodium succinate
Cimetidine
Cisapride
Clavamox
Dexamethasone
Di-tri-octahedral smectite
Diazepam
Doxycycline
Enacard®
Enalapril
Enrofloxacin
Fenbendazole
Flagyl®
Flunixin meglumine
Fortekor®
Furosemide
GLUCOCORTICOIDS
Ibuprofen
Imidacloprid
Imodium A-D®
Ivermectin
Ivomec®
Kaolin & Pectin
KetoChlor®
Ketoconazole
Lasix®

Loperamide
Lotensin®
Lufenuron
Malaseb®
Meloxicam
Metacam®
Metoclopromide
Metronidzole
Miconazole
Mobic®
Monistat®
Morphine sulfate
Morphine®
NSAIDS
Nizoral®
Nystatin
OPIATES
Oxymorphone
Panacur®
Penicillin
Pet-Pectillin®
Prednisone
Program®
Propulsid®
Ranitidine
Reglan®
Revolution®
Rimadyl®
Selamectin
Septra®
Simethicone
Stronghold®
Tagamet®
Torb®
Torbugesic®
Torbutrol®
Tramadol
Tribrissen®
Trimethoprim Sulfadiazine (TMP-SDZ)
Trimethoprim Sulfamethoxazole
Valium®
Vibramycin®
Vibravet®
Zantac®

Remember: use all medications under the guidance of a veterinarian experienced in the care and treatment of guinea pigs. And any medication can have side effects. Go Up


ACE INHIBITORS

* Heart problems are common in older guinea pigs. Diagnosis and treatment can help your pet live a long and healthy life. Cardiovascular Agents


ANTIBIOTICS

* Use antibiotics with care. Ensure that antibiotics prescribed by your vet are safe for your guinea pig. Antibiotics DANGEROUS MEDICATIONS Be sure to read the Guinea Lynx page offering Antibiotic Advice.


ANTIPARASITICS

* Mite infestations are extremely common and can be life threatening. Be sure to have your pet treated with ivermectin or selemectin if mites are suspected. Antiparasitics


Acetylsalicylic acid

(generic name) NSAID Commonly known as aspirin. Analgesics Go Up


Advantage®

(brand name) ANTIPARASITIC Imidacloprid (generic name) Antiparasitics


Aspirin

(brand name) NSAID Acetylsalicylic acid (generic name) Analgesics


BENZODIAZEPINES

* (a drug classification) Analgesics **May be used for appetite stimulation, anti-anxiety, sedation, anti-seizure, muscle relaxation, etc. Not great pain control. Example: Valium (diazepam) Go Up


Bactrim®

(brand name) ANTIBIOTIC trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (generic name) Antibiotics


Banamine®

(brand name) NSAID Flunixin meglumine (generic name) Analgesics


Baytril®

(brand name) ANTIBIOTIC enrofloxacin (generic name) Antibiotics


Benazepril Hydrochloride

(generic name) ACE INHIBITOR Brand names include Lotensin, Fortekor Cardiovascular Agents


Bio-Sponge™

(brand name) DIGESTION Di-tri-octahedral smectite (generic name) Digestion and Motility Drugs Go Up


Buprenex®

(brand name) OPIATE Buprenorphine (generic name) Analgesics


Buprenorphine

(generic name) OPIATE Analgesics


Butorphanol

(generic name) OPIATE Analgesics Go Up


Carprofen

(generic name) NSAID Commonly sold as Rimadyl. Analgesics


Chloramphenicol

(generic name) ANTIBIOTIC Antibiotics


Chloramphenicol palmitate

(generic name) ANTIBIOTIC Antibiotics Go Up


Chloramphenicol sodium succinate

(generic name) ANTIBIOTIC Antibiotics


Cimetidine

(generic name) DIGESTION Sold as Tagamet. Digestion and Motility Drugs


Cisapride

(generic name) MOTILITY Sold as Propulsid. Digestion and Motility Drugs Go Up


Clavamox - WARNING

WARNING: DANGEROUS ANTIBIOTIC DO NOT USE!
(brand name) DANGEROUS DRUG Penicillin (generic name) Amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. Dangerous Medications


Dexamethasone

(generic name) GLUCOCORTICOIDS Analgesics


Di-tri-octahedral smectite

(generic name) DIGESTION Sold as Bio-Sponge. Digestion and Motility Drugs


Diazepam

(generic name) BENZODIAZEPINE Also known as Valium. Analgesics Go Up


Doxycycline

(generic name) ANTIBIOTIC Also known as Vibramycin, Vibravet. Antibiotics


Enacard®

(brand name) ACE INHIBITOR Enalapril (generic name) Cardiovascular Agents


Enalapril

(generic name) ACE INHIBITOR Commonly sold as Enacard Cardiovascular Agents


Enrofloxacin

(generic name) ANTIBIOTIC Sold as Baytril. Antibiotics Go Up


Fenbendazole

(generic name) ANTIPARASITIC Sold as Panacur. Antiparasitics


Flagyl®

(brand name) ANTIPARASITIC Metronidazole (generic name) Antiparasitics


Flunixin meglumine

(generic name) NSAID Sold as Banamine. Analgesics Go Up


Fortekor®

(brand name) ACE INHIBITOR Benazepril Hydrochloride (generic name) Cardiovascular Agents


Furosemide

(generic name) DIURETIC Cardiovascular Agents - MedlinePlus


GLUCOCORTICOIDS (A Class Of Steroids)

* (a drug classification) Analgesics **Should be used with caution. Very powerful anti-inflammatory medications, but overusage/improper usage can cause other medical conditions such as Cushing's Disease, diabetes, etc. In general, the dosages are started higher and tapered off slowly during a certain time period. They are sometimes very useful for animals with certain cancers, very severe skin problems (itchy skin), and some traumatic musculoskeletal conditions. Excessive thirst/urination, and increased appetite are common side effects. Muscle wasting/atrophy is seen at some doses and during long-term use. Dexamethasone is a common emergency and shock drug, but those doses are not mentioned here. DO NOT USE THESE DRUGS CONCURRENTLY WITH NSAID DRUGS. Most vets recommend at least 12-24 hours in between dosings if the choice has been made to switch from steroids to NSAID'Sor vice-versa.


Ibuprofen

(generic name) NSAID Analgesics Go Up


Imidacloprid

(generic name) ANTIPARASITIC Sold as Advantage. Antiparasitics


Imodium A-D®

(brand name) DIGESTION Loperamide (generic name) Digestion and Motility Drugs


Ivermectin

(generic name) ANTIPARASITIC Antiparasitics Go Up


Ivomec®

(brand name) ANTIPARASITIC Ivermectin (generic name) Antiparasitics


Kaolin & Pectin

(generic name) DIGESTION Sold as Pet Pectillin. NOT the same as Kaopectate! Digestion and Motility Drugs


KetoChlor®

(brand name) ANTIFUNGAL Antifungal


Ketoconazole

(generic name) ANTIFUNGAL Antifungal Go Up


Lasix®

(brand name) DIURETIC Furosemide (generic name) Cardiovascular Agents


Loperamide

(generic name) DIGESTION Sold as Imodium A-D Digestion and Motility Drugs


Lotensin®

(brand name) ACE INHIBITOR Benazepril Hydrochloride (generic name) Cardiovascular Agents


Lufenuron

(generic name) ANTIFUNGAL Antifungal


Malaseb®

(brand name) ANTIFUNGAL Miconazole (generic name) Antifungal Go Up


Meloxicam

(generic name) NSAID Analgesics

Maximum dose discussion


Metacam®

(brand name) NSAID Meloxicam (generic name) Analgesics
Maximum dose discussion


Metoclopromide

(generic name) MOTILITY Digestion and Motility Drugs


Metronidzole

(generic name) ANTIPARASITIC Antiparasitics Go Up


Miconazole

(generic name) ANTIFUNGAL Antifungal


Mobic®

(brand name) NSAID Meloxicam (generic name) Analgesics


Monistat®

(brand name) ANTIFUNGAL Miconazole (generic name) Antifungal


Morphine sulfate

(generic name) OPIATE Analgesics


Morphine®

(brand name) OPIATE Morphine sulfate (generic name) Analgesics Go Up


NSAIDS (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)

* (a drug classification) None of these drugs should ever be used with steroidal drugs due to potential side effects, namely GI ulceration. If these are to be used long-term, certain GI protectants may (and should) be considered. Serious liver and kidney problems may potentially result from misuse or abuse of these drugs and should be used with caution in patients who may have these problems.


Nizoral®

(brand name) ANTIFUNGAL Ketoconazole (generic name) Antifungal


Nystatin

(generic name) ANTIFUNGAL Antifungal - MedlinePlus


OPIATES (a drug classification)

Opiates may cause sedation, and GI slowing with regular use. Other indications may also be present (e.g. butorphanol has anti-tussive/coughing effects and some anti-emetic/nausea effects).


Oxymorphone

(generic name) OPIATE Analgesics Go Up


Panacur®

(brand name) ANTIPARASITIC Fenbendazole (generic name) Antiparasitics


Penicillin - WARNING

WARNING: DANGEROUS ANTIBIOTIC DO NOT USE! Dangerous Medications


Pet-Pectillin®

(brand name) DIGESTION Kaolin & Pectin (generic name) Digestion and Motility Drugs


Prednisone

(generic name) GLUCOCORTICOID Analgesics


Program®

(brand name) ANTIFUNGAL Lufenuron (generic name) Antifungal Go Up


Propulsid®

(brand name) MOTILITY Cisapride (generic name) Digestion and Motility Drugs


Ranitidine

(generic name) DIGESTION Digestion and Motility Drugs


Reglan®

(brand name) MOTILITY Metoclopromide (generic name) Digestion and Motility Drugs


Revolution®

(brand name) ANTIPARASITIC Selamectin (generic name) Antiparasitics Go Up


Rimadyl®

(brand name) NSAID Carprofen (generic name) Analgesics


Selamectin

(generic name) ANTIPARASITIC Revolution (brand name) Antiparasitics


Septra®

(brand name) ANTIBIOTIC Trimethoprim Sulfamethoxazole(generic name) Antibiotics


Simethicone

(generic name) DIGESTION Digestion and Motility Drugs Go Up


Stronghold®

(brand name) ANTIPARASITIC Selamectin (generic name) Antiparasitics


Tagamet®

(brand name) DIGESTION Cimetidine (generic name) Digestion and Motility Drugs


Torb®

(brand name) OPIATE Butorphanol (generic name) Analgesics


Torbugesic®

(brand name) OPIATE Butorphanol (generic name) Analgesics Go Up


Torbutrol®

(brand name) OPIATE Butorphanol (generic name) Analgesics


Tramadol

(generic name) OPIATE Analgesics


Tribrissen®

(brand name) ANTIBIOTIC Trimethoprim Sulfadiazine (generic name) Antibiotics


Trimethoprim Sulfadiazine (TMP-SDZ)

(generic name) ANTIBIOTIC Antibiotics Go Up


Trimethoprim Sulfamethoxazole

(generic name) ANTIBIOTIC Antibiotics


Valium®

(brand name) BENZODIAZEPINE Diazepam (generic name) Analgesics


Vibramycin®

(brand name) ANTIBIOTIC Doxycycline (generic name) Antibiotics Go Up


Vibravet®

(brand name) ANTIBIOTIC Doxycycline (generic name) Antibiotics


Zantac®

(brand name) DIGESTION Ranitidine (generic name) Digestion and Motility Drugs Go Up


SOURCES AND REFERENCES FOR DRUG DOSAGE

The medications listed on this site are medications successfully used by members of Guinea Lynx Forums. Not all medications found in the following sources are listed. The drugs on these pages are considered the most common and efficacious meds.

The following reference books include most of these medications and others suitable for use on guinea pigs.

DO NOT ADD ANY MEDICATIONS TO YOUR GUINEA PIG'S DRINKING WATER.

Dose your guinea pigs individually to ensure they receive the correct amount of any medication.

  • The Biology and Medicine of Rabbits and Rodents by J.Harkness DVM and J.Wagner DVM (publisher Williams & Wilkins - a Lea and Febiger Book)
  • Diseases of Domestic Guinea Pigs by V.C.G. Richardson (publisher Blackwell Science Ltd.)
  • The Exotic Animal Formulary by James W. Carpenter, MS, DMV et al (publisher W.B. Saunders Company)
  • Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents - Clinical Medicine and Surgery by Katherine E.Quesenberry DVM and James W. Carpenter (publisher Elsevier -- 2nd edition 2004)
  • Veterinary Drug Handbook -- 4th edition by Donald C. Plumb (publisher Blackwell Publishing -- 4th edition 2002) Go Up

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