What medications are safe for my pig and how often can I give them?

I am sorry to hear about your guinea pig! You are correct in that we don't normally prescribe Penicillin products in guinea pigs as they can kill the normal healthy bacteria in the GI tract leading to severe GI problems. I would recommend contacting your vet to see if they have other antibiotics available. In the US we most often use a drug called Baytril (enrofloxacin) or Tribrissen (trimethoprim sulfadiazine). Perhaps your vet does have other drug options available.

Ivermectin in pigs can only be given by subcutaneous injection at the neck, so no you cannot give it to Penelope orally. I would have a friend come over to help hold her so you can give her the shot.

Ideally, you should confirm the infection with your farm veterinarian. Topical treatment may be more effective than systemic treatment. Additionally, confirm the antibiotic is appropriate as inappropriate antibiotic use may lead to resistant bacteria or can delay diagnosis. Given the size of the pig, consider a 16ga or 18ga needle. Be sure the injection site is clean and dry to prevent injection site reactions or infection. Confirm any dose with your veterinarian prior to administration. If the pig is to be processed, be sure to adhere to withdrawal times before slaughter.

The best thing to use for lice in pigs in ivermectin. Make sure you are using the correct concentration (typically 1% works best) and dose for Penelope's weight. It can be mixed in with the food or squirted into her mouth. It must be given in two doses two weeks apart. Ivermectin can also be given injectably.

The best way to treat lice in pigs is with Ivermectin. It is the safest and most reliable drug. I suggest you contact your local vet to get this medication and to get dosing information. Other possible medications that would work: diazinon, lindane or deltamethrin. These medications are harder to find and are considered not as safe. All these medications are ineffective against lice eggs so it is necessary to treat the animals and the environment multiple times.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. So sorry that Gip is having this issue. It does sound like he needs some diagnostic testing in order to help him. If the penicillin is not working then he likely needs a more aggressive antibiotic. The best way to know what type of antibiotic will work would be to do something like a transtracheal wash to collect some of the fluid/mucus in his lungs and then culture that fluid to find out what type of bacteria is growing there. Otherwise it is just guessing and treating him with random antibiotics (not the best plan). Some x-rays may be needed to see the extent of the pneumonia (I am guessing this is his issue). My recommendation would be to get him to the nearest vet that will treat pigs. There is nothing I can tell you to get over the counter that will help him at this point. I'm sorry you are dealing with this but getting him to a vet is going to be the best chance at saving him. Not everything can be treated at home unfortunately. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Most of the oral meds are on prescription and should be discussed with your local veterinarian. Disinfection of the skin may be achieved at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!