Azithromycin

[Shahna]

I have a chin with a pretty nasty abscess that is not responding to Baytril or TMP-SMZ. My vet wants to try Azithromycin, but he hasn't been able to find any documented results of it working on chinchillas and there are mixed reviews of it causing death in rabbits (although it has been documented as successful in rabbits as well).

 

[ticklechin]

Is this a dental or head abscess?

 

[Shahna]

It's not dental. The abscess is in the side of his face and down into his neck. It was removed and drained about 10 days ago, but is getting bad again. The chin is 4 months old.

Edited: His current dosages are 0.10mL TMP-SMZ and 0.05mL Baytril. I am wondering if it isn't enough of the Baytril, however he is a little shrimp at 275g.

 

[aznmexaggie]

Shahna, I looked up the toxicological data on it and while chins aren't used for tox tests, they do test other species of rodents (rats and mice). An excessive dose of >2000 mg/kg was required to result in an LD50 in rats and >3000 mg/kg for the same LD50 in mice. From what I've found in a quick search on rodents , specifically, rats, mice and lagomorphs (rabbits), azithromycin has been used safely in them, although it can slow the GI tract like Baytril can. The dosages for rats and rabbits also is far below the toxic dosage.

http://www.rmca.org/Articles/dchart.htm
http://www.medirabbit.com/Safe_medication/Antibiotics/Safe_antibiotics.htm

 

[Shahna]

Thanks!

 

[ticklechin]

I would not use it due to the PLACE rule for chinchillas and antibiotics, it is related to erythromycin. I would try Cipro or Chloro, Baytril and TMS synergistically but would be very cautious due to the age of the chin. There may be permanent damage to growth but if it is the big guns antibiotics or death, I would use them.

To be avoided


P enicillin
L incomycin
A mpicillin, Amoxicillin
C lavamox AKA Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate)
C ephalosporins, Clindamycin
E rythromycin



http://www.medicinenet.com/azithromycin/article.htm

 

[Shahna]

I've gotten a few recommendations for giving chloramphenicol a try, and my vet concurs. Hopefully this will do the trick.

The Baytril and TMP-SMZ was being taken together, no luck.

 

[ticklechin]

The problem with baytril is that every vet threw it at problems without diagnosis and the bugs have become resistant to it, if it does not work I move on to chlora or cipro-if the chin lived long enough I am sad to say.

 

[Shahna]

He was switched to chloramphenicol today. Is that what you meant by chlora?

 

[aznmexaggie]

Chloramphenicol is what finally worked when treating Scooter's abscess. I am wary of using Baytril with young chins because it can potentially cause cartilage issues in growing animals.

 

[ticklechin]

He was switched to chloramphenicol today. Is that what you meant by chlora?

It is, I know I SUCK when I abbreviate things.