Specialist Bumblefoot? Metacam dose

[Isabel]

Hi everyone and thanks in advance for any help. I have just taken one of our male guinea pigs to the vet with what we assumed was bumblefoot. Anyway I don’t think the vet was too sure what it was and has prescribed Metacam. Kevin weighs 1.4kg and on the little syringe the vet said it starts at the ‘2’ marker so I was to give him what would be 2 plus his weight so that would be 3.4 on the syringe. Does this seem a lot?
sorry to double check. The vet was standing in for our usual vet and English wasn’t his first language.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone and thanks in advance for any help. I have just taken one of our male guinea pigs to the vet with what we assumed was bumblefoot. Anyway I don’t think the vet was too sure what it was and has prescribed Metacam. Kevin weighs 1.4kg and on the little syringe the vet said it starts at the ‘2’ marker so I was to give him what would be 2 plus his weight so that would be 3.4 on the syringe. Does this seem a lot?
sorry to double check. The vet was standing in for our usual vet and English wasn’t his first language.

Hi and welcome

Guinea pigs have a much quicker metabolism, so they need higher dosages and metacam ever 12 hours rather than every 24 hours. Their kidneys also cope a lot better with metacam than other common pet species.

Can you please check whether you you have been given cat or dog metacam. Dog metacam is 3 times stronger than cat metacam, so it makes a difference. Either is used for guinea pigs. Can you also tell us whether this is a once daily dosage? If it was cat metacam, it would be very low for a guinea pig.

 

[Isabel]

Hi and welcome

Guinea pigs have a much quicker metabolism, so they need higher dosages and metacam ever 12 hours rather than every 24 hours. Their kidneys also cope a lot better with metacam than other common pets.

Can you please check whether you you have been given cat or dog metacam. Dog metacam is 3 times stronger than cat metacam, so it makes a difference. Either is used for guinea pigs. Can you also tell us whether this is a once daily dosage? If it was cat metacam, it would be very low for a guinea pig.

it’s cat Metacam and the dosage is once daily.
thanks so much for your quick reply.

 

[Wiebke]

it’s cat Metacam and the dosage is once daily.
thanks so much for your quick reply.

That is about as a low a dose as to verge in ineffective for a guinea pigs. Please give it every 12 hours instead of once a day.

Could you please post a picture of the affected foot?

 

[Isabel]

I am away from the house for a few hours but I will post the photo later. Thanks so much for your help.

 

[VickiA]

That is about as a low a dose as to verge in ineffective for a guinea pigs. Please give it every 12 hours instead of once a day.

Could you please post a picture of the affected foot?

That dosage is very low indeed.

 

[Isabel]

Wasn’t able to get a good photo as I am alone but here’s what I got. So you both think 3.4 on the syringe (even twice a day) is too low? I was worried it was too high but I’ll give him it twice a day and see if it helps.

 

[Wiebke]

Wasn’t able to get a good photo as I am alone but here’s what I got. So you both think 3.4 on the syringe (even twice a day) is too low? I was worried it was too high but I’ll give him it twice a day and see if it helps.

Ouch - that does definitely not look right and should be seen by a piggy savvy vet. Minimal painkiller verging on ineffective is not going to anything for that.

We have got a recommended UK vet locator on the top bar.
If you are in another country, then this link here may be helpful: Guinea Lynx :: GL's Vet List

Since we have members and enquiries from all over the world with very different vet access, medical brand names, climate and backgrounds, it does helps us a lot if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to location in your account details (accessed by clicking on your username on the top bar) so we can tailor any advice and recommendation to what is relevant and available for you straight away.

@Abi_nurse @furryfriends (TEAS)

 

[Isabel]

Thank you. I appreciate your help. I am in Glasgow and have updated my account. I have noticed the recommended vet near me.

 

[Abi_nurse]

Certainly looks like too lower dosage to be honest, and also looks like a case of bumblefoot. What bedding is your little piggie on. There may be a few things you can do to help him even before heading to the vet again.

x

 

[Isabel]

Hi. I didn’t see abi’s reply until I logged in just now with this update. I took him to the recommended vet (30 miles round trip!) today and she has upped the painkillers and given him antiobiotics. We have to go back in 2 weeks. She suggested sudocrem too. He is on fleece and I’ve been changing the pad where he is lying twice a day since Monday.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi. I didn’t see abi’s reply until I logged in just now with this update. I took him to the recommended vet (30 miles round trip!) today and she has upped the painkillers and given him antiobiotics. We have to go back in 2 weeks. She suggested sudocrem too. He is on fleece and I’ve been changing the pad where he is lying twice a day since Monday.

Can you please give the brand names and dosages?

@Abi_nurse

 

[Isabel]

Hi. It’s still cat Metacam (0.8 twice daily) and I’m afraid I don’t have the antibiotics to hand.

 

[Wiebke]

Sudocrem is drying out the skin rather; please apply it only very, very thinly.

You can find advice on its use here in our mobility care guide, chapter IV: Looking after guinea pigs with limited or no mobility

 

[Abi_nurse]

Hi. It’s still cat Metacam (0.8 twice daily) and I’m afraid I don’t have the antibiotics to hand.

This dose is very low, would really need increasing but I cannot tell you how much as I cannot legally prescribe. But I would recommend advising your vet we use 0.6mg/kg dosages every day in specialist practice.
x

 

[Isabel]

Thank you. My maths isn’t great but surely 0.6 per kg is 0.8 for a 1.4kg pig?

I will go easy on the sudecreme thanks.

 

[Isabel]

The ABs are Septrin Paed 0.8ml daily

 

[Twigyspigs]

Thank you. My maths isn’t great but surely 0.6 per kg is 0.8 for a 1.4kg pig?

I will go easy on the sudecreme thanks.

Hi,
So I believe it would be 0.6mg/kg (dose rate) as stated above) X kg / 0.5mg/ml (strength of the metacam)= 1.68ml.
however it does state in veterinary formulary a lower dose rate and it does state only once a day for guinea pigs and to not use the syringe in the box but to use a 1ml syringe. (Which tbh I have always been told to use for mine) I also can’t advise this either though as I am not a vet, I’m only a nurse.
might be worth just calling your vet and checking with them And if you still don’t feel comfortable go and see a different vet? You can always call before and ask if they see many guinea pigs? companion care or vets4pets are usually quite experienced with small furrys as they are located in pets at hom and so they see their critter when their unwell ☺

 

[Isabel]

Hi thanks so much for your help. I’m a bit confused but then I’m not remotely medical. She did give me a different syringe to use. The vet I saw on Wednesday was a vet recommended on this website and she certainly seemed very experienced with Guinea pigs. She also owns them as pets. I really don’t think I would find anyone better although it would be nice to see someone closer to home to be honest! x

 

[Isabel]

However we do have a Vets4Pets within a Pets at Home near us so I will definitely keep that in mind next time.

 

[Twigyspigs]

Hi thanks so much for your help. I’m a bit confused but then I’m not remotely medical. She did give me a different syringe to use. The vet I saw on Wednesday was a vet recommended on this website and she certainly seemed very experienced with Guinea pigs. She also owns them as pets. I really don’t think I would find anyone better although it would be nice to see someone closer to home to be honest! x

oh that’s great news then I mean she’s a vet and not only a guinea pig owner so I’m sure she knows what she’s talking about
Wishing the best recovery for your piggy