Dog Metacam 1.5mg/ml Dosage

[Lynette09]

Our boy Oliver is not well and has stopped eating with which we are syringe feeding him. He had an X-ray an procedure done Monday so it is a wait and see if he will pick up

He is 5 years old and weighs 1340g. He's on 0.2ml dog metacam 1.5mg/ml once a day but I think he is still in pain to the point he sits with his head at corner of cage if I take his igloo out and I know that's not good

A previous post I put on explains what's going on but my main concern right now is that whilst I am to give him a few more days to see if procedure has rectified this I am worried he will be in unnecessary pain and that breaks my heart.

Any advice on if I can give him at even a 12 hour interval would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Wiebke]

Our boy Oliver is not well and has stopped eating with which we are syringe feeding him. He had an X-ray an procedure done Monday so it is a wait and see if he will pick up

He is 5 years old and weighs 1340g. He's on 0.2ml dog metacam 1.5mg/ml once a day but I think he is still in pain to the point he sits with his head at corner of cage if I take his igloo out and I know that's not good

A previous post I put on explains what's going on but my main concern right now is that whilst I am to give him a few more days to see if procedure has rectified this I am worried he will be in unnecessary pain and that breaks my heart.

Any advice on if I can give him at even a 12 hour interval would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

I always split my metacam doses because guinea pigs have such a quick metabolism. You can double the dose safely for a few days (i.e. give 0.2 ml twice daily) for a piggy of his good weight.

 

[Lynette09]

Thank you so much for responding. I have done nothing but google but sometimes guineapig owners know more on what their loved ones can have.

I'm not dissing the vet but know they have to go by textbook and every one is different. I will give him 0.2ml at 12 hourly intervals. I just want him to be comfortable if this does/doesn't work although it breaks my heart.

Thank you again

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much for responding. I have done nothing but google but sometimes guineapig owners know more on what their loved ones can have.

I'm not dissing the vet but know they have to go by textbook and every one is different. I will give him 0.2ml at 12 hourly intervals. I just want him to be comfortable if this does/doesn't work although it breaks my heart.

Thank you again

Any vet that is not very piggy savvy usually scales down from cats or dogs with their slower metabolism.

Piggy vets have in recent years started to use higher dosages of metacam. I have safely used that dosage for an arthritic guinea pig of mine that had an acute phase on recommendation of the treating vet.

 

[Lynette09]

It wasn't our usual vet we seen tonight. Our normal one is the exotics vet but he was off today so knew I may not get the correct info for medication and she would play it safe even with me telling her I feel it's not enough for him.

 

[VickiA]

Exotics vets often use higher doses over shorter periods than non exotics specialists. See if you can speak to the vet tomorrow to see if the dose can be increased if necessary,

 

[sport_billy]

How is Oliver doing?

 

[Lynette09]

Hi sport-billy

After a horrendous day Wednesday of Oliver not eating at all he was given an injection of something beginning with m but equivalent to emeprid and on Zantac along with oral emeprid I was given.

Yesterday he started eating again Not back to normal or as much as I like but he is eating and seems more comfortable and inquisitive.

I am still on edge and he likes his cc with celery and water blended which I still give him at times to boost his intake. I split his metacam to 12 hourly and seems to be helping.

I am praying like you wouldn't believe that he keeps this up. If he doesn't go back to the way he was eating wise I am wondering if this could maybe be something like arthritis?

Getting to have lots of cuddles with him X

 

[sport_billy]

Hi sport-billy

After a horrendous day Wednesday of Oliver not eating at all he was given an injection of something beginning with m but equivalent to emeprid and on Zantac along with oral emeprid I was given.

Yesterday he started eating again Not back to normal or as much as I like but he is eating and seems more comfortable and inquisitive.

I am still on edge and he likes his cc with celery and water blended which I still give him at times to boost his intake. I split his metacam to 12 hourly and seems to be helping.

I am praying like you wouldn't believe that he keeps this up. If he doesn't go back to the way he was eating wise I am wondering if this could maybe be something like arthritis?

Getting to have lots of cuddles with him X

That sounds a good sign, it probably will have been metachlpromide which is emeprid

Hopefully his eating will pick up. Sometimes they can take a while to eat. We had a dental piggy Cookie whose thread I have just found, we lost her last christmas to cancer but a year before that we thought we'd have to have her PTS with dental issues. Her is a photo of me and her with some of her tea, notice how cubed the veg is like the pepper in forefront of photo - we found she could manage tiny bits like this (excuse my big head) We would have to tear the lettuce up to hand feed her as well as CC syringed.

Is he eating hay?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi sport-billy

After a horrendous day Wednesday of Oliver not eating at all he was given an injection of something beginning with m but equivalent to emeprid and on Zantac along with oral emeprid I was given.

Yesterday he started eating again Not back to normal or as much as I like but he is eating and seems more comfortable and inquisitive.

I am still on edge and he likes his cc with celery and water blended which I still give him at times to boost his intake. I split his metacam to 12 hourly and seems to be helping.

I am praying like you wouldn't believe that he keeps this up. If he doesn't go back to the way he was eating wise I am wondering if this could maybe be something like arthritis?

Getting to have lots of cuddles with him X

Hang on in there and keep on syringe feeding! weigh daily to make sure that he is getting enough to hold his weight.

The metoclopramide and zantac should help with the bloating and the act as sitmulants. It takes time to get past bloating issues; there is no quick fix - the tummy remains very tender for several weeks.

It may be worth to book an appointment with the piggy savvy vet.

 

[Lynette09]

hi billy. Yeah he's eating hay, pellets, veg I cut into small cubes which he takes. He ate parsley whole and he ate greens which are shredded up anyway

I weighed him before and he is the same weight as yesterday which is 1335.

Like i said he eats slowly but seems to be managing and weight staying the same the last day. Don't want to overfeed him cc as don't want to ruin his appetite to eat normal and not been needing to give it as much last day but keeping a close eye and the minute I think he's not eating he will be getting more.

I'm sorry to hear about Cookie, she looks adorable That's positive to hear that she done well with being a dental piggie and still having a loved happy life. I am thinking this may just be the way Oliver is and slowing down but if I have to cut up his treats whilst he's happy I would do it morning, noon and night.

Here's a photo I just took of him munching and then chilling X

 

[Lynette09]

Hang on in there and keep on syringe feeding! weigh daily to make sure that he is getting enough to hold his weight.

The metoclopramide and zantac should help with the bloating. It takes time to get past bloating issues; there is no quick fix - the tummy is remaining very tender for several weeks.

It may be worth to book an appointment with the piggy savvy vet.

Hi wiebke

The vet said Oliver didn't have bloat but due to him stopping eating that day she wanted to keep things moving and so the injection was given and emeprid and Zantac prescribed.

We have an appointment with Bill our exotics vet Monday for his check up so going to speak to him about medications etc

 

[Wiebke]

Hi wiebke

The vet said Oliver didn't have bloat but due to him stopping eating that day she wanted to keep things moving and so the injection was given and emeprid and Zantac prescribed.

We have an appointment with Bill our exotics vet Monday for his check up so going to speak to him about medications etc

Just keep on syringe feeding until Monday. Until the cause of his issues can be found, it is down to you to keep him going as best as possible with your home care. A guinea pig that is completely off its food needs about 40-60 ml (or the equivalent in solids) per day just to keep ticking over, a recovering one 60-90 ml and a healthy piggy can eat up to 120 ml in a day.

 

[Lynette09]

Just keep on syringe feeding until Monday. Until the cause of his issues can be found, it is down to you to keep him going as best as possible with your home care. A guinea pig that is completely off its food needs about 40-60 ml (or the equivalent in solids) per day just to keep ticking over, a recovering one 60-90 ml and a healthy piggy can eat up to 120 ml in a day.

I will and thank you for your help and support. It's comforting to get people's advice at such worrying times.

I have just finished syringe feeding him there and was the most enjoyable one yet. He took 22ml of his own accord and after him trying to not let go of the syringe when it was empty he was clambering over me to get to the bowl as I was filling it up again Patience ha ha Needless to say I had to hold him to do his water since he wasn't interested in that since it wasn't food.

He loves the recovery food with celery and water blended more than his Burgess excel nuggets mushed up.

Thank you again

 

[Poppy'sMum]

I agree with Wiebke, don't worry about ruining his appetite, you need to keep the syringe feeding up so it keep pushing food through his body. It's very hard to monitor what they are eating by themselves otherwise. Hopefully he'll pick up now he has more pain relief.

 

[Lynette09]

I agree with Wiebke, don't worry about ruining his appetite, you need to keep the syringe feeding up so it keep pushing food through his body. It's very hard to monitor what they are eating by themselves otherwise. Hopefully he'll pick up now he has more pain relief.[/QUO

I will keep up the syringe feeding and thank you. He's munching on hay the now He's still not pooing a great deal though but hope it will increase with more food, syringe and normal pushing through.

Is there anything else I could try to help him poop? Usually once I have held him he poops when put back but nothing yet. He's always been courteous since we got him at a few months old that he would wait until he was put back to poop I have tried massaging his belly too to see if that helps.

 

[Poppy'sMum]

Yes you can very gently massage his tummy a little bit as well, or use the handle of an electric toothbrush held gently against hs tummy after you have fed him for a few minutes. Stop if he doesn't like it though. That usually helps release any gas. With boys they can become impacted so you might need to check that too, there is a guide on here about that. Hope he perks up soon

 

[Lynette09]

Yes you can very gently massage his tummy a little bit as well, or use the handle of an electric toothbrush held gently against hs tummy after you have fed him for a few minutes. Stop if he doesn't like it though. That usually helps release any gas. With boys they can become impacted so you might need to check that too, there is a guide on here about that. Hope he perks up soon

I have been gently massaging him and he lets me for a little bit then has enough. I will try the electric toothbrush method too.

He had done a few poos through the night and looking a little bigger but keeping a watchful eye.

I have looked at the videos on this website to check for impaction and did get some stray bits out but nothing major. Oliver has our vet on Monday evening so going to ask him too to show me to check I'm doing it correctly.

He had a syringe feed earlier and after munching on some hay I went out to the garden and picked grass and dandelion leaves. He ate most of it

Going to try something other than celery later to blend with his string feed so he doesn't get bored of it but not sure what to try next blended, any ideas that they love?

I really do appreciate all advice and think this website is amazing

 

[Wiebke]

I will and thank you for your help and support. It's comforting to get people's advice at such worrying times.

I have just finished syringe feeding him there and was the most enjoyable one yet. He took 22ml of his own accord and after him trying to not let go of the syringe when it was empty he was clambering over me to get to the bowl as I was filling it up again Patience ha ha Needless to say I had to hold him to do his water since he wasn't interested in that since it wasn't food.

He loves the recovery food with celery and water blended more than his Burgess excel nuggets mushed up.

Thank you again

When a piggy is not eating on its own, anything goes that goes down well... Piggies have their own favourites, so it can be a matter of trying.

You are not ruining his appetite, but making him feel better. You can see how much he needs the syringe feed, as over 20 ml in one go mean that he is really hungry! Just offer him as much as he will take.

 

[Lynette09]

Hi everyone

Thought I would give an update.

Oliver is now 1425g and eating and drinking on his own I still give him a syringe feed at night because he absolutely loves it with either celery and water blended or banana and water.

He does however seem to have aged but he has been through a great deal but very inquisitive and still zooms about at floor time into everything

I just want to thank you all for your kind words and advice at such a worrying time x