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Dog metcam

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Christuphar

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Hello,

Can I just check with you all, our piggie Teddie has gone to the vets for an eye ulcer - the vet has given us dog metcam 1.5mg/1ml and we are to give him 0.44ml twice daily - he weight 1.33kg - I know guineas can withstand a high metacam but is this not too high? He doesn't seem in pain or discomfort so I am slightly unsure as to why it's been given.
 
I’m not versed on dosage but you’re right that they can tolerate a higher dose. Hopefully someone will be able to answer you soon.

With regards pain, they’re good at hiding it so better to err on the side of caution. I guess it’s similar to you having something in your eye or poking it. You may not look like you’re in pain but it could get painful.
 
Pepper was on 0.5mls twice a day when he was Ill recently and was weighing in at about 1050g at the time
 
The vet is the only person who can advise on the dosage you should give, but that seems in line with my experience of dog metacam.

Piggies can hide their pain so it’s good your vet has recognised that. What is the medial issue your piggy is currently dealing with?
 
I only have experience with rabbits on Metacam, but I remember the vet putting them on a surprisingly high dose, compared to the dog. Not much help - just that it wouldn’t surprise me…
 
Thank you for quick responses, I was just completely baffled. I can't lie, because of my previous piggie who got the cat and guinea metacam last week and it was a lower dose, everything just feels so contradicting to me after losing my little man last week, everything is making me worry and I don't want to make mistakes. I do trust the vet, I really felt at easy speaking with her and getting all of the information, I just initially thought it must be too high as it's stronger.

His eye began last week, it's a greyish brown cloud and most likely an ulcer, she did explain that it could be more than superficial but the blood vessels around the eye are kind of bulging, however that's a good sign as it shows signs of the healing process. We are keeping with our other vets recommendations of Isathal twice a day in addition to metacam twice a day and Remend Corneal Repair Gel twice a day (spacing the Isathal and Remend out so they have time to work individually) which was prescribed today.

I'll try show a photo of Teddie
 

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I currently have 3 who are on 0.8-1ml of dog metacam twice a day, long term. They really can tolerate large amounts of the drug. What you're giving seems a good average dose :)
 
Eriathwen said:
I currently have 3 who are on 0.8-1ml of dog metacam twice a day, long term. They really can tolerate large amounts of the drug. What you're giving seems a good average dose :)
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Thank you so much for letting me knoe, I also read further into it and it's also an anti-inflammatory which makes even more sense. It feels so overwhelming sometimes with it all!
 
Christuphar said:
Thank you so much for letting me knoe, I also read further into it and it's also an anti-inflammatory which makes even more sense. It feels so overwhelming sometimes with it all!
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Doses can vary which does make it confusing. Guinea pigs require high doses relative to their size because they metabolise it very quickly. Generally speaking exotic vets and piggy savvy vets prescribe higher doses becsuse they are more aware of this but it will also depend on what they are treating and how much pain it might be causing.
One of my pigs is on long term metacam/loxicom and has 0.5ml dog metacam twice a day.
 
My Ginger had a hay poke a few weeks ago and was prescribed 0.4 ml twice a day Dog Loxicon (she’s 1280 gms) plus the eye drops and repair gel so you have the right stuff.
Hope your piggies eye swelling goes down quickly 🤞
 
Thank you all for taking the time to let me know your personal doses to ease my mind, although everyone's circumstances are different it's very helpful to know information like this; it's not that I have anything against vets, it's just the constant worry of finding a good knowledgeable about piggies whom you can trust more.
 
My girl Delilah weighs 950g and is on 0.2ml cat meloxidyl (meloxicam, 0.5mg/ml) once per day for arthritis atm which seems low since its the cat one and everyone says it should be given twice a day etc for reasons that make complete sense to me, but my exotic vet is reluctant to budge on it despite me discussing it. She only prescribes the cat or guinea pig version too as its the only one licensed for piggies, even though I've had the dog one alot before which seems to be stronger, better, bigger bottle, smaller doses, more cost effective etc. I much prefer the dog loxicom version, never had an issue with it so I'm not sure why they suddenly stopped giving it to my pigs.

I've had the same pig of the same weight be given 0.5ml dog loxicom twice daily one moment, but then 0.2ml cat version once per day another time, I've also had up to 0.8ml cat twice a day. I'm just getting conflicting info on it so I just do what the vet tells me. I believe it highly depends on your piggie, their issue and the situation, it varies between vets too, I guess some just aren't as confident or savvy as others to prescribe certain amounts or versions, or they think that's what is best for your specific piggie at that time.

It also is the same medication but has a bunch of different names which just adds to the confusion lol (Meloxidyl, Meloxicam, Metacam, Loxicom etc.) It's easiest and best just to stick to what your vet has told you to give to be honest even though it's confusing, if you're worried it's too much or not enough then ask them if they can adjust it depending on how your piggie responds. But yeah, I totally understand your situation with this lol.

Hoping your sweet piggie gets better soon ❤
 
Rodents metabolise everything so fast it's unreal. I've had pigs be prescribed 0.2 once/twice a day on both cat and dog strength. 0.4 twice a day on cat strength. All following either UTIs, operations or hay pokes.
 
Dilly's Piggies said:
My girl Delilah weighs 950g and is on 0.2ml cat meloxidyl (meloxicam, 0.5mg/ml) once per day for arthritis atm which seems low since its the cat one and everyone says it should be given twice a day etc for reasons that make complete sense to me, but my exotic vet is reluctant to budge on it despite me discussing it. She only prescribes the cat or guinea pig version too as its the only one licensed for piggies, even though I've had the dog one alot before which seems to be stronger, better, bigger bottle, smaller doses, more cost effective etc. I much prefer the dog loxicom version, never had an issue with it so I'm not sure why they suddenly stopped giving it to my pigs.

I've had the same pig of the same weight be given 0.5ml dog loxicom twice daily one moment, but then 0.2ml cat version once per day another time, I've also had up to 0.8ml cat twice a day. I'm just getting conflicting info on it so I just do what the vet tells me. I believe it highly depends on your piggie, their issue and the situation, it varies between vets too, I guess some just aren't as confident or savvy as others to prescribe certain amounts or versions, or they think that's what is best for your specific piggie at that time.

It also is the same medication but has a bunch of different names which just adds to the confusion lol (Meloxidyl, Meloxicam, Metacam, Loxicom etc.) It's easiest and best just to stick to what your vet has told you to give to be honest even though it's confusing, if you're worried it's too much or not enough then ask them if they can adjust it depending on how your piggie responds. But yeah, I totally understand your situation with this lol.

Hoping your sweet piggie gets better soon ❤
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The licencing issue is very annoying. Before the cat version came out metacam could be used for other animals even tho it was just licenced for dogs because there weren't any licensed alternatives. Why they had to develop a new cat version and not just alter the licence to include other animals I don't know. When prescribing drugs vets have to follow a "cascade" system, which means they have to first use a drug licensed for that species, if it doesn't work or isn't suitable they can use a drug licensed for an other species or humans. But this doesn't mean they always have to use the species specific drug first if they know it isn't suitable for what they are treating because the delay could be harmful. Obviously there needs to be laws and regulations around drugs and getting something licensed is expensive so the cascade system is in part to protect the drug companies who have invested money in developing something against vets using cheaper (often human) versions instead, as well as protecting animals from being given possibly inappropriate drugs. I really don't think guinea pigs should have been tagged onto the cat metacam though as they metabolise drugs so quickly. It must be misleading for vets too as they are taught very very little, or nothing at all about piggies at uni.
 
Dilly's Piggies said:
My girl Delilah weighs 950g and is on 0.2ml cat meloxidyl (meloxicam, 0.5mg/ml) once per day for arthritis atm which seems low since its the cat one and everyone says it should be given twice a day etc for reasons that make complete sense to me, but my exotic vet is reluctant to budge on it despite me discussing it. She only prescribes the cat or guinea pig version too as its the only one licensed for piggies, even though I've had the dog one alot before which seems to be stronger, better, bigger bottle, smaller doses, more cost effective etc. I much prefer the dog loxicom version, never had an issue with it so I'm not sure why they suddenly stopped giving it to my pigs.

I've had the same pig of the same weight be given 0.5ml dog loxicom twice daily one moment, but then 0.2ml cat version once per day another time, I've also had up to 0.8ml cat twice a day. I'm just getting conflicting info on it so I just do what the vet tells me. I believe it highly depends on your piggie, their issue and the situation, it varies between vets too, I guess some just aren't as confident or savvy as others to prescribe certain amounts or versions, or they think that's what is best for your specific piggie at that time.

It also is the same medication but has a bunch of different names which just adds to the confusion lol (Meloxidyl, Meloxicam, Metacam, Loxicom etc.) It's easiest and best just to stick to what your vet has told you to give to be honest even though it's confusing, if you're worried it's too much or not enough then ask them if they can adjust it depending on how your piggie responds. But yeah, I totally understand your situation with this lol.

Hoping your sweet piggie gets better soon ❤
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Sorry to hear of your frustration! It's surprising to hear that there is so much confusion around it all and the most frustrating part is the lack of knowledge widely available knowledge for treating variable illness in piggies. The good vets are hard to find and get appointments with and for emergencies you have to risk getting a vet who has little knowledge. I just hope more and more vets start taking action to learn more about our 'exotic' pets ❤️
 
Hey all, anyone had any experience with ulcers, this has been ongoing for 2 weeks but it hasn't cleared up; we have a follow up tomorrow but I'm confused why it's taking so long to heal!
 
Christuphar said:
Hey all, anyone had any experience with ulcers, this has been ongoing for 2 weeks but it hasn't cleared up; we have a follow up tomorrow but I'm confused why it's taking so long to heal!
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I’ve had a quick scan but couldn’t find it. Was he prescribed any eye drops? If so, which ones and for how long?
 
Hopefully tomorrow will shed some light on what’s going on.
 
So the vets believes the area has gone down, which in their lighting I would agree it has. She has said to stop the Metacam and continue with the Isathal and Remend for 2 weeks and only if it gets worse to book an appointment as she suspects there will be permanent scarring. Ruled out abscess. I didn't want to spend the costly price of getting Remend from them as it's so extortionate and doesn't require a prescription.
 
Hopefully the next lot will do the trick.
 
Hi he'll be fine ,As piggies are pray animals they don't always show pain but with an eye ulcer he will be in pain ,dog metacam .loxicom is actually a lower dose than if you had the one for cats .Hope it heals quickly did you get eye drops too ?
 
Yeah we've been on Isathal and Remend for 2 weeks already and continuing with it for another 2 weeks. They have told us to stop the Metacam now.
 
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