Long term Metacam use - where best to buy?

[Qualcast&Flymo]

As some may remember from my thread about Squeaks' dental problems Vet unwilling to refer piggy to Cat & Rabbit clinic Squeaks is now on a permanent daily dose of Metacam for his teeth (0.4ml twice daily ). The pain relief does seem to be working, as his weight has stabilised and even gone up a little recently, and his lower incisor appears to have grown back at last; the incisors were wearing straight again instead of slanted when I looked 2 days ago, though the edges do seem a little rough. It's possible that the iffy tooth may break again, and I also have to try to check regularly that he isn't getting new pain in his jaw from infection etc, but at least he is now comfortable.

When I last visited the Cat & Rabbit clinic at the end of March, Kim prescribed for me a 32ml bottle of Dog Metacam, which I believe is the biggest usually available? I will need to get some more fairly soon, and will be needing a 32ml bottle every 40 days thereafter. My usual vet usually prescribes Cat metacam, so I might find it difficult to get them to prescribe the Dog version and in the needed quantities. However I think I have read in other threads that it is possible, and cheaper, to get Metacam online . If anyone who has had a piggy on Metacam longterm, has got their supplies online, I would appreciate any advice on how I can go about getting it for Squeaks. Do I still need to get a prescription from my vet, and if so just once or each time I need a new bottle?

Any information and advice will be much appreciated!

 

[Spaniel]

Recommend Vet uk for metacam.

You’ll need a new prescription for each bottle. Bottles come in 100ml and 180ml as well. The dog one anyway. Not sure about the cat version.

 

[Katsycakes]

Cat and Rabbit should be able to give you a repeat prescription via email or mail you the metacam - we also have a piggy who needs long term metacam use and they were really good about helping us without us needing to make the 4 hour return trip!

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

I get a prescription and buy from Vet UK

 

[Bill & Ted]

The C&R do post out medication, ask for a prescription to be emailed out to you
Glad Squeaks is doing well x

 

[YvonneBlue]

I have 180ml bottle of dog Metacam from our vet. It works out a lot better value than the smaller ones. I have 2 piggies on long term Metacam.

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

Thanks everyone for your responses

I decided to take Squeaks to my usual vet and see what they said - Winifred needed a check too so it made sense to take them together.
I was quite surprised, I saw the vet I had seen before, and she was happy to prescribe the same amount that Kim Maddock had given me. She also was alright about just giving me a prescription to enable me to get the medicine online, as it is much cheaper that way

The prescription was for 6 32ml bottles over 6 months, but I spoke to VetUK and they were happy to roll it into one and supply one 180ml bottle. That saves both on hassle of having to ask for a new bottle every few weeks, and on the cost of delivery each time (£3.50). So the whole 6 months Metacam cost me £24 instead of £60 - or about £180 if I'd got it from my vet (which charges about £30 for a 32ml bottle ) . Result - as they say!

@YvonneBlue , can I ask please, how do you use the 180ml bottle with your piggies? With the 32ml bottle I can put a 1ml syringe in the cap and invert it to extract the Metacam, but the 180ml bottle has a much bigger opening and even the special syringe supplied looks a bit of a loose fit, not suitable for turning upside down...

 

[Lorcan]

@YvonneBlue , can I ask please, how do you use the 180ml bottle with your piggies? With the 32ml bottle I can put a 1ml syringe in the cap and invert it to extract the Metacam, but the 180ml bottle has a much bigger opening and even the special syringe supplied looks a bit of a loose fit, not suitable for turning upside down...

I've used something like this before, grabbed it from a pharmacy when I was taking amoxicillin liquid:

 

[YvonneBlue]

Thanks everyone for your responses

I decided to take Squeaks to my usual vet and see what they said - Winifred needed a check too so it made sense to take them together.
I was quite surprised, I saw the vet I had seen before, and she was happy to prescribe the same amount that Kim Maddock had given me. She also was alright about just giving me a prescription to enable me to get the medicine online, as it is much cheaper that way

The prescription was for 6 32ml bottles over 6 months, but I spoke to VetUK and they were happy to roll it into one and supply one 180ml bottle. That saves both on hassle of having to ask for a new bottle every few weeks, and on the cost of delivery each time (£3.50). So the whole 6 months Metacam cost me £24 instead of £60 - or about £180 if I'd got it from my vet (which charges about £30 for a 32ml bottle ) . Result - as they say!

@YvonneBlue , can I ask please, how do you use the 180ml bottle with your piggies? With the 32ml bottle I can put a 1ml syringe in the cap and invert it to extract the Metacam, but the 180ml bottle has a much bigger opening and even the special syringe supplied looks a bit of a loose fit, not suitable for turning upside down...

I decant enough Metacam for a few days into a small pill bottle (or something similar) and use a 1ml syringe to give the dose to my piggies. Hope that helps. I buy the syringes in quantities of 100 from Amazon.

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

I decant enough Metacam for a few days into a small pill bottle (or something similar) and use a 1ml syringe to give the dose to my piggies. Hope that helps. I buy the syringes in quantities of 100 from Amazon.

Thanks, that's very helpful. I wasn't sure if it was ok to decant Metacam into a smaller bottle for daily use. That reassures me on that point. I've got a spare small bottle, and some 1ml syringes, so we are ready to roll. Pity Squeaks isn't yet a Metacam junkie - I still have to hold him still to get him to take it. Oh well!

 

[Tangle]

@Qualcast&Flymo re. the 180ml bottle, we've found the syringe in the box to be a good fit for the nozzle on the bottle - and the 1ml syringe tip then fits into the Metacam syringe. You'll probably want a measure of about 6 on the Metcam syringe to get 0.4ml, but you might need a bit of trial and error. (We'd been merrily decanting for a couple of years, but recently discovered this method and its worked far better than I expected).

Glad your vet was happy to write you the scrip as it does work out SO much cheaper

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

@Qualcast&Flymo re. the 180ml bottle, we've found the syringe in the box to be a good fit for the nozzle on the bottle - and the 1ml syringe tip then fits into the Metacam syringe. You'll probably want a measure of about 6 on the Metcam syringe to get 0.4ml, but you might need a bit of trial and error. (We'd been merrily decanting for a couple of years, but recently discovered this method and its worked far better than I expected).

Glad your vet was happy to write you the scrip as it does work out SO much cheaper

Thanks for that info, I might give it a go.

I was expecting online prices to be cheaper, but was pretty gobsmacked at the actual differences.
For anyone reading this later, considering their options, current VetUK prices are: 32ml - £6.49 ; 100ml - £14.59; 180ml - £20.29 . Postage was £3.50 . That compared with about £30 for a 32ml bottle from my vet. My vet charges something like £18 for the prescription, plus the standard consultation fee.

 

[alpacasqueak]

So glad you can save some pennies!
I actually pay for my mum’s cat’s long term metacam and appointments and get a prescription for her, it’s so much cheaper!
I’m never brave enough to ask at C&R for me, don’t know why, feel a bit cheeky I guess! Cleo’s on metacam pretty much all the time, as well as Bisolven, it cost me £18 for two sachets of that last time and it’s £2.75 each on vetuk! I’d probably save a lot!

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

Send an email and ask if you can have a written prescription, so you can buy from VetUK. VetUK is actually owned by VetPartners, who own Cat and Rabbit Clinic!

York-based veterinary group acquires major online supplier of pet products

 

[alpacasqueak]

Send an email and ask if you can have a written prescription, so you can buy from VetUK. VetUK is actually owned by VetPartners, who own Cat and Rabbit Clinic!

York-based veterinary group acquires major online supplier of pet products

Thanks Debbie, I really didn’t know that! Will definitely do that when Cleo’s due then, if it’s all going in the same pockets and I can save a bit! Spend enough on travel back and forth let alone appts, so a few extra pennies saved would be very nice! xx