Long term metacam use

[Elephonty]

My boy woody has been on .3 of metacam once daily (along with cystaid and potassium citrate) for his cystitis but has been squeaking every so often so we are now going to try .25mls twice daily. Am I right in thinking long term metacam doses don't have the same bad affects as they might do with cats and dogs? The exotics have given us a week to try on the split dose and if this doesn't work we will try a new drug!

 

[Guineapigfeet]

My vet said long-term use can still cause stomach ulcers, but because they cannot vomit, they are under-diagnosed in rabbits and pigs. But I guess because they as always eating (or should be) there’s less risk than dogs or cats because the stomach isn’t ever really empty?
I think by long-term, he meant 6months + as I was facing this possibility with one of mine. Unfortunately, it didn’t get to the point where we had to worry about medicine use side-effects

 

[Elephonty]

My vet said long-term use can still cause stomach ulcers, but because they cannot vomit, they are under-diagnosed in rabbits and pigs. But I guess because they as always eating (or should be) there’s less risk than dogs or cats because the stomach isn’t ever really empty?
I think by long-term, he meant 6months + as I was facing this possibility with one of mine. Unfortunately, it didn’t get to the point where we had to worry about medicine use side-effects

Woody has been on it for about 3 months so far and I always make sure to give with his breakfast so his stomach is always full and I also use profibre pellets daily to help with his gut health. I'm trying to give the lowest dose possible but obviously don't want to cause any more problems!

 

[Betsy]

My Rainbow Piggy Christian was on a very high dose of (dog) Metacam (0.7ml twice a day) for about a year then and I gradually managed to reduce this (to 0.5ml twice a day) under the advice of a vet for the last 5 months of his life. He lived until nearly 5. I made the choice to give him a shorter life free of pain than a longer one with pain. Now Christian's sister Meg is on 0.3ml Metacam and has been for over a year now. Christian had arthritis in his spine and so does Meg.

My old vet told me that she had been on a course and learnt that Guinea Pigs tolerate Metacam very well because of their high metobolism. A lot of piggies on the Forum are on long term Metacam.

 

[Elephonty]

My Rainbow Piggy Christian was on a very high dose of (dog) Metacam (0.7ml twice a day) for about a year then and I gradually managed to reduce this (to 0.5ml twice a day) under the advice of a vet for the last 5 months of his life. He lived until nearly 5. I made the choice to give him a shorter life free of pain than a longer one with pain. Now Christian's sister Meg is on 0.3ml Metacam and has been for over a year now. Christian had arthritis in his spine and so does Meg.

My old vet told me that she had been on a course and learnt that Guinea Pigs tolerate Metacam very well because of their high metobolism. A lot of piggies on the Forum are on long term Metacam.

Thank you, so sorry to hear about Christian. I had another pig on months of metacam but he unfortunately had to be PTS before any real long term affects could take hold. I would definitely prefer him to be comfortable (he is about 1 year 8 months so fairly young), we are also going to explore other options with the vet if the metacam doesn't work after next week (spoke to them this morning) as if it doesn't work there's no point keeping up the dosage.

 

[Wiebke]

My boy woody has been on .3 of metacam once daily (along with cystaid and potassium citrate) for his cystitis but has been squeaking every so often so we are now going to try .25mls twice daily. Am I right in thinking long term metacam doses don't have the same bad affects as they might do with cats and dogs? The exotics have given us a week to try on the split dose and if this doesn't work we will try a new drug!

I've never had a problem with my own piggies that have been on long term metacam, so of them for a number of years and even at higher dosages as their arthtritis increased.

Is that dosage cat or dog strength? Dog strength is three times higher - for cat it would be the very bottom end of the possible dosage range and for dog it would be a lower but more common prescribed long term range. The metacam will build when given regularly but you can up it for a short term during an acute flare if necessary.

 

[Elephonty]

I've never had a problem with my own piggies that have been on long term metacam, so of them for a number of years and even at higher dosages as their arthtritis increased.

Is that dosage cat or dog strength? Dog strength is three times higher - for cat it would be the very bottom end of the possible dosage range and for dog it would be a lower but more common prescribed long term range. The metacam will build when given regularly but you can up it for a short term during an acute flare if necessary.

This is great to hear! Its the cat version so the weaker dose and I am trying to ween him off but so far it hasn't worked and obviously I don't want him to be uncomfortable with the cystitis!, it may be that the exotics try dog if not working by next week (the original dose was given by my savvy but not exotic vets) but hopefully splitting the dose will do the trick.

 

[Wiebke]

This is great to hear! Its the cat version so the weaker dose and I am trying to ween him off but so far it hasn't worked and obviously I don't want him to be uncomfortable with the cystitis!, it may be that the exotics try dog if not working by next week (the original dose was given by my savvy but not exotic vets) but hopefully splitting the dose will do the trick.

Please be aware that the dosage of metacam that you are using is bordering on the cosmetic but it your piggy needs it, then will likely need a higher and not lower maintenance dosage. Unlike cats and dogs, piggies tolerate metacam in much better and in much higher dosages.

 

[Elephonty]

Please be aware that the dosage of metacam that you are using is bordering on the cosmetic but it your piggy needs it, then will likely need a higher and not lower maintenance dosage. Unlike cats and dogs, piggies tolerate metacam in much better and in much higher dosages.

Thank you, I'll definitely try it and if it doesn't do the trick I will talk to my vet about maximum dosages according to his weight. I definitely don't want to under dose so will keep this in mind and act accordingly!

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you, I'll definitely try it and if it doesn't do the trick I will talk to my vet about maximum dosages according to his weight. I definitely don't want to under dose so will keep this in mind and act accordingly!

Double or triple that dose is what my own piggies are usually being started on, depending on weight and severity of the problem and then you take it from there and adjust upwards as and when needed.

Sterile IC is all about management and finding out how much glucosamine and metacam your piggy needs in the intervals and how much you have to up it to get on top of any flares as quickly as possible.

 

[Elephonty]

Double or triple that dose is what my own piggies are usually being started on, depending on weight and severity of the problem and then you take it from there and adjust upwards as and when needed.

Sterile IC is all about management and finding out how much glucosamine and metacam your piggy needs in the intervals and how much you have to up it to get on top of any flares as quickly as possible.

Yes it's hard to balance at the moment as it obviously comes and goes in waves, we are currently doing a pinch of cystaid in the morning along with potassium citrate but I'm wondering whether a pinch isn't enough alongside the pain meds!

 

[Eriathwen]

One of mine, Shelly, has been on dog metacam for almost 2 years and will be on it for the rest of her life. She currently gets it twice a day. My girl Misty has been on it as well for the last few months and will be on it for the rest of her life too, shes only 3 so could be quite a long time. It's tolerated extremely well due to their higher metabolism

 

[Wiebke]

I wouyld recommend to up the glucosamine, especially around flares. It is crucial in managing IC.

You have to find your own level for your piggy at which they are symptom-free in between flares and how much you need to up the glucosamine and metacam to get a flare under control quickly; this is different for every piggy.

 

[Elephonty]

I wouyld recommend to up the glucosamine, especially around flares. It is crucial in managing IC.

Definitely will do, the vet said a pinch but I'm now going to try half to a full capsule in 1 or 2mls of water! Starting to feel very guilty but I can only follow the advice I was given!

 

[Elephonty]

A very long awaited update, woody has now been given the go ahead for long term metacam use and has been prescribed 0.2mls of dog metacam twice a day (he is 1.5kg), time for me to finally look into online prescriptions!

 

[YvonneBlue]

Both my old girls are on long term Metacam. Mavis has been on a low dose (0.2ml twice daily) for more than two years now. She is six years old and it does not seem to have had any adverse side affects. I get a 100ml bottle from my vet as it works out better value, i think it is around £60.

 

[Elephonty]

Both my old girls are on long term Metacam. Mavis has been on a low dose (0.2ml twice daily) for more than two years now. She is six years old and it does not seem to have had any adverse side affects. I get a 100ml bottle from my vet as it works out better value, i think it is around £60.

Thank you! I got a 10ml bottle along with some potassium citrate today and it came to £64 will definitely look into getting a bigger bottle and or buying from an online vet prescription site!

 

[YvonneBlue]

I find that you end up paying almost as much in prescription fees than for the meds when you get a small bottle, as it is the same charge no matter how big the amount they prescribe.

 

[Elephonty]

I have never asked how much they charge for a physical prescription as I never knew how long he'd be on the loxicom/metacam for but I am definitely going to look into it now as I know online is so much cheaper!

 

[Stewybus]

If you can, ask for a prescription for a 180ml bottle of Metacam. This is by far the most cost effective. Has he been xrayed to see if he has bladder stones.

 

[Betsy]

My vet is willing to write a prescription for a 180ml bottle. You have to do the calculation to make sure you can use it all up in the 6 months shelf life from opening the bottle though. I have 2 piggies on long term Metacam so I can get through the bottle in time. Remember when looking at online prices to factor in the cost of the prescription, the cost of the Metacam and the postage to see if it is actually cheaper getting it online rather than from your vet.

 

[Elephonty]

If you can, ask for a prescription for a 180ml bottle of Metacam. This is by far the most cost effective. Has he been xrayed to see if he has bladder stones.

Yes he has, no stones were found but he is on the potassium citrate to hopefully stop sludge/stones forming.

 

[Elephonty]

My vet is willing to write a prescription for a 180ml bottle. You have to do the calculation to make sure you can use it all up in the 6 months shelf life from opening the bottle though. I have 2 piggies on long term Metacam so I can get through the bottle in time. Remember when looking at online prices to factor in the cost of the prescription, the cost of the Metacam and the postage to see if it is actually cheaper getting it online rather than from your vet.

Thank you! I don't think I would use the 180 ml as he only has the equivalent to .4ml a day but I will definitely have a look! Yes I'm definitely going to phone tomorrow to ask about written prescription charges as it works out at about £15/20 with postage for 30 mls online!

 

[Stewybus]

Yes he has, no stones were found but he is on the potassium citrate to hopefully stop sludge/stones forming.

Ho do you give the potassium citrate as it is terrible for not mixing with water when you try to syringe it

 

[Elephonty]

Ho do you give the potassium citrate as it is terrible for not mixing with water when you try to syringe it

I don't mix it with water! He gets .15ml twice a day via syringe

 

[Stewybus]

I've only ever bought it in capsule form and found the best way to give them it is by mixing with a little critical care and feed it by syringe.

 

[Elephonty]

I've only ever bought it in capsule form and found the best way to give them it is by mixing with a little critical care and feed it by syringe.

Ah I've only got it from the vets pre mixed as wasn't sure where to start getting it elsewhere!

 

[Stewybus]

So the mixture you use is ok to give by syringe. When I mix it the powder in the capsules I find that lots of powder is left behind resulting in a much weaker dose being given.

 

[Emx93]

I currently have a piggy on 1ml of dog metacam twice a day (along with cystease and she's had 3 cartrophen? injections 6 days apart) were hoping we can wean the metacam down but if we can't I'd sooner risk a shorter lifespan than leave her in pain. Quality over quantity is what we have gone for though I hope we can manage both

 

[Elephonty]

So the mixture you use is ok to give by syringe. When I mix it the powder in the capsules I find that lots of powder is left behind resulting in a much weaker dose being given.

Yes it's very much a liquid, some crystals collect at the lid but other than that a good shake and it's fine!