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Loxicom vs Metacam

What version of Meloxicam do your piggies like or have been prescribed in 2022?

  • Metacam Cat

    Votes: 6 27.3%

  • Metacam Dog

    Votes: 9 40.9%

  • Loxicom Cat

    Votes: 1 4.5%

  • Loxicom Dog

    Votes: 13 59.1%

  • Other brand Cat

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Other brand Dog

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    22
Idris

Idris

Junior Guinea Pig
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Crumble not impressed with the Metacam this morning. We finished the Loxicom yesterday which he’s been lapping up and really enjoyed (long term use for arthritis). After 0.18 of the 0.38 he refuses to take the rest. Anyone else had this/any tips or maybe he’ll just get used to it?

On a related note we’re on the dog version. Friend’s vet prescribed them the cat version, now licensed for GPs post op care but doses are way lower - a question for GP magazine I think. They’re not enjoying the Metacam either.
 
Idris said:
Crumble not impressed with the Metacam this morning. We finished the Loxicom yesterday which he’s been lapping up and really enjoyed (long term use for arthritis). After 0.18 of the 0.38 he refuses to take the rest. Anyone else had this/any tips or maybe he’ll just get used to it?

On a related note we’re on the dog version. Friend’s vet prescribed them the cat version, now licensed for GPs post op care but doses are way lower - a question for GP magazine I think. They’re not enjoying the Metacam either.
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Hi

Loxicom is just another generic brand name for metacam; there is quite a host of different generic brands now, actually. The active ingredient is called meloxicam. If you can get hold of the dog version from your vet, then please do so and persist with giving it under whichever name your vet has it in stock. Crumble will get used to it.

Plenty of tips for how to deal with uncooperative piggies are in our new support feeding/medicating guide with pictures and videos and include piggy whispering tips on how to gently assert your dominance piggy style as well: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

Unfortunately for guinea pigs, cat meloxicam (0.5mg/ml) has been officially licensed for use in small exotic pets in the UK but not dog meloxicam (1.5mg/ml) although the dosages that guinea pigs need are much better - and more cheaply - covered by dog metacam; seeing that cat meloxicam is only available in 10ml bottles while dog meloxicam is being sold in 30ml and 100ml bottles and therefore better for any long term use. A change in the licensing is not in sight.

All veterinary analgesics (i.e. painkillers/anti-inflammatories) - including meloxicam - are classed as prescription-only medication (POM) in the UK so you have to go with what the treating vet is willing to prescribe and you cannot choose.

The biggest budget cost in running a vet clinic are actually the stocking cost for relatively small amounts of medication so vets have to think carefully of what they want to keep in stock. Low cost clinics only stock a very limited range of mostly generic common meds while exotic vets have the biggest range - at a cost which is reflected in the fees. The cost of medication is still on the rise in addition to the large energy bills that a clinic generates (heating/operations and medical procedures/diagnostic instruments etc).
You may find this article here a bit of an eye opener: Pet costs - why do vets charge so much?
 
I'm currently going through a 180ml bottle of dog metacam a month 🤦‍♀️ I'm incredibly grateful that mine come running to the bars to take it, luckily they like the honey flavour. Although some do need picking up from time to time, when they're having a day they fancy being difficult 😅 the tips linked about will probably help, the very few uncooperative piggies I've had have responded well to them!
 
Thanks Wiebke I’ll check out the link. Crumble has been on the receiving end of a few syringe feeding sessions over the years - much nicer for all when he’s happy to take it and tugging for more! I wonder if it’s just the change of bottle or if there’s something more palatable in the other brand. Time will tell and it’d be interesting to know how others get on.

Having a willing recipient is nice, especially when we are away and our friends are on duty for a few days. Crumble (left) with young Chips.
39429A5A-CD58-4C02-894E-BF862093C47D.webp
 
Eriathwen said:
I'm currently going through a 180ml bottle of dog metacam a month 🤦‍♀️ I'm incredibly grateful that mine come running to the bars to take it, luckily they like the honey flavour. Although some do need picking up from time to time, when they're having a day they fancy being difficult 😅 the tips linked about will probably help, the very few uncooperative piggies I've had have responded well to them!
Click to expand...
180ml sounds expensive! I need to get our vet to issue the right prescription so we can repeat order online. We had years of thyroid pills for one of our cats and it saved us a lot over time (and her, Blackie lived to 21!).
 
Idris said:
180ml sounds expensive! I need to get our vet to issue the right prescription so we can repeat order online. We had years of thyroid pills for one of our cats and it saved us a lot over time (and her, Blackie lived to 21!).
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All the best!
 
Idris said:
180ml sounds expensive! I need to get our vet to issue the right prescription so we can repeat order online. We had years of thyroid pills for one of our cats and it saved us a lot over time (and her, Blackie lived to 21!).
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While I wouldnt say it was cheap (small bit of change from £42) I have a feeling they aren't charging me what they should, to be fair!
Fingers crossed you can get a prescription for it :)
 
Idris said:
180ml sounds expensive! I need to get our vet to issue the right prescription so we can repeat order online. We had years of thyroid pills for one of our cats and it saved us a lot over time (and her, Blackie lived to 21!).
Click to expand...

Eriathwen said:
While I wouldnt say it was cheap (small bit of change from £42) I have a feeling they aren't charging me what they should, to be fair!
Fingers crossed you can get a prescription for it :)
Click to expand...
It's certainly well worth getting metacam for long term use from an online specialist. For comparison/information, my Squeaks has been on dog metacam since March, I recently got a prescription from my vet and bought 180ml (6 months worth) from VetUK, which cost <£30 including postage. My vet charges about that for a 32ml bottle, the biggest they supply.
I do have to pay a consultation fee and a fee for the prescription which are about £35, but it's still a lot less than going to get it every month from my vet.
 
Qualcast&Flymo said:
It's certainly well worth getting metacam for long term use from an online specialist. For comparison/information, my Squeaks has been on dog metacam since March, I recently got a prescription from my vet and bought 180ml (6 months worth) from VetUK, which cost <£30 including postage. My vet charges about that for a 32ml bottle, the biggest they supply.
I do have to pay a consultation fee and a fee for the prescription which are about £35, but it's still a lot less than going to get it every month from my vet.
Click to expand...

I must admit I've thought about it, and depending on where this cost of living crisis goes I may have to eventually, but I'd rather pay a little more and know it was supporting a business I rely on, than give it to someone I don't know online if that makes sense 😅
 
Eriathwen said:
I must admit I've thought about it, and depending on where this cost of living crisis goes I may have to eventually, but I'd rather pay a little more and know it was supporting a business I rely on, than give it to someone I don't know online if that makes sense 😅
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I understand where you're coming from, and I'll still get my short term medicines from my usual vet, but the difference feels too big to ignore, especially when other expenses are going through the roof.
VetUK are at least UK based so it's not quite like buying meds via amazon or similar - that would be dodgy 👎
 
Idris said:
Anyone else had this/any tips or maybe he’ll just get used to it?
Click to expand...
George was a bit wary switching from loxicom to metacam but I the only thing I noticed was that there was a slightly sulpherous odour when the metacam bottle was opened at first. Vet said it's the same stuff but I wondered whether some sort of preservative was added to one and not the other. George went through a phase of refusing twice a day doses meaning we just had to give the lot in the morning but after a couple of weeks he went back again as he got used to it. We pay about £25 for the 32 ml and have to get him vet-checked every 3 months - the 32ml doesn't last that long but they will do a repeat prescription to collect. But it might be worth us asking next time about the prescription to use online...
 
Thanks for all your comments. £42 for a 32ml bottle at the vets- 180ml at that price is good but online is certainly under £10 plus prescription fee. Crumble will take 0.2ml then needs picking up to be given the rest, though not too resistant. With the Loxicom he’d run to the bars for it! At least with the prescription there should be less likelihood of having to take what’s available.
 
Qualcast&Flymo said:
It's certainly well worth getting metacam for long term use from an online specialist. For comparison/information, my Squeaks has been on dog metacam since March, I recently got a prescription from my vet and bought 180ml (6 months worth) from VetUK, which cost <£30 including postage. My vet charges about that for a 32ml bottle, the biggest they supply.
I do have to pay a consultation fee and a fee for the prescription which are about £35, but it's still a lot less than going to get it every month from my vet.
Click to expand...
Hi do you mind explaining how you go about using an online vet for prescriptions please? Is it just a case of asking your vet to email a prescription then uploading it to eg Vets UK?
Is it straightforward and do the meds arrive next day?
I may go down this route if the meds turn into a long term requirement.
 
Surfergirl said:
Hi do you mind explaining how you go about using an online vet for prescriptions please? Is it just a case of asking your vet to email a prescription then uploading it to eg Vets UK?
Is it straightforward and do the meds arrive next day?
I may go down this route if the meds turn into a long term requirement.
Click to expand...
Basically you can scan and upload the signed prescription from your vet.
The full details are here:
About Veterinary Medicines | VetUK
 
Surfergirl said:
Hi do you mind explaining how you go about using an online vet for prescriptions please? Is it just a case of asking your vet to email a prescription then uploading it to eg Vets UK?
Is it straightforward and do the meds arrive next day?
I may go down this route if the meds turn into a long term requirement.
Click to expand...
When my vet said that Squeaks would need Metacam/Lixicom permanently for his dental pain, I asked if she could give me a prescription for 6 months worth so that I could buy it from am online vet supplier. She printed the prescription (and embossed it for security), and when I ordered it from Vet UK I had to scan the prescription on my computer and attach a copy to the item order. It came quickly, not next day but a day or two later I think.

I had to pay the consult fee plus £18 fee for the prescription at the vet. Also with Metacam the max the vet prescribes is 6 months (180 ml bottle for Squeaks who is on 0.8-1 ml per day, 100 ml bottle for Winifred who is now on 0.4ml per day), then they have to see the vet again for another prescription.

**edited by mod to correct dosage
 
Last edited by a moderator:
i have Finley on metacam once aday,dog version.he is also on thyronorm.2.5mgs twice aday.i ask for a prescription from the vet.though my vets insist on sending the presciption themselves to the online pharmacy.it does produce considerable savings.if i needed anything in an acute situation i would get from the vet practise.Loxicom dog version is not as sweet as metacam,but Finley does still do a head dance to avoid the medication !
 
Qualcast&Flymo said:
When my vet said that Squeaks would need Metacam/Lixicom permanently for his dental pain, I asked if she could give me a prescription for 6 months worth so that I could buy it from am online vet supplier. She printed the prescription (and embossed it for security), and when I ordered it from Vet UK I had to scan the prescription on my computer and attach a copy to the item order. It came quickly, not next day but a day or two later I think.

I had to pay the consult fee plus £18 fee for the prescription at the vet. Also with Metacam the max the vet prescribes is 6 months (180 ml bottle for Squeaks who is on 0.8-1ml per day, 100 ml bottle for Winifred who is now on 0.4ml per day), then they have to see the vet again for another prescription.
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Hope you mean 0.4ml? Brwsi is on.38ml once or twice a day for his arthritis, though it’s hard to tell given how he hops in/out of the hay basket!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Idris said:
Hope you mean 0.4ml? Brwsi is on.38ml once or twice a day for his arthritis, though it’s hard to tell given how he hops in/out of the hay basket!
Click to expand...
Oops sorry, yes, that should have been 0.8-1.0ml and 0.4ml respectively 😚 That was careless of me, maybe I should get a mod to correct it.
 
Qualcast&Flymo said:
When my vet said that Squeaks would need Metacam/Lixicom permanently for his dental pain, I asked if she could give me a prescription for 6 months worth so that I could buy it from am online vet supplier. She printed the prescription (and embossed it for security), and when I ordered it from Vet UK I had to scan the prescription on my computer and attach a copy to the item order. It came quickly, not next day but a day or two later I think.

I had to pay the consult fee plus £18 fee for the prescription at the vet. Also with Metacam the max the vet prescribes is 6 months (180 ml bottle for Squeaks who is on 0.8-1 ml per day, 100 ml bottle for Winifred who is now on 0.4ml per day), then they have to see the vet again for another prescription.

**edited by mod to correct dosage
Click to expand...
That’s amazing thank you. How much would it then cost online? I’ve just picked up more meds from the vets and it’s another 3ml bottle for twenty odd quid! With another dodgy syringe that doesn’t work! 😬
 
Surfergirl said:
That’s amazing thank you. How much would it then cost online? I’ve just picked up more meds from the vets and it’s another 3ml bottle for twenty odd quid! With another dodgy syringe that doesn’t work! 😬
Click to expand...
Current prices at VetUK are £15.18 for 100ml, £21.36 for 180ml of Metacam for Dogs, or £19.69 for 100ml of Loxicom for Dogs, if your piggie has a preference. The cat version of Metacam is hugely more expensive, especially since it is one third of the strength, at £19.49 for 100ml!
Those prices could go up of course, like so much else ....
 
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