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Metacam (arthrocam) dosing sense check

LMPigs

LMPigs

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Hello

Our senior guinea Toasted Marshmallow is having a plethora of health issues at the moment unfortunately and as part of that he's taking metacam (it's labelled arthrocam but I understand that is a brand name for the same thing). I've just picked up a new bottle from the vets and it's the dog version rather than the cat version (I assume that is what that had to hand) so the dosage has changed.

On the cat version we were giving him 0.32 once a day. The dog one which I have just picked up days to do 0.33 twice a day. So essentially double the dose.

I should be able to give the vets a call later but I thought it might be faster to get a sense check here as I know some people have used both- does it seem right to give an approx double dose of the dog version (i.e. is the cat one twice as strong)?

Thank you!
 
The cat version is 0.5 mg/ml and dog is 1.5mg/ml so dog version is three times stronger than cat version.

If this is simply a change in product and once a day of cat was enough for your piggy (often doses of cat are given twice a day anyway) then it does seem odd for the dose is now higher if there has been no clinical change to your piggies needs.
Definitely ring and check with them.

(The dog dose you have been given is not out of the realms for a dose but it is up to the vet to decide upon clinical need.)
 
Piggies&buns said:
The cat version is 0.5 mg/ml and dog is 1.5mg/ml so dog version is three times stronger than cat version.

If this is simply a change in product and once a day of cat was enough for your piggy (often doses of cat are given twice a day anyway) then it does seem odd for the dose is now higher if there has been no clinical change to your piggies needs.
Definitely ring and check with them.

(The dog dose you have been given is not out of the realms for a dose but it is up to the vet to decide upon clinical need.)
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Hi

The previous cat metacam dosage was actually very much at the lowest possible end of the prescription bandwidth (bordering on cosmetic) while the new dog metacam dosage is now 6 times stronger (between the higher concentration and the twice daily application) but it is onsistent with treating for fairly substantial chronic pain in a normally sized piggy.

It is about just over half to two thirds up of the possible maximum dosage for a ca. 1 kilo piggy so you need not worry about overdosing.

However, if you have any concerns you are always within your rights to have the new dosage explained by the clinic/your vet.
 
Ok interesting, thank you. We did think the previous one was low and I had talked to her about increasing it but I'm not sure if this amount of increase in one go was intentional! I'll see if I can get hold of the vet today then.
 
LMPigs said:
Ok interesting, thank you. We did think the previous one was low and I had talked to her about increasing it but I'm not sure if this amount of increase in one go was intentional! I'll see if I can get hold of the vet today then.
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Personally, I am usually happy with your new current dosage level with piggies of mine that are battling one or more health issues, including arthritis.

All the best.
 
Thanks Wiebke, that's also helpful to know. He does indeed have arthritis, although unfortunately also a plethora of neurological symptoms which are harder to get to the bottom of.
 
LMPigs said:
Just to close the loop here, I spoke to the vet who confirmed that she did indeed increase the dose on purpose. Hopefully it will make him more comfortable. Thank you for the input.
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If he has arthritis, the other thing you can do for him is to put him on 0.4 ml a day (for a ca. 1 kilo piggy) of Johnsons strong 4joints liquid for dogs (UK brand).

Glucosamine is classed as a food supplement. It is not a prescription-only medication so your vet won't have it in stock but the glucosamine will coat the bones and make movement a lot easier over the course of a few weeks (it needs a bit of time to build up).
The liquid glucosamine is easiest to give in my own experience with a whole string of arthritic oldies (whose dog metacam was usually in the area you have been prescribed - weight and size adjusted of course - and it really makes a difference. You can order online or find in any pet shop (don't say it's for a guinea pig).
 
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