Metacam Dosage

[Cuddles With Cavies]

Amber has lymphoma and is on a long term course of pain killers. She’s normally on meloxaid but I ran out over the weekend and my usual vets was shut. I was able to go to a different vets who gave me some metacam (dogs) for her. She was having 0.5ml of meloxaid twice a day but the vet I spoke to said this was incredibly high (which I knew and tried to explain why she’s on such a high dose) and she should be on something much lower.

He said that she needs 0.05ml of the metacam twice a day with food. I know that’s a pretty low dose for metacam so I thought I’d just check with you guys.
Amber currently weighs 1140g

 

[Lady Kelly]

It does sound fairly low but I would see how she goes, if after a day or so it isn't controlling the pain then go back to either of the vets to discuss an increase

 

[Wiebke]

Amber has lymphoma and is on a long term course of pain killers. She’s normally on meloxaid but I ran out over the weekend and my usual vets was shut. I was able to go to a different vets who gave me some metacam (dogs) for her. She was having 0.5ml of meloxaid twice a day but the vet I spoke to said this was incredibly high (which I knew and tried to explain why she’s on such a high dose) and she should be on something much lower.

He said that she needs 0.05ml of the metacam twice a day with food. I know that’s a pretty low dose for metacam so I thought I’d just check with you guys.
Amber currently weighs 1140g

0.05 ml is the absolute minimal dose that can be prescribed. Unlike dogs or cats (and what general vets are often not aware of), guinea pigs have a much higher metabolism and can tolerate high levels of metacam without getting kidney problems. 0.05 ml is the equivalent of one drop.

Your regular vet is pushing the metacam dose as high as they dare, seeing that it is not for the long term (which would be around 0.3 ml dog metacam twice daily for that weight). The next step up would be tramadol.

 

[Abi_nurse]

0.05ml will have no therapeutic value - i.e. It will not give any pain relief. In your piggies case we would be going up towards the 0.5ml dosage. (This is coming from exotic specialist vets) There is no evidence to suggest that this high dose causes any side effects and shows it gives pain relief.

Just to clarify what is the concentration of the meloxicam (the dog is 1.5mg/ml and the cat 0.5mg/ml - we always use the dog due to the high dosage needed)

 

[sport_billy]

I would advise going back to your normal vet and getting the dose adjusted to keep her pain free. Unfortunately it is palliative care with lymphoma so quality of life is key, most vets will dose higher with metacam for end of life care as the long term effect on kidneys will not be an issue. It doesn't sound like the vet you went to understood why your piggy is on a higher dose.

meloxaid is another brand for metacam can you let us know wether it was dog meloxaid 1.5mg/ml or cat meloxaid 0.5mg/ml either way please get back to your regular vet who is providing care for your piggy asap.

Sending love to Amber

 

[Cuddles With Cavies]

0.05ml will have no therapeutic value - i.e. It will not give any pain relief. In your piggies case we would be going up towards the 0.5ml dosage. (This is coming from exotic specialist vets) There is no evidence to suggest that this high dose causes any side effects and shows it gives pain relief.

Just to clarify what is the concentration of the meloxicam (the dog is 1.5mg/ml and the cat 0.5mg/ml - we always use the dog due to the high dosage needed)

Thanks and yes it is the dog one and the strength is the 1.5mg/ml

 

[Cuddles With Cavies]

I would advise going back to your normal vet and getting the dose adjusted to keep her pain free. Unfortunately it is palliative care with lymphoma so quality of life is key, most vets will dose higher with metacam for end of life care as the long term effect on kidneys will not be an issue. It doesn't sound like the vet you went to understood why your piggy is on a higher dose.

meloxaid is another brand for metacam can you let us know wether it was dog meloxaid 1.5mg/ml or cat meloxaid 0.5mg/ml either way please get back to your regular vet who is providing care for your piggy asap.

Sending love to Amber

Thank you and I shall do. It was literally just because my regular vets was closed which is why I went to this other one.

 

[sport_billy]

Thanks and yes it is the dog one and the strength is the 1.5mg/ml

So you can see your vet was doing high for palliative care and the emergency vet has dropped dose not really understanding what is going on,

We lost a piggy to Lymphoma so i know what you are going through Treacle has Lymphoma The thread has a sad ending but she had a happy life until the end.

Cuddles to Amber

 

[JenniferG]

There's a difference between dog and cat metacam. My last prescription was dog metacam and my piggy, about the same weight, had a dosage of 0.75 ml.