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Pelvic Symphysis Dilated - Pain Management

al34ex

al34ex

New Born Pup
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Hi everyone,

One of my piggies, Charlie (about a year old) gave birth last November to 3 healthy babies (she was unknowingly pregnant when I got her last September).

Since then, she has been struggling with dirty wet urine bum (with no other symptoms) and despite my best efforts to keep her clean, it became clear that something else must be going on. I got her to the vet a few weeks ago. She got 2 x-rays and ruled out stones (yay). However, one of the x-rays showed the following:
  • Pelvic symphysis dilated
  • Increased opacity and sclerosis of the hips (R>L)
She was put on 0.1mL of Metacam/day for 10 days, as well as Bactrim (0.25mL 2x/day) for 14 days, just in case there was a mild UTI. However, the vet and I both agree that it is likely the pelvis issue causing discomfort that is leading to the urine staining.

So, now that she has finished her Bactrim, I’ve been told by my wonderful vet that I could continue to use the Metacam as needed. Her bum seems to be a bit better, but it seemed to be better when she was on the Metacam.

My question is: Is there anything I can do to help her manage the pain other than giving the Metacam every so often? I’ve read online about glucosamine or other joint supplements. Would this be helpful at all?

Side Rant: I’m so angry at whoever let her get pregnant. Obviously I’m glad that she is alive and the babies are well, but I hate that she could potentially have this chronic pain/discomfort for the long-term.

Any advice/guidance is much appreciated!
 
al34ex said:
Hi everyone,

One of my piggies, Charlie (about a year old) gave birth last November to 3 healthy babies (she was unknowingly pregnant when I got her last September).

Since then, she has been struggling with dirty wet urine bum (with no other symptoms) and despite my best efforts to keep her clean, it became clear that something else must be going on. I got her to the vet a few weeks ago. She got 2 x-rays and ruled out stones (yay). However, one of the x-rays showed the following:
  • Pelvic symphysis dilated
  • Increased opacity and sclerosis of the hips (R>L)
She was put on 0.1mL of Metacam/day for 10 days, as well as Bactrim (0.25mL 2x/day) for 14 days, just in case there was a mild UTI. However, the vet and I both agree that it is likely the pelvis issue causing discomfort that is leading to the urine staining.

So, now that she has finished her Bactrim, I’ve been told by my wonderful vet that I could continue to use the Metacam as needed. Her bum seems to be a bit better, but it seemed to be better when she was on the Metacam.

My question is: Is there anything I can do to help her manage the pain other than giving the Metacam every so often? I’ve read online about glucosamine or other joint supplements. Would this be helpful at all?

Side Rant: I’m so angry at whoever let her get pregnant. Obviously I’m glad that she is alive and the babies are well, but I hate that she could potentially have this chronic pain/discomfort for the long-term.

Any advice/guidance is much appreciated!
Click to expand...

Hi!

Could you please tell us what weight Charlie is and what strength of metacam she is on - dog or cat? Dog strength is three times stronger than cat but in either case it is very low; in the case of cat metacam right at very lowest end.
She may need to be on the metacam for the rest of her life but unlike cats or dogs, guinea pigs tolerate it a lot better and need much higher dosages than larger prey animal pets. Because of the high metabolism, metacam should be given twice daily (ideally keeping to roughly a 12 hours rhythm.

It would be good if your vet would be willing to set up a repeat prescription for dog metacam so you can manage the pain level at need. The metacam will build up so you can find her own maintenance level and adapt to it.

You may want to discuss with your vet whether they think that a glucosamine joint supplement for the sclerosis may help in the longer term; the effect wouldn't be immediate but will build up gradually over the course of some weeks. Please accept that none of it a vet or can replace one and that we have also no direct access to your piggy.

I am very sorry that your girl has suffered permanent damage from getting a too large baby out. One of my own adoptees, Taffy, was found to have a dilated pelvis as a result of a difficult birth (one of an estimated 3-4 back-to-back ones) at the neglect breeder's before she was rescued as a part of a large multi-rodent/rabbit rescues that ran to over 300 of them. Despite her horrible start, Taffy lived to 6 years; so your good care can make a big difference in the long term. With piggies like her and Charlie, try to see every day she lives in comfort and has an enriched life as a gift. Guinea pigs measure a good life in happy todays and not in a set life expectancy.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi!

Could you please tell us what weight Charlie is and what strength of metacam she is on - dog or cat? Dog strength is three times stronger than cat but in either case it is very low; in the case of cat metacam right at very lowest end.
She may need to be on the metacam for the rest of her life but unlike cats or dogs, guinea pigs tolerate it a lot better and need much higher dosages than larger prey animal pets. Because of the high metabolism, metacam should be given twice daily (ideally keeping to roughly a 12 hours rhythm.

It would be good if your vet would be willing to set up a repeat prescription for dog metacam so you can manage the pain level at need. The metacam will build up so you can find her own maintenance level and adapt to it.

You may want to discuss with your vet whether they think that a glucosamine joint supplement for the sclerosis may help in the longer term; the effect wouldn't be immediate but will build up gradually over the course of some weeks. Please accept that none of it a vet or can replace one and that we have also no direct access to your piggy.

I am very sorry that your girl has suffered permanent damage from getting a too large baby out. One of my own adoptees, Taffy, was found to have a dilated pelvis as a result of a difficult birth (one of an estimated 3-4 back-to-back ones) at the neglect breeder's before she was rescued as a part of a large multi-rodent/rabbit rescues that ran to over 300 of them. Despite her horrible start, Taffy lived to 6 years; so your good care can make a big difference in the long term. With piggies like her and Charlie, try to see every day she lives in comfort and has an enriched life as a gift. Guinea pigs measure a good life in happy todays and not in a set life expectancy.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your support and advice.

Charlie is 880g as of this morning. I’m not sure if it’s dog or cat Metacam but the concentration is Meloxicam 5mg/ml. I did read that the dose should be split into two per day, so I had been giving 0.05mL 2x/day. I will ask about a recurring prescription (she gave me 5cc to start with, so that could last me a while).

Also, I will definitely follow-up with my vet about supplements.
 
al34ex said:
Thank you for your support and advice.

Charlie is 880g as of this morning. I’m not sure if it’s dog or cat Metacam but the concentration is Meloxicam 5mg/ml. I did read that the dose should be split into two per day, so I had been giving 0.05mL 2x/day. I will ask about a recurring prescription (she gave me 5cc to start with, so that could last me a while).

Also, I will definitely follow-up with my vet about supplements.
Click to expand...
I am guessing you mean 0.5mg/ml which is the cat version. The dose you are giving is tiny. We tend to use the dog version, which is three times stronger and give around 0.3ml, twice daily to a guinea pig the size of yours. That would equate to 0.9ml of cat Metacam/Loxicom, twice daily.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
I am guessing you mean 0.5mg/ml which is the cat version. The dose you are giving is tiny. We tend to use the dog version, which is three times stronger and give around 0.3ml, twice daily to a guinea pig the size of yours. That would equate to 0.9ml of cat Metacam/Loxicom, twice daily.
Click to expand...

A7156BD0-C502-4C1F-8396-25F3B1CCB2CC.webp
I think it actually is 5mg/mL. It seemed odd to me at first but my vet compounds medication for small animals at special doses, so maybe that’s why it is different from the typical dog/cat strengths?

^this picture is from the vet visit summary. It’s also listed that way on the bottle.
 
al34ex said:
Thank you for your support and advice.

Charlie is 880g as of this morning. I’m not sure if it’s dog or cat Metacam but the concentration is Meloxicam 5mg/ml. I did read that the dose should be split into two per day, so I had been giving 0.05mL 2x/day. I will ask about a recurring prescription (she gave me 5cc to start with, so that could last me a while).

Also, I will definitely follow-up with my vet about supplements.
Click to expand...

The dosage of cat metacam you have been prescribed for once a day is low as your vet can give and is basically cosmetic rather than anything else. For an adult human, it would be about the equivalent of a quarter of a baby paracetamol tablet once a day.

The kind of long term maintenance dose for piggies of mine with arthritis is about 0.15-0.25 ml in dog metacam (depending on size), which equals about 0.45-0.75 ml of cat metacam. Because of the higher dosages required for guinea pigs, dog metacam is more practical for long term use.

With cat metacam you can safely go up 1ml of cat metacam twice daily in extreme pain for a piggy your size (1.2 ml cat or 0.4 ml dog metacam twice daily for a 1 kg piggy), just to give you an idea what league you are playing in; with Dylan's brewing dental abscess over the Christmas 2019 holiday, he's been on even higher to prevent it from blowing up at the worst time possible. He's still there - and the abscess has thankfully stayed put.
 
al34ex said:
View attachment 173015
I think it actually is 5mg/mL. It seemed odd to me at first but my vet compounds medication for small animals at special doses, so maybe that’s why it is different from the typical dog/cat strengths?

^this picture is from the vet visit summary. It’s also listed that way on the bottle.
Click to expand...

Cat metacam/meloxicam is 0.5mg/ml while dog is 1.5mg/ml; so it is clear that you have been prescribed cat metacam. ;)
 
al34ex said:
View attachment 173015
I think it actually is 5mg/mL. It seemed odd to me at first but my vet compounds medication for small animals at special doses, so maybe that’s why it is different from the typical dog/cat strengths?

^this picture is from the vet visit summary. It’s also listed that way on the bottle.
Click to expand...
I always thought the 5ml/ml was the injectable variety, but someone may correct me. I was pretty sure the oral meds were either 0.5ml/mg or 1.5ml/mg
 
Wiebke said:
Sorry, yes, it has come up properly this time. I shouldn't try medication computation with a pounding headache .
Click to expand...

Haha it’s all good.

Now I’m genuinely curious and want to check in with my vet to see if it is supposed to say “0.5mg/mL” or if they do compound it themselves to create a “5mg/mL” oral suspension
 
al34ex said:
Haha it’s all good.

Now I’m genuinely curious and want to check in with my vet to see if it is supposed to say “0.5mg/mL” or if they do compound it themselves to create a “5mg/mL” oral suspension
Click to expand...
Definitely worth having a conversation with your vet! 😊
 
Definitely worth asking your vet about strength and dosages. Anyway, it would explain the otherwise extremely low dosage if what you have been given is 10 times stronger than the normal oral cat meloxican/metacam. :tu:
I would also discuss whether you can split the dosage and give every 12 hours because of the faster metabolism.

As your vet knows the case, they have a better judgement as to whether a joint supplemt would or wouldn't contribute to longer term comfort in this particular case.
 
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