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2 piggies to the vet today :(

T

Tangle

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Since we picked up our girls after Christmas we noticed that Jemima seemed to be closing her L eye a bit, and we'd heard Fudge making a strange coughing noise and some odd clicking as well - so off to the vets we went.

Jemima's eyes got some dye and an inspection - no obvious issues damage, but her L sclera was showing significantly more veining than that on her R. So we've a tube of antibiotic eye drops for her. First dose has gone in, and Jemima is an excellent patient!

Fudge got listened to every which way and he suggested various options, the most basic being a URI so that's what we're treating for a week. We've Sulfatrim and Metacam for her. If she's not much improved then he'll be thinking that the symptoms are secondary to an issue that's either deeper in her lungs or to do with her heart or some kind of pleural issue - but we're all hoping she's going to improve!

** Quick question - the instructions on the Metacam are ambiguous and I was hoping someone could advise what's more likely while we wait for the Vet to confirm:
We have 1.5mg/ml dog Metacam and the label he printed says "Dose twice daily for 0.6ml with food". We /think/ that's two doses of 0.3ml each (total 0.6ml across the day), but it's not entirely clear - can anyone help? **

(She didn't mind the Metacam. She Did Not Like the Sulfatrim...)
 
Hope your piggies recover well!
I would think that 0.3mls dog metacam twice a day (to give 0.6mls total each day) is more likely as neither a URI or a slightly sore eye is likely to cause extreme pain and that's still quite a big daily dose. But of course do check with the vet! X
 
PigglePuggle said:
Hope your piggies recover well!
I would think that 0.3mls dog metacam twice a day (to give 0.6mls total each day) is more likely as neither a URI or a slightly sore eye is likely to cause extreme pain and that's still quite a big daily dose. But of course do check with the vet! X
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Thank you - I've sent them an email, so hopefully I'll get a reply in the morning. Just didn't want to leave her in discomfort if we were misinterpreting, but it does sound like 0.3ml x 2 is the way to go. We're hoping they pick up quickly, too!
 
I would recommend just spending a little bit more time and give them the full dose at once (not 2x) as it should only be given once a day even if it will be the same dose. Also if you are worried about discomfort I would definitely recommend giving the full dose as then the medicine will be stronger at once and not just a small dose to remove a little bit of it. I would here with the vet, but I think it will also be less stressful for your piggie(s?)
 
Thebubbypiggies said:
I would recommend just spending a little bit more time and give them the full dose at once (not 2x) as it should only be given once a day even if it will be the same dose. Also if you are worried about discomfort I would definitely recommend giving the full dose as then the medicine will be stronger at once and not just a small dose to remove a little bit of it. I would here with the vet, but I think it will also be less stressful for your piggie(s?)
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I am afraid this is incorrect. Guinea pigs have fast metabolisms and require pain relief twice a day.
 
Piggies&buns said:
I am afraid this is incorrect. Guinea pigs have fast metabolisms and require pain relief twice a day.
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I’ve never been adviced by vet to give twice a day, so probably different from what you are giving. Also the meds goes into the blood stream and the system not out with their pee and poop
 
Thebubbypiggies said:
I’ve never been adviced by vet to give twice a day, so probably different from what you are giving. Also the meds goes into the blood stream and the system not out with their pee and poop
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Hi @Thebubbypiggies, by metabolism @Piggies&buns means the rate at which medication in the blood stream is broken down by the liver and excreted by the kidneys, and the metabolic products are then not the active ingredients and no longer give any pain relief and are indeed passed out in the pee. Usually it is recommended to split a metacam dose for piggies as none will be left in the system after 12 hours. Also the highest dose generally given routinely for minor ailments doesnt usually exceed 0.4mls of dog metacam at a time.
So of course the vet should be asked for clarification, but 0.3mls twice a day falls in the more likely range of possibilities given usual prescribing and dosing regimes for guinea pigs.
 
PigglePuggle said:
Hi @Thebubbypiggies, by metabolism @Piggies&buns means the rate at which medication in the blood stream is broken down by the liver and excreted by the kidneys, and the metabolic products are then not the active ingredients and no longer give any pain relief and are indeed passed out in the pee. Usually it is recommended to split a metacam dose for piggies as none will be left in the system after 12 hours. Also the highest dose generally given routinely for minor ailments doesnt usually exceed 0.4mls of dog metacam at a time.
So of course the vet should be asked for clarification, but 0.3mls twice a day falls in the more likely range of possibilities given usual prescribing and dosing regimes for guinea pigs.
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:agr: Completely. Great explanation by @PigglePuggle
 
PigglePuggle said:
Hi @Thebubbypiggies, by metabolism @Piggies&buns means the rate at which medication in the blood stream is broken down by the liver and excreted by the kidneys, and the metabolic products are then not the active ingredients and no longer give any pain relief and are indeed passed out in the pee. Usually it is recommended to split a metacam dose for piggies as none will be left in the system after 12 hours. Also the highest dose generally given routinely for minor ailments doesnt usually exceed 0.4mls of dog metacam at a time.
So of course the vet should be asked for clarification, but 0.3mls twice a day falls in the more likely range of possibilities given usual prescribing and dosing regimes for guinea pigs.
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Ok, then I understand. So sorry. I’ve never had more than 0.4 metacam with dog (on guinea pigs) and it was never said more than once. My vet said clearly both in voice and on paper that it should only be given once a day.
 
eileen said:
metacam maybe given in this case for its antinflammtory properties as well as for pain.i agree with the others the vet needs to clarify the dose 🤗
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Yea, because metacam is also used to remove some inflammatory? Right? I used it like that with pain killers too, like those together If that made sense? Like just metacam but I didn’t just use it for the pain killer. (Was clarified by vet)
 
Thebubbypiggies said:
Yes, I understood now, and I’m sorry I said wrong:)
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I just misunderstood and didn’t mean to give a bad advice. Once a day is just from my vet as I only used it on an uri once with a dose of 0.4 of dog metacam. I used it as both pain killers and as an anti inflammatory. So i don’t know if I used it mostly as an anti inflammatory.
 
VickiA said:
That’s OK. We all learn something new most days here on the forum, no one person knows everything. We are here to help educate as well as to support members.
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If I have to use it again I will ask my vet. Might be because of what you use metacam for?
 
Thebubbypiggies said:
If I have to use it again I will ask my vet. Might be because of what you use metacam for?
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just if in doubt ask your vet. In the old days vets didn’t understand fully about guinea pig metabolism and almost always gave a once a day dose of pain killer (if they have any at all). Times have moved on and over the last 10 years or so piggy metacam has been prescribed twice daily to make sure it provides adequate pain relief for piggies.
 
VickiA said:
just if in doubt ask your vet. In the old days vets didn’t understand fully about guinea pig metabolism and almost always gave a once a day dose of pain killer (if they have any at all). Times have moved on and over the last 10 years or so piggy metacam has been prescribed twice daily to make sure it provides adequate pain relief for piggies.
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Yea, that might be it. Do you use piggy metacam? Like made for piggies?
 
Thebubbypiggies said:
Yea, that might be it. Do you use piggy metacam? Like made for piggies?
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Cat metacam has been licensed for piggies for pain relief post soft tissue surgery. For all other pain relief vets can go off licence and give dog metacam
 
Thebubbypiggies said:
Ok, then I understand. So sorry. I’ve never had more than 0.4 metacam with dog (on guinea pigs) and it was never said more than once. My vet said clearly both in voice and on paper that it should only be given once a day.
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no worries @Thebubbypiggies ,you have to be careful what you write in the health and illness section because if it is incorrect it can be misleading to the member/members.that is why i only respond in this section if ive had any experience with my own piggies.the health and illness members have been vetted and have extensive accurate knowledge to answer inthis section.
 
eileen said:
no worries @Thebubbypiggies ,you have to be careful what you write in the health and illness section because if it is incorrect it can be misleading to the member/members.that is why i only respond in this section if ive had any experience with my own piggies.the health and illness members have been vetted and have extensive accurate knowledge to answer inthis section.
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I have experience myself too. But with different metacam. As some use piggie metacam and others dog and cat.
 
VickiA said:
Cat metacam has been licensed for piggies for pain relief post soft tissue surgery. For all other pain relief vets can go off licence and give dog metacam
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Ok, I got dog metacam for my piggie in a dose of 0.4 to give once a day as instructed by vet. And this is a good guinea pig vet.
 
Thebubbypiggies said:
Ok, I got dog metacam for my piggie in a dose of 0.4 to give once a day as instructed by vet. And this is a good guinea pig vet.
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we can’t give prescribing advice I’m afraid but it might be worth speaking to your vet about splitting the dose 12 hourly due to metabolism.
 
VickiA said:
we can’t give prescribing advice I’m afraid but it might be worth speaking to your vet about splitting the dose 12 hourly due to metabolism.
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Yea, definitely talk to a vet, that’s a great advise for everyone
 
@Thebubbypiggies don't panic. Many vets don't fully understand the metabolism and rules yet. My vets are great with piggies but one or two of the vets there still believe they can only have metacam once a day and since cat metacam has been licensed for piggies that's all they prescribe now which is quite frustrating. The specialist I go to will prescribe dog metacam and twice a day if needed
 
eileen said:
no worries @Thebubbypiggies ,you have to be careful what you write in the health and illness section because if it is incorrect it can be misleading to the member/members.that is why i only respond in this section if ive had any experience with my own piggies.the health and illness members have been vetted and have extensive accurate knowledge to answer inthis section.
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"Vetted" makes me worry someone might stick a thermometer up my bum @eileen lol not to derail the original thread any more than we already have!
But everyone should really just check with the vet and if you have your own medication questions @Thebubbypiggies you should start your own thread as we are spamming up the original thread which @Tangle started about her own poorly piggies, I'm sure she doesnt want to read a comparative pharmacology debate she just wants her piggies to get well! Sorry @Tangle kisses to your piggies x
 
Don't worry - I find the comparative pharmacology quite interesting :lol!:

That said, @PigglePuggle is correct in that my main goal is to get my piggies better. The love kisses, btw, and send some back your way 😘.
(Feeling slightly more worried now - Fudge was 1072g yesterday and 1050g tonight :(. Hopefully she'll feel perkier again soon.)

Here they are chilling out - Fudge in the nest and Jemima in a bag of hay :luv:
IMG_3470.webpIMG_3600.webp
 
Tangle said:
Don't worry - I find the comparative pharmacology quite interesting :lol!:

That said, @PigglePuggle is correct in that my main goal is to get my piggies better. The love kisses, btw, and send some back your way 😘.
(Feeling slightly more worried now - Fudge was 1072g yesterday and 1050g tonight :(. Hopefully she'll feel perkier again soon.)

Here they are chilling out - Fudge in the nest and Jemima in a bag of hay :luv:
View attachment 130133View attachment 130134
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Weight can drop and increase by around 30 grams every day. If they have eaten, pooped etc. Just like humans. Keep an eye on the weight if it keeps dropping. But don’t worry to much about that as long as it doesn’t drop more.
 
Please don’t worry about a small weight fluctuation unless it’s a persistent downward trend. My Felix is quite poorly and I have to weigh him daily and his weight fluctuates by around 25g each day.
Get well soon Fudge and Jemima. X
 
OK - heard back from the vets. Two doses of 6ml each. Not what I expected, but he's a very well regarded vet for guinea pigs so I guess we'll go with it!

She really isn't a Sulfatrim fan, but I think the Little Miss is joining the club of Metacam junkies :lol:
 
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