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Christian was at emergency vet appointment this morning!

Christian is eating well at least. He has eaten a few pellets, a bit of hay and a bowlful of grass on his own as well as around 30ml of syringed SS Recovery Plus.

PigglePuggle said:
That metacam dose sounds a bit low but possibly they want to assess how much pain he's in and what range of movement he has without too much pain relief
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I questioned it as when Velvet had her uti the other week she was given 0.6ml of dog metacam and that is 3 times as strong as cat metacam but the vet had the dosage of cat metacam up on the computer and she went to see a colleague about it too to confirm the dose.
 
So sorry to hear about Christian. Hopefully it’s just a sprain.

Can I ask why he’d be put to sleep if it were a break? Is there no way to rehabilitate him?
 
Oh Christian what have you done to yourself? I do hope it isn't anything serious and that you feel better soon.💕
 
Last time we were at the vets with Ollie the lovely vet Alessandro calculated what he thought was the exact safe dosage of metacam/loxicom for us... so according to the recommendations our vet looked up Ollie was near the maximum recommended safe dose of dog loxicom at 0.4mls, for a 1kg piggy. So that would be 1.2mls of cat loxicom per day, per kilo of piggy.
I remember previously doing my own calculations based on the scientific paper that first proved loxicom should be recommended for licensed use in piggies and coming up with a ballpark figure of up to 1ml cat loxicom being ok for a piggy over 1kg in the short term if they are in a lot of pain...
Tallulah had 0.24mls cat loxicom per day for her abscess wound and she weighed 600g? So I think if Christian is in pain you could speak to the vet about safely doubling the dose or giving it twice a day rather than once a day, as I think he's a fairly big fella?
Poor chap, so shaken up to hear about a nasty accident like this in a piggy we hear about so much on the forum!
 
PigglePuggle said:
Last time we were at the vets with Ollie the lovely vet Alessandro calculated what he thought was the exact safe dosage of metacam/loxicom for us... so according to the recommendations our vet looked up Ollie was near the maximum recommended safe dose of dog loxicom at 0.4mls, for a 1kg piggy. So that would be 1.2mls of cat loxicom per day, per kilo of piggy.
I remember previously doing my own calculations based on the scientific paper that first proved loxicom should be recommended for licensed use in piggies and coming up with a ballpark figure of up to 1ml cat loxicom being ok for a piggy over 1kg in the short term if they are in a lot of pain...
Tallulah had 0.24mls cat loxicom per day for her abscess wound and she weighed 600g? So I think if Christian is in pain you could speak to the vet about safely doubling the dose or giving it twice a day rather than once a day, as I think he's a fairly big fella?
Poor chap, so shaken up to hear about a nasty accident like this in a piggy we hear about so much on the forum!
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Thanks so much for that @PigglePuggle I did question the dosage as soon as I knew it was cat Metacam he was being given. She showed me on the screen the dosage and she wasn't happy to prescribe more because she was worried about liver damage. I know that with a high metabolic rate that piggies should be given Metacam twice a day but she wouldn't hear about that. Christian weighed in this morning at the vets at 1030g. I'll weigh him tomorrow morning to see if he is the same. Last week, at his weekly check he weighed in at 1044g so not much of a weight loss just the full/empty bladder one so not that worried about it. He has been pooping loads and it smells like wee in the hospital cage but I don't want to check it until tomorrow when I change the washable pee pad in there (there is a disposable one underneath as well that I'll change at the same time. The washable on isn't quite big enough :doh: and Christian needs to be on something soft) as I don't want to handle him too much.
 
PigglePuggle said:
Last time we were at the vets with Ollie the lovely vet Alessandro calculated what he thought was the exact safe dosage of metacam/loxicom for us... so according to the recommendations our vet looked up Ollie was near the maximum recommended safe dose of dog loxicom at 0.4mls, for a 1kg piggy. So that would be 1.2mls of cat loxicom per day, per kilo of piggy.
I remember previously doing my own calculations based on the scientific paper that first proved loxicom should be recommended for licensed use in piggies and coming up with a ballpark figure of up to 1ml cat loxicom being ok for a piggy over 1kg in the short term if they are in a lot of pain...
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My vet is also happy to prescribe metacam 0.4 mls per kg.

@Betsy ... Here's an old thread which discusses metacam dosage

Help calculating metacam dose
 
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I do wish his injuries are not too serious so he can get better without multiple surgeries. At 3, he still has a lot of years left.
Poor chap.
 
Jemimah, Priscilla and Phoebe all send Christian their love and piggy kisses.
They hope he feels better soon.
 
Well just got back from the vets. Christian is a lot brighter this morning and is trying to move but he can't control his back legs too well and is dragging them both behind him most of the time. He was looking for his 4am feed this morning which means he does want to eat too. The vet is happy for me to keep monitoring Christian as he is pooping and weeing lots so obviously he is processing food and liquids and his wee and pooping machines are working which she said they may not do. She now thinks it may be some sort of nerve damage. I'm going to miss a syringe feed to see if he will eat for himself and then I'll feed him again around midday. If I keep his tummy full he won't want to eat on his own. He has been chomping away on grass and a few pellets this morning so hopefully he'll start eating for himself properly very soon. I am going away for the Bank Holiday weekend and I may have to take a Guinea Pig with me. My OH is not thrilled at the prospect of a little guest staying with us in the caravan but if Christian needs to come he needs to come.
 
Betsy said:
Well just got back from the vets. Christian is a lot brighter this morning and is trying to move but he can't control his back legs too well and is dragging them both behind him most of the time. He was looking for his 4am feed this morning which means he does want to eat too. The vet is happy for me to keep monitoring Christian as he is pooping and weeing lots so obviously he is processing food and liquids and his wee and pooping machines are working which she said they may not do. She now thinks it may be some sort of nerve damage. I'm going to miss a syringe feed to see if he will eat for himself and then I'll feed him again around midday. If I keep his tummy full he won't want to eat on his own. He has been chomping away on grass and a few pellets this morning so hopefully he'll start eating for himself properly very soon. I am going away for the Bank Holiday weekend and I may have to take a Guinea Pig with me. My OH is not thrilled at the prospect of a little guest staying with us in the caravan but if Christian needs to come he needs to come.
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oh dear. nerve damage dam.
Little Cocoa had similar with her back legs for months before the big c beat her.but she got around and ok I had to bath her etc but was a pleasure to see her enjoy life.
So Christian will I'm sure.
If I lived nearer I would offer to look after him whilst you guys were a away. xx
 
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Where are you going on holiday? You might pass an experienced member on route. Just an idea. Personaly i would take him with me on holiday, but caravans do get quite stuffy and hot
 
Aw, glad he’s bright and pooping and peeing. Sometimes with nerve damage that can stop that process, so that’s good news it’s all working down below! If he has bruised the nerves it may take a while for any swelling to go down so fingers crossed there will full recovery for little Christian.
I think he will be fine in the caravan, we took our two boys with us last year for a long weekend and they were fine. Find a place we’re the sun does not come round and shut the curtains and leave the all the windows on vent. There was nets so were quick lucky. We were a bit worried first day as weather was lovely, came back from long walk at 3.00 ish thinking they would be too hot and they were fine x
 
David Piggie Lover said:
If I lived nearer I would offer to look after him whilst you guys were a away
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Thanks so much Dave! The thought is appreciated. The vet said he would get sore dragging his back legs behind him all the time and if he gets no better we will have to think what is best for him. I think she has started to prepare me to think about the long sleep for my precious boy.
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
Where are you going on holiday? You might pass an experienced member on route. Just an idea. Personaly i would take him with me on holiday, but caravans do get quite stuffy and hot
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We are going down to Swanage in Dorset towing the caravan which we will pick up en route from Broadstone, Dorset. The caravan can get quite hot and stuffy if it is a hot day so I am a bit concerned about that but if I have to take a piggy I will.
 
Poor Christian! Come on little man you can do this. Fingers crossed and healing vibes that it's just swelling and will get better. If it's to hot at the caravan could you pop his cage under it during the day in the shade, only if you can keep an eye on him of course.x
 
Not quite the same but with Pedro’s horrifying abscess he obviously had a bit of brain damage too with all the swelling in his face etc. Took him a good few weeks to get back to bouncing and moving normally again (guess the swelling must have taken a while to calm down) but can’t blooming stop him now!
Really hope will be the same for Christian and he’ll be moving well again in no time xx
 
Betsy said:
Thanks so much Dave! The thought is appreciated. The vet said he would get sore dragging his back legs behind him all the time and if he gets no better we will have to think what is best for him. I think she has started to prepare me to think about the long sleep for my precious boy.
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Ok. Cocoa had zero use of her back end but she got on in Cube. hay tray. food. for 9 months she was amazing. hard to watch but I promise you she never got sore . . she loved her baths. 20180630_215626.jpg
20181106_182205.webpThat piggie was braver than i
 
So sorry about poor Christian! Hope he recovers well soon. Sending all the healing vibes!

I had the same issue about metacam at my vets, the metacam people have made changes to doses after some research but I wouldn’t buy cat metacam (it was £56 for less in a bottle compared to £32 for dog which of course is 3x as strong!). My vet was reluctant at first but considering Iggy was on 0.4 of dog and the new guide says 0.2 of cat I’m very sceptical. It wouldn’t even work as pain relief for him. She also mentioned liver/kidney damage and such as well regarding the new research but I didn’t think it affected pigs like it does cats and dogs. I’ve just continued his dog metacam with the view of decreasing if he ever manages his IC.
 
Oh poor Christian. Let’s hope that with rest, anti inflammatory and your TLC he recovers the use of his legs xx
 
Cavy Kung-Fu said:
So sorry about poor Christian! Hope he recovers well soon. Sending all the healing vibes!

I had the same issue about metacam at my vets, the metacam people have made changes to doses after some research but I wouldn’t buy cat metacam (it was £56 for less in a bottle compared to £32 for dog which of course is 3x as strong!). My vet was reluctant at first but considering Iggy was on 0.4 of dog and the new guide says 0.2 of cat I’m very sceptical. It wouldn’t even work as pain relief for him. She also mentioned liver/kidney damage and such as well regarding the new research but I didn’t think it affected pigs like it does cats and dogs. I’ve just continued his dog metacam with the view of decreasing if he ever manages his IC.
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I tried my best to get dog Metacam for Christian but the vet insisted I should have cat. Funny that when Velvet had her UTI a few weeks ago the other vet (Auxi) said that cat Metacam was useless for piggies and that Velvet was fine on 0.6ml twice a day for 7 days . I said that I thought it was quite a hefty dose and Auxi said that she had just been on a course and was told that piggies can tolerate Metacam better than was originally thought. I did mention this to the vet I saw yesterday but she ignored it.
 
Betsy said:
Well just got back from the vets. Christian is a lot brighter this morning and is trying to move but he can't control his back legs too well and is dragging them both behind him most of the time. He was looking for his 4am feed this morning which means he does want to eat too. The vet is happy for me to keep monitoring Christian as he is pooping and weeing lots so obviously he is processing food and liquids and his wee and pooping machines are working which she said they may not do. She now thinks it may be some sort of nerve damage. I'm going to miss a syringe feed to see if he will eat for himself and then I'll feed him again around midday. If I keep his tummy full he won't want to eat on his own. He has been chomping away on grass and a few pellets this morning so hopefully he'll start eating for himself properly very soon. I am going away for the Bank Holiday weekend and I may have to take a Guinea Pig with me. My OH is not thrilled at the prospect of a little guest staying with us in the caravan but if Christian needs to come he needs to come.
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aww I am sure Christian would like a weekend away with his Mummy and Daddy... xx
 
Betsy said:
I tried my best to get dog Metacam for Christian but the vet insisted I should have cat. Funny that when Velvet had her UTI a few weeks ago the other vet (Auxi) said that cat Metacam was useless for piggies and that Velvet was fine on 0.6ml twice a day for 7 days . I said that I thought it was quite a hefty dose and Auxi said that she had just been on a course and was told that piggies can tolerate Metacam better than was originally thought. I did mention this to the vet I saw yesterday but she ignored it.
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My local vets are like this, they have 6 vets, all different ideas and knowledge but a couple are really strict with their ‘I know best’ attitudes! I avoid them at all costs (but always get stuck with them in an emergency!) The others at least read the notes I get sent over from Cat and Rabbit and see what a vet that knows what he’s talking about suggests!
 
Sending love to little Christian, hugs to you too x x x
 
Poor Christian.
Nerve damage can heal with suitable painkillers and anti inflammatory meds.
With your love and care he has the best possible chance of healing, but I know there is always going to be that “what if...” at the back of your mind.
You know Christian and so will do whatever is needed for him.
We’re all here to support you
 
Poor little chap, if there's inflammation squashing a nerve then getting enough anti inflammatory medicine is very important for a good recovery! When does he see the different vet? I would never advise anyone to ignore the advice of a vet but I think the general consensus is that cat loxicom is safe at a much higher dose than you were prescribed so if it was me I'd give more if he's in pain, but that's just my opinion and I am not a vet and I wouldnt want to encourage anyone to not listen to their vet!
Healing wheeks anyway, you are a great piggy mummy so will do your best for him x
 
rhymer said:
I think it's a little mad. If piggies have been getting dog metacam for years then why all of sudden can't they still have it, if they need a stronger dose. :hb:
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I really think it depends on the vet. My vets will now only prescribe cat metacam since it became licenced for piggies. However, when I took Donald for his op with the specialist vet he prescribed dog metacam. I haven't mentioned it to my vets as I haven't needed to but if I was in the op's position I think I would be pushing for it too as it sounds like he could really benefit from better pain relief
 
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