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Does Metacam Make Them Sleepy?

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piggie smitten

piggie smitten

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Hi, my nearly four year old Boar Bubble is currently on a course of 0.2 ml dog metacam, 0.36 ranitidine and 0.6 ml emeprid. his weight is around 1230g. He had a really bad case of bloat nearly two weeks ago after having been struggling to eat certain veggies in the week leading up to it. He'd been to see Simon who couldn't actually find anything really wrong with his teeth(he's been having three monthly dentals with Simon for over a year now). The bloat was so bad that he actually had to have a needle put in his side to let the air out as nothing else had worked. Anyway he stayed at the vets for a week and has been home since Saturday. He is eating reasonably well for himself but wont eat nuggets or drink on his own as of yet but I've noticed that when he's had the metacam he just sleeps even if he's been lively before. Does anyone know if the metacam or gut meds have this effect?
 
I haven't noticed with metacam myself but with the pain killer injections they can be quite knocked out. I wouldn't be surprised for it to have that effect.
 
Metacam doesn't have that effect, is it possible that he had an injection of Buprenorphine recently? Tramodol can make them slightly dozy in higher doses but he's not on that is he?
 
No hes definitely not on anything other than metacam, emeprid, and ranatidine. No injections of anything as hes been home since last saturday. He just seems interested in the food but only for about a minute and then he wants to sleep. Obviously I'm syringe feeding as well and his weight is stable.Just woyld like him to be feeding for a bit longer as I've been off this week but am back to work next week.
 
Not directly, no. However bad pain can prevent sleep, being ill requires more sleep for healing, and thusly effective pain control can result in increased sleep.
 
At my vets I can check a recovering piggie into intensive care and it's around £20 a day for them to look after them. Maybe that could be an option for you if you're concerned.
 
Yeah I thought about that but the thing is I do different shifts. One day its 8.30-5pm and the next its 11.15-8.15pm so its a bit awkward plus my vets is an hour and a half away from home. I'll have to give a really good feed before I go and then as soon as I get home. He is nibbling during the day and I've been sleeping on the sofa so I can keep an eye on him in the night and he's been eating quite a lot in the night too. The vet said they were only syringe feeding him about three times a day. If only I'd booked a two week holiday. Its pure luck I had this week off as we had to book our holidays months ago for the whole year!
 
Don't think I hadn't thought about it lol! Where I work you're on a disciplinary if you have 2 incidences of absence within 6 months and I had 2 days a couple of weeks ago. Besides which I cant lose any more money as his vet stay was over £700! Shame its not somewhere where I could take him with me.
 
I'm sorry, that's awful...I'm horrified by what employers are getting away with these days when it comes to sickness. £700 is some vet's bill! Mine charges £35 a consultation and I find that extortionate. It cost £450 for Kiwi's appointments (they didn't know what was wrong) and then surgery.
 
Been reading on here about Metatone Tonic to boost the appetite. Does anyone know if its safe to use with the gut stimulants and bearing in mind that he's had bloat, although not suffering with it at the moment?
 
Just a little update. I phoned my manager and asked if I could take another two days holiday on Monday and Tuesday and my day off is Wednesday and explained the situation and much to my surprise he said yes! So now I don't go back till Thursday. I've been giving Bubs 0.2ml of Metatone twice a day and he has definitely perked up. he's eating all his veggies (which I am limiting due to the previous bloat issue) trying a few nuggets and drinking his water. He's also much more lively. Can't believe he's still here after the way he was bloated. The vet (Sarah Pellet at Animates in Lincolnshire) said it was the worst case of bloat she'd ever seen and even sent his x-rays to Molly Varga to show her. If anyone in the east Anglia area is looking for a good exotic vet I can't recommend Sarah enough and I wouldn't have found her without the vet locator on this forum.
 
I'm really pleased, that's great! Touch wood, that's not something I've encountered. Best of luck for Bubs, sounds like he's making an amazing recovery, and try to enjoy your days off too :)
 
piggie smitten said:
Just a little update. I phoned my manager and asked if I could take another two days holiday on Monday and Tuesday and my day off is Wednesday and explained the situation and much to my surprise he said yes! So now I don't go back till Thursday. I've been giving Bubs 0.2ml of Metatone twice a day and he has definitely perked up. he's eating all his veggies (which I am limiting due to the previous bloat issue) trying a few nuggets and drinking his water. He's also much more lively. Can't believe he's still here after the way he was bloated. The vet (Sarah Pellet at Animates in Lincolnshire) said it was the worst case of bloat she'd ever seen and even sent his x-rays to Molly Varga to show her. If anyone in the east Anglia area is looking for a good exotic vet I can't recommend Sarah enough and I wouldn't have found her without the vet locator on this forum.
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I recommended Sarah as she is my vet & is wonderful :) If you get stuck regarding feeding & getting him to her etc let me know, I am experienced at syringe feeding & am on her doorstep. I am currently pigless as my oldie died a month back & her companion is at TEAs now as she needs dental treatment by Simon every two weeks, but I have the C & C still set up & could house him temporarily if you wanted me to; if you get stuck with work. She doesn't work Wednesdays but will still come out in an emergency whatever day it is. I am pleased he is improving, fingers crossed he recovers :)
 
Thank you so much for your kind offer, that really is lovely of you. I think he will be ok as he is eating pretty well on his own now. I'm going to make sure I give a syringe feed before I leave and another when I get home and another in the evening and one before bed. He could probably manage without but I just want to boost his weight back up a bit. Thanks again though. x
 
You are very welcome, Sarah knows me very well she's been my vet for about 5 years. I would feed him just like you say & he should be fine x
 
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