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dog metacam illegal for guinea pigs

AbiS

AbiS

Adult Guinea Pig
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I have just had a conversation with my vet about giving dog metacam instead of cat as it will work out cheaper but apparently, due to the new licensing of cat metacam for use in guinea pigs, it is now illegal to prescribe dog metacam for guinea pigs.

Thought some of you would find this interesting.
 
I had a debate with receptionist/nurse on Saturday about sort of the same thing, said they can only give me the cat one.
She ended up looking through my records to see I'd been prescribed it in the past! I said much easier for me to give dog one as smaller quantities and cheaper in the long run. Was there half an hour while she consulted with vet and finally allowed me to take a 10ml dog one!
It's so much fun for us small animal owners to help our pets!

Wouldn't allow me to get any tramadol last week for my chinchilla, only had 50ml bottles and wasn't happy for me to have that much! Not sure what she thought I'd do with it!
 
I just got dog metacam for Bracken, not heard of there being any problem. Bracken's going to be on it long term so I hope we don't have to use the cat one.
 
alpacasqueak said:
I had a debate with receptionist/nurse on Saturday about sort of the same thing, said they can only give me the cat one.
She ended up looking through my records to see I'd been prescribed it in the past! I said much easier for me to give dog one as smaller quantities and cheaper in the long run. Was there half an hour while she consulted with vet and finally allowed me to take a 10ml dog one!
It's so much fun for us small animal owners to help our pets!

Wouldn't allow me to get any tramadol last week for my chinchilla, only had 50ml bottles and wasn't happy for me to have that much! Not sure what she thought I'd do with it!
Click to expand...
One of my local vets wouldnt let me have a bag of critical care unless i made an appointment. I wouldnt leave until i got it! Its not a prescription product.

The best part is that the guinea pig i said it is for, passed away 3 years ago, and he was down as 6 when he last went there. I loved this pig alot, and hes still helping my other pigs i have now by me using his name on their system
 
... As post no:9 in this thread....

Help calculating metacam dose

Some vets are happy to prescribe dog metacam


I think the issue is that metacam has been licensed to be given as cat metacam up to a certain dose.

From what other posters have said, giving dog metacam is "off license".

I have a guinea pig with a history of IC. When he's has ever had a flare up, my vet has been happy to prescribe dog metacam 0.4mls twice daily.
 
Skypipdot said:
One of my local vets wouldnt let me have a bag of critical care unless i made an appointment. I wouldnt leave until i got it! Its not a prescription product.

The best part is that the guinea pig i said it is for, passed away 3 years ago, and he was down as 6 when he last went there. I loved this pig alot, and hes still helping my other pigs i have now by me using his name on their system
Click to expand...

How pathetic! It's food!
They charge horrendous prices as well, get a big bag for half the price they charged me for a couple of small sachets last week. Some blooming vets! Grr

Had a brilliant local vet who sadly left a few months ago, she was really open to suggestions, think knows I do lots of research and mad about helping my beasts! Not the usual Baytril, we can't give anything else etc.
Is really frustrating sometimes with some vets!
 
Veggies Galore said:
... As post no:9 in this thread....

Help calculating metacam dose

Some vets are happy to prescribe dog metacam


I think the issue is that metacam has been licensed to be given as cat metacam up to a certain dose.

From what other posters have said, giving dog metacam is "off license".

I have a guinea pig with a history of IC. When he's has ever had a flare up, my vet has been happy to prescribe dog metacam 0.4mls twice daily.
Click to expand...

I go by what Simon at Cat and Rabbit has told me to give, if I listened to other vets my poor pigs/chins would've been in agony!
 
Off label isnt the same as illegal, you just need to sign a really scary depressing form saying if your piggy dies its not the vets fault... the neutering one was worst as ketamine and opiates and barbiturates are off label for piggies... some vets might prefer to stick to licensed products but most drugs arent licensed for piggy use at all, the prescribing label even just says "small mammal" so they can't get sued!
 
We had to see a different vet last week as my usual vet was off on holiday. She prescribed cat metacam for Ellen's uti (although a cute little purple guinea pig pot comes with it) but Ellen isn't happy having to take a larger dose (as the cat metacam is weaker). I have also noticed that cat metacam only has a 14 day shelf life once opened compared to the 6 month shelf of dog metacam which may be an issue for those of you who have larger bottles (I'm thinking mainly rescues?). I'm hoping that my usual vet will still be happy to prescribe dog metacam. Thankfully I have lots of dog metacam at home as my late Emma and then Ellen had a history of IC and my usual vet is happy to look in to alternatives so long as she can research first and contacting their referring exotics vet for advise.
 
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