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Gabapentin usage

HumberHen

HumberHen

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi there am posting again about my old boy Monty. He had tooth spurs removed and an incisor extraction yesterday teatime. He has antibiotics and meloxyidl no problem
The vet said to only
offer gabapentin if he was struggling (which he is) as she said it can make them sleepy or disoriented. He has had some cut grass and herbs and I gave started syringe feeding care also today but best not picking up
. . His prescription is gabapentin SF sol 50mg 150ml veenak. 0.69ml twice a day. He weighs 1.15kg. A friend who has this for a pig a while ago said if was a huge amount? I'm going to follow the prescription dosage. Has anyone had experience if giving a similar amount?
Thank you
 
Disclaimer: I am not a vet. My SO is a certified vet tech in the USA, but she is also not a vet and doesn't ever perscribe meds herself, she's just filled orders before. I asked her what she thinks of your question, but please defer to your vet's recommendation as we haven't seen your piggy.

She believes that sounds like a reasonable dose for your piggy. Your friend may have given gabapentin for anxiety or a less severe injury, which would explain why they think your dose is high.

That said, definitely monitor how they respond. You will certainly see some lethargy and that's normal but you need to keep an eye that they are eating, drinking, and moving around enough to not get sores. The poor guy will probably feel better on it, but he will seem sleepy.

Follow your vets advice and be sure to call them if you have any concerns.

EDIT: We also have some experience with gaba for a piggy, and I've taken it as a human. As a human it made me feel pretty weird, but it was better than nerve pain.
 
Thank you! The vet thought there looked to be some nerve damage when she extracted the incisor. I will give him some tonight. I really hope it will help him. He's had so much done which wasn't expected when he went in and I wasn't prepared for this!
 
Gaba will likely make him feel much better then. It's an anti-seizure med in humans, so it acts by slowing down nerve response or something like that I don't really know. I took it for sciatica and it's the only thing that touched the pain.

The only other pain med for pigs is Meloxicam, but it's more of a "my joints are sore" medication and can have some digestive side effects which can be dangerous in pigs, as well as liver problems from long term use. We've got our 7 year old on medicam now since hes got arthritus, but we did consider gaba at one point for him.

I hope the poor guy starts feeling better. Keep us posted!
 
The meloxyidl he takes must be a similar to your meloxicam I guess? He's fine with it and has had it before. Many thanks for your concern I will update about the gabapentin
 
HumberHen said:
The meloxyidl he takes must be a similar to your meloxicam I guess? He's fine with it and has had it before. Many thanks for your concern I will update about the gabapentin
Click to expand...

Meloxidyl, Metacam, loxicom are brand names.
They all contain the same active ingredient - meloxicam
 
Update on Monty. He had his gabapentin and is a bit floppy and out of it. Even so he fought the syringe feeding so have just cut some tender grass from the garden. He is very slowly working his way through it! I know he is a poorly boy but this is a more positive sign.
 
YAY! Yeah, you definitely see what I mean. Keep an eye on them but if they're eating that's good. If you feel they're too lethargic your vet may be able to adjust the dosage down, just keep them posted.

On the syringe feeding, if that's an issue with the piggie and not just situational you might want to train them on it some times when this is all done. I have taken to giving my healthy pigs a syringe of a little V8 Splash about once a week (a veggie / fruit juice I cleard with my vet is safe for them, not sure its available where you are). They love it, and gets them to associate the syringe with treats.

Though with a tooth extraction, I wouldn't want someone sticking a syringe in my face either so I can't blame him.
 
That's a great idea. I will try this with my other two boys at some point. I am going to try Monty on some soft pellets shortly. He has lost about 80g so am aware he needs building up. I was recommended the papaya critical care and that is arriving today so will give that a go too. Thank you!
 
Hi Again posted on the bereavement section. Monty we thought had passed away. After staggering about he went into a comatose state for about three hours. Woke up unable to do much. Vet said extreme reaction to the gabapentin. He's not to have any more. Poor boy.
 
HumberHen said:
Hi Again posted on the bereavement section. Monty we thought had passed away. After staggering about he went into a comatose state for about three hours. Woke up unable to do much. Vet said extreme reaction to the gabapentin. He's not to have any more. Poor boy.
Click to expand...
Hopefully now it’s wearing off he will soon be back to eating for himself. 🤞🏻
 
He's managed some veg this morning on his own but won't approach the hay or dried food yet. I have had much more success with emeraid intensive care by syringe but had to wrap him up in a towel!
 
Hi I was wondering how he’s been getting on having Gabapentin for a few days now?
My poorly girl (bowel tumour) has only just started gaba at 50mg - only 0.12ml and she’s been staggering around all evening, I’m worried if it’s the medicine or just her getting weaker.
 
Hi there
We had to take Monty off the gabapentin. He had such an extreme reaction to it. I have read that many piggies stagger. His head turned the opposite way from his feet but I think that was an extreme reaction. We are depending on meloxyidl now and still syringe feeding. We don't know if he will get beyond that.Yoyr piggy has different circumstances so maybe check with your vet? Sorry she is so poorly
 
HumberHen said:
Hi there
We had to take Monty off the gabapentin. He had such an extreme reaction to it. I have read that many piggies stagger. His head turned the opposite way from his feet but I think that was an extreme reaction. We are depending on meloxyidl now and still syringe feeding. We don't know if he will get beyond that.Yoyr piggy has different circumstances so maybe check with your vet? Sorry she is so poorly
Click to expand...

Honestly she was acting almost drunk. I literally gave her the tiniest amount. Very strong drug.
I’ve stopped now and she’s back to normal so will keep it aside for when she has bad episodes.
Hope your little one is okay. It’s scary to see them like that isn’t it.
 
Yes it is. If you can use it successfully from time to time that's great! Monty isn't to have it again. He's just about keeping his weight up with a mix of syringe and feeding on his own. We're working Hard to help him gain weight but not sure it will happen. He's an old boy. Always has room for fresh mint it seems!
 
Sadly I think Ruby is on her way over the bridge.
I took her to the vet earlier but he said see how she goes, he can’t see fluid on her lungs or in her tummy (she has been sneezing and breathing a bit harder) but he said other than that and the mass she seems ok.
She hasn’t moved all day, she never lets me pick her up and has been.
She can barely swallow the syringe food.
No longer wants her veg at all.

I just wish I told him to do it there any then, you just trust a vet though don’t you (local vet not cat and rabbit clinic)
I don’t know any emergancy Sunday vet’s within an hour which she’d be so stressed in the car.
Obv as it’s 24.2 in my front room with air con I don’t want her to be too hot or cold and she’s near the ice pack in her bed but not right on it. She’s stumbled from one bed to the other but I gave her a slight drop of gabapentin for pain relief (know to made her wobbly)
Due metacam about 9pm x
 
Poor Ruby. I do hope the gabapentin at least keeps her pain free. So sorry that this has happened, 😞
 
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