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Metacam cost?

Claire W

Claire W

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Sadly since it has been licensed for guinea pigs, my vet practice has to prescribe cat metacam for guinea pigs instead of dog.

Due to Ellen having IC, she has been on and off it for the last 3 years. The problem is that the small bottle of cat metacam only has a shelf life of 14 days once opened compared to 6 months shelf life of dog metacam. However, the larger bottles of cat metacam for some reason has a shelf life of 6 months so I’m thinking of asking my vet for a larger bottle next time as Ellen doesn’t need metacam everyday, only when she’s having a flare.

The small bottle costs around £11 at my vet but does anyone know roughly the cost of the larger bottle of either cat or dog? I say cat or dog as my vet charges the same for both.

Of course, I could just phone and ask them but they recognise my voice and I don’t want them knowing it’s me!
 
Hi Claire. The cheapest way to get a large bottle of either dog or cat metacam is to ask for a prescription. You pay around £10 for the prescription but l buy 180ml of dog metacam from vet UK for about £23. If l bought it at the vets it's about £60!
Small bottles of loxicom last 6 months when opened by the way.
 
What brand of metacam do you have? Our cat loxicom says it has a shelf life of 6 months once opened just like the dog stuff... could you ask the vet to order in a different brand with a longer shelf life?
 
Thank you both. That’s interesting to know.
It’s this what they give me now :( My vet said if it were up to her, she would still give me the dog but she isn’t allowed. Thankfully I still have 4 bottles of dog metacam left but that won’t last forever x

3CB6C7D6-DBCC-4AA8-A7B9-060305340191.webp0977446C-B573-4FAF-AE91-79E552315B21.webp
 
This is what our vet prescribes:
20190307_182552.webp20190307_182654.webp
Same stuff but different brand name and longer shelf life!
 
PigglePuggle said:
This is what our vet prescribes:
View attachment 108320View attachment 108321
Same stuff but different brand name and longer shelf life!
Click to expand...

Thank you. I’m going to have to talk to my vet about giving me a prescription or ordering me this as otherwise it’s just going to go to waste. How much of that do you give? I’m just checking that Ellen is being prescribed the correct dose as I believe that you have to give a higher dose of cat metacam as it’s weaker.
 
Depends what for and the size of the piggy, and for how long. That bottle of loxicom was prescribed for Blodwen after her dental surgery, when she weighed 790g, at 0.3ml per day.
And the vet said it was ok to use for 600g baby Tallulah after her fight injuries at 0.2ml a day, and 1200g big pig Clover at 0.4ml a day initially but ok to give her a second dose 12 hours later for short-term pain relief (like for 3 or 4 days) because she'd injured her disabled previously broken knee and was in a lot of pain.
Fortunately we've never had a piggy that needed it for more than a week, but when we first adopted Clover we discussed using it long term if her leg was always painful, but decided against it as her leg improved with exercise and soft floors to walk on.
There is a research paper on cat meloxicam suggesting about 1ml a day is theoretically safe for a piggy over 1kg which made me ask the vet if Clover could have a second dose per day, but that wasnt a long term study so I would always consult the vet, I imagine piggies on other meds or with liver or kidney problems may not tolerate high doses well... but you can certainly go to the vet with all this info and discuss things!
 
PigglePuggle said:
Depends what for and the size of the piggy, and for how long. That bottle of loxicom was prescribed for Blodwen after her dental surgery, when she weighed 790g, at 0.3ml per day.
And the vet said it was ok to use for 600g baby Tallulah after her fight injuries at 0.2ml a day, and 1200g big pig Clover at 0.4ml a day initially but ok to give her a second dose 12 hours later for short-term pain relief (like for 3 or 4 days) because she'd injured her disabled previously broken knee and was in a lot of pain.
Fortunately we've never had a piggy that needed it for more than a week, but when we first adopted Clover we discussed using it long term if her leg was always painful, but decided against it as her leg improved with exercise and soft floors to walk on.
There is a research paper on cat meloxicam suggesting about 1ml a day is theoretically safe for a piggy over 1kg which made me ask the vet if Clover could have a second dose per day, but that wasnt a long term study so I would always consult the vet, I imagine piggies on other meds or with liver or kidney problems may not tolerate high doses well... but you can certainly go to the vet with all this info and discuss things!
Click to expand...

Thank you. That’s made me feel better. Ellen weighs around 1000g and my vet has prescribed her with 0.4ml once a day but like I say, she only needs it when she has a flare. She used to be prescribed 0.2ml of dog metacam as and when needed. Thankfully for Ellen, her IC is on the mild side so she isn’t in a lot of pain, my vet explained it as a burning sensation when she urinates (I’ve never had cystitis so I wouldn’t know) it’s also used as an anti inflammatory for her bladder
 
Checking my piggy health diary, 1000g Piggle also had 0.4ml loxicom (plus baytril) when she had a urinary tract infection over Christmas- poor girl was squealing every time she tried to pee! So sounds like all the good vets are using similar doses :)
 
Yes I had dog metacam prescribed by my local vet (normally a nightmare to get from) when Rupert was ill a couple of weeks ago.
 
The cat and rabbit care clinic doesnt even see dogs, so I'm surprised
 
Veterinary practices can specialise in particular species. The practice was initially set up as a cat and rabbit specific practice (the guinea pigs and other small furries gate crashed). This minimises stress. Since relocating, the practice has ordered the new ‘gold standard’ kennels, for the cats and other adaptations will take place, to enable it to become an International Cat Care, Gold Standard practice.
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
Veterinary practices can specialise in particular species. The practice was initially set up as a cat and rabbit specific practice (the guinea pigs and other small furries gate crashed). This minimises stress. Since relocating, the practice has ordered the new ‘gold standard’ kennels, for the cats and other adaptations will take place, to enable it to become an International Cat Care, Gold Standard practice.
Click to expand...
I bet Simon is a wizard with cats and rabbits
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
I bet Simon is a wizard with cats and rabbits
Click to expand...

Simon and Kim are as good with cats and rabbits as they are with guinea pigs, chinchillas and other small furries! Mr Trouble, my bunny, wouldn't be here, without the amazing treatment he gets from Simon and Kim. I also wouldn't trust anyone else for the veterinary care of Priya, although Priya isn't a fan of Simon and Kim! :lol!:
 
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