Topic: Long-term Metacam for arthritis (Read 19616 times)

Frances · « **Reply #21 on:** February 24, 2017, 11:23:49 AM »

Quote from: snarf on February 20, 2017, 19:29:50 PM

We also had a regime of dosing 6 days of 7, dropping a day here and there . . .

James obviously thinks this is a good idea - he turned his nose up at this morning's dose

.

Frances · « **Reply #20 on:** February 23, 2017, 11:40:32 AM »

Snarf that’s really helpful

. I’m going to take up your recommendation about regular blood tests, certainly after the first six months. As we’re only a few weeks in I’m going to stick with the 3kg dose seven days a week for the time being – I’m still trying to work out from James’s behaviour whether this is enough/not enough.

My vet’s own 18 year old cat has been on regular low-dose Metacam for several years for an arthritic spine so she has the advantage of “owner experience” as well as her professional expertise.

snarf · « **Reply #19 on:** February 20, 2017, 19:29:50 PM »

Neko was put on a 2kg (he was 6kg) dose fo metacam for his disslocating kneecaps. Although his bloods said his kidney were fine, he had enough birth defects that we decided to test his kidney 6 monthly just in case. We also had a regime of dosing 6 days of 7, dropping a day here and there to lessen the dose more. Neko did develop Kidney diseae and failure (with a host of other issues). The reading i have done and the questions i asked of the specialist internal medicine vet at the referal vets indicated that metacam is not thought to be a problem for healthy functioning kidneys, it is however thought to increase the rate of decline in kidneys that are already compromised (metabilised by the kidneys so extra strain on them). The blood tests show kidney function and will not indicate compromied kidney until they are already a certain way along- they are very useful as a comparison though and can be used to plot kidney function making detecting a decline earlier possible.

i'd make the same decision again with Neko, better a few years pain free than many in pain but I would very much reccommend regular blood tests. Our vet were able to pick up Nekos Kidney disease early, early enough they werent sure what was wrong and we were referred on to a specialist because his kidney numbers didnt match his previous bloods.

Judecat (Paula) · « **Reply #18 on:** February 20, 2017, 14:48:03 PM »

This thread has been helpful as sooner or later I expect Merlin will need it more often.

Frances · « **Reply #17 on:** February 20, 2017, 13:57:36 PM »

Thanks for the feedback Mark

Mark · « **Reply #16 on:** February 20, 2017, 09:05:44 AM »

Alice went back on the full dose, but impossible to tell if it had any adverse effect, as it was shortly before we lost her. I only took her to the vet next door out of desperation (we had a long-running feud about noise), as she collapsed and I didn't want to put her through a 10-mile round trip to my regular vet. I suppose the bottom, line is that even if it did, you can't leave an animal in pain the extend its life a bit.

Frances · « **Reply #15 on:** February 14, 2017, 17:11:38 PM »

everyone for your input.

Quote from: Mark on February 13, 2017, 00:35:43 AM

She told me that the latest findings are that Metacam increases life expectancy for cats with chronic illnesses, mainly due to the fact that the pain relief gives them a better quality of life - mainly due to keeping them interested in food.

That’s exactly what my vet said, apart from the “interested in food” bit. James has never been what you’d call a good doer so I’ve become used to his “meh” attitude to food; now I’m wondering whether some of this has been pain related (although I didn’t notice any difference when he was on a full dose after his dental).

When she went back on Metacam, did you give Alice a full dose for her weight and did you give it to her daily?

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #14 on:** February 14, 2017, 15:54:31 PM »

LANGFORD HAVE GOT MISA BACK ON METACAM DONT KNOW THE DOSE AND WHAT IS HIS NORMAL WEIGHT!!

HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL OVER 6KGS WITH ME BUT OBVIUOSLY A LOT LIGHTER NOW DUE TO THE HYPER T SO WAS ABOUT 4.4 KGS WHEN HE WENT TO LANGFORD.

WILL BE LOOKING TO THEIR ADVICE.

Judecat (Paula) · « **Reply #13 on:** February 13, 2017, 13:23:49 PM »

Quote from: Mark on February 13, 2017, 09:51:26 AM

I'm sure you realise Paula, but not 4ml - not sure what the 4kg line equates to in ml, but it is a fraction of 4ml

I hadn't thought about it, just assumed that the 4kg mark was 4 ml,

, I always use the proper syringe though. Sorry if I have misled anyone else. Thanks Mark

.

Lyn (Slugsta) · « **Reply #12 on:** February 13, 2017, 10:32:56 AM »

If it was me, I would rather be pain free even if it shortened my life span. Why would I do any less for my furries?

Mark · « **Reply #11 on:** February 13, 2017, 09:51:26 AM »

I'm sure you realise Paula, but not 4ml - not sure what the 4kg line equates to in ml, but it is a fraction of 4ml

Judecat (Paula) · « **Reply #10 on:** February 13, 2017, 01:01:40 AM »

When I give Merlin a dose of Metacam he gets 4 ml, which is his last proper weight. Since then he is probably about 5 to 6 kilos. The 4 kilo dose is working though, and it is only now and again so I have no qualms whatsoever about giving it to him. If he is pain, echoing what Mark says, he is grumpy, uninterested in food, very unusual, Merlin loves his grub, etc. I would rather he was happy.

Mark · « **Reply #9 on:** February 13, 2017, 00:35:43 AM »

The advice is to always dose for 'expected weight' rather than actual weight. So if a cat if overweight, you should dose for what their weight should be.

My current vet is 'cat only' and she attends a lot conferences. She told me that the latest findings are that Metacam increases life expectancy for cats with chronic illnesses, mainly due to the fact that the pain relief gives them a better quality of life - mainly due to keeping them interested in food. She said that many cats basically die from slow starvation due to lack of appetite rather than the condition they have. Also the increased mobility improves their wellbeing

The senior (50+ years experience) said he had no qualms about giving it toa cat with kidney disease. Alice had been on Metacam for several years with my previous vet. When she was diagnosed with kidney disease, the vet told me to stop giving her Metacam. After almost a year I changed vets.The new vet said it was cruel to deny her pain relief and started her straight back on it. He said there is no real evidence that it shouldn't be given to cats with kidney problems. We did lose her shortly afterwards, but I don't think it was anything to do with the Metacam - if anything, it made her last weeks more comfortable (the vet thought she had severe spinal arthritis, amongst other things) Although her body was failing, she was purring up until her last breath

Frances · « **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2017, 13:32:00 PM »

everyone

I’ve been looking at various sites for both human and feline use of NSAIDs for arthritis and the consensus is to achieve the minimum dose for an effective result . Opinion varies about whether to start high then lower or start low then raise.

Gauging an “effective result” is going to be difficult – he’s not showing decreased mobility (doesn’t limp or avoid jumping) but, thinking back, he has become less active and more “grumpy”.

I’ve decided that I’m going to start him on 3 units a day (just over half his “units by weight” dose of 5.75) and see what he is like in a couple of weeks.

Sue P (Paddysmum) · « **Reply #7 on:** February 09, 2017, 08:43:26 AM »

Frances, no personal experience of this, but sending gentle rubs for James and hoping this will help him feel more comfortable (the metacam I mean - although I realize good vibes helps tremendously too!)

Liz, am hoping Donald has decided not to give you and Clan Daddy any more unwelcome surprises.

Liz · « **Reply #6 on:** February 09, 2017, 06:51:53 AM »

We have had several oldies over the years on it and on the most part it worked well and they had good quality of life, we ended up with injectable from the vets as it seemed to have the best effect on my Hyper T girl Clio and my Diabetic Millie and both suddenly became kittens on good days and as with all these things it can be trial and error but always with vets advice and quality of life at the core

We currently are using the liquid on Donald diabetic as he is stiff some days so he is on it a couple of times a week and can now jump back on to his kingsize bed in the guest wing where he is at the moment due to nearly scaring his Daddy to death with a full blown hypo and vets admission 10 days ago!

CarolM (Wendolene) · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2017, 01:18:19 AM »

I don't have any personal experience of long term use Frances but 'old timers' on here will probably remember Christine whose cat Blip was on it for many years for arthritis (sorry can't remember just how many but it was a long time).

If he were my cat I would experiment to find the lowest dose that controls his pain and give him that on a regular basis. Research has shown (at least in humans) that regular use of analgesics/anti-inflammatories for chronic pain produces better results than as required use which often necessitates higher dosages.

Judecat (Paula) · « **Reply #4 on:** February 08, 2017, 23:48:14 PM »

From time to time I can see that Merlin limps om his back end, I think ht this is from compensating from his club foot resulting from his snare injury to his front left paw. When he starts to limp I give him the Loxicam for a day or so, he stops limping and I stop it. Don't know if that helps or not, but I just give it as and when. I hope that you find the right balance.

xxx

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #3 on:** February 08, 2017, 20:23:14 PM »

I THINK YOU HAVE TO BALANCE A CATS COMFORT VERSUS LIFE EXPECTANCY AND OTHER DAMGE ANY MEDS MAY CAUSE.

MY VET SAID IF THERE WAS NO KIDNEY PROBLEMS THE METACAM WOULD NOT START ANY...I DONT KNOW IF THIS IS RIGHT BUT SUSPECT IT IS. KIDNEY PROBS TEND TO COME ON LATER IN LIFE AND SUSPECT UNRELATED.

I WOULD GO FOR A TEST DOSAGE REGIEM AND ONCE HAPPILY PLODDING ABOUT TRY REDUCING THE DOSE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. THE AIM WOULD BE TO GET TO THE LOWEST DOSE POSSIBLE WITH YOUR CAT STILL NOT IN PAIN.

heather sullivan · « **Reply #2 on:** February 08, 2017, 20:00:47 PM »

My old cat Tabby was put on Loxicam (Metacam) for her arthritis (she is 21) last year but as she has failing kidneys she was only on a small dose. I did give it to her daily but as she only had a small dose and isn't very mobile anyway I can't say I noticed a lot of difference. She is now off it as she had some sort of infection, not sure if kidneys or something else but vet advised to take her off it as it can affect the kidneys - and she is much the same. But her vet did say it was very good for cats with arthritis and I am sure in a younger fitter cat it will definitely help.

Frances · « **Reply #1 on:** February 08, 2017, 18:23:12 PM »

As some of you may know James went into rescue after being hit by a car which has resulted in some long-term problems on his right hand side – he has a wonky eye and has lost quite a few teeth. While he was sedated for a dental in 2012 I had his right front leg and shoulder x-rayed which showed early signs of arthritis. His then vet was also trained in homeopathy and he has been taking Symphytum and Rhus tox for the last five years. This has appeared to work as he stopped “worrying” at the leg and where he had lost hair it grew back. More recently I have been giving him Yumove although it’s been harder to tell whether or not this has been effective.

He went for another dental at the end of last month and as it had been five years since his last x-rays I had another set done. This time there is considerable arthritic damage to his “elbow” joint which I believe is causing him pain. This is borne out by his behaviour immediately after his dental when, full of Metacam and Betamox, he was livelier and more energetic than he’s been for a while.

I’m okay with the idea of him taking Metacam on a long-term basis – his bloods are spot on normal for kidney function and I don’t want him to be in pain. My vet has suggested I use it on an as required basis and adjust the dosage according to how he reacts while taking it.

I know some of you have cats on long-term Metacam – in your experience what is the best way to approach this.

Author Topic: Long-term Metacam for arthritis (Read 19616 times)