Metacam Dose ... sorry, again please!

Yesterday, I commented to my husband how well Rosie was. Very perky and fairly agile. Rose is 13 and on daily metacam, (1ml once daily), for possible discomfort in her back leg/s.

Today, she has been really poor, rather wobbly on one side and very off her food. Not sure if she is peeing/pooing as I have 2 rabbits. This morning she would not take her 'medicated toast' - most unusual. So around 11.30 a.m. I syringed the medication.

She is now eating but not toast (she loves), but apple leaves, carrot tops, cabbage etc. However, she is generally tucked away under a chair - not a good sign.

My question is this - the metacam, I know you can give up to 1.5mg per kg. Rosie is 2.2 kg. I am very tempted to give her another dose this evening. I know I am not a vet and neither are you, but all things considered, do you think it would be ok and then reassess her situation tomorrow?

It upsets and stresses me greatly when my rabbits are poorly .. just want them to be well

Incidentally, Teddy had a episode a couple of days ago. Again, very disinterested in food. I gave him metacam (naughty I know) and he picked up brilliantly within an hour or so. Am sure the two things are unconnected and just a co-incidence though .....?

I think Rose would benefit from a vet check up if she is not acting as she normally does. When you ring up, you could ask about increasing the metacam dose to see if it helps, but it sounds like there is something not OK at the moment. Metacam may only mask other problems which could need different treatment. I hope she feels better soon.

Thanks for your reply

Rosie is regularly at the vets - I think her ailments are age related, its her back-end that has further deteriorated seemingly overnight

I have given her the extra metacam - at this stage I don't think, from a danger point of view, it really matters. However, distressingly, I have just returned her to her accommodation and she has tried to groom herself and toppled onto her back panicking both her and her partner. Truthfully speaking, I do think I am looking at a difficult decision to be made.

I know people say that you know when the time is right but I never do

cara said:

Thanks for your reply

Rosie is regularly at the vets - I think her ailments are age related, its her back-end that has further deteriorated seemingly overnight

I have given her the extra metacam - at this stage I don't think, from a danger point of view, it really matters. However, distressingly, I have just returned her to her accommodation and she has tried to groom herself and toppled onto her back panicking both her and her partner. Truthfully speaking, I do think I am looking at a difficult decision to be made.

I know people say that you know when the time is right but I never do

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Oh Cara, I'm sorry you're in this situation. I just saw your other thread and realised that this is what you may be thinking. She is such a wonderfully good age, and you've looked after her so well. We will be here to help and support whenever you need it :wave:

Thanks ever so. I am sooo tearful at the moment

cara said:

Thanks ever so. I am sooo tearful at the moment

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((( hugs )))

My little himmie girl turns 13 this year. She has seen me through some very challenging times. Always been there. Had two Husbuns. Rejected by her first owners as being aggressive and she has her ways. I just can't imagine my life without the little matriarch of our family here.

I really meant that hug I did just there for you

Consult with your vet and see if her toppling is related to something you may or may not be able to correct/control. Perhaps her balance is off due to an ear infection or another problem like a stroke.
You had her a very long time and have given her excellent care.
It is especially difficult to know when it is time to PTS when you have a bunny who has made recoveries from illness in the past and you wonder if she can do the same again this time.
You should not feel rushed into making a decision as long as she is not in pain. You and your vet may want to give her a few days to see if the situation improves with some additional medical care.

MightyMax said:

((( hugs )))

My little himmie girl turns 13 this year. She has seen me through some very challenging times. Always been there. Had two Husbuns. Rejected by her first owners as being aggressive and she has her ways. I just can't imagine my life without the little matriarch of our family here.

I really meant that hug I did just there for you

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Awww ... thanks ever so - your hug feels so sincere .... I can really feel it

Gosh, you have a 13 year also! Haven't we done well ... or haven't they done well My Rosie is certainly no snugglebun - cannot even stroke her on her level but being a rescue bunny who knows what kind of a life she had previously. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her to Bits I get hugely attached to my rabbits and it hurts me so very much to loose them. But then I know that most of us will feel like this. I always think I cannot bear to feel like this again, but have always gone on to rescue another bunny. And for goodness sakes, I tell myself, they are never going to be with us for ever ... but that truth doesn't ever help, does it ..

Thanks for your Advice Bunny Momma - its very appreciated

bunny momma said:

Consult with your vet and see if her toppling is related to something you may or may not be able to correct/control. Perhaps her balance is off due to an ear infection or another problem like a stroke.

You should not feel rushed into making a decision as long as she is not in pain. You and your vet may want to give her a few days to see if the situation improves with some additional medical care.

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EC is another possibility for a sudden loss of balance and sudden problems with back legs. It can be treated.

It's definitely worth getting her checked out to see if there is a treatment option. Talk all your options through with your vet and get answers to all your questions so you can make the best decision for her.

cara said:

Awww ... thanks ever so - your hug feels so sincere .... I can really feel it

Gosh, you have a 13 year also! Haven't we done well ... or haven't they done well My Rosie is certainly no snugglebun - cannot even stroke her on her level but being a rescue bunny who knows what kind of a life she had previously. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her to Bits I get hugely attached to my rabbits and it hurts me so very much to loose them. But then I know that most of us will feel like this. I always think I cannot bear to feel like this again, but have always gone on to rescue another bunny. And for goodness sakes, I tell myself, they are never going to be with us for ever ... but that truth doesn't ever help, does it ..

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No, sadly it doesn't help. But with kind hearts we go on again - ready it seems to have those hearts broken once more.

I am always here if you need an ear - on the Forum or PM xx

Very much appreciated MightyMax

Shimmer said:

EC is another possibility for a sudden loss of balance and sudden problems with back legs. It can be treated.

It's definitely worth getting her checked out to see if there is a treatment option. Talk all your options through with your vet and get answers to all your questions so you can make the best decision for her.

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Thanks Shimmer.

Yes, I thought about EC, but my gut feeling is that it is connected to her long standing problem of her back leg. You are making me wonder though. I have lost a rabbit to EC so have seen it in a rabbit before. But other than a predominant wobble to the left, she seems pretty centred. She is very picky with food - eating, but not a lot. More gardeny type food like apple leaves, dandelion etc. Not pellets or her toast treat.

My thoughts are very influenced by her age (13) and not wanting to put her through treatment that might be more intolerable than worthwhile. I have an appointment at 15.20 pm today so will go from there

Good luck today. You could talk about giving more metacam if the vet thinks it appropriate so at least she is painfree. Doughnut is 1.3kg and at most she has been on 0.5ml three times a day so totalling 1.5ml. Is she in pain when the dose has run out as my specialist has always split doses so that when it comes to say 20 hours later, most of the metacam would be out of their system, so giving it every 12 hours tops them up as it were.

Hopefully it's something simple like an ear infection so she can continue on a bit longer in to older age

cpayne said:

Good luck today. You could talk about giving more metacam if the vet thinks it appropriate so at least she is painfree. Doughnut is 1.3kg and at most she has been on 0.5ml three times a day so totalling 1.5ml. Is she in pain when the dose has run out as my specialist has always split doses so that when it comes to say 20 hours later, most of the metacam would be out of their system, so giving it every 12 hours tops them up as it were.

Hopefully it's something simple like an ear infection so she can continue on a bit longer in to older age

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It is so difficult to determine pain level. I am upping the dose, certainly to max, whilst she is so poorly. Your rabbit is on a far higher dose for her weight. I am a bit stuck on giving 3 times a day as I cannot administer on my own. If she would take on food (as she was doing before being so poorly), then it wouldn't be a problem but Rosie is very difficult to handle - 2 man job! Also starting her on anti-bio just in case she has an ear infection, although vet could not see anything other than a gunky ear. Thanks for you response

cara said:

It is so difficult to determine pain level. I am upping the dose, certainly to max, whilst she is so poorly. Your rabbit is on a far higher dose for her weight. I am a bit stuck on giving 3 times a day as I cannot administer on my own. If she would take on food (as she was doing before being so poorly), then it wouldn't be a problem but Rosie is very difficult to handle - 2 man job! Also starting her on anti-bio just in case she has an ear infection, although vet could not see anything other than a gunky ear. Thanks for you response

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Sometimes ear infections are deep in the ear, so it is good your vet gave anti-bio to cover that possibility.
Please keep us posted in Rosie's progress.

cara said:

It is so difficult to determine pain level. I am upping the dose, certainly to max, whilst she is so poorly. Your rabbit is on a far higher dose for her weight. I am a bit stuck on giving 3 times a day as I cannot administer on my own. If she would take on food (as she was doing before being so poorly), then it wouldn't be a problem but Rosie is very difficult to handle - 2 man job! Also starting her on anti-bio just in case she has an ear infection, although vet could not see anything other than a gunky ear. Thanks for you response

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I don't normally advocate antibiotics 'just in case' but with Rosie I think it's entirely justified. I would do the same

I hope she settles with all the meds you're giving her x

cara said:

It is so difficult to determine pain level. I am upping the dose, certainly to max, whilst she is so poorly. Your rabbit is on a far higher dose for her weight. I am a bit stuck on giving 3 times a day as I cannot administer on my own. If she would take on food (as she was doing before being so poorly), then it wouldn't be a problem but Rosie is very difficult to handle - 2 man job! Also starting her on anti-bio just in case she has an ear infection, although vet could not see anything other than a gunky ear. Thanks for you response

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He's a specialist and is excellent. A lot of vets call him up for advice. The three times a day was the maximum then we dropped it down to twice a day. It's a shame you can't give it on food now. Doughnut loves all of her medicine luckily and comes boucing over to take it. I just offer it to her and she puts her mouth around it. She's on long term medicine now to keep her well so it's different when they are so poorly and you can't get them to take it.

Hopefully she needed the antibiotics and you see an improvement. Does she seems better an hour or two after having the metacam or don't you notice any difference?

I can't really say I see a difference immediately after giving Metacam.

Looking back to when Rosie first started on Metacam (1ml per day), I did feel she was more perkier generally. At that time, she would take it on a small piece of toast but of course when she became poorly and off her food, that method went out the door

What a good bunny Doughnut is! Rosie has never been a hands on or snuggle bunny so she would never go for it in that way. You are also very lucky with your vet. If I am honest, I think I know as much, if not more than my vet. In fact, he did not suggest anti-bio for ear infection .. I only got those when I rang up afterwards and requested them myself in case of an ear infection :?

Today has been a (relatively) good day for Rosie I have to say ... dare I say ... I think she is marginally better. She is definitely more enthusiastically eating and I think her balance is slightly better. She is still fragile but I thought today was a good day for her quality of life I am aware things can change overnight, so I remain very cautious.

I am toying with the idea that may be she does have an ear infection and that the anti-bio are actually having an effect :?