metacam dose *UPDATE*

[Jack's-Jane]

If Matt weighs about 2kg 0.8mls of DOG METACAM is perfectly safe

The maximum dose my Vet prescribes is 0.6mg/kg/24 hours (0.4ml/kg) Some Vets are prescribing even higher.

This works out at 0.4ml/kg hence a 2kg Rabbit could have 0.8ml (1.2mg) every 24 hours. Or it can be given in two divided doses of 0.4ml every 12 hours.

ETA- here is a post from rodneyvet on another thread. RV is an Exotics Specilaist...........
The dose for metacam I give to rabbits is 0.3-0.5mg/kg twice daily. I would consider gastric protectants also (anti ulcer drugs).

 

[biscandmatt1]

i'm so confused - i'm being told so many different things! :?
so you also agree that 0.8ml twice a day is too much then?
if it's the cat strength he's on, is the dose still wrong that i've been told?

 

[Jack's-Jane]

i'm so confused - i'm being told so many different things! :?
so you also agree that 0.8ml twice a day is too much then?
if it's the cat strength he's on, is the dose still wrong that i've been told?

Is he on the cat strength or the dog strength ?

 

[biscandmatt1]

i don't know-it doesn't say on the bottle.

 

[Jack's-Jane]

i don't know-it doesn't say on the bottle.

Then you need to establish that with the Vet.
They should have provided adequate labelling on the medication they dispensed.............
The cat metacam is a weaker concentration, 0.5mg/ml. Dog Metacam is 1.5mg/ml. So you cant calculate a Rabbit dose til you know which strength you have been given

 

[biscandmatt1]

they open at 10am! so typical it's sunday! always happens! :evil:
from what you've read that matts had when he went in for ga, what would you think he should be on?

 

[Jack's-Jane]

they open at 10am! so typical it's sunday! always happens! :evil:
from what you've read that matts had when he went in for ga, what would you think he should be on?

I have to go now so I dont have time to read back through Matts treatment. But whatever Metacam the Vet gave you, Cat or Dog, you wont have overdosed him by giving him 0.8ml if Matt weighs about 2kg. The 'worst' that has happened is that its the Cat Metacam in which case 0.8ml is a sub-therapeutic dose ie its a too low dose.

xx

 

[biscandmatt1]

ok, thanks for your help.

 

[winnies angel]

From your label I would take it the way you have twice a day at 0.8ml. The vet has probably decide to start off strong then get lower as this is what our vet done!
Obv still double check with vet but stop worrying for now.
Winston is on metacam for life he takes it every day for poorly feet. He has been on 1ml at most but sure our vet said she can go a bit higher than that if needs be? Shes a proper rabbit vet.
He is coming down at mo and is at 0.4ml BUT he has been low before and then we had to put him back up again, we just play about so to speak on how he is.
Hope your lil bun is ok sending our love for a swift recovery!

 

[biscandmatt1]

can you tell i'm worrying then! :lol:
i've been watching him constantly all night and the weird thing is, is that he's more lively and happy than he has been in ages... and it's bisc that's a bit more quiet and sneezy etc... still nosey and cheeky though!
i can't wait to ring the vets at 10am and sort this out! and i can't wait for the five days to pass so matt can just come off the damn metacam! it's stressful!
really want the swab test results back and then the right treatment for their snuffles can finally start.
my vet is a rabbit vet aswell so he muct know what he's doing? i think there's just so much contradiction on metacam.
thanks for telling me about your bun.

 

[biscandmatt1]

forgot to ask, is your bun on 1ml twice a day or just once a day?

 

[biscandmatt1]

oh, and is it the cat or dog one?

 

[lilbun]

If Matt weighs about 2kg 0.8mls of DOG METACAM is perfectly safe

The maximum dose my Vet prescribes is 0.6mg/kg/24 hours (0.4ml/kg) Some Vets are prescribing even higher.

This works out at 0.4ml/kg hence a 2kg Rabbit could have 0.8ml (1.2mg) every 24 hours. Or it can be given in two divided doses of 0.4ml every 12 hours.

ETA- here is a post from rodneyvet on another thread. RV is an Exotics Specilaist...........
The dose for metacam I give to rabbits is 0.3-0.5mg/kg twice daily. I would consider gastric protectants also (anti ulcer drugs).

But if he's giving it every 12 hours that's TWICE the maximum dose in't it? The vet does sound very knowledgeable but I would still doublecheck. Better safe than sorry. It's not unheard of for mistakes to happen.

 

[biscandmatt1]

yes, i'm phoning them at 10 on the dot! i have been waiting all night! i rang some emergency vets but they didn't seem to have a clue to be honest.

 

[lilbun]

Just try to be calm and tactful. Vets don't like to be questioned. I have heard of vets giving much higher doses of metacam than normal. It's not licensed for rabbits anyway so trials haven't been done but if giving such a high dose it would seem wise to give something to protect the gut from ulceration.
i really don't want to undermine your confidence in your vet. If he's a bunny specialist i'm sure he knows what he's doing but it best to check

 

[biscandmatt1]

i will be polite about asking. i questioned everything he did when i went and he just thought i was amusing...and slightly ocd!
ten minutes and i can phone - thank god!
will matt still need something to protect his gut if he is only on it for 5 days? i will ask them...
i'll let you know what they say.

 

[lilbun]

I suspect our vets think bunny owners are all nutters anyway but if yours is a bunny specialist maybe he's an exception

 

[biscandmatt1]

i don't know, he looked at me and laughed...in a nice way! and my boyfriend just looks embarrasssed of my nervous ranting and questioning the whole time! :lol:
rodneyvet has pm me and he said for a 2.4kg bun, he would also give 0.8ml twice daily. so that gives me more confidence. i'm still worried though and i just know my vet is going to say he has told me the right dose and then i won't know what to do. because someone said they knew someone who's bun died from too much.

 

[lilbun]

Well I do trust Rodneyvet so it's probably fine (still check.) but I do wish vets would warn us when they give doses higher than the ones normally given!

 

[Hugo's There]

I have around 12 bunnies on metacam presently and 0.8ml twice a day sounds perfectly normal to me for short course, although if it is long term I'm sure the vet will reduce it down