Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: Frances on February 08, 2017, 18:23:12 PM

Title: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Frances 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.
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: heather sullivan 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.
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) 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.
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Judecat (Paula) 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.  :hug: :hug: :hug:

xxx
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: CarolM (Wendolene) 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.
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Liz 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!
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Sue P (Paddysmum) 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.   ;)
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Frances on February 09, 2017, 13:32:00 PM
 :thanks: 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.
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Mark 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  :Luv2:
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Judecat (Paula) 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.
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: 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
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Lyn (Slugsta) 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?
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Judecat (Paula) on February 13, 2017, 13:23:49 PM
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 ;D.
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) 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.
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Frances on February 14, 2017, 17:11:38 PM
 :thanks: everyone for your input.

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?

Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Mark 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.
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Frances on February 20, 2017, 13:57:36 PM
Thanks for the feedback Mark :)
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Judecat (Paula) 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.
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: snarf 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.
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Frances 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.
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Frances on February 24, 2017, 11:23:49 AM
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 :innocent:.
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on February 24, 2017, 11:59:05 AM
 THATS THE PROBLEM I HAD WITH MISA, ONE DAY GRADUALLY BECAME EVERY DAY!

LANGFORD HAVE GOT HIM EATING IT AGAIN BUT NEED TO FIND OUT WHETHER THEY ARE JUST PUTTING IT IN A BIT OF FOOD OR WHAT. ALL I KNOW ITS MASHED FELIX IN GRAVY........................WHY IS IT THAT ALL 3 CATS ARE NOW EATING STUFF THEY WOULD NEVER EAT HERE !!
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Frances on March 04, 2017, 16:59:42 PM
James is still being a little :censored: about taking his daily dose.  I’m trying to put it in the least amount of food possible to make sure he eats it all but he’s still walking away from it before he clears the dish. 

However, I am starting to notice that he’s more lively than he has been so he’s obviously getting some of it down him :phew:.

Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on March 06, 2017, 17:25:48 PM
THATS GOOD AND HE MUST BE GETTING SOME  ;D ;D

MISA ALSO MORE LIVELY AND THEYSAID TO JUST SPRINKLE IT ON TOP OF FOOD COS HE GOES STRAIGHT FOR IT.

HOPE THAT IS RIGHT COS HE ONLY ATE ONE TINY BIT OF FOOD TODAY AND KNOW THAT ALL THE BLOOMIN METACAM DUMPED IN ONE PLACE....................AND COULD BE THE PLACE!
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 17, 2017, 12:27:52 PM
My vet read the same study as Mark's - Lucy however refuses to walk into the kitchen after 2 days of Metacam, so we used Seraquin and acupuncture for her, if the acupuncture hadn't worked, we'd have used Cartrophen. When she had xrays done, we tested a urine sample which was fine, but bloods this year have shown early kidney failure - my vet does a new kidney test which picks up at 30% loss, although the standard test was top end of normal.
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Frances on April 17, 2017, 13:04:18 PM

Lucy however refuses to walk into the kitchen after 2 days of Metacam
Things haven't got that bad with James, although this morning was a "refusal" day after a long run of taking it without any problems :innocent:.  I've stopped the Yumove for the time being as he was beginning to get iffy about eating his other wet meal with "stuff" in it but he is still getting the homeopathic remedies.

I read Lucy's story elsethread and hope that her op is successful in reducing her limp and any associated pain :).
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 17, 2017, 15:04:21 PM
Thanks Frances, me too
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on April 18, 2017, 11:17:56 AM
MISA SEEMS TO BE DOING PASSABLY STILL WITHOUT METACAM BUT NOTICED SASA NOT AS AGILE UP STAIRS AS SHEWAS.........I GUESS AT COMING UP TO 19 THATS IS TO BE EXPECTED AND SHE HAS JUST APPEARED BEHING ME ON BACK OF SOFA! FOLLOWEE BY LUPIN GRRRRRRRR.

SO HE NOW WATCHING HER AS SHE HAS DROPPED ONTO BEANBAG BEHING...........AHHH HES LEFT!
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Dawn F on February 05, 2018, 09:32:33 AM
this thread is just what I was looking for!
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Frances on February 05, 2018, 10:41:41 AM
this thread is just what I was looking for!
In that case I'd better update where James is up to.

I did take him for a full bloods profile six months after he started on daily Metacam which came back absolutely fine :wooooo:.

However, he now absolutely refuses any food (and I've tried plenty :brick:) with Metacam/Loxicam in it.  He sniffs it, turns his head away and goes :yuk:; when I replace it with the rest of the same sachet without anything in it, he'll eat it.  In my book that's a pretty definitive :no no:!

So he's back on the Yumove which seems to be tasteless and smell-less and has the added advantage that if either of the other two eat it, it won't do them any harm (unlike having to hover over anything Metacam-laced and whip it away before they get at it).  He also still has Symphytum and Rhus tox in his water, which also will not harm the other two.

However, this doesn't resolve any pain issues from his arthritis.  I'm thinking of investigating acupuncture.
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Dawn F on February 05, 2018, 10:50:17 AM
I've ordered the yumove but it hasn't arrived yet, I think she might be ok with metacam but of course you never know with cats!  she is definitely in pain and I don't want that for her so will investigate all avenues as necessary - what sort of dose was James on
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Frances on February 05, 2018, 13:01:56 PM
James weighs about 5.5kg so my vet said I could dose him at up to 5kg.  I started off at 4kg - to give some wiggle room if it didn't seem to be enough - and while he was taking it more or less daily this seemed to be the right amount.  When he started to accept it less frequently I upped it to 4.5 (and occasionally 5) but as it doesn't have too much of an effect after 24 hours I think this was more in hope than expectation.

Reading back, I apparently started off at 3kg :-:.  However, he was on a 4kg dose most of the time.
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on February 05, 2018, 13:12:48 PM
Lucy’s initial options were Metacam and seraquin, but she refuses to eat food with Metacam (to the point she refuses to come in the kitchen!!) and at the time, I wasn’t brave enough to syringe her, then options were acupuncture or cartrophen (glucosamine injection, Buster had those, to help his cystitis as well as arthritis), I opted for acupuncture first as I didn’t think she’d accept it, but she has surprised me!! Not cheap at £43 a session, but the insurance covers it. Both acupuncture and cartrophen require a weekly visit for 4 weeks, then monthly, although the aim is to reduce if possible – they have some clients who only need acupuncture a couple of times a year, we’ve been going over a year and only just look like we can reduce it, but she did have a bad year last year. We are now back on Seraquin after her refusing it for months after her op, and she sits and waits in the kitchen doorway at 9pm every night for it, and I throw it for her to chase like a treat. My vet also uses JD food, I’m limited with Lucy’s food due to her kidney issues, but I do use one that has glucosamine/chondroitin in it, not sure if it is enough but looking into Hills renal + joint food next. Lucy does also have a heated bed on constantly. I've had to give her occasional Metacam recently cos we now only have one acupuncture trained vet, she is 5.2kg but I dose her for 4.5kg, she does have early stage renal failure so I prefer to do the minimum possible for her.
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Dawn F on February 06, 2018, 08:37:52 AM
well they have put her on a metacam type thing for 10 days to see what happens, she has got an inflamed hock but when manipulating the back legs it was the other one that made her swear, she is happy for me to try and get supplements in her, the vet said she uses seraquin on her own cat but if tilly won't eat them the yumove will be fine - anyway she had both meds in a bit of tuna this morning and ate the lot - she was worrying at the door after that to go upstairs to bed (she has to stay down over night because of the willow/tilly hate issue!) so I went and got willow out of bed and let tilly up, it was quite nice because the door hasn't taken a battering like that for several days so hopefully it means she is feeling a bit better
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Frances on February 06, 2018, 10:54:52 AM
it was quite nice because the door hasn't taken a battering like that for several days so hopefully it means she is feeling a bit better
Go Tilly :naughty:
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on February 06, 2018, 13:22:50 PM
Good luck with medicating her Dawn, how old is she again?
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Dawn F on February 08, 2018, 09:09:01 AM
she is 12 desley, but because she is a ped I know she will age a bit faster - she is doing very well, moving so much better and not taking any short cuts jumping either which I am a bit sorry about but at least it means she must be feeling better
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on February 08, 2018, 13:30:23 PM
With her age, I’d make sure she has bloods if the vet wants to continue the Metacam. Glad she is seeming better.
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Dawn F on February 08, 2018, 13:38:20 PM
that is the plan, she is on metacam for 10 days and then will stop to see what happens, just in case is was an injury or something that has sorted itself out.  if she goes back to hobbling she will have bloods done with a view to long term use
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on February 08, 2018, 13:40:47 PM
That's good - would be nice if it was just an injury that has sorted itself out, although a high percentage of cats over the age of 10 have arthritis - of course mine would start before she was 10!!
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Mark on February 09, 2018, 00:57:37 AM
Lukas has been on it for around 3 months now, although he switched to half dose a couple of weeks ago. The vet wants him to continue on it + Antirobe until there is no sign of inflammation. He is quite happy to take them in Lick-e-Lix or Miamor paste. He licks up every last bit.

incidentally, my vet was talking about a recent study that showed that the manufacturers recommended doses were way above what was needed for Metacam to work, although they showed that anything below 50% of dose was ineffective. Lukas is now 6.1kg (he was 4kg when I caught him) so I give him just over the 3kg dose. Jane said this should protect him from any potential kidney damage.
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Dawn F on February 09, 2018, 08:17:41 AM
thanks Mark, that is worth knowing the vet I saw was very open to discussion and seemed pleased that I knew a bit about it rather than looking horrified - if I could get her on a maintenance dose that would be ideal, she is on 5 (she weighs 5.5) so if I could halve it in time she wouldn't even notice it in the food I shouldn't think

she is still doing well and managed to get into bed with oh this morning without the footstool which has been helping her for the last week!
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Dawn F on February 16, 2018, 14:38:04 PM
well tilly is doing ok, she is still eating the yumove but star was at the vet for her boosters last night and the vet thought she was probably quite arthritic - I must admit I was very shocked to here she is nearly 15, in my mind she is still a youngster but the vet said her back claws showed she was probably night grooming because of stiffness, I must admit her coat has needed a bit of help for a while now but I've just done it without thinking.  anyway the upshot is she is also on a trail of anti inflame for 10 days and if we see a marked improvement she will probably go on the long term use as well kidneys being well - the vet said that often rather than show pain they just sleep a lot and she has been doing a lot of sleeping - she feel asleep at the vets in the scales!  she also weed her self in the carrier which was on my lap in the car!  oh well good job I love her
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Judecat (Paula) on February 16, 2018, 20:32:05 PM
Been reading this with interest, although I don't really need to now, but it may be useful to know for the future as the cats get older. What is 'night grooming'?
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on February 17, 2018, 11:12:09 AM
Poor Star, good luck with her too. Ive never heard of night grooming
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Dawn F on February 18, 2018, 12:34:30 PM
Sorry ladies predicted text that should be not grooming :-[
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Frances on March 03, 2018, 13:59:18 PM
I have had a long dicussion with my vet about pain relief for James as he now absolutely refuses oral Metacam.  We did look at the possibility of a transdermal formulation but the compounding pharmacies she contacted did not produce this.

Oral Metacam may be the most effective painkiller for arthritis in cats – particularly as it is also an anti-inflammatory – but for James we have agreed this is not the best possible long term solution.

My vet has previously used Amantadine for long term pain relief in a cat.  This works by switching off pain receptors in the brain and the downside is that it has no anti-inflammatory properties.  The upside is that it comes as tiny (smaller than Milbemax!) tablets easily hidden in Webbox :naughty:.

He is starting off on a low dose for three weeks and then review; he’s only been taking it for two days so it's too early to tell if it’s having any effect.  I’m still going to try him with acupuncture, but not until I know whether or not using Amandatine is successful in reducing his pain levels.
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on March 03, 2018, 16:03:46 PM
I've not heard of that, let me know how he gets on. Do they not make Onsior anymore? Interesting you don't want to use acupuncture until you've tried this, it is a natural way of relieving pain, so they don't need painkillers, so not sure why you would wait to see if this works?
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Frances on March 03, 2018, 18:45:24 PM
Yes, Onsior is still made but they are quite big pills so I’d be back to struggling to get them into him – he is not a very tractable cat when he doesn’t want to do something.

My priority is to get him as pain free as possible; I’ve simply opted for the drugs route first.  It’s possible that acupuncture may not work for him (it never worked for my mum) or that he will not accept the treatment in which case I have a fall-back solution. 
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Dawn F on March 03, 2018, 19:22:52 PM
Ive had acupuncture myself and it did nothing i wouldn't use it for mine personally
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on March 03, 2018, 21:36:14 PM
Yes, I know that feeling! I was sceptical about acupuncture but didn't want to go down the drug route because of Lucy's age, I tried acupuncture over Cartrophen because I didn't think she would accept it, ironically its one of the few things she's never drawn blood about, however grumpy she can be about it!
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on March 14, 2018, 16:32:05 PM
ITS A LONG TIME AGO BUT THINK I USED TO INJECT NAPOLEON WITH METACAM I KNOW I USED TI INJECT HIM WITH THE MEDS HE HAD AFTER A SEIZURE WHICH WENT ON BACK OF HIS NECK, IF METACAM DOESNT GO THERE I AM WRONG  :-[ MAYBE WORTH CHECKING WITH YOUR VET
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Dawn F on March 15, 2018, 08:14:37 AM
its an oral thing gill, a liquid - we aren't doing it for either tilly or star at the moment we are trying supplemented food but go back the end of the month for a chat
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on March 15, 2018, 13:31:33 PM
Which food are you trying Dawn? My old vet recommended JD, but then Lucy developed early stage CKD, so she has a renal food with glucosamine in to also help (although it is now mixed with one that has some fibre stuff in for her hypercalcaemia). I’m sure Liz has mentioned injecting Metacam though. 
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Dawn F on March 15, 2018, 13:35:18 PM
I wouldn't be comfortable injecting I don't think, not unless I really had to

we use using royal canin - tilly is definitely moving better star is still looking a bit like and old carpet on her back end so we shall see!
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Liz on March 15, 2018, 19:58:56 PM
I have injectable Metacam from the vets due to a couple of mine having life long conditions and they only get it as and when, apart from that we carry on as normal, it is injected in to the scruff

We have it as I also do Jesters injections fortnightly and of course we are on diabetic number 4 and also get the boosters and Program for the outside cats so we don't need to trap them all the time and they can trap wary which may cause issues further along in their lives and again I get the stickers for them but vets don't sign the book
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Frances on May 31, 2018, 17:55:35 PM
Time for an update :)

It’s hard to tell whether the Amantadine would have been effective as, despite being tiny and hideable in Webbox, James twigged what was going on after four days.  I found a couple that he’d spat out so decided to give it a rest for a couple of weeks.  By the time I gave it another try he’d gone off Webbox completely :-:.

So, on to plan C (I think).  He has now had three sessions of acupuncture which he is tolerating astonishingly well and which appears to be having an effect in reducing his pain levels :phew:.  After the first session he was a lot perkier, which wore off after about six days – apparently this is normal.  After the second session he definitely started to regain his mojo and the effect lasted the whole week until today’s third session.

Not quite time to break out the dancing narnas but I'm hopeful ;D.

Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Judecat (Paula) on May 31, 2018, 18:54:49 PM
Long may the improvement continue Frances. Now he can keep you on your toes again. ;D
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Lyn (Slugsta) on May 31, 2018, 21:45:28 PM
That sounds 'cautiously optimistic' Frances. I will keep the dancing nanas on hold for you  ;D
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on June 01, 2018, 12:34:16 PM
Sorry he refused the tablets, but glad the acupuncture seems to be working well
Title: Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
Post by: Sue P (Paddysmum) on June 04, 2018, 14:52:13 PM
Really pleased to hear the acupuncture is having a positive effect Frances.  Whatever it takes to get the required result.  Of course, Webbox would've been a lot easier, but hey-ho - that's cats!  :evillaugh: