Author Topic: Long-term Metacam for arthritis  (Read 21462 times)

Offline Sue P (Paddysmum)

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #61 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:

Offline Desley (booktigger)

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #60 on: June 01, 2018, 12:34:16 PM »
Sorry he refused the tablets, but glad the acupuncture seems to be working well
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Offline Lyn (Slugsta)

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #59 on: May 31, 2018, 21:45:28 PM »
That sounds 'cautiously optimistic' Frances. I will keep the dancing nanas on hold for you  ;D

Offline Judecat (Paula)

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #58 on: May 31, 2018, 18:54:49 PM »
Long may the improvement continue Frances. Now he can keep you on your toes again. ;D
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Offline Frances

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #57 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.


Offline Liz

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #56 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
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Offline Dawn F

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #55 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!

Offline Desley (booktigger)

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #54 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. 
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Offline Dawn F

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #53 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

Offline Gill (sneakiefeline)

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #52 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

Offline Desley (booktigger)

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #51 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!
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Offline Dawn F

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #50 on: March 03, 2018, 19:22:52 PM »
Ive had acupuncture myself and it did nothing i wouldn't use it for mine personally

Offline Frances

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #49 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. 

Offline Desley (booktigger)

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #48 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?
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Offline Frances

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #47 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.

Offline Dawn F

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #46 on: February 18, 2018, 12:34:30 PM »
Sorry ladies predicted text that should be not grooming :-[

Offline Desley (booktigger)

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #45 on: February 17, 2018, 11:12:09 AM »
Poor Star, good luck with her too. Ive never heard of night grooming
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Offline Judecat (Paula)

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #44 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'?
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Offline Dawn F

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #43 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

Offline Dawn F

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #42 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!

Offline Mark

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #41 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.
« Last Edit: February 09, 2018, 01:00:28 AM by Mark »
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Offline Desley (booktigger)

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #40 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!!
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Offline Dawn F

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #39 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

Offline Desley (booktigger)

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #38 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.
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Offline Dawn F

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #37 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

Offline Desley (booktigger)

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #36 on: February 06, 2018, 13:22:50 PM »
Good luck with medicating her Dawn, how old is she again?
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Offline Frances

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #35 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:

Offline Dawn F

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #34 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

Offline Desley (booktigger)

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #33 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.
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Offline Frances

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #32 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.
« Last Edit: February 05, 2018, 16:17:09 PM by Frances »

Offline Dawn F

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #31 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

Offline Frances

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #30 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.

Offline Dawn F

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #29 on: February 05, 2018, 09:32:33 AM »
this thread is just what I was looking for!

Offline Gill (sneakiefeline)

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #28 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!

Offline Desley (booktigger)

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #27 on: April 17, 2017, 15:04:21 PM »
Thanks Frances, me too
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Offline Frances

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #26 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 :).

Offline Desley (booktigger)

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #25 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.
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Offline Gill (sneakiefeline)

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #24 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!

Offline Frances

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #23 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:.


Offline Gill (sneakiefeline)

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Re: Long-term Metacam for arthritis
« Reply #22 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 !!

 


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