back from vet - increased metacam as suggested by members

[SQ]

I took all of my remaining ratties to the vet yesterday for a check up.
Having lost 2 ratties in January and 5 ratties in February, I needed to reassure myself.
I am just finishing a 3 month battle with a secondary infection that repeatedly affected one rat after another in my largest group.

Warning : This is very boring but any suggestions would be appreciated.

Leah (38 months - on metacam) - after seeing her walk - actually scoot along on the 3 legs she can use (he had never watched her walk before) it turns out she does not have hed but has severe arthritis - Anyone know of anything for this? Her lungs sound good for her age. He discovered a small abdominal tumour - hoping it is very very slow growing as surgery is not an option given her health.

Joey (35 months - on metacam, advanced hed) - he is in some pain from the hed as he has started squeaking when touched but vet said no other pain meds and has not been able to find info on a muscle relaxant.

Esther (30 months - chf, huge heart, on baytril + 4 heart meds + metacam) - vet confirmed the small tumour I had discovered under her right armpit. Hoping it is very very slow growing as surgery is not an option given her health. Lungs have a bit of a wheeze but otherwise ok. I am going to increase the lasix.

Joy (30 + months, on metacam) - she has leg and hip joints of one hind leg completely deteriorated from arthritis (as seen on xray several months ago). Doing ok.
(4 oldest ratties viewtopic.php?f=7&t=17865)

Maria (24 - 25+ months - on baytril + clavamox) - lung sounds improved, continuing meds.

Laurel (24 – 25+ months – on benazepril, lasix, baytril, tiny amt of pred. for breathing, clavamox) – lungs sound quite bad (they are severely damaged as seen on xray several months ago). Continue and complete treatment for her secondary infection.

Naomi (22 months) – good
Sunny (21 months) –good
Raine (21 months) – good
Jessie (21 months – on baytril, clavamox, lasix, benazapril) – secondary infection improved

Johnny (21 months – on baytril, clavamox) - secondary infection improving

Rhubarb (21 months – on baytril, clavamox) – raspy breathing but I have noticed a great improvement since putting him on the meds so will continue for now.

Casper (21 months – on baytril, clavamox) – sounding good, told to complete the course of antibiotics

Gus (17 months, permanent head tilt) – sounds ok – although I though I heard noisy breathing from him the previous night.

Buddy (15 months) – whistle noise in lungs, starting on baytril

Jubilee (16 months) – ok
Lunar (16 months) – ok. Vet had a look at the lump Lunar is going to have removed next week.

btw, all ratties are spayed or neutered

 

[Dahlas]

Wow......I am sorry I don't have any suggestions. Hopefully Jo or Shelagh will. It has been a bad winter for losing rats hasn't it?

 

[SQ]

Wow......I am sorry I don't have any suggestions. Hopefully Jo or Shelagh will. It has been a bad winter for losing rats hasn't it?

Yes, it has been an extremely painful year .... and I only mentioned the last 2 months ....

 

[Alicemcmallis]

Wow that's a lot all at once!

severe arthritis - Anyone know of anything for this?

What kind of dose do you currently have her on? My vet has recently been using Tramadol quite a lot with good success. Tramadol can also be used concurrently with metacam.

I couldn't find anything on Rat Guide for this medication, but here is some info from Mar Vista Vet:

http://marvistavet.com/html/body_tramadol.html

 

Oh wow
:hugs: for you
Sorry I don't have any suggestions, I wish I did :heart:

 

[SQ]

The 4 oldest ratties are just on the normal dose of metacam, 0.25 mg/454.4g BID.
I'll contact my vet right now about the tramadol.

Joey's tail is in a permanent muscle spasm and he is rigid past his lumbar region, barely able to wiggle his hind legs. Any suggestions re comfort? Vet says he isn't bad enough to pts for pain. Joey eats, is bright eyed, outgoing, loving, and somehow manages to get around a limited area with just his front legs. viewtopic.php?f=7&t=17865

Edit: phoned vet and left a message. Emailed him the link.

 

[jorats]

I'm not much help either with the arthritis.

Your ratties are all up there in age. It's hard when there are medical issue with so many.

 

I'm not much help either with the arthritis.

Your ratties are all up there in age. It's hard when there are medical issue with so many.

That's my biggeset fear, all mine are around the same ages, 6 with the exact same age

 

[artbymollie]

Im so sorry, I know when I lost my luna I was devastated, I still tear up when I think of her.

I hate to ask but Ive not heard of HED before and I was wondering what it is?


I hope that your heart will heal, and Im sure that your little fuzzies are in a place of paradise.

 

[blytherue]

I don't know very much, but couldn't that glucosamine stuff that some people use for hed be helpful for arthritis too? Because it helps with joints? Or something...? I feel like my grandma might take glucosamine for her arthritis...

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

HED = hind end degeneration

 

[artbymollie]

HED = hind end degeneration

face palm~ :emb: thanks I should have know that! I guess I just hadn't heard the abbreviation before! thanks

 

[MomRat]

My mother takes Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM supplement for her arthritis - it's for joints. I see no reason why it wouldn't be a good option to try, with few other options available. It's not just for HED, after all. =)

 

[SQ]

Lunar goes in to have his tumor removed on Thursday morning.

 

[SQ]

Lunar did not need to have surgery today.
Last night his lump seemed to have a bit of a head to it and when I applied pressure it popped open.
The contents were quite strange.
Lunar was checked out by the vet this morning. It seems that his hair and skin tissue were growing inward instead of outward, causing inflammation and a lump.
I am to keep an eye on it but the vet thinks it will likely be fine.

 

[SQ]

Another vet visit ....
My vet will not prescribe Tramadol. He says it is hard to get and about the same as codene.
I am and have been thinking (for several months) about having them pts but they aren't ready ...

I will be stopping the metacam and starting Joey, Leah and Joy on codene as they are in pain imo.
Esther’s (30.5 months) lungs sound better ... due to an increase in the frequency of lasix.
Joey (approx 36 months) is still on baytril and I may be adding clavamox.
Leah (approx 38 months) is on steroidal eye drops as the corneas in both her eyes are deteriorating. The vet says that this is not painful. I am starting her on baytril & possibly clavamox due to breathing sounds.
Joy (approx 30.5 months) is not on any other meds.
All are also on the supplement glucosamine & chondroitin with no positive change.
Neither my vet nor I have been able to find out any info on muscle relaxants and rats.

Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[jorats]

Is the codeine to replace the metacam?

It sounds like you are doing all you can for these little ones.

 

[SQ]

Yes, the codene is to replace the metacam.
I have asked my vet to contact your vet jorats regarding pain management and muscle relaxants for rats.

I emailed Debbie Ducommun last night and she provided some info about greatly increasing the metacam dose so my vet may decide to do that instead of starting them on codene.
Need to finsih meds and then off to the vet to pick up codene.

 

[jorats]

It was once thought that metacam had to be small doses for rats but that's no longer true. Rats really do need higher doses.
I sure hope it brings comfort to your guys.

 

[lilspaz68]

There are new recommended dosages for metacam now...used to be .1 - .2 mg/kg and its now 1-2 mg/kg...which gives you a lot more flexibility with managing discomfort.

I have used tramadol concurrently with metacam for a couple of rats (it can also be used with steroids as it is not an NSAID) .