Depo-medrone

[Rachael]

Has anybody ever used this?
It is a steroid, the active ingridient methylprednisolone. Our vet has recently started using this 'longer acting steroid' up to a month apparently which we didn't think possible with the rats fast metabolism (sp, always a word that I get wrong). Anyway we didn't realise it with a different steroid to Doxy/Preds. They just told us it was this longer acting steroid. But now we're really annoyed, it doesn't seem to work. Laurel had PT and never got that boost from the steroid injection. Clovers ear infection didn't go away. And Caleb is basically just fading away with a respiratory. He is going to the vets tonight and they will be questioned. We're really annoyed if some rep has come around and they've started using this on our rats and it doesn't work.
Or, is it just like any other steroid and does work?

 

[jorats]

I haven't heard of that drug. But another long acting drug/slow release is Convenia which is now shown to not be good for rats. I think more research is needed and without people like you, we wouldn't be able to know if it's a good med for rats or not. Be sure to ring the vet and let him know that you don't think the depo-medrone helped at all.

Some PT sufferers don't get any benefits from prednisone. And it's definitely not a cure for ear infections, it can only help in reducing inflammation in the ear canal. Keep in mind that pred also weakens the immune system.

 

[Rachael]

Thank you Jo. I don't think the slow acting medicine is going to work because it won't give them that 'instant boost' if they're going to get it. Perhaps Caleb wouldn't have got better but we're not happy if it's because of the medicine.

 

[lilspaz68]

http://www.drugs.com/vet/depo-medrol.html

it looks like it is slow-acting and they cannot say how long it really lasts in the animals...for days up to 6 weeks is one helluva range in Cats

I would advise against this since you need a faster response.

 

[Rachael]

Caleb got a Pred and Baytril injecton, he's lost 35 grams, and won't eat or drink. I don't see him getting better. I feel terrible, we really let him down.

 

[petlover]

Hi,
I asked today which steroid my rattie Billy had before his passing and it turns out it was Depo-Medrone steroid. This meant nothing to me but on researching it i have learnt it is a slow release steroid and is not suitable for Rats because of their Fast metabolism. Usually when a rattie is in need of medical care such as steroid they need immediate care not something that is going to be released slowly into their system. This can be fatal to a rat as we were unfortunate enough to find out losing Billy. I would advise against this type of steroid.Hope this helps

 

[Rachael]

Hiya, sorry you lost your boy. :sad3:

For the past couple of years since posting this thread, we've told our vet that depo-medrone hasn't helped our ratties at all, and we always make sure they get dex/preds instead. Our vet doesn't use Depo Medrone for rats anymore thankfully.

 

[petlover]

HI,
I've just noticed the date of the post ... i actually found it on a link through google about Depo- Medrone so i just replied without noticing it was for 2 years ago but at least the information is out there if anyone else comes across the same issue in the future. Thanks