Re: [Felvtalk] metacam and prednisone
I'm a fan of metacam. I've never used it in an FeLV cat and you cannot use it if a cat has kidney issues, but for mild pains, like aches and sprains and arthritis, it helps. But it's given in a tiny amount, weight-based, and only every two or three days. Don't overdo it. Also, it is an antinflammatory so I would not give it with pred. I'vr never had it prescribed with pred. For a tumor however you may need a stronger pain med, like torbulgesic or buprenex, so talk to your vet about this. From: Lance lini...@fastmail.fm To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Sunday, May 19, 2013 5:58 PM Subject: [Felvtalk] metacam and prednisone Hi all, I posted recently about my FeLV+ girl, Ember. Since she most likely has (at least) a lung tumor, I'm going to get her on pain meds soon, despite the fact that most of the differences in her behavior are minor. Our second opinion vet prescribed metacam, and an oncologist who consulted with Ember's primary vet also recommended metacam. These are smart, experienced folks with lots of education. But, I'm seeing so much outcry over metacam online that I'm very reluctant to give it to Ember. I'd love to ease any discomfort she might be having, and metacam would be easy to give. What are your thoughts on metacam? I'm also wondering if prednisone might be helpful in reducing any inflammation that Ember is dealing with. I know people on the list have used it, but I'm concerned about its ability to create low wbc. Ember already has that issue, due to being FeLV+. Would folks who have pred experience in FeLV+ cats mind posting your experiences? Thanks, Lance ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] metacam and prednisone
I am so not a fan of metacam either, other than one or two days. More than one day is off label and for good reason. Agree with Susan, use torbulgesic or buprenex, which addresses cancer pain much better. I don't get why vets continue to use metacam. Maybe they will stop when they have a cat go into kidney failure, which is why my vet stopped using it. I would say talk to another vet about this, not the ones recommending the metacam. Janine From: Susan Hoffman susan_hoff...@yahoo.com To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Sun, May 19, 2013 9:31:03 PM Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] metacam and prednisone I'm a fan of metacam. I've never used it in an FeLV cat and you cannot use it if a cat has kidney issues, but for mild pains, like aches and sprains and arthritis, it helps. But it's given in a tiny amount, weight-based, and only every two or three days. Don't overdo it. Also, it is an antinflammatory so I would not give it with pred. I'vr never had it prescribed with pred. For a tumor however you may need a stronger pain med, like torbulgesic or buprenex, so talk to your vet about this. From: Lance lini...@fastmail.fm To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Sunday, May 19, 2013 5:58 PM Subject: [Felvtalk] metacam and prednisone Hi all, I posted recently about my FeLV+ girl, Ember. Since she most likely has (at least) a lung tumor, I'm going to get her on pain meds soon, despite the fact that most of the differences in her behavior are minor. Our second opinion vet prescribed metacam, and an oncologist who consulted with Ember's primary vet also recommended metacam. These are smart, experienced folks with lots of education. But, I'm seeing so much outcry over metacam online that I'm very reluctant to give it to Ember. I'd love to ease any discomfort she might be having, and metacam would be easy to give. What are your thoughts on metacam? I'm also wondering if prednisone might be helpful in reducing any inflammation that Ember is dealing with. I know people on the list have used it, but I'm concerned about its ability to create low wbc. Ember already has that issue, due to being FeLV+. Would folks who have pred experience in FeLV+ cats mind posting your experiences? Thanks, Lance ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] metacam and prednisone
Thanks, Janine and Susan. I should have noted that I have some tramadol here, but I'm avoiding using it as I have some compounded buprenorphine due here on Wednesday. I was considering giving Ember one metacam dose in the meantime. Would a metacam injection be better (more safe for her kidneys) than the oral dose I would give? Ember's primary vet consulted with a veterinary oncologist at a nearby university, and the oncologist said that using opioids now would make them less effective down the road, which is why she recommended metacam. Granted, Ember is doing fairly well, but how would we know when to switch from metacam to an opioid? When is down the road? If anyone has had some experience with feline lung cancer, I'd really like to hear more about it. My main concern is to make sure that Ember doesn't suffer, and I worry that, despite only a few minor behavioral changes, Ember is dealing with significant pain. I wish cats weren't so good at hiding their hurt. Lance On May 19, 2013, at 8:54 PM, janine paton patonjan...@sbcglobal.net wrote: I am so not a fan of metacam either, other than one or two days. More than one day is off label and for good reason. Agree with Susan, use torbulgesic or buprenex, which addresses cancer pain much better. I don't get why vets continue to use metacam. Maybe they will stop when they have a cat go into kidney failure, which is why my vet stopped using it. I would say talk to another vet about this, not the ones recommending the metacam. Janine From: Susan Hoffman susan_hoff...@yahoo.com To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Sun, May 19, 2013 9:31:03 PM Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] metacam and prednisone I'm a fan of metacam. I've never used it in an FeLV cat and you cannot use it if a cat has kidney issues, but for mild pains, like aches and sprains and arthritis, it helps. But it's given in a tiny amount, weight-based, and only every two or three days. Don't overdo it. Also, it is an antinflammatory so I would not give it with pred. I'vr never had it prescribed with pred. For a tumor however you may need a stronger pain med, like torbulgesic or buprenex, so talk to your vet about this. From: Lance lini...@fastmail.fm To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Sunday, May 19, 2013 5:58 PM Subject: [Felvtalk] metacam and prednisone Hi all, I posted recently about my FeLV+ girl, Ember. Since she most likely has (at least) a lung tumor, I'm going to get her on pain meds soon, despite the fact that most of the differences in her behavior are minor. Our second opinion vet prescribed metacam, and an oncologist who consulted with Ember's primary vet also recommended metacam. These are smart, experienced folks with lots of education. But, I'm seeing so much outcry over metacam online that I'm very reluctant to give it to Ember. I'd love to ease any discomfort she might be having, and metacam would be easy to give. What are your thoughts on metacam? I'm also wondering if prednisone might be helpful in reducing any inflammation that Ember is dealing with. I know people on the list have used it, but I'm concerned about its ability to create low wbc. Ember already has that issue, due to being FeLV+. Would folks who have pred experience in FeLV+ cats mind posting your experiences? Thanks, Lance ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] metacam and prednisone
Hi Lance and Ember, While I've never had a problem with metacam, I refuse it when possible. When Gribble was first diagnosed as FeLV positive, his fever was very high, an we neeed an anti-inflammatory. I chose Ketoprofen, and we had good results. It was used for 5 days. For pain, I'd suggest buprenorphine (Buprenex) or Tramadol, with my preference being the buprenorphine, as it is both easy to give, and to adjust dose-wise. It is often first prescribed at too high (in my opinion) a dose, but I have good luck with starting at a lower dose and working up to an amount that makes the cat comfortable but not loopy or groggy. Torb doesn't last very long. I would avoid steroids in an immune compromised critter, so for me and FeLV+ Gribble, Prenisolone is out. Every cat is different, and I'm certainly no Vet, but I hope you can reach an understanding with your Vet(s) that can keep Ember comfortable and happy. All the nest, Margo -Original Message- From: Lance lini...@fastmail.fm Sent: May 19, 2013 8:58 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: [Felvtalk] metacam and prednisone Hi all, I posted recently about my FeLV+ girl, Ember. Since she most likely has (at least) a lung tumor, I'm going to get her on pain meds soon, despite the fact that most of the differences in her behavior are minor. Our second opinion vet prescribed metacam, and an oncologist who consulted with Ember's primary vet also recommended metacam. These are smart, experienced folks with lots of education. But, I'm seeing so much outcry over metacam online that I'm very reluctant to give it to Ember. I'd love to ease any discomfort she might be having, and metacam would be easy to give. What are your thoughts on metacam? I'm also wondering if prednisone might be helpful in reducing any inflammation that Ember is dealing with. I know people on the list have used it, but I'm concerned about its ability to create low wbc. Ember already has that issue, due to being FeLV+. Would folks who have pred experience in FeLV+ cats mind posting your experiences? Thanks, Lance ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] metacam and prednisone
Thanks for your thoughts, Margo. I am so ready for the bupenorphine to get here, but it has to be compounded and shipped from Roadrunner Pharmacy. I'm not sure that my vet approves of me giving it to Ember now, but I convinced her that we needed it asap, as I didn't want Ember displaying severe pain on a Friday afternoon, and we'd have to wait for five days just to get what we need to deal with it. I don't want to give tramadol unless there's an obvious need before the bupenorphine gets here. I've read that it's terribly bitter, and I don't want to cause pilling aversion in Ember. If I had some gel caps, I would try to give it to her. The bup will definitely be easier to give. Best to you and Gribble, Lance On May 19, 2013, at 9:26 PM, Margo toomanykitti...@earthlink.net wrote: Hi Lance and Ember, While I've never had a problem with metacam, I refuse it when possible. When Gribble was first diagnosed as FeLV positive, his fever was very high, an we neeed an anti-inflammatory. I chose Ketoprofen, and we had good results. It was used for 5 days. For pain, I'd suggest buprenorphine (Buprenex) or Tramadol, with my preference being the buprenorphine, as it is both easy to give, and to adjust dose-wise. It is often first prescribed at too high (in my opinion) a dose, but I have good luck with starting at a lower dose and working up to an amount that makes the cat comfortable but not loopy or groggy. Torb doesn't last very long. I would avoid steroids in an immune compromised critter, so for me and FeLV+ Gribble, Prenisolone is out. Every cat is different, and I'm certainly no Vet, but I hope you can reach an understanding with your Vet(s) that can keep Ember comfortable and happy. All the nest, Margo ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
