 Purred: Sat Aug 4, '12 1:12pm PST |
 | |  | | What you've been reading about Metacam and cats has caused you to post your worry - and, it's good that you did, because...yes, there is a great deal of danger in using it with cats.
The first thing I'd like to clarify with you is this: you wrote "1.5mg and I give her 0.3 ml..." That first number, "1.5"....is that on the box or the label? The reason I'm asking is because it sounds like the STRENGTH of the drug...the concentration in this particular package. IF it is the strength, this is how it should read: "1.5 mg/ml" Is that the complete notation that you were reading?
Now, the reason I'm asking is this: There are two standard strengths available for Metacam Oral Suspension: 1.5mg/ml and .5mg/ml The first, three times stronger than the second, is for use in dogs; the second, 1/3 the strength of the first, is for cats. Sorry if I'm 'dumbing down' the math part here...but that's the critical part. Many of the cats who have been harmed by this drug have been given the 'dog version'....so you can now understand how an extreme overdose can occur.
Now, as to the dosage you're administering....that is to be calculated based on Luna's weight. If you want to post her weight, we can try to calculate whether/not the dosage is extreme.
However, the plain facts are that this type of drug cannot be processed by a cat's liver - as drugs commonly are - and cats are almost unique in not having that ability. A cat's liver did not evolve with the required liver enzyme to process (metabolize) these drugs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories).
This drug itself is "nephrotoxic" in cats, the scientific/medical term for kills kidney cells. Because the liver can't deal with it, it goes directly to the kidneys, and that's where it does the damage.
Based on everything I have read, I am convinced that, with Metacam, it's never a question of a 'safe dose' - rather, the question is 'how much kidney are you willing to destroy?'
Many people will say that their Vet assured them that bloodwork will be monitored prior and during the course of Metacam. That is an absolutely false assurance. Bloodwork will only reveal kidney function at the moment in time when the blood was drawn. It will NOT reveal how much kidney tissue had died/been destroyed nor how much living kidney tissue remains, i.e. functioning and 'in reserve'. A good primer on how kidneys work can be found here http://www.felinecrf.org/what_happens_in_ckd.htm Scroll down about 1/4 to "Why CKD Cannot Normally Be Detected at an Early Stage"
The plain fact is that "bloodwork" will only reveal a problem WHEN 2/3 of all kidney cells are not functioning...translation: regular bloodwork will ONLY reveal that the cat IS NOT in kidney failure - OR - the cat IS in kidney failure.
Many people are familiar with this site http://www.metacamkills.com For a more thorough understanding, there's an AAFP-endorsed site here http://www.felinecrf.org/treatments_antibiotics_painkillers.htm#melo xicam
Whew!
Well, if you would like to judge whether/not Luna has been prescribed an extreme dosage, you'll need to post her weight - obviously, weight accuracy will be critical. (We'll also have to use Canadian or UK veterinary guides for this, as Metacam is NOT licensed for cats in the USA.) |  |  | |  |
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