.
OK.....I'd be far more concerned if it were the States.
One point (put it in your 'back pocket' for future ref) - while he's on Metacam, don't allow the use of "Convenia", a long-acting injectable antibiotic. This combination seems to be a favourite of many British Vets....despite the fact that each is contraindicated for use with the other! No one seems inclined to read the fine print. Here's a post I recently made about the potential effects of this combination: Convenia side effects?
Just so you know, you shouldn't take any comfort and certainly any confidence in the 'Don't worry....we'll keep a close eye on his kidney results' (SDMA levels), because this is a false reassurance. By the time the lab results show a lessening of kidney function, the damage will have been done - and, kidney tissues ("nephrons") do not regenerate. Cats (and humans) 'come' with lots of extra nephrons (spare parts, if you will) and, as time goes by and nephrons die off, the others 'waiting in the wings' step up to the plate and take their place. Cats (and ourselves) have enough of these 'spares' to last a normal lifetime.....nephrotoxic events do shorten the full-function lifetime of the kidneys.
FWIW, there's a new NSAID, not yet approved for cats (but shown to be effective and safe) that you might want to share with the Vets, though any use of it would be off-label. (Consummate/'Quality' Vets today have membership in online forums of their own...perhaps, if yours do so, they might 'ask around' to see if anyone is using this for cats.) Anyways, here are a couple of references for you
There are some very effective 'natural' anti-inflammatories too...we used to have someone here who is very well versed in such. Here's a post of hers on treating arthritis (post #14) Bro and advanced arthritis and prognosis. Many people use Krill Oil, and for human arthritis, too.
The universally-accepted rule around the use of Metacam in cats is to use the least amount possible to achieve the desired result. Some people use it on alternating days.
Anyways, just some thoughts - hopefully of some help.
.
OK.....I'd be far more concerned if it were the States.
One point (put it in your 'back pocket' for future ref) - while he's on Metacam, don't allow the use of "Convenia", a long-acting injectable antibiotic. This combination seems to be a favourite of many British Vets....despite the fact that each is contraindicated for use with the other! No one seems inclined to read the fine print. Here's a post I recently made about the potential effects of this combination: Convenia side effects?
Just so you know, you shouldn't take any comfort and certainly any confidence in the 'Don't worry....we'll keep a close eye on his kidney results' (SDMA levels), because this is a false reassurance. By the time the lab results show a lessening of kidney function, the damage will have been done - and, kidney tissues ("nephrons") do not regenerate. Cats (and humans) 'come' with lots of extra nephrons (spare parts, if you will) and, as time goes by and nephrons die off, the others 'waiting in the wings' step up to the plate and take their place. Cats (and ourselves) have enough of these 'spares' to last a normal lifetime.....nephrotoxic events do shorten the full-function lifetime of the kidneys.
FWIW, there's a new NSAID, not yet approved for cats (but shown to be effective and safe) that you might want to share with the Vets, though any use of it would be off-label. (Consummate/'Quality' Vets today have membership in online forums of their own...perhaps, if yours do so, they might 'ask around' to see if anyone is using this for cats.) Anyways, here are a couple of references for you
- Grapiprant (Galliprant) - Veterinary Partner - VIN
- Safety and toxicokinetic profiles associated with daily oral administration of grapiprant, a selective antagonist of the prostaglandin E2 EP4 recep... - PubMed - NCBI
There are some very effective 'natural' anti-inflammatories too...we used to have someone here who is very well versed in such. Here's a post of hers on treating arthritis (post #14) Bro and advanced arthritis and prognosis. Many people use Krill Oil, and for human arthritis, too.
The universally-accepted rule around the use of Metacam in cats is to use the least amount possible to achieve the desired result. Some people use it on alternating days.
Anyways, just some thoughts - hopefully of some help.
.