Arthritic Flemish giant? Metacam?

[am95405]

X-rays (taken for some other infection which has since cleared up) show my 7 year old flemish giant buck (15 lb) to be quite arthritic. The vet suggests Metacam. My rabbit jumps up and down surfaces/tables voluntarily and walks around our yard and although he has slowed down due to his age, seems like a happy rabbit. He doesn't have to go to the highest table level available but he chooses to. I am not anti-medication when needed but the rabbit seems okay to me. I am torn if I should try the Metacam or not.

As a note, I took my 80 year old mom to the orthopedic surgeon; she ended up with x-rays of her fingers. The doctor said she had a lot of arthritis in them according to the x-rays but my mom is in no pain. The doctor was surprised based on the x-rays. My mom can talk but I can't talk to my rabbit.

Any thoughts on whether I should try the Metacam or not?

 

[Popsicles]

Like you said, as animals can’t tell us I would always err on the side of pain relief. The slowing down you mentioned is likely pain related, as old age in itself is not a disease! There are other pain relief options as well as metacam, I first started my rabbit on gabapentin (and ofc joint supplements). It’s worth a trial, because signs of pain are often subtle and you may notice an increase in activity which tells you it’s working!

 

[ZipperNipper]

My vet said the same thing about my 8+ y.o. rex girl; super arthritic (like bone on bone) but she still gets air-time in her binkies, does zoomies and prefers to climb up several levels to her hidey spot. Are vets getting a bigger kick-back for selling Metacam these days?! Sheesh.

You could try Glucosamine and Chondroitin (with MSM) powder. It's not a cure and takes 2-3 months to show results, but I've seen it reliably take the edge off of arthritis pain. Maybe that's all you need for now.

I'm not a super fan of Metacam. I've seen that most rabbits tolerate it well, but it can also cause diarrhea or stasis--just depends on the bun. If you choose to try it, go slow and start with a low dose. Practically speaking, I avoid daily medications until there's no other option, especially if the bun doesn't like the taste.

 

[Popsicles]

My vet said the same thing about my 8+ y.o. rex girl; super arthritic (like bone on bone) but she still gets air-time in her binkies, does zoomies and prefers to climb up several levels to her hidey spot. Are vets getting a bigger kick-back for selling Metacam these days?! Sheesh.

You could try Glucosamine and Chondroitin (with MSM) powder. It's not a cure and takes 2-3 months to show results, but I've seen it reliably take the edge off of arthritis pain. Maybe that's all you need for now.

I'm not a super fan of Metacam. I've seen that most rabbits tolerate it well, but it can also cause diarrhea or stasis--just depends on the bun. If you choose to try it, go slow and start with a low dose. Practically speaking, I avoid daily medications until there's no other option, especially if the bun doesn't like the taste.

No, vets aren’t on commission for medication don’t be ridiculous. They are suggesting it because as I said before, animals can’t tell you they are in pain and veterinary professionals are in a position to advocate for those animals. And metacam is not the only option. Everything I said in my last reply basically.

 

[ZipperNipper]

I can't speak for the UK, but in the USA, vets will sell you unnecessary medications and tests--heck, I've talked them into it. It's not a commission per se, but still money in their pockets. Rabbits do communicate pain and often, owners are the only ones close enough to see the signs and advocate correctly for them. But many of us tend to flip out over tiny things and the vets just want to make us happy and send us back out the door with pain meds--no skin off of their nose and it won't hurt the rabbit.

I'm just saying, I'd trade my right arm for a holistic vet that looks for supplements and lifestyle adjustments first when presented with an old, slightly arthritic, rabbit. But that doesn't make them as much money, now does it?

 

[Preitler]

My thoughts on this:
Rabbits are incredible good at hiding and enduring pain. In nature, when they act off, let the pain show, they turn into dinner really quick. So, when we actually notice that something is off it's already pretty bad.

Meloxicam isn't just a pain med, but also has anti-inflammatory properties. If athrosis is present, an inflammation (athritis) is going to make things worse.

Vets prescribing a simple staple med to make profit is imho nonsense. there are more easy ways to make money - jsut charging a lot (here, vet costs are reasonable), tests, supplements, homeopathics.....
Actually, I'm still stumped that my vet, obviously because of an outdated handbook, prescribed a much too low dose for my 11yo Fury (0,1mg/kg, now I'm giving 0,45mg/kg and that's the minimum for the stage of athrosis she's in). With the higher dose she can live a rather normal life, go to the garden and buack to the hutch, with the low dose she didn't even try to master the ramp and most times not even to get up from laying on her side to poop or pee. Now she'S upright most of the time.

I didn't know that back when my late Herr Hase developed problems, although I gave him double of what the vet said I thought there is only so much a pain med can do, not realizing that it was still by far not enough to do anything. It spiraled down to the point of no return in a pretty bad way,

Meloxicam is a pretty safe med, well tolerated, and I do not skip it if there is a diagnosis that makes sense to use it.

 

[Popsicles]

Well said.

 

[am95405]

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts. I do trust this vet (it is very hard to find a good rabbit vet where I live), but I also remember what my children's pediatrician told me when my kids were young and I had some concern and wanted to see a specialist. He said they say "you walk into a orthopedic surgeon's office with your own two feet, you come out in crutches".

So doctors look through a lens of treatment, and we want them to do that, but I feel it is up to us to take that information and work with it. Hence my question here and my attempt at research.

I may give the Metacam a shot. I can't remember the dosage but she said it was very low and to start low and see how it goes.

Interesting comment about the animals not wanting to show pain. Didn't think of that.

I love this bun so much. I've had him since he was 4 months old and he is the gentlest of buns. I also have a doe and although I've had her for 5 years, I still can't pet her. Plus she kicks. My buck on the other hand is so incredibly sweet. They are a bonded pair.

 

[JBun]

A while back a member tried adequan injections with his rabbit that was developing arthritis, and reported very positive results. Meloxicam won't fix or stop the progression of the arthritis, just ease the inflammation and pain. So the adequan might be worth trying. If it helps, you won't be so reliant on the meloxicam for your bun. Also might want to look into sherwood joint support. Another member said they had positive results with it.

https://www.rabbitsonline.net/threads/spondylosis-of-the-lumbar-spine.63665/#post-852872
https://www.rabbitsonline.net/threads/sparkys-vet-visit.57678/page-5#post-795471
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Arthritis

 

[Popsicles]

A while back a member tried adequan injections with his rabbit that was developing arthritis, and reported very positive results. Meloxicam won't fix or stop the progression of the arthritis, just ease the inflammation and pain. So the adequan might be worth trying. If it helps, you won't be so reliant on the meloxicam for your bun. Also might want to look into sherwood joint support. Another member said they had positive results with it.

https://www.rabbitsonline.net/threads/spondylosis-of-the-lumbar-spine.63665/#post-852872
https://www.rabbitsonline.net/threads/sparkys-vet-visit.57678/page-5#post-795471
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Arthritis

Second this, first thing I started my bunny on was cartrophen injections (UK name for Adequan) and at the earlier stages that made a huge difference for her.