Metacam dose info - please help soon!

[tgramsey]

Hello, can someone please give me the correct dose cut down for squirrels? My first rescue boy, who still lives in my backyard and visits daily, just showed up in the middle of the night! He was limping earlier in the week and wouldn't let me catch him. Tonight I heard a familiar sound on the deck and sure enough it was him - not only night, but in the middle or a rain storm. He is limping and covered in fleas. I have Metacam, but can't recall the doseage requirement. I'll weigh him soon as I can- he crawled up in his old bed - a ginger jar type vase, so I'll have to wait until he comes out - but he is a 2 year old male Fox squirrel - average size. Thanks! And any adivce on the fleas? He has never had fleas in the two years he has been visiting (he hops on my shoulder for nuts and cuddles, etc) so I assume his injury has something to do with it - not able to get away from them - I don't know. He is worn out, poor thing - seems exhausted.

[SammysMom]

What strength is the meticam? He absolutely has to be well hydrated for meticam to avoid liver issues. Do you have Dawn dish soap? Make soapy water and is e a paper towel to wipe him down and pick the flea d and put in the soapy water. Only Dawn though, not any other dish soap works.

[tgramsey]

Hi, it's 1.5mg/ml 32ml. I am going to try and wash him in Dawn when he comes out out of his ginger jar/bed. Thank you.

[SammysMom]

Dosing sent!

[SammysMom]

How's the patient doing today?

[tgramsey]

Hi, much better than yesterday! He got a dose of Medicam last night and again tonight. He slept most all day. Came out for a snack now and again. I gave him a warm Dawn bath last night so that helped tremendously. You know he was miserable with all those fleas. I need to get some topical - all I have is Frontline and I understand that's not good to use on squirrels - correct? I read that ivermectin might help -- I have some 1.87% paste. Any thoughts?

I'm calling the wildlife vet first thing in the morning. His leg is very swollen and his paw is drawn in. I sure hope it is not broken. Thanks for checking in. -T

[Nancy in New York]

Hi, much better than yesterday! He got a dose of Medicam last night and again tonight. He slept most all day. Came out for a snack now and again. I gave him a warm Dawn bath last night so that helped tremendously. You know he was miserable with all those fleas. I need to get some topical - all I have is Frontline and I understand that's not good to use on squirrels - correct? I read that ivermectin might help -- I have some 1.87% paste. Any thoughts?

I'm calling the wildlife vet first thing in the morning. His leg is very swollen and his paw is drawn in. I sure hope it is not broken. Thanks for checking in. -T

No to Frontline.
When you call the wildlife vet ask if you can have get some Revolution.
1 or 2 drops between the shoulder blades should do the trick.
Does he still have fleas after the Dawn bath?
Poor baby. I really hope the vet can see him tomorrow.

[tgramsey]

I'll ask about Revolution. I don't see any fleas, but as many as he had, I'm sure a few survived. I'll give him another bath this week. Thought I'd let him chill a bit. Dawned on me that the reason he was so infested is that he can't scratch them away as he normally would. With his injured leg, he can't steady himself to scratch with the good leg. He topples, so the fleas were able to multiply quickly. I'll update after he sees the vet. Thanks for your note!

[tgramsey]

Hi, good news - my boy does not have a broken leg. Vet just thinks it's very infected. He is on Metacam and an antibiotic for the next week to two. Thanks!

[Nancy in New York]

Hi, good news - my boy does not have a broken leg. Vet just thinks it's very infected. He is on Metacam and an antibiotic for the next week to two. Thanks!

Fantastic news. What antibiotic did they give you?
I KNOW you know this, but keep him well hydrated while on meds.

[tgramsey]

Hi, he put him on Baytril. Yes, just about to give him a bit of fruit flavored pedialyte. Will keep that up while he is on meds. Thanks!

[stepnstone]

Hi, he put him on Baytril. Yes, just about to give him a bit of fruit flavored pedialyte. Will keep that up while he is on meds. Thanks!
I wouldn't say Baytril is the best ab call for treating infection especially with what is being termed "very infected." :dono

[tgramsey]

What med you suggest? He does treat a lot of squirrels and wildlife. I'm taking him in again next week for a followup and if not looking much better, I'll ask about something different. Thank you!

[stepnstone]

What med you suggest? He does treat a lot of squirrels and wildlife. I'm taking him in again next week for a followup and if not looking much better, I'll ask about something different. Thank you!

I'm certinally no vet and not trying to talk over a vet but some do seem to get stuck on Baytril as the go to for everything.
Although I can't knock Baytril as it is a good ab med there are others that would render a better coverage for dealing with different types of infections.
Clavamox for one being a broad spectrum ab would have a better coverage.

I'm going to assume the vet cultured the infection to know what kind of bacteria it is your dealing with?
Even with saying that and considering his words "very infected" and with the infection being in the leg I would think the bacteria / infection
could very possibly involve anaerobes to which Baytril is not effective on.

[SammysMom]

I have one who is now non-releaseable because my vet insisted on Baytril for a leg infection. In the end she healed because we used stacked Clavamox and clindamycin because in her case there was bone involvement. If there is possible bone infection I would use that combo. It worked wonders and my vet acknowledged learning something new.

[stepnstone]

I have one who is now non-releaseable because my vet insisted on Baytril for a leg infection. In the end she healed because we used stacked Clavamox and clindamycin because in her case there was bone involvement. If there is possible bone infection I would use that combo. It worked wonders and my vet acknowledged learning something new.

http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/yes/yes-i-fully-agree-smiley-emoticon.gif This is also the combo that my vet has used on several that I have
dealt with that have had infections in either leg or leg joints. (knee)

[Jennefer]

My Tiny (a flyer) had a really bad facial abscess a few months ago...bad, like his entire side of face was triple the normal size & the abscess was so deep after a week "half" his face fell off (but healed up nicely) & the vet had him on Clavamox & Metacam for 14 days. Worked great & saw improvement very quickly. After 2 weeks you couldn't even tell he had an abscess. I also swabbed it several times a day with a watered-down betadine solution (a few drops added to distilled water- looked like weak tea). Not sure if your guy has any external wounds from this but you may want to consider swabbing him as well. I learned it from one of the experts here. Its easy & inexpensive. Hope your baby gets feeling better soon!

Thanks Step....after reading the Baytril comment, my first thought was "why not a different antibiotic"....I love when you confirm my thoughts. :dance

[tgramsey]

Thanks everyone. I'm going to keep the Baytril going as that's the only med I have right now. If still issues when I take him in for a followup, I'll ask about the other meds. One good thing - my little guy was very energetic today! Seems to be feeling a little better.

[tgramsey]

I'll look for this solution. Assume it's OTC? He does have a spot on his foot from an old injury. Skin isn't broken, but I wonder if it has something to do with this infection. Thank you!



My Tiny (a flyer) had a really bad facial abscess a few months ago...bad, like his entire side of face was triple the normal size & the abscess was so deep after a week "half" his face fell off (but healed up nicely) & the vet had him on Clavamox & Metacam for 14 days. Worked great & saw improvement very quickly. After 2 weeks you couldn't even tell he had an abscess. I also swabbed it several times a day with a watered-down betadine solution (a few drops added to distilled water- looked like weak tea). Not sure if your guy has any external wounds from this but you may want to consider swabbing him as well. I learned it from one of the experts here. Its easy & inexpensive. Hope your baby gets feeling better soon!

Thanks Step....after reading the Baytril comment, my first thought was "why not a different antibiotic"....I love when you confirm my thoughts. :dance

[Jennefer]

Yes, it is....here's the exact info from Crittermom's post (so I dont have to retype!)....and one CORRECTION to my post...it will look like strong tea, as Crittermom says..NOT weak tea like I said! (getting my teas mixed up :gigg)

I would get a bottle of "10% povidone iodine" - brand name Betadyne but the store brand will be the same and much cheaper. Any drug or grocery store will have it in the wound care.

Get a bottle of distilled water, too.

You want to dilute it to use. Mix 1/4 cup distilled water with 20 drops of the iodine. It makes a mixture the color of pretty strong iced tea. You can use a cotton ball and dab and clean the wound and area with the solution - you can use a q-tip dipped in it to clean things up if you need to. Fur will just be dampish when you are done.

I would do that at least 3 times a day. Povidone iodine used this way doesn't burn or hurt at all, they can lick the tiny bot of residue left and it won't hurt them and it is strongly antibacterial and antiviral.

If you keep it really clean and treated this way you may not need to cover it with anything.

[tgramsey]

Hi, just an update on my little boy. Went in on Friday for an official follow up and vet gave him the all clear. I released him on Saturday - and believe me, he was quite happy to get back to his yard. Thanks so much for all the help.

[SammysMom]

Terrific update!

[island rehabber]

:blissThanks for the great update! It doesn't get better than that! :dance

[Mel1959]

Great update! It’s so nice that he knew to come home to get taken care of. :Love_Icon