Urgent question- give motility meds & food together??

[Dee]

My title sums up my question. I’m hoping someone can answer quickly!! I’ve been giving Luke his metaclopramide and ranitidine with Critical Care syringe feeding. Is this OK? Also, should I continue giving the motility meds and Metacam 3 hours apart, or can they all be given at once?

I feel like he’s just not getting better, and am concerned that Im doing something wrong. Thanks on,advance for any help, I’m quite worried about my little munchkin but trying to remain hopeful.

[Mikey]

I would talk to a vet about it, personally. I think you are allowed to give them the way you are, but I am not completely sure.

[Bam]

You can give meds with food, but he needs food more often than meds. For Metacam you often only give one dose per 24 hours. Motility drugs every 12 hours. (Motility drugs also shouldn’t be stopped abruptly but be tapered out.)

But the food should be divided up into 4-5 feedings per 24 hours, if the bun is weak, 3 feedings if the bun is doing better. Does he eat anything at all of his own?

[Dee]

Thanks, Mikey and Bam.

Mikey, I wish my vets were open on the weekend. My dream vet would be rabbits/prey animals only (no barking dogs in waiting room), willing to give decent amounts of prophylactic/emergency meds, very inexpensive, and open 24/7!!! Lol- and that will really happen.

Bam, good to know that I can give the motility meds/food together! I know not to give Metacam on an empty stomach because of possible irritation, but never considered motility meds and food as being good or bad. I’ve been feeding Luke about 10-20 ml of CC/pumpkin & water, plus about 2-5 ml plain water, every 3-5 hours, round the clock. Luke has been eating very little on his own, and mainly in the afternoon/evening. The mornings seem to be a rough time for him, and I’m lucky if he will even pick at banana then. Later in the day, he has been eating a little kale and dandelion green, picking at hay occasionally, and eating a pellet here and there. He will eat banana, though not always finishing it, and just decided to eat apple again about an hour ago. Within the last hour, he has done really well. He ate a little oat hay, and finally pooped, about 30 small- med sized poops! Yay!! He hadn’t gone since last night which was making me nervous. I know it’s unlikely for him to get a blockage in motility drugs and being syringe fed, and his belly is always soft and non tender with some sounds, but I still worry.

I guess this will be a one step forward, two steps back kind of thing. I’m glad I called into my overnight shift at work- I legit have a terrible cold and shouldn’t expose the residents to it anyway, so I didn’t fight too much with my conscience. Now I can sleep on the couch with the munchkin instead of worrying about him all night. ☺

Thanks again for the advice and support!!

[Author]

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