We are terrible cat owners

[FenellaVelour]

My ten year old cat has been undergoing investigations for lameness on one of her back legs for the past few weeks. Might need an MRI scan as X-rays and blood/urine tests were clear. The vet has her on Metacam to see if things improve before sending her off to the specialist.

I’ve been giving her the Metacam in the morning every day for over two weeks. I had to be in work early yesterday so asked my husband if he could do the medication to save me some time. He forgot, so I did it.

I was working from home today. I gave the cat her Metacam around 9.45 as usual. Only to get a message from husband ten minutes later to say that he’d given the meds to her at 7.30am and forgot to tell me.

Double dose. Not good.

Anyway, my poor cat is in the vet now, will be there overnight tonight and possibly tomorrow, on an IV drip and charcoal biscuits. I’m missing her sleeping on the bed right now, she’ll be stuck in a cage on her own, and it’s all our stupid fault.

I hope she’ll be ok and no permanent damage done 😕

Anyone else had accidental overdoses or is it just us idiots?

Never done it to any of my animals but we have done it to one of our children....all ok though! I think it is so easily done and I bet loads of people do and don't realise. I am sure she will be better soon. The GP told me it happens all the time!

Not accidental overdoses, but definitely double feeds (and of course the cat was acting like she hadn't seen food for a week, never mind two hours earlier!)

It's easy done. Don't beat yourself up about it. It might help to mark it on the calendar with a tick once it's done each time in the future though, or have a sheet of paper on the door that you have to walk past before you go out.. just so you know for sure whether she's had it.

We have a calendar in the kitchen. When she comes back home we will make sure we use it to mark off her medication. That’s a good idea, thank you.

I'm shocked that a double dose is potentially this dangerous.

Don't beat yourself up, an easily made mistake.

We have a white board in kitchen all must note down if use last of anything. We put any cat/dog meds on there and time given too. Our puppy needed Metacam last year as she was limping on one paw for no apparent reason, but got better in 3-4 days. Hope your kitty is better soon.

I once cut my late cats neck with scissors trying to get a knot off.

I'm baffled. Is she on treatment because of a single double dose or because of double dosing for many days back to back?

I must be awful then because I wouldnt have done buggar all about it and just let her sleep it off.

I'm reading there are mega problems in USA where owners give dog metacam to cats & get the doses all wrong. That Metacam in UK for cats is different stuff.

Your vet has massively overcompensated for a single double dose. You are meant to double dose on day one anyway, so all that happened was a repeat of that. The safety margin in cats is tighter than in dogs, yes, but not that tight.

Aww poor kitty. And poor you. Look at it this way: we are immensely privileged to be able to afford excellent medical care for our pets. Better than most people in the world get ☹️ With any luck all’s well that ends well and she will be fine. You won’t be making the same mistake again.

I wouldn’t say anything to him (it was a genuine mistake) but secretly to myself I would be blaming my DH )

Be nice to yourself. Even doctors make mistakes!

Yes it was a single double dose.
Hopefully we can bring her home today in that case.

but secretly to myself I would be blaming my DH

I haven’t said anything, but I am!
I don’t know what possessed him, he hasn’t done the meds at all for her including the one day I actually asked him to 🙄
It’s not like this happened on purpose though so I won’t be cross with him.

I've known cats have one accidental double dose and the vet said it was fine.

I have also double dosed my children with calpol.

Thanks all. We are bringing her home tonight after 36 hours on IV fluids, rather than leave her there for another night. She appears clinically well, so we feel that we have done enough (maybe more than enough) to mitigate, since it wasn’t a large overdose.

@EachandEveryone I would have done exactly the same!

Wouldn't have occurred to me to go back to the vet for an accidental double dose - perhaps I'm a terrible cat owner .

I’m surprised at the vets response, lovely big bill for 36hrs hospitalisation🙄

£550 which I’m not sure if the insurance will pay 😬

And did the vet do the bloods and x-rays before trying metacam?

Yes, the bloods, urine and X-rays were all clear regarding her lameness. Trying the metacam to see if things settle before needing the MRI. Luckily she does seem to be getting better in that regard, at least.

If the insurance consider it unneccessary they won’t pay out. A double dose a few hours apart doesn’t need 36 hrs in care.

Basil recently had a limp - metacam was used before any investigation. After 2 weeks he was fine so no x-rays etc. were required.

Sorry OP but in your position I'd be very tempted to get a second opinion from another vet.

I agree with @grumpy (MN own cat whisperer) way ott on vets behalf, usually 2 weeks metacalm then further investigation; bloods, urine and xrays for a limp?!?
Time for a new vet.

Must admit I would be naffed off with your DH but more naffed off with the vet, 36hrs on a drip for one double dose (3 hours apart too) . £550 of unnecessary treatment. I hope for your sake the insurance does pay.