Goat ate metformin

[Antje77]

Very long shot, but you never know if anyone has experience with this.
No, not my goat, not my metformin either! (I do have two goats but I'm not on metformin.)

Just an issue on a goat group on Facebook:
Goat ate about 5 metformin tablets an hour and a half ago. The poster is in the US, in the middle of a hurricane with no vet on hand.
A lot of people reacting are sure the goat will get a deadly hypo, unless they stuff it with sugar, so I've explained this is not likely to be an issue, due to the way metformin works.
I also made it clear I don't know how harmful metformin is to goats, still, people are getting quite angry with me for explaining why the goat won't go hypo.

Anyone had pets eat metformin? What happened? Did they need treatment?

 

[xfieldok]

It will probably be fine. Metformin not connected with hypos. They eat anything.

 

[LittleGreyCat]

Could speculate about gastric consequences, of course.
Tell them about those side effects and it should take their minds off the storm.

 

[Antje77]

It will probably be fine. Metformin not connected with hypos. They eat anything.

What about other side effects with an overdose? Goats are ruminants, so their plumbing is completely different from ours, which likely makes any stomach or intestinal side effects completely different.
I'd be more worried about liver or kidneys as a first thought.

 

[Antje77]

Could speculate about gastric consequences, of course.
Tell them about those side effects and it should take their minds off the storm.

That's exactly what I told them (plus I'm no vet and get a proffessional opinion as soon as they can of course).

 

[xfieldok]

The storm could have an effect on their tummies.....

 

[Antje77]

The storm could have an effect on their tummies.....

And so many tummies too!
Imagine feeling sick in 4 tummies at the same time!

 

[SuNuman]

And so many tummies too!
Imagine feeling sick in 4 tummies at the same time!

I’m am hopefully just getting over the sickness with metformin so……pls NO!!!!! Lol. X

 

[Riva_Roxaban]

Goat ate about 5 metformin tablets an hour and a half ago. The poster is in the US, in the middle of a hurricane with no vet on hand.

Surely this would have to be a troll post on facebook, going by previous hurricanes in Louisiana the power is one of the first to fail which means no internet or phone coverage.

Goats can eat anything if it takes their fancy, I once saw a goat eat a full packet of tobacco with ill effect.

 

[Oldvatr]

It is a serious question. Glucophage is derived from the French Lily, and that was called Goat's Rue. Presumably, it has some nasty effect on them. Not sure if modern pills act in the same fashion, but I suspect the gastric after-effects will be common.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galega_officinalis

 

[Antje77]

Surely this would have to be a troll post on facebook, going by previous hurricanes in Louisiana the power is one of the first to fail which means no internet or phone coverage.

Goats can eat anything if it takes their fancy, I once saw a goat eat a full packet of tobacco with ill effect.

Not a troll post. I suppose it means everyone is bracing for the hurricane, including local vets, who therefore aren't on call at the moment.
I agree with the expectation the goat will be fine.

 

[Riva_Roxaban]

I agree with the expectation the goat will be fine.

That's what I think as well if it' true, but reading about some of the wonder drugs for fixing covid touted in certain areas of the US including Louisiana makes me think that it's a wind up.

 

[Oldvatr]

Apparently, it can be fatal
https://volunteersweek.org/get-involved/events/nature-conservation-invasive-species-management/

There was that scene in Far from the Madding Crowd where the sheep got into the lovage field.

Edited to use a better link specific to animal use. Apparently, it requires a large quantity of the plant to cause fatal events. A few Metfartin pills is probably not going to phase them.

 

[In Response]

Surely this would have to be a troll post on facebook, going by previous hurricanes in Louisiana the power is one of the first to fail which means no internet or phone coverage.

Phones no computers have batteries so power would not be a problem.
Mobile networks are kept up for emergency.
Technology is a wonderful thing in the 21 century

 

[Jo123]

Horses and ponies are given metformin for equine metabolic syndrome, so I'd be hopeful the goat will be ok.

 

[Oldvatr]

Goats and ponies are not ruminants. Humans are not ruminants. Goats eat the contents of the washing line with little problem, but lovage crops can be deadly to them it seems Anaerobic digestion in a nitrate heavy gutful seems to be a problem.

 

[Antje77]

Apparently, it can be fatal
https://bnf.nice.org.uk/treatment-summary/hypoglycaemia.html

There was that scene in Far from the Madding Crowd where the sheep got into the lovage field.

Too bad NICE seems to want to keep their knowledge a secret to anyone outside the kingdom...
Would you mind telling me what the article says in short?

 

[Antje77]

That's what I think as well if it' true, but reading about some of the wonder drugs for fixing covid touted in certain areas of the US including Louisiana makes me think that it's a wind up.

No, it clearly was a genuine concerned post by a goat owner whose goat got into the house and raided her mother's pill stash. That's just what goats do. Nothing to do with covid or wonder drugs.

 

[Oldvatr]

Too bad NICE seems to want to keep their knowledge a secret to anyone outside the kingdom...
Would you mind telling me what the article says in short?
View attachment 50974

Sorry Antje,The link I was intending has diasppeared and the one I linked was incorrect. It should have referenced WebMD but they have changed their website and it no longer says what I read earlier tonight (I checked the link again, and it went to a different page from the one I originally viewed. Not sure how BNF go in to the picture since I have not read any BNF articles tonight) I have edited the post with a better link that does seem to support my stance. My pooter is playing silly beggars. It is upset because we got new kitten yesterday and it fears redundancy. Or the kitten did the typing (err? ERROR 404)

 

[Antje77]

I have edited the post with a better link that does seem to support my stance. My pooter is playing silly beggars. It is upset because we got new kitten yesterday and it fears redundancy. Or the kitten did the typing

I love your kitten!
I'm not sure what he or she is up to, but now you've edited your post it wants me to do a very fun sounding volunteer day with coffee, tea and biscuits included! I would say I'm in, too bad it happened over two years ago.
https://volunteersweek.org/get-involved/events/nature-conservation-invasive-species-management/