Goat ate metformin

[Antje77]

we got new kitten yesterday

By the way, I also need a picture of your kitten.
I'm aware this derails the thread, but it's my thread, right? And somehow every time I post a thread (which doesn't happen often) it derails very quickly.
I'll post an update on the unlucky goat as soon as there is one in this Facebook group, so I think I'm all good .

 

[Oldvatr]

By the way, I also need a picture of your kitten.
I'm aware this derails the thread, but it's my thread, right? And somehow every time I post a thread (which doesn't happen often) it derails very quickly.
I'll post an update on the unlucky goat as soon as there is one in this Facebook group, so I think I'm all good .

As you command - it is your thread after all. This was the first time he agreed to be on my lap, so it is a moment in history.

 

[Jaylee]

Hi @Antje77 ,

In answer to your question about the effects of metformin on a goat?

By the looks of it.
The owner may not go short of milk? https://www.verywellfamily.com/goats-rue-and-increasing-the-supply-of-breast-milk-431841

 

[JoKalsbeek]

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?

People are stupid. I think the goat in question might actually be more intelligent than the folks attacking you for talking sense.

 

[Dark Horse]

Metformin is in a class of drugs called biguanides. These were first derived from the plant known as goat's rue. https://www.verywellhealth.com/biguanides-diabetes-medications-1087355 Goat's rue was traditionally fed to goats to increase milk supply https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/tephrosia_virginiana.shtml so you would guess that the goat would be OK with dose levels similar to that contained in the plants.

However, the dose may be much higher in metformin tablets. There is some information about metformin overdose in cats and dogs:- https://www.dvm360.com/view/toxicology-brief-metformin-overdose-dogs-and-cats

 

[Marie 2]

Goats system are very different from us. The pills are synthetically derived now and pretty strong, so it's hard to know if it will be like the plant. We have a 24 HR poison hotline ran by our ASPCA for animal poisonings in the US and they will tell you if it's a problem and what to do about it. ( if it's known) But they almost always charge for a consultation unless it's very simple? It probably isn't pertinent anymore since you posted this 11 hours ago but for future reference.

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control

 

[Mr_Pot]

Apart from keeping their fingers crossed there is not much the owners can do anyway apart from waiting to see what happens. There are no doubt other things to worry about in a hurricane.

 

[Jaylee]

Apart from keeping their fingers crossed there is not much the owners can do anyway apart from waiting to see what happens.

Just thought I'd milk it, while I have the chance...

 

[HSSS]

This has to qualify as one of the most “unusual” threads I’ve read in a long time

 

[Jaylee]

This has to qualify as one of the most “unusual” threads I’ve read in a long time

You ain't kidding...

 

[Antje77]

As you command - it is your thread after all. This was the first time he agreed to be on my lap, so it is a moment in history.

That is a perfect little cat! I feel honoured to be a witness of his historical first lap moment.
Wish you lots of fun times together!

However, the dose may be much higher in metformin tablets. There is some information about metformin overdose in cats and dogs:- https://www.dvm360.com/view/toxicology-brief-metformin-overdose-dogs-and-cats

This would have been a good article to share on the goat group yesterday. While dogs and cats are not ruminants of course, it still holds sound information which may well apply to goats. The overall feeling is not much you can do except giving activated charcoal, but the animal will likely be fine.
Goats can have activated charcoal, and this had already been suggested to the goat owner, good to see it was a sensible idea

We have a 24 HR poison hotline ran by our ASPCA for animal poisonings in the US and they will tell you if it's a problem and what to do about it. ( if it's known) But they almost always charge for a consultation unless it's very simple? It probably isn't pertinent anymore since you posted this 11 hours ago but for future reference.

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control

I might still share the link there, I have a feeling the poison department of the ASPCA might be interested in what happened to the goat because it's such an uncommon poisoning.
They must have some database for cross-referencing poisons and species, and I bet this one isn't in it. Of course one goat is only anecdotal, but it's still more than nothing.

This has to qualify as one of the most “unusual” threads I’ve read in a long time

'Unusual' is the norm as soon as goats are involved!

 

[HSSS]

Unusual' is the norm as soon as goats are involved!

Lol. I used to walk goats on a dog lead for a family friend as a child. Really confused now why they got me doing that but it was “interesting”.

 

[Jaylee]

Lol. I used to walk goats on a dog lead for a family friend as a child. Really confused now why they got me doing that but it was “interesting”.

Could the animal have OD'd on opiates?? https://harmreduction.org/issues/ov.../overdose-basics/recognizing-opioid-overdose/

 

[Fenn]

Sigh* not ANOTHER “goat ate metformin” thread.

 

[Antje77]

Sigh* not ANOTHER “goat ate metformin” thread.

I know, I know. Should have used the search bar of course!

 

[AndBreathe]

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.

In my experience of the Windward Islands, when a hurricane is incoming, or even probably incoming power is shut down in a controlled manner. For that reason, many have standalone generators, to keep essential services going.

Hurricane season is an exciting time for storm chasers, but far from the same for almost anyone else.

 

[Oldvatr]

In my experience of the Windward Islands, when a hurricane is incoming, or even probably incoming power is shut down in a controlled manner. For that reason, many have standalone generators, to keep essential services going.

Hurricane season is an exciting time for storm chasers, but far from the same for almost anyone else.

The power failed in New Orleans shortly after landfall and has now been closed down for the whole of LA (Louisiana). The mobile cell nets are all out in LA, as is the whole 911 emergency phone system. The internet hub /. centre in New Orleans is flooded and there is no internet for most of LA.

Some TV reports are coming out because they use direct satellite connections using the emergency satellite system. (used to be called LORAL but is somewhat different now. The public has no individual connection to public comms access anywhere in LA currently. Short wave radio is working where aerials are still intact and battery power is available.

The hospitals are running out of gas (fuel) and are calling for emergency action to supply them. Oxygen will also run out shortly. One hospital has already had all 5 of its emergency generators fail overnight and are hand pumping the ventilators in ICU.

 

[Antje77]

The power failed in New Orleans shortly after landfall and has now been closed down for the whole of LA (Louisiana). The mobile cell nets are all out in LA, as is the whole 911 emergency phone system. The internet hub /. centre in New Orleans is flooded and there is no internet for most of LA.

What a mess!
The person who asked about her goat hasn't been back with an update, I guess this is why.

 

[HSSS]

Could the animal have OD'd on opiates?? https://harmreduction.org/issues/ov.../overdose-basics/recognizing-opioid-overdose/

Nope. It was a regular thing. Thinking back to the owner I’d say mushrooms more likely if it was an od situation.

 

[Riva_Roxaban]

In my experience of the Windward Islands, when a hurricane is incoming, or even probably incoming power is shut down in a controlled manner. For that reason, many have standalone generators, to keep essential services going.

When it's tropical cyclone season here in Queensland, the Australian defence force have protocols that they base power generators, water purifiers etc ready to help in getting towns cleaned up and back to normal asap.

One of the first rules of cyclone season here is you evacuate and go to a place of safety with your emergency kit, this is a couple of hundred klicks inland normally.

For those unsure what a tropical cyclone is it's like a hurricane but it spins clockwise.

The power failed in New Orleans shortly after landfall and has now been closed down for the whole of LA (Louisiana). The mobile cell nets are all out in LA, as is the whole 911 emergency phone system. The internet hub /. centre in New Orleans is flooded and there is no internet for most of LA.

This was on SBS world news last night, it looks like the place could be trashed like it was when Katrina paid a visit on 2005, hopefully the new levees hold the water back