Metacam and egg withdrawl

[babsh2001]

I was just told by a vet that because we gave our hen metacam we can no longer eat her eggs. Ever. Anyone have any experience with this. I've been googling around and have not found an answer.

thanks.

 

[Quahog]

A quick Google search returned this PDF showing no withdrawal for eggs. I read other posts that stated there is a recommened 30 day withdrawl mostly as a CYA. I am however no kind of authority on the matter so whatever you decide is best for you is the way to go.

http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.co.uk/medicines/documents/MetacamCattlePigsDatasheet2005.pdf

 

[babsh2001]

Thanks for finding that, but I'm not interpreting it the same way you did. They don't discuss it's use in chickens at all. Just cows and pig. So I interpret that dash to mean, not relevant, since the document isn't talking about chickens.

Not saying you are wrong. Just that I'm reading it differently. Do you see what I mean?

Barb

 

[silkiechicken]

Basically it means nobody has looked into it, so to be "safe" it is never. Sorta along the lines of with in doubt, throw it out... but nobody really knows. I don't know what that drug is, but if it's not on the label it's off label use and if something bad happens, it's not their fault.

If it were my hen... I'd eat em after a week or so. Low does of even heavy metals wont kill me. Everything in moderation.

I don't know what the drug is or what it's mechanism of action is, what method the drug is broken down, the byproducts of the drugs metabolism, or how it is excreted/modified in the body.

 

[SampyArctica]

Sorry for the epic bump here, but I thought I'd add some input in this as there doesn't seem to be much on this topic online and I'm currently having to give one of my girls Metacam after a dog attack. She's only on it for three days, but my vet (supposedly one of the two top avian specialists in my state, he works at the small animal hospital at my university) said not to eat any eggs that she lays from the time we start giving her the medication until at least three weeks from the day that we give her the last pill. But you will be able to eat her eggs after that time.

 

[Nambroth]

I know this is an older thread, but I did not see it before to reply in a timely manner.
When my avian vet had my broken-beaked hen on metacam, she said legally there is no withdrawl time-- meaning because it hasn't been studied that she cannot legally advise me as to when the eggs would be safe again, but suggested that I would be okay after 3-4 weeks, and to wait a month if I wanted to be very safe.

 

[Michael Apple]

I used Metacam once because it causes contractions in egg bound hens to release the egg. Less than an hour after the dose, the egg was expelled. It was also a vet who preferred that method. I ate eggs two weeks after and am still alive and healthy.

 

[karrm01]

Hi, I hope those of you who have been a part of this discussion are still out there . . . I just started looking for posts re: metacam because about 1 month ago, my chicken started laying beautiful eggs once again! She had been on a two year hiatus so when I felt I had to take her to the vet for injuries about 5 months ago and the vet suggested metacam, I figured, why not? I didn't think she'd ever lay again and I knew I 'd never eat her. I just double checked with the vet and she confirmed I could never eat her eggs again because there are no studies out there to determine the safety for human consumption. I was interested to see some of your posts and am wondering if there are any follow up comments anyone might have for me in helping me decide if I really should try eating her eggs again. Thanks.

 

[Jayellebee]

I know this is a little late, but I figured I’d put it out there for anyone else interested, I just read a journal abstract from the AVMA that tested the levels of meloxicam (aka metacam) in the egg and they concluded 4 days after administration the medication was not detected in the egg white and 8 days after administration, the medication was not detected in the yolk.

https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/ajvr.78.8.965?journalCode=ajvr

 

[Romn]

Thanks so much for the article Jayellebee!! Some actual data rather than CYA. We're such a cautious society and yet our commercial chicken is pumped full of salts, raised on antibiotics, etc. and no one worries. Metacam is an NSAID & inhibits COX enzymes same as ibuprofen. I'd worry more if a pregnant person were eating the eggs (3rd trimester shouldn't take ibuprofen either). Drugs can't reproduce, so they're either going to stay in place or leach out over time - either way, they won't be detectable in the egg after a time. The question is, how long. A "never again" prohibition is illogical. Something diluted over years will be so low dose as to be undetectable. I'm not an expert in this specifically but have a Master's in drug chemistry & like others who've posted here, I'll also eat after a couple of weeks post-medication. Thanks again Jayellebee, this forum is such a treasure!