NancyB Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 Ramm will be 13 in May and went for a checkup yesterday. He was diagnosed with arthritis in his hips several years ago and now he's having a problem with balance and has a wobbly sinking rear end. His vet gave him a Metacam shot and said that if it seemed to help him to let her know and I can pick more up today. I did some research on Metacam and found this. Side Effects of Metacam in CanineBy Matt Olberding, eHow Contributor Metacam is used to treat pain and inflammation in dogs. dog image by Michal Tudek from Fotolia.com Metacam is the brand name for meloxicam, a prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for dogs and cats. Metacam reduces pain, fever and inflammation by inhibiting chemicals called prostaglandins. In dogs, metacam can cause side effects, some of which can be severe. Gastrointestinal Problems Metacam can cause vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite, as well as more serious side effects such as ulcers, intestinal bleeding, tarry-colored stools and intestinal perforation. Some of these side effects can appear suddenly and quickly become life-threatening to your dog, petplace.com advises. Using metacam with other NSAIDs can increase the risk of ulcers. Bleeding In addition to intestinal bleeding, metacam can cause excessive bleeding elsewhere in your dog's body. All NSAIDs, including metacam, can hinder platelet function, which can lead to clotting problems. Because of this, petplace.com recommends not using metacam in dogs that have a bleeding disorder or in those that have heart conditions or low blood pressure. Liver Problems Because metacam is metabolized in the liver, it can overtax the organ, leading to liver problems. This is more likely to occur in dogs with existing liver disease or when the dog is taking other drugs that are also metabolized in the liver, according to veterinarypartner.com. This side effect will usually resolve itself if metacam treatment is discontinued in your dog. Kidney Problems Metacam can decrease blood flow to the kidneys, which can lead to kidney failure, especially in dogs with decreased kidney function, according to veterinarypartner.com. The drug can also impair kidney function in dehydrated dogs. Has anyone had any of these problems with long term Metacam use? Quote Nancy with Rocket, Umeko and Sasha Missing Albi, Kassie, Ramm, Ruby, my good boy Marvin and Mickey (BT) NANCY B'S COLLARS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greytlucy Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 (edited) My Lucy was on daily Metacam for at least a year...probably longer but I've lost track at this point. She never had any issue with it. I used it in combination with Adequan shots and accupuncture(and other holistic supplements)and for the most part kept her dosage at 50% of maximum up until her last 6 weeks or so when we went up to 75%(she finally succombed to complications from CHF not from the arthritis). My Ziggy has been on full doses of metacam for about 6 weeks now. He has a very sensitive stomach and hasn't had problems with Metacam. Both dogs also were given Pepid daily to help prevent any stomach discomfort. No drug is without some risk. Does your dog have any secondary conditions(kidney disease, poor liver values, etc) that might increase complications? All the vets we've dealt with over the past couple years(our two regular vets and all the many specialists we've seen for during this period) feel meloxicam(metacam) is generally a safe option. Not all dogs respond the same to all drugs however...Ziggy doesn't respond as well as Lucy did so we use it with Tramodol. It takes time to find the right pain relief protocol for each dog. Good luck! Edited March 31, 2011 by greytlucy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DoofBert Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 Metacamm can be pricy.... check at your local pharmacy for their price on meloxicam....a generic versionof metacam. metacamm for Bacchus was $100 per month...... Meloxicam at Target -- $10 for 90 day supply! I've also been tryign go wean him off the NSAID.... with a holistic tissue repair formula. Then I'll save the meloxicam for very bad spells. Hugs to Ramm. Bacchus says to try warm moist heat on the sore spots, too.... It feels good.... and lots of houdn massages, too. Jayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesiRayMom Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 DesiRay has taken Metacam for the past 8 months. Have had blood work done twice since he started. No problems so far. Quote Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted April 1, 2011 Share Posted April 1, 2011 Did your pup have recent blood work to check the renal values??-- I would be concerned to give a 13 yr old any NSAID without checking values first. It's one thing to get a single injection vs giving it on a chronic basis. You should always give any NSAID with food to minimize gi upset. If NSAIDs are not recommended for your hound you might want to ask about using tramadol instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sambuca Posted April 1, 2011 Share Posted April 1, 2011 My standard poodle was on it for well over a year and possibly 3 or 4 (he died 5 years ago, so I can't remember) up until he died at 15 years old. We never had any issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted April 1, 2011 Share Posted April 1, 2011 Sugar was on it daily for a couple of years (off and on before that) with no problems. She also took meds for her heart, and a pepcid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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