Remolacha Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 What can you tell me about it? Metacam wasn't working too well for Fletcher, so we are trying Previcox. I know it's a NSAID. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Some dogs like people will respond better to a different NSAID. I have never used previcox but, I do know it's been on the market for years now. I would give it with food and as always monitor for gi upset. If your hound uses it on a chronic bases you should have bloodwork done at least every 6 months to keep an eye on kidney and liver values. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShantisMom Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Shanti took it for a while. If I remember right she got that with pepcid. She did well on it for a while. Quote The Girls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BlackandBrindle Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 All I know is it's relatively expensive. What's going on with Fletcher? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted June 26, 2011 Author Share Posted June 26, 2011 Well, he got his first dose last night, and it did not go well. I am wondering if he is just sensitive to NSAIDs. MaryJo, he has been panting a lot, and I am trying to find out why. At this point, I believe there are three causes. The heat, which he has become increasingly sensitive to over the last three years. Not much I can do about that but lower the thermostat and keep him inside as much as possible. Also, the specialist I took him to thought he had allergic bronchitis, he has "old dog lungs" so he is taking an antihistamine for that, which is helping a bit. The third thing, his arthritis is getting worse, and spreading, so that where the pain killers come in. Trying to find a combo that gives him relief, but doesn't make his panting worse, which is what has been happening. I'm glad it's nothing terrible, but I feel like and Of course, the fact that he still thinks he is two, and runs around like an idiot, doesn't help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Might want to use a lower dose of a NSAID and add gabapentin. Tramadol could also be considered but, some dogs will pant while taking it-- just what your trying to avoid. The nice thing about gabapentin is it's very safe and can be given with other drugs without a drug interaction. The dose can be titrated as needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BlackandBrindle Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Have you tried putting him on Fresh Factors in addition to the pain meds? Sadie gets stiff, and in the heat it seems worse at times, but since putting her on the ff she acts like a puppy. Also, have you tried tramadol? It's really the only pain med that I have any experience with but I don't know if it would help. Scritches to Fletch. I know that there's no stopping the boys when they want to run around and play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NHgreys Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 we've used it for both of our girls for short-term use only without any issues. not sure about long-tern use... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted June 26, 2011 Author Share Posted June 26, 2011 I should have said, he is taking Tramadol as well. He does fine on smaller doses, but if I increase it beyond 2 50 mg tabs (a day), the panting increases. He is also on Fresh Factors (they all are) and I started him on Dasaquin, the girls are still on Joint health. Also milk thistle. I asked my vet about Gabapentin, another friend whose dog didn't do well with Tramadol suggested it. My vet said she doesn't like to prescribe it for long term use, she feels it is more damaging to the kidneys than some of the other drugs. At this point, I am hoping to find a mix of Tramadol and (probably) Metacam that will give him relief without increasing the panting too much. Looking forward to cooler weather, but that's a good three months off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SueG201 Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 google previcox, bad stuff it killed my best friends dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJNg Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 I asked my vet about Gabapentin, another friend whose dog didn't do well with Tramadol suggested it. My vet said she doesn't like to prescribe it for long term use, she feels it is more damaging to the kidneys than some of the other drugs. Hmm...gabapentin is a pretty safe drug, and none of the sources I've checked mention it being damaging to the kidneys. It is mostly eliminated through the kidneys, so in patients with decreased renal function, the dose may need to be decreased, but it isn't known to cause kidney damage. If anything, I'd be more concerned about the kidneys with long term use of NSAIDs (like Metacam or Previcox). There are risks of adverse effects with any medication, and these risks need to be weighed with the benefits in each individual case. With appropriate use, these drugs help a lot more dogs than they hurt. Quote Jennifer & Willow (Wilma Waggle), Wiki (Wiki Hard Ten), Carter (Let's Get It On), Ollie (whippet), Gracie (whippet x), & Terra (whippet) + Just Saying + Just Alice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Swifthounds Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 What other things are you using for the arthritis? If you supplement, often it lessens or eliminates the need for damaging NSAIDs. They are all damaging (some more than others) and previcox wouldn't be my choice, especially if it isn't agreeing with the dog. - it has a lot of reported severe reactions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 The Previcox is out. I am going to call my vet later and ask if she wants it back (she gave me a sample, the pills are in blister packs, so it could be used by someone else). Right now, he is getting Dasaquin (was on Joint Health), Fresh Factors, milk thistle for supplements. The combo of meds that seems to work best (but not perfect) is metacam in the morning and two tramadol at night. He is also taking an antihistamine, which I am going to try to cut back on. (oh, and soloxine) I am open to trying some other supplements, just need to research what to give. I am also thinking about acupuncture, it really helped my old girl when her arthritis got bad. One reason for going to a specialist was to make sure nothing else was going on. Now that I know we are primarily dealing with arthritis, I have options to try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Swifthounds Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 How long has in been since he has had a full thyroid panel? Thyroid issues can cause symptoms like panting and also cardiac issues that can make pain experience more acute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 He had a full thyroid done in March (no change), and a chest x-ray that was read by a radiologist who said "large, but typical greyhound heart". I had another dog with heart problems that we discovered because of her panting, so I did think of that, but this panting seems different. I really thought it was going to be LP, but two different vets have said "no" to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BlueCrab Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 I see from your earlier post that the Previcox is out. My We just went thru a bad episode with our non-grey and Previcox. Absolute horrible diarrea after 2 doses. Went back to the vet for IV fluids due to the severity of the Big-D and the vet confirmed that some dogs just don't do well with that particular drug. I would give the acupuncture a try if you could. I've heard good things about its use with arthritis. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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