Our Jazzy died on Mon, Jan 29, 2007 of acute liver failure after a 3 week useage of Metacam. We dosed her as prescribed, but every other day as suggested by the vet. She was 8 last October, and she was the most loving and best behaved Boxer I have ever known.
The vet didn't suggest that we monitor her bloodwork regularly, nor did he advise us of the risk of fatality in the use of this medication. Although the incidence of fatal reaction to Metacam is supposed to be low, the medication caused acute liver failure in our Jazzy.
On Thursday, she lost her appetite and was not her happy, wiggly self.
On Friday, she was looking so unwell that we had cause to phone the vet. He couldn't get her in, but told us to d/c the Metacam (we did that Thursday) and to watch her closely. "If she deteriorates call the emergency on call over the weekend"
On Sunday we called the emergency on call vet and met her at her hospital. Jazzy was dehydrated and beginning to show jaundice - a sign of liver trouble. She was admitted to the hospital and given IV fluids overnight.
Monday morning at 0930 she seizured and died before anything could be done.
PLEASE, PLEASE if your dog has to use Metacam (and it apparently works wonders for some dogs), have his or her blood checked regularly - especially liver enzymes.
WATCH FOR:
loss of appetite
lethargy
lack of interest in water
vomiting and retching
jaundice - inside the ears, on the belly, in gums above the teeth, and in the eyes.
In memory of Jazzy.
The vet didn't suggest that we monitor her bloodwork regularly, nor did he advise us of the risk of fatality in the use of this medication. Although the incidence of fatal reaction to Metacam is supposed to be low, the medication caused acute liver failure in our Jazzy.
On Thursday, she lost her appetite and was not her happy, wiggly self.
On Friday, she was looking so unwell that we had cause to phone the vet. He couldn't get her in, but told us to d/c the Metacam (we did that Thursday) and to watch her closely. "If she deteriorates call the emergency on call over the weekend"
On Sunday we called the emergency on call vet and met her at her hospital. Jazzy was dehydrated and beginning to show jaundice - a sign of liver trouble. She was admitted to the hospital and given IV fluids overnight.
Monday morning at 0930 she seizured and died before anything could be done.
PLEASE, PLEASE if your dog has to use Metacam (and it apparently works wonders for some dogs), have his or her blood checked regularly - especially liver enzymes.
WATCH FOR:
loss of appetite
lethargy
lack of interest in water
vomiting and retching
jaundice - inside the ears, on the belly, in gums above the teeth, and in the eyes.
In memory of Jazzy.
Jazzy (oh how I love that name)
