Beware of Metacam and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

[MonkeyAndMax]

Please, please don't let your boxer use Metacam. We realize many dogs have successfully used metacam for fever and arthritis treatment, but it killed our Boxer on Thursday night. We don't want anyone to go through the pain and suffering we are feeling right now. Our dog went into kidney failure so rapidly that we could do nothing to comfort him or save him. He was treated at the reknowned vetinary school of medicine in Massachusetts and they couldn't save him. This drug should not be on the market for use.

 

[GoCougs]

I'm sorry to hear about your loss. However, can you share why you think this drug killed your dog? I read your other thread, and many others said they have used it without issue. Was there evidence that Metacam was culprit and not the RMSF? Is this just your theory? Each are just as likely to lead to renal failure, although Metacam usually causes failure in an already weakened immune system.

 

[MonkeyAndMax]

Facts behind Allergy

Bloodwork was conducted 2 days in a row and came back with normal, healthy kidney function levels. The dog was administered Metacam mid-afternoon on the third day and on the morning immediately following the dosage, had levels 3 times that of what is normal. Metacam was administered in hopes of reducing a fever - which it appeared to do. However, it also created new problems/illnesses -- bleeding from the nose, blood in vomit, tarry poop. In addition to the sky high kidney levels, the tarry poop found in our backyard was the key give away and a known side effect of an allergic reaction to Metacam. Actually, it's not just a side effect, its a result of perforation in the intestines. While the Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever titer test came back positive the vet was weary to think the dog's symptoms were related to this bacteria as the antibodies were quite low. However, the test for the IgG antibody titers may not increase until 2-3 post infection. Clearly our dog was infected but not long term, and certainly not intensely enough to lead to immediate renal failure.

 

[MonkeyAndMax]

That is, 2-3 *WEEKS* post infection.

 

[GoCougs]

I'm not a vet, but none of the symptoms you have described convince me it wasn't RMSF. This bacteria attacks vascular systems....and can come on suddenly. Vomitting and diarrhea are both symptoms, so tarry poop isn't a surprise if the vascular system was compromised and internal bleeding occured.

Metacam studies say that it's a risk in animals who already have borderline kidney function, and tests showed (twice) that your dog had normal kidney function.

I empathize with your loss and pain. I'm not saying it wasn't Metacam, or that it was RMSF. It might well have been both. However, without a concrete proof, it's irresponsible to jump to this conclusion, raise a lot of dust and concern people who might currently be administering this drug. Warning people of the side effects is one thing, telling them don't use it based on an unproven theory is another. As was suggested in the other thread, you should have a necropsy done to find out the cause.

 

[MonkeyAndMax]

I can only listen to what the vets are telling me. The ER vet was not as concerned with the RMSF and focused on the Metacam. In fact, the ER vet had experience with kidney failure as a result of Metacam. So I guess this should serve as a warning. Perhaps that my dog was immuno-compromised as a result of a bacteria played a role in the reaction. His overall sensitive system to medicines should have served as a warning to us, and our vets. We wish we knew the possible side effects of metacam before it was administered. We wish we asked more questions. It's too late for an autopsy.

 

[crowpete]

I am very sorry for your loss! Many thoughts and prayers to you. HUGS

Godspeed sweet

 

[crazychopper]

i first want to say that I'm truley sorry for your loss.Metacam may have not been the culprit though. Sounds more like the rmsf, according to the plumb veterinary drug handbook renal toxcity is very low, even given in extremely high doses, but it does say that animals wtih animal that are hypovolemic, hypertensive, or severly dehydrated it should be used with caution and all those can happen with rmsf. So maybe the rmsf was to far advanced.

 

[crazychopper]

also just because the kidney function appeared to be normal dosen't mean it was. The kidneys have to be at least 75% damaged before bloodowrk would yeild an above normal number your baby's kidney's may already have had tremendous damage done by the rmsf

 

[MonkeyAndMax]

Honestly with what everyone is posting, I don't know what to think or who to believe. I feel worse not having faith in the vets that treated my dog - both my local vet(s) and the ER vet. The titers were so low for rmsf that the vets didn't even treat him for it in the beginning, and the ER vet said the kidney failure was absolutely a separate issue. All vets involved will not being administering metacam, or nsaids, going forward. In any case, I was recently emailed a story from a Boston news station posted on Sept 20th. Its a warning against the use of Metacam and other nsaids. http://cbs4boston.com/consumer/local_story_263220027.html