Help: Upper Respitory, Metacam, Lepto

[Dham]

Well I went to work and I did ask the doc that was on and as I was telling him that your dog was given Metacam, he proceeded to say , "he went into kidney failure". So I guess it is known to cause intestanel ulcers and kidney failure. He said he had experience with it in a cat, and the cat started to go into kidney failure and they treated it quick enough and it was okay.
I ended up dispensing Metacam to 3 dogs, so it is used for pain most of the time. One dog had really gotten into Porqupine quills bad and he got 2 days worth, and another 2 dogs for various reasons.
I am starting to think your boxer just may have been real sensitive , also I don't know how much was given, maybe the dose was too high. So now we have all learned something.
Deepest Sympathy's.

 

[MonkeyAndMax]

Thanks, it confirms what we thought.

I am so distraught over the senseless death of our little boy. I don't blame the vet for administering the drug, but I am quite bothered that they never picked up on the kidney elevation being related to the metacam. Thanks for your research.

Your kindness is soooo, sooooo appreciated. My husband just said "that was really nice of them to go out of their way for us". And he's right. We have met so many nice people in the last week, it aleviates some of the pain of our loss.

 

[msjosi]

oh my :( I just caught this thread and what else can I say but I'm sorry. What a horrible and possibly senseless loss you, your husband, and max must be going through. While I don't know too much about Metacam, my Josi was on it once with no problems, but I remember when an old vet wanted to prescribe it to her again for a pulled muscle...I had read somewhere in the news that it was possibly causing unnecessary deaths in pets. I did some research on it and told my vet he would need to prescribe something else for pain b/c I didn't want to take the chance. I know there has been some studies on this so you may think about taking a previous posters advice and contact the pharmacutical and the vets office so maybe this tradegy can be prevented in the future. I'm sure this doesn't bring any closure to your terrible loss now, but please know that we are here for you. Josi says to tell Max brighter days can only be ahead and she sends him lots of slobbery licks and big boxer wiggles

 

[MonkeyAndMax]

If anyone is interested, Sarah Underwood of Channel 4 Boston did a series on the use of Metacam and other Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in dogs. http://cbs4boston.com/consumer/local_story_263220027.html

 

[tianthai]

Hi MonkeyandMax,

Thank you for your info on Metacam. I went to the vet yesterday so I asked her about this and she told me that they never use it but I have to bear in mind whatever medicine (painkiller) the side-effect is always liver failure. She told me that they used Rimadyl which I will do a lot of reseach before anything else.

Thanks very much for letting us know about it and sorry for your loss.
oscar's mom

 

[Diesel2002]

We just got put on Metacam

My 6 month old pulled his shoulder muscle & the vet put him on Metacam. Prior to the Metacam Jedi couldn't even walk, his shoulder hurt him so badly. He gets the appropriate dosage for a 42lb puppy once a day and it's abating his pain symptoms and inflammation.

BUT - the vet did tell me that the minute I see signs of diarrhea, loss of appetite or vomiting to take him off of it immediately and to contact the office day or night. She was very stern about this direction.

So we are on day 4 and no bad symptoms so far, only positive results. But I am definitely going to continue keeping an uber-close watch on him.

I am so sorry for you loss, I read your first post and just started crying, I also have a 4 year old Boxer who is my world. It's hard enough to prepare for the inevitable in another 9 years or so, but to be robbed of your baby like, and so suddenly, that is just awful! You are in my prayers.

 

[macknrebbie]

...

i am so sorry to hear about Monkey... Our thought are with you!

mack and rebbie send kisses and hugs...

 

[Dham]

With further talking to other vets , they responded by saying it can happen with any of the drugs in that catagory, so unfortunately it was just a bad reaction, cause I have to say they dispense it alot and obviously they don't all have these reactions.

 

[skemball]

metacam

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of you sweet baby. I would advise huge warning against the use if metacam with a veterinarian with little expeirnce with it. I work as a vet nurse and our doctor's are extremely careful with their dosage of metacam and generally dose about half what the maufacture recommends. Even at half what they recommend it still works efficiently and alleviates pain. Also, any use of metacam comes with extremely vigilant monitoring of the kidney's as it is known to compromise kidney function greatly. Metacam is a tricky drug in that it works very well but also can have terrible side effects. Their are may other good pain relievers out there with fewer side effects. I would suggest asking for something else. Most of all am so sorry for your loss and sorry that the vet you went to put your dog at such risk and his ignorrance cost your sweetheart his life.