Metacam side effects

[{97702}]

Hoover has been on metacam about 3 or 4 weeks now, and he is a totally different dog - he has gone back to puppy-hood, there is nothing more enchanting than a 30-something kg greyhound bouncing around the garden like Tigger bless him

Unfortunately he has developed one of the side effects of metacam in that he has diarrhoea quite frequently - not all the time, but generally in the morning when he has his medication at tea time every day. I am also mindful that I have increased his food to try and get some weight back on him, which might also be a contributory factor

Has anyone experienced this and actually managed to treat the diarrhoea, for example by increasing levels of probiotics using natural live yogurt or even something like Prokolin? Or is it just a matter of taking him straight off the metacam and finding something else? I was considering YouMove (or however you spell it!) and have also asked Chiffy for the product she gives her older dogs as I've seen people on here saying it has worked well

 

[Britestar]

Probably best to discuss it with your Vet and see if they think one of the alternatives would be better for him.

Bear in mind Metacam is the same 'breed' of drugs as Ibuprofen is is humans (NSAIDS) so any side effects need to be taken seriously.

 

[{97702}]

Thanks Britestar, I am aware of that, it is concerning me and I am looking to take swift action to resolve the situation.

 

[{97702}]

Spoke to the vet today and he has advised reducing the dose by 1/3 to see if that helps - I didn't like to tell him that I'd done that already from yesterday as I'd looked it all up online Mind you he is used to that now with me

I'd still be interested in anyone who has experience of trying to increase probiotics, as I'd guess this leads to a more healthy dog

 

[ihatework]

What a pain. Hopefully it settles but if not you will probably need to switch to something else. Given the improvement in behaviour I’d be advocating pharmaceutical rather than supplement

 

[CrazyMare]

Maggie isn't on metacam, but she is prone to very loose stools. She's had everything tested at the vets, and nothing found. We've got her on YuDigest, and it has certainly made things more consistent.

However, having had gastric irritation myself from NSAIDs, I'd be chatting with the vet about some stomach protection. In humans it's PPIs like omeprazole or lansoprazole, not sure about dogs. It was damned painful though, enough to wake me from sleep.

 

[{97702}]

Oh that sounds horrible CrazyMare - we are on a clear timescale now, 3 days on 20kg dose, if no change then 3 days on 10kg dose, if still no change then no more Metacam! I I hadn’t realised it could be so painful, definitely won’t be continuing any longer than that if he isn’t back to normal

 

[meleeka]

Yumove really does make a difference and isn’t prescription so worth trying anyway. I found that I could reduce the NSAID’s considerably once the Yumove kicked in. My dog is on Onsior which has given her no side effects at all. I buy it online as my vet was charging £1.80 per tablet. She’s now on one a day so quite exoensive. Online they are around 80p

 

[{97702}]

I’ve ordered some Riaflex joint plus - recommended by Chiffy - which I’m hoping will help, ideally instead of Metacam

 

[Tinkerbee]

I used pro kolin paste with my old gir, its pricey but I tracked it down on offer a couple of times on various websites. https://www.protexin.com/products/veterinary/dogs/pro-kolin/28
It really made a difference to her but she HATED the taste...!

 

[Moobli]

Could it be the increase in food rather than the Metacam causing issues? Better to err on the side of caution with NSAIDS but worth bearing in mind.

 

[Guesty]

Some dogs are sensitive to one NSAID but not another, if you have to reduce the metacam to the point where it’s not effective there are several others to try; Rimadyl, Onsior, Previcox, as well as other non-NSAIDs (pardale, tramadol, gabapentin). Definitely start a joint supplement as you’ve done but don’t persist with the metacam if it doesn’t agree with him, other things you can try ��

 

[{97702}]

Just as a quick update, I stopped the Metacam entirely 3-4 days ago and he still is having loose stools - not all the time, probably one-in-4 times? He is having less supper now to balance things more, so whereas he used to have 4 - 5 cups of kibble a day in one meal (which to be honest he rarely finished) he now has 2 cups in the morning with sardines on top, then 3 - 4 cups of kibble at tea time.

He still seems well in himself - key signs for him are always bouncing around like a puppy and having a good appetite - so for the moment I am not rushing to put him on another NSAID. I must stress that I don't suddenly think they are dreadful or anything like that, but if he is happy without one then I'm happy. If his behaviour changes again then I shall phone my lovely vet and see where we go next.

Thank you all for your very helpful and interesting feedback, it is much appreciated as always

 

[TheresaW]

Aled has been on tramadol for about 3 weeks now. He has arthritis affecting his back legs. Have seen an amazing improvement in him already. His bloods showed a high urea reading, but we got a urine sample, and looking at that, our vet is happy for him to run an NSAID alongside if we feel he may need it and closely monitor him. At the moment, we’re happy as we are. He is allowed 3 a day, but only having 2, and yesterday morning I caught him with his front legs on the worktop trying to get his stuffed kong!

The only downside is, he is feeling so good, he is completely overdoing it if I take him up the horses, and then needs a hand up the stairs at bedtime. Haven’t taken him last couple of days, OH has taken him for a nice long walk when me and Luna go to the yard, and he’s marched himself off to bed.

 

[Clodagh]

How is he getting on with the Riaflex stuff? Sorry if you have said and I missed it. It really helps our older girl. Chiffy should get commission!

 

[{97702}]

After an awful lot of adjustments he is back to normal with his digestion thank goodness - it went as far as 24 hour starvation plus Pro Kolin, then stopping his sardines (which he absolutely loved!) before I got him back to normal.

Since then he has been hungry (now on 2 meals a day) and skipping around like a puppy! So whether thats the Riaflex helping or Hoover being relieved he doesn’t have diarrhoea any more I’m not sure I’ll definitely keep going with it, anything that maintains the status quo is brilliant as far as I’m concerned

Thanks for asking

 

[Clodagh]

Good news then.