What's the life expectancy for senior dogs on Metacam for arthritis?

I am sorry to hear about Tasha! Many dogs take NSAIDs (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) long term with no negative consequences. It is the rare case where the liver or kidney may be affected or the GI tract experiences upset. This is why we recommend blood work to monitor every 6 to 12 months when pets take the medicine long term, and often the effects are reversible. If your dog is in pain, I would follow your vet's advice and use the medication. There are other NSAIDs also available, a newer one called Galliprant is supposed to have less risks though it hasn't been used as long, so we don't know for certain if those claims are true. Other options also include omega fatty acid supplements, glucosamine chondroitin supplements, Adequan injections, acupuncture and laser therapy, so you can ask your vet about these options as well if you decide to take a different route.

Hello. You can wean her off the pred onto the Metacam , or you can add additional pain medications such as tramadol or gabapentin. I, personally do not like long-term prednisone because of the possibility of side effects, but even Metacam can cause some issues. Regardless of what you & your veterinarian choose for Sydney, make sure periodic blood work is run to pick up any early signs of problems. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

No, do not take her off Metacam as it actually speeds up the healing process and slows down the arthritis as it combats inflammation. By reducing inflammation it also reduces pain. So please do not take her off the Metacam.

Hello, Lola is indeed at higher risk for adverse reactions even after a single dose of meloxicam, however your veterinarian is likely not too concerned with the severity of her kidney disease. Therefore, the side effects of meloxicam to her kidneys would be dependent on how severe her kidney disease is. I would recommend monitoring her kidney values for the next five days as Meloxicam has a long half-life and can take up to 5 days to remove completely from the body. This could be done with daily blood checks. Also know that of all the NSAIDs, Meloxicam has the widest safety margin in the phase of kidney disease. Look for any signs of increased drinking, decreased urinations, lethargy, painful abdomen, vomiting, or a decreased appetite and have her evaluated immediately if you note any. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Metacam is similar to ibuprofen or naproxen and has both anti-inflammatory and pain relief properties. In general I feel like drugs in this class work better for arthritis than medications that only treat pain like tramadol. Each dog is different, and some dogs need multiple medications to relieve the pain associated with arthritis.

Since this was not quite double the appropriate dose your dog should be ok. Do not give another dose for at least 48 hours. Make sure Evie has access to plenty of fresh water. She may develop GI signs (like anorexia, vomiting and diarrhea) but they should not last more than 24 hours. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It could be pain. It may take a day or two for the Metacam to make him more comfortable. If he is still doing this odd behavior in a few days, it is a good idea to have him re-evaluated by the vet. X-rays of the hips and spine may be indicated, as well as blood work for any signs of anemia, blood glucose changes, kidney disease, etc.