My elderly lab has the usual aches and pains that come with old age,our vet has prescribed rhumacam which I am told is the same as metacam has anyone had unpleasent side effects with these drugs,my lab is doing very well on rhumam,however I am still concerned with the long term use of this.

Sheila

It depends on how old your girl is, anti inflammatory drugs can have side effect particularly after long term use but if a dog is getting on and is in discomfort I always think the possibility of a slightly shortened life is worth the risk when set against a longer one in pain.

>if a dog is getting on and is in discomfort I always think the possibility of a slightly shortened life is worth the risk when set against a longer one in pain.

Definitely.

Agree Jackie. I know someone who has an arthritic cat. The vet told him that long term use of metacam can cause problems with the liver when he was prescribing it. Now this has scared this chap no end and he refuses to use it but the cat is in agony.My opinion on this is that the cat will probably be so debilitated by the pain and stress he will probably be put to sleep early anyway. But he steadfastly refuses to use it in case it damages the liver. Its cruel to see that cat.

So yes, even if it meant a slightly shorter life I would use it, rather than a longer life in pain.
Sorry to rant but that cat has got under my skin.

Dakko was on Metacam for a number of years and yes, he did have an ulcerated stomach in the end but that was after 7 years and it kept him relatively pain free for that time. As others have said you have to weigh up the pro's and con's of damage v pain control. I know we kept Dakko to the minimum dose needed to keep his pain under control and if I were you I, unless you can find another method (eg joint supplements etc) that work as effectively I would keep on with the rhumacam.

My lab is eleven I tried to reduce it to a smaller dose but she starded limping,it does worry me as my lovely old girl was on anti inflams and they caused a tummy bleed which was very distressing and had to be pts,also my lovely bess was on rhymidyl and that made her poorly and she was only on that drug for a very short time,however I agree quality years are much better than quantity.
I always start worrying when they getting older,

Sheila

May be I have been fortunate but I have had many oldies on NSAID and none seem to have suffered any side effects although some were on them for many years. I have used them myself and they do offer a huge reduction in pain so I would not hesitate in giving them to ease the latter years of beloved friends.

Dakko was 7 when he went on Metacam and was pts at 13 1/2, he too had a tummy bleed and we had him PTS then as he had had enough but he had 7 good years. I know what you mean about worrying about oldies, my bernese is only 6 but that is getting towards old age for bernese and I worry for her all the time even though she is really fine. Have a look at some of the joint supplements, combined with the metacam they might be able to reduce the dose.

Marion

> Sorry to rant but that cat has got under my skin.

Not a rant!  So sad that the cat can't have quality of life.  A longer life, but in pain, isn't a life.

I recently had a similair dilema with one of my labs approaching 14 years.Although appearing to not be in pain (but do we really know,dogs are so stoic) she was clearly stiff on getting up mainly on her front end.Rather than go straight to the metacam i tried her on tumeric 1 teaspoon daily and devils claw(holland and barret 510 mg twice daily) and the difference in her stiffness and general demeanor is very noticable.
I also have a bioflow collar on her.

I would not hesitate to use a stronger,prescribed drug towards the end of her life to give her quality of live even if that meant shortening her life by a few months but at the moment she is doing great.

Good luck with whatever you decide

Ali

Buster has been on Metacam as a pup due to ED with no side-effects, if he needs pain relief again I wont hesitate to use it and I imagine as he gets on a bit he'll need metacam, long-term, for arthritis.

I agree with the others, giving our pets a good quality of life is much more imortant than the length of life.

Hi Ali our our Sadie also has a bioflow collar,I will try her on devils claw ect will get some today,it also is her front end that is affected,must go the labs are snuggled up to my feet looking at me they want there walk.

Sheila