I'm wondering whether anybody here has any experience that might suggest a connection between Metacam (long term) and lick granuloma.  My Basset, who has to be on Metacam as his spine and hips are 'shocking' (x-ray) long term.   He's been on this for probably 6 months now and has now had two bouts of lick granuloma and, try as I do to keep this under control, I'm fighting a losing battle.   He had two masses let go recently (separate issue!) which resulted in him needing a/bs and I know my vet doesn't want to give him any more, for now.   I've tried diluted salt water washes, diluted Hibiscrub washes, a dermatitis busting shampoo, and on and on but nothing really seems to be working now.   Which has made me wonder about Metacam and whether there might be any connection.   Yes I know the wrinkles of Basset legs (his front legs are affected mostly with a bit in his groin which on occasion he chews at) can cause fungal problems and he's very wrinkled (front legs).  

Any thoughts please as I'm loath to have to go again to my vet!

Have you tried colloidal silver. I use it for lots of things both for me and the animals.

This is where I get mine
http://www.ag4all.co.uk/

No experience of long term Metacam sorry

IME lick granulomas are a symptom of discomfort.  It's a comforting habit they get into.  The chances are that it's not the metacam which is causing him to lick. it's the underlying pain.  Try colloidal silver on the lick granuloma and discourage him from licking and consider that if the metacam isn't taking the pain away enough to keep him comfortable maybe there is something else which can be done?

http://ivcjournal.com/excessive-paw-licking-in-dogs-it-may-not-be-allergies/

Ignoring the ref to allergies in the title, this article in references to refered pain makes an awful lot of sense.

hope that sentance makes sense - it did to me when I wrote it

Thank you (all) so much for the replies.   The article, tatty-ead, was very interesting although I can eliminate a lot of what's suggested as to 'why'.  From around 8 months (we bought him at 4 months), he was lame and a full set of x-ray done (pano was where I'd gone to) which ruled out Pano, but showed prem.closure of the growth plates, ulna, both sides.   At his age then, the bone-specialist vet (at the practice I was using at the time) said he could operate but that it would probably be needed doing again, as he was still growing.   So I opted to do nothing, other than keep the pain under control - antiinflammatories.   He had a couple of sessions of acupuncture with another vet at that practice who specialised in alternative meds.  

He did, as anticipated, develop more turn out than I like to see (front legs), even for a Basset although I've seen worse in the ring!     Much later on, we started getting intermittent bouts of front end lameness that came and went, to the point that eventually I felt it was time to get more x-rays done (I was warned about arthritis).    Long story short, what I saw on his x-rays this time had both me and my now vet wondering how the lad was able to walk at all!!    Honestly.   His spine - bad and both hips showed sub-luxation.   This boy is only just coming up to 8 next month.   I could weep for him as the fact is the lad just grew too fast, too soon.   He's a big hound, weighing around 35 kg and not fat.  

Putting him on immediate pain relief - I forget that name of the tablet plus Metacam seemed to work plus we bought two sets of ramps, one for the car and the other for the two steps from the back door.    Up to now, and he's having 20 units of Metacam rather than the 35 he could have, for his weight, he seems perfectly happy although the mention of some nurological problem, might apply as when lying out, his shoulders seem occasionally to involuntarily move, suggesting discomfort or some other nurological problem.

Maybe it's time to suggest an alternative treatment to Metacam, within the confines of what's right for him, and for my pocket which I regret has to be taken into account (otherwise I might have been off to Noel Fitz!!).

I have to say a concentrated effort at these front paws in the past week or so, has shown some improvement with less 'going at them', from him.  To be honest, knowing my breed (after 40+ years there's always something new!), I'd have thought I'd have seen more indication of 'pain' from him - boy Bassets are not known to suffer in silence much as some do.

Sorry about the length of this but again, thanks for the input.

Facebook Replies:

Carol Chapman says: Not sure if I am understanding this, are you just trying to stop him licking? if so, and there are no open wounds, paint the area with clove oil, it does stop them licking, if this is not the case and there is an under lying issue, please check with your vet.

Finola Jolly says:  Have you had a look at Turmeric Users Group

Mark Chambers says:  Amy Chambers wonder if Metacam is making Oscar sore on his belly ?! X

----- Amy Chambers says: That is interesting but he has been licking before he started but might be making it worse?

Having observed many dogs at work on longterm metacam, none of whome have lick granulomae, I feel the only connection betwen Metacam and lick granuloma is that the metacam isn't doing enough to keep the discomfort low enough for the dog to ignore. One of my girls developed one (which gradually worked its way down from the middle of her foreleg to her wrist, healing up behind itself as it went) we found that a spray with cortavance helped a lot.

I would agree that the likelihood is that the metacam isn't cutting it and this is a pain response.

Only other thing I can think of is any nausea causing licking, but I'm sure you would have mentioned that.

I would speak to your vet about either upping the metacam (ensure you are monitoring organ function regularly) or trying another type of pain relief, of which there are several.