Medusa
10-04-2010, 05:32 PM
I seem to recall another thread about this subject but in case others missed it, I thought I'd post this.
Dr. Lee called me this afternoon to tell me that there is now a warning on the Metacam package against dispensing it to cats, that it has not been approved for cats. It's said to cause kidney failure. So, as a good vet, he's calling all his clients who are dispensing it to their cats, I being one of them. Boo has been on Metacam for approximately a year now, a couple of drops twice a week. He has arthritis and it does seem to help him w/the pain, especially b/c I give it to him at night before bed so that he sleeps better. Dr. Lee said that the decision is mine to make but that he feels a moral and legal obligation to call his clients and apprise them of the news.
Boo was just in to see Dr. Lee about a month ago and I came home w/another bottle of Metacam. Seeing that he's been on it this long, I'm going to continue giving it to him until this supply runs out. After that, I honestly do not know. Dr. Lee gave me alternatives: chondroitin glucosamine which helps w/inflammation but takes at least 60 days before it begins to take effect; steroids which could cause him to gain weight and possibly cause heart problems, although he said that he's personally never seen that happen; Buprinex which helps w/pain but does nothing for inflammation.
Of course, I want to do what's best for Boo, to make his remaining time w/me as comfortable as possible but I also don't want to shorten his life by causing him more problems due to the meds he's taking. He's a senior now, 19 years old, and hyperthyroid for which he's also taking methamizole.
Anyhow, I thought that I would post this so that you all can decide for yourselves what you will do if any of your precious feline furkids are currently on Metacam. I'd also like to hear your feedback, if you have any.
Dr. Lee called me this afternoon to tell me that there is now a warning on the Metacam package against dispensing it to cats, that it has not been approved for cats. It's said to cause kidney failure. So, as a good vet, he's calling all his clients who are dispensing it to their cats, I being one of them. Boo has been on Metacam for approximately a year now, a couple of drops twice a week. He has arthritis and it does seem to help him w/the pain, especially b/c I give it to him at night before bed so that he sleeps better. Dr. Lee said that the decision is mine to make but that he feels a moral and legal obligation to call his clients and apprise them of the news.
Boo was just in to see Dr. Lee about a month ago and I came home w/another bottle of Metacam. Seeing that he's been on it this long, I'm going to continue giving it to him until this supply runs out. After that, I honestly do not know. Dr. Lee gave me alternatives: chondroitin glucosamine which helps w/inflammation but takes at least 60 days before it begins to take effect; steroids which could cause him to gain weight and possibly cause heart problems, although he said that he's personally never seen that happen; Buprinex which helps w/pain but does nothing for inflammation.
Of course, I want to do what's best for Boo, to make his remaining time w/me as comfortable as possible but I also don't want to shorten his life by causing him more problems due to the meds he's taking. He's a senior now, 19 years old, and hyperthyroid for which he's also taking methamizole.
Anyhow, I thought that I would post this so that you all can decide for yourselves what you will do if any of your precious feline furkids are currently on Metacam. I'd also like to hear your feedback, if you have any.