Baby aspirin is fine on a short-term, occasional basis. It's not so good for long term pain management.
I can't say enough good things about Metacam. I have several dogs who take it daily. Pirate and Goldie would both be gone without it. Goldie has an old fracture in her pelvis that was never treated. It causes her pain and the pain makes her randomly aggressive. She's been on Meloxicam(the human tablet form of Metacam) for years. It keeps her pain under control; she's a happy dog who doesn't fight; she's playful and lives contentedly with her Chase. Pirate has athritis in her hips and spine. She was quite crippled up when I first got her and had limited bowel control(from inflammation in her spine). She's still obviously an elderly dog, but she gets around fine, even does her own senior version of the zoomies every morning. Her bowel control is much improved, which makes both of us happy! Sleet also takes Metacam daily to help with her hips and spine. Pingo takes it every third day as her hips aren't quite as bad as the other girls' yet. Goldie gets a tablet cuz that's just easier for her. The others get the liquid form on top of their dinner every night.
Just about every dog in the yard has taken Metacam at some point--post-surgery, pulled muscles, after a fight ect. Never had a single negative side effect. The only problem I have is that Sleet has to stop taking it for a brief period in the summer when her allergies act up. She needs a steriod to control the itching from her allergies. Metacam and steriods can't be mixed.
Goldie gets bloodwork every six months to make sure her liver function isn't being effected. The other seniors are on other meds too that require bloodwork. Goldie started meloxicam as quite a young dog. I think she was six; she's ten now best I can figure. There is a chance that the drug will eventually shorten her life, but I firmly believe that a shorter, pain-free, happy life is much better than a long, miserable one.
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