When Metacam stops working......what next?

[Queen of Poop]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and comments. I will use them all when I confer with the vet about what to do now. I'm sure there has to be something she can have that won't conflict with her thyroid meds.

Sasha is 14 years old. I don't expect her to make next Christmas, but I want her remaining time with me to be as pain free as possible.

[Freedom]

There was something called the Senior Dog Study, in which Rimadyl failed miserably for aged canines. If you volunteer with Small Paws Rescue as I do, and ANY of your foster dogs (any age) get Rimadyl, you do not get reimbursed.

We can use Metacam and Tramadol.


Please let us know how things develop.

[Emeraldgreen]

How many units are you giving her for each dose? I haven't given it to a dog for years but I think it is usually one unit per kg (2.2 pounds)?
It might be that your vet will suggest you increase the dose. I had my RB dog on it and it helped her be able to walk for the last two years of her life. Without it, she was quite lame. My vet allowed me to increase her dosage later on. It's not good for the organs but she was 15/16 at the time and I was trying to give her quality of life. Maybe your vet will let you know if there is a bit of room for increasing the dose.

[Louie and me]

Louie aged 13+ was on metacam for a long time but eventually we had to start giving him tramadol as well. He takes metacam once a day and tramadol twice daily. He tolerates the medicine well and other than sleeping even more than before seems much more comfortable. In fact on Christmas eve he insisted on taking me round the block for a walk and even though it is only about 600 yards, he had not done that for a couple of months. Now that was the best Christmas present I could have received.
Good luck with Sasha.

[lv4dogs]

Tramadol is good for pain but has no anti-inflamatory abilities. Long term rimadyl can sometimes affect the liver & kidneys (as well as other things but those are the most common).
A great all natural anti-inflamatory is omega 3 (fish oil, 3 works better than 6 & 9 do).
Good luck & let us know how it goes.