The Most Dog Friendly Community Online
Join and Discover the Best Things to do with your Dog

Register

Metacam for Joints

arealhuman

arealhuman

Well-Known Member
Registered
Messages
2,487
Reaction score
2,243
Points
113
Our vet gave us a trial dose of Metacam as Jimmy has developed a limp over recent months. I guess it was about a week's worth, more to see if he reacted to it, apparently some dogs can vomit and/or have runny poo with it. Jimmy had neither. I think it had a positive effect, but not anything miraculous. It's funny, because if he walks on grass, his limp usually disappears and the instant he gets back on to concrete or whatever, it comes back. This happens 99.9% of the time. The vet says that's typical for arthritic joints, but it looks more like a foot problem to me when going from hard to soft surfaces. He's been on Ageility supplements for some months but they don't seemed to have helped, so now we're trying YuMove as recommended by out vet (the trial is actually very cheap!).

Anyway my question is this - is Metacam a long term solution? The vet said it's metabolised through the kidneys so he'll need regular blood tests. Obviously this rang alarm bells. I'd be interested in our thoughts please!

He's still keen to go out for walkies - apart from when it's raining, like me - and I let him dictate the pace and distance. Sometimes very short, other times longer.
 
Have the vets offered a xray....how old is Jimmy ...
 
I can't remember, what breed is he? It would be worth checking for corns, which are fairly common in sighthounds though not in other breeds.
 
Thanks for the replies. Jimbo is, we think, about 11 years old and x-rays have been mentioned as an option. He is a mixed breed of who-knows-what! He's a medium-sized dog (16kg), similar colouring to a German Sheppard with a sort of Terrier/collie face. I'm sure there's pics of him around here somewhere...

Corns - good thinking. He did have a hard sport on a pad when we first visited the vet, but she picked at it and at the time, like a fool, I didn't ask what she thought it was. I don't think he still has it but will check tomorrow - can't do it now as he's just turfed all his blankets out of his bed and got in it! :D
 
If anyone's interested, we went to the vet again on Friday as Jimbo has been non-stop licking one of his front paws, the one with the hard spot in the pad. We'd been putting on some steroid relief cream we'd previously been given in the thought that either that hard nodule was causing him to lick his paw, or he had a sore spot between his toes which has happened before. Whilst there the vet did some tests, including pressing hard on the hard spot and Jimmy didn't react at all so she reckons that's not causing him any discomfort. She did say it might be his anal glands, and I asked why she thought this and she said when dogs have an irritation they can't get to, they will quite often focus on another accessible part of their body. So, in went the finger, Jimbo went mental as you might imagine, and they were very full and drained. What a stink. Anyway, that was two days ago and no paw licking has occurred since (and the stink has subsided!). He would've thought.... She recommended some Weetabix in his food to harden up his poo - I'm sure we've tried this before - and we give him pumpkin now and again as recommended on here. Any other firming suggestions welcome :)

The limping/hard spot is to be monitored. He has a scheduled check up in about two weeks so will discuss it again then. He' still keen for walks and we went on a long one yesterday and a good one early this morning. I'm not keen on Metacam as apparently it's absorbed through the kidneys and has to be monitored closely.
 
Bony food can firm up poos - you can get ground bone to sprinkle on his normal food. I'm still thinking corns, even though they're not common in non-sighthounds... can you still see/feel the hard spot? They can show up if you wipe a little toothpaste across them. There's a FB group called 'greyhounds with corns' which has loads of info if you want to read up. In the meantime, I'd aim to walk him on grass/soft surfaces rather than hard ones as much as possible.
 
My lot have a bonio a day to prevent blocked anal glands ...
 
arealhuman said:
So, in went the finger, Jimbo went mental as you might imagine, and they were very full and drained. What a stink.
Click to expand...
Poor Jimbo!! Anal gland excretions are definitely a rather unique smell!:eek::D Glad the emptying has seemed to of helped though.
One of my old yorkies used to have a problem with hers and my vet recommended grated raw carrot added to her food to aid bulking.
 
Thanks all, will look into the food additives. He eats carrot quite a bit now, he loves it raw and gets a few slices a day as a treat!

@JudyN - yes the hard spot is there, sort of the side of his main pad, it's like a hard nodule. Walking on grass is definitely easier for him, trouble is we have to walk on pavements to get there.
 
@Tinytom - which Bonio biscuits do you use? Are there any benefits of these over other dog biscuits? Thanks :)
 
81YHtNAOPCS._AC_SY606_.jpg
 
Thank you, I will try a box for him. Did your vet recommend them especially for the gland/poo problem?
 
my little maltese has had bother with anal glands and itching, she has glandex pellets and liads of veg which she loves, also on daily antihistamine as has bad itching in anal area, will try bonio, but will have to break them up as she wont eat anything big, thanks for tip
 
The Maltese Duchess said:
my little maltese has had bother with anal glands and itching, she has glandex pellets and liads of veg which she loves, also on daily antihistamine as has bad itching in anal area, will try bonio, but will have to break them up as she wont eat anything big, thanks for tip
Click to expand...
You can buy mini bonio for smaller dogs ...also butter nut squash cooked and added to meals is great too:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top