Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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My boy Harry has been on metacam for about 3 weeks now as part of his metronomic protocol. He also takes omeprazole, metronide, cyclophosphamide and frusemide. Just wondering if anyone has any input on any side effects for metacam? He was doing really well until about 4 days ago when suddenly he started to wobble a lot, he even fell over a few times, and not want to get up unless he had to. Tonight he even refused to get up for his toilet trip outside before bed. Could this be anything to do with the metacam??
Thanks in advance.
Michelle and Harry.
Hi Michelle and Harry!
Just thought I'd offer some support until Tazzie can chime in.
Up until this new "challenge" he has been doing well? That is good to jear! He's such a sweet boy....-I could look at his avatar picture all day.
As far as Metacam, I can tell you from first hand experience I've had one dog who could not tolerate it (meloxicam). I can't remember specific side effects but it seems they were tummy issue related.
I know of gwo dogs here who did jave some similar issues ....Id Harry on a med for nausea/gastric upset? Not sure if one of those you named above is for that or not. But Roxie had similar reactions to a med for her tummy. Chuck had some issues kind of similar with some of his metrono ic protocol I "think". Clearly I'm no vet but just wanted to try and put some of your concerns in the category of "this may be med related" until you can speak to a vet. If so, then it's easily corrected.
Is it possible he's sprained or pulled a muslce? Maybe even and disc and pinched nerve issue.
You hang in there, okay? Try not to worry! Yeah, right!! He may be something very fixable, really!!
Now go hug on your boy and give him a big mug smooch for all of us! And a big hug to you too!
Love!
Sally and Happy Hannah
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Hi Michelle,
I'm sorry to hear about Harry's symptoms. Are they still happening?
Now I'm not a vet but I do know that Metacam can cause Gastrointestinal side effects. Has he had any runny poop or black, tarry stools that coincide with these symptoms?
I would definitely call your vet but like Sally am hoping it's something as "easy" as a muscle strain. Keep us posted, we hope all is well by now. And I agree, give that boy a big hug from us!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Metacam can cause GI side effects such as vomit and diarrhea or can make existing kidney failure worse. If anything I would look at the cyclophosphamide since it is a chemo drug. Do you know the dose that your dog is taking?
It is also possible that the weakness is unrelated to any drug but could be due to arthritis or to the cancer itself which would be rare.
Pam
As mentioned above, Metacam can cause some GI upset. We had an issue with some bloody stool that cleared up when we stopped the Metacam. Not sure about the unsteadiness, though. I would definitely notify your vet if the problem continues.
Chance is a 10ish Shetland Sheepdog Mix who was rescued from the shelter in January of 2013 and diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in September of 2013. He had a front left amputation and 6 rounds of carboplatin. He had a great 11 months and was diagnosed with lung mets on 8/23/14. He was released to the bridge on 8/28/14.
Thank you everyone for the input. He doesnt appear to be having any GI issues at all (sally and hannah, he is on meds for stomach upset already). Pam, his dosage for cyclophosphamide is 1x15mg and 1x9mg tabs per day. He weighs 60 kg's. He has been on the cyclophosphamide for about 2 months now and never shown any problems with it, would that be likely to happen now?
I was also wondering, could something like an ear infection xause dizziness? He has been prone to them his whole life. I checked yesterday ans his left ear was really dirty so I started on some surolan drops. I also rang the vets but it was the weekend so only got the vet tech who wasn't very helpful, think I will take him in on Monday.
Thanks again for any advice.
Michelle.
Darn! Is Harry ANY better? How 'bout eating? Emgaged at all?
I do know with humans an ear infection can defi itely cause dizziness, loss of balace and even nausea. It could be possible, especialy with previous ear issues, that the loss of balance could be related.
PLEASE let us kow what the vet says orif you see any changes. We LOVE that Harry!!
All tripawd paws crossed for Harry.....and that's a lot of tripawd paw power!!
Hugs!
Sally and Happy Hannah
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Just went back and searched Roxiesmom's post because I knew I'd seen so ething similar with Roxie.
Apparently metronidazole was causing some weakness and wobbles.....it's apparently a rare side effect...HaveNO clue....zero ....if that's related to metronide or not.....just thought I'd throw it out there. Also, they started Rimadyl immediately..even though she'd had no known leg issues before...and that made a big difference fairly quickly. she was n some form of metronomics and they stopped in conjunction woth these changes andher quality returned.
Again...I'm no vet..just throwing these out there as possibilities to ease your mind til you can get to vet.
Big HUGE hugs to all,
Sally and Happy Hannah
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Thank you so much Sally. Will talk to the vet about the metronide and the possible ear infection. He actually seems a bit better today. He ate all his dinner and I haven't noticed any wobbling. I've kept him quiet all weekend but hubby took him for a little hop about the park tonight and said he seemed really happy. It's been ridiculously hot here the past week (brisbane summer...grrr) so maybe the heat on top of everything else has been getting to him.
Will definitely let you know what the vet says tomorrow.
Hope everyone's having a nice weekend 
Michelle xx
That dose of cyclophosphamide does not seem too high but some dogs can develop low white cell counts which could cause dizziness. That is much more common with other drugs such as CCNU (Lomustine). Metronidazole can cause dizziness at higher doses or if the dog is on the drug long term but that is seen more frequently in little dogs. Your dog should do okay on 500 mg twice daily. Has he been on that a while?
Pam
Hi Pam,
He has been on it for about 2 months, ever since the lung mets were discovered. His dosage is 2.5 tabs at 400mg twice daily. Managed to speak to our specialist today who said he doesn't think any of the meds would be causing these symptoms and he seems to think possibly Harry has just over exerted himself lately, or maybe it is the development of the cancer. Not exactly what I wanted to hear. But Harry does seem brighter today except for not wanting to eat his dinner 
Michelle.
Okay, time to get the steak out! Yeah, seriously! If you haven't already tried it, get him engaged in the wholeprocess...smelling the package..watching you cook it...watching you cut it up...watchng you act like you're eating it ..and hopefulky, he'll woof it down!! And, even dry or canned cat food works sometimes.
So does the vet still want you to continue the doseage as is? Did he want to do a check-up, blood work or anything just to ensure it's NOT the meds?
Did he want to check and make sure he's not having a GI upset...even though he's on meds for that I wonder if he could still have an irritated tummy.
The fact that he does seem to be getting better could, indeed, point to over doing it. I guess the metacam could help with that too if he didn't want to switch t Rimadyl.
As usual, just "throwing stuff out there" in the "for whatever it's worth column".
Regardless of the cause, HARRY IS FEELING BETTER and that IS a WONDERFUL sign!!
You are such a good team! You keep staying in the moment with that big hunk of love! He's loving all the loving and spoiling and justhapy to be with you! And that's called a "great life"
Keep these good updates coming You BOTH are doing a great job and the whole tripawd communityis cheeringyou on!
HUGE HUGS TO HARRY! I mean the kind where you just wrap your arms around him and lose yourself in all his fur! ! HUGE HUGS!!
Lots of love!
Sally and Happy Hannah
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
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