Anyone here every use Meloxicam before?

[aholtz]

Has anyone here every used Meloxicam before?

My dog Mila is 2.5 and has severe hip dysplasia. :(

We knew it was severe when she was a puppy and we took her in to be spayed. She was NOT a canidate at the time for a TPO... we then discussed other options for when she got older.

Shes been on Rimadyl for the past year or so and the last several months it just has not worked well. Shes also on glucosamine and we keep her very lean. We're very careful with her joints and most of her 'free time' to play is spent in her pool.. most of her other time is either spent compitition training with our other dog or lounging with us.

We also keep her very lean.

So far.. the vet thinks we've done all we can do on our end and thought he should try the Meloxicam. (The current plan is to keep her on drug therapy until shes a little older and do a total hip replacement on both hips... if we did it now she would wear it out too quickly because shes still too puppy like.. both a pro and con in this instance)

Who here has tried this medication and what did you think of it? Also, what other ways have you been able to keep your dog comfy.

(side note.. she's a boxer rott mix whom I adopted and I really wish I knew who had her unwanted litter.. I really wish I could show people what they create. people should know they carelessly bring animals into the world and create a litter of unwanted pets who later on will live a life of pain or discomfort due to poor or accidental 'breeding' )

[Llcouttien]

I am currently using it right now with a 9 month old rottweiler. It works, but for my taste, it takes a while for it to kick in and seems to leave the system rather fast. This I think is more so due to the puppy exuberance than the medication though. I know a lot of dogs on it who are doing well, but there still are side effects just like Rimadyl does. It is given based off of your dogs weight in 5 lb increments and is liquid if you didn't know. I don't know what else you are exactly looking for so just ask and I'm sure other people will answer. Also for others who might not know if they are giving Meloxicam, it is also know by the name Metacam. Same with Rimadyl also being called Carprofen.

-Lamarr

[aholtz]

I don't know anything about the liquid or dosing of it. I give my dog the 7.5 mg tablets. She had been taking 150 mg of the Rimadyl.

I do agree with you about the drug seeming to wear off quickly. That was one of the reasons I asked.. I also agree 100% about the puppy exuberance thing. Thanks for the insight!

[targonrotts]

i use it as metacam on my 10 1/2 year old dog who has osteosarcoma. she has been on it for 9 months now staright and is doing great. she still runs-even though i keep her from it-and is happy. her blood work is also great.
i use it once a day to the 85 lbs dose mark. along with tramadol and gabapentin.

[Debbie Ervin]

I also used the metacam when it first came out and wasn't even approved in US yet. The UP had it for their exotic animals and that is how we started using it for Thor who had immune mediated poly-arthritis. It worked I would say the best of all the drugs we tried. He was on that for about 8 months..

[equiworks]

Meloxicam is the generic version of Metacam, and it's in pill form as opposed to the liquid. The Meloxicam works similiar usually given once a day, with food of course. It's a heck of a lot cheaper than using Metacam, but as with any anti-inflammitory, it can be pretty hard on the gut over time.

Sorry to hear about your pup

[aholtz]

Originally Posted by equiworks

Meloxicam is the generic version of Metacam, and it's in pill form as opposed to the liquid. The Meloxicam works similiar usually given once a day, with food of course. It's a heck of a lot cheaper than using Metacam, but as with any anti-inflammitory, it can be pretty hard on the gut over time.

Sorry to hear about your pup

I didn't really follow your first two sentances. Meloxicam is Meloxicam and the drug dose would be the same in either form. I didn't understand if you were compairing the Meloxicam to the Metacam (which would still be the same) or the liquid to the tablet in either case both would be the same due to the active ingredient just in a different form, or maybe I just totally confused myself! :) (sorry.. its the pharmacist in me)

I've been given alot of good information here and I really appreciate knowing that even though the Rimadyl didn't seem to help her much that Meloxicam could be the one!!

I also called to find out how its dosed and compaired it to the dosing in Rimadyl.. and double checked its half life and dosing in humans. I think it should work. My logic... Again, I'd like to state that I don't know ANYTHING about veterinary medicine but in people it's half life is 8-9 hours... (meaning that the drug has used 'half its life' in the body) but its total duration in the body would be 5 times the half life.. so the drug should be in the body for roughly 30-45 hours. The peak time of relief would be about 6-8 hours after the dose is given.. which I do see in Mila, it takes a while to kick in and not long to wear off and someone else made a good point it's probably just the puppy exuberance. However, don't use this as medical advise being that animals metabolize differently.

Equiworks - thanks for pointing out the cost on the Metacam! I had NO idea it was so spendy.

One thing to think about is looking to see if you can get things at your local pharmacy. I get meds for cost so I paid $3 for a 90 day supply of Meloxicam (Mobic) where I work. But I looked into the retail price and it's roughly $26 for a 30 day supply. At some of the bigger chains you might be able to find some of the common meds like Cephalexin or Tramadol on there 4.99 plans. Some like Rimadyl are strictly veterinary.

Thanks again for all your advice!

[Llcouttien]

Originally Posted by aholtz

I didn't really follow your first two sentances. Meloxicam is Meloxicam and the drug dose would be the same in either form. I didn't understand if you were compairing the Meloxicam to the Metacam (which would still be the same) or the liquid to the tablet in either case both would be the same due to the active ingredient just in a different form, or maybe I just totally confused myself! :) (sorry.. its the pharmacist in me)

You are correct in stating that there is no difference between the two besides the fact that one is in pill form and the other is in liquid form. The liquid is supposed to get into the system faster but the pill lasts longer. It is decided on a case by case bases but the liquid is used on an as needed type of prescription and the pill is used on a daily prescription. Now of course if your dog won't take the pill then you will have to try the liquid, and if no liquid then pill. There are also shots but those are never dosed out for people to take home. Price is a huge factor as long term it adds up, that is why pills are a better option if you use it constantly.

-Lamarr

[equiworks]

Sorry guys, yes - it is the same drug, I know. My post didn't come out very clear :S I confused myself when I re-read it, ha. *Must edit posts*