Dog Health

Ask any person with osteoarthritis and they’ll tell you that it hurts. Dogs would tell you the same thing if they could talk. Even if your best friend can’t tell you he’s in pain, you’re pretty likely to notice if your pooch is acting like his joints are aching. One way you can help him is to give him medication like Meloxicam to ease the pain.

What is Meloxicam?

Meloxicam, also called Metacam, Mobic, or Loxicom depending on the manufacturer, is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory osteoarthritis drug used for both humans and dogs. It reduces the pain, stiffness, and inflammation associated with the condition. It may also be prescribed to dogs to ease pain and swelling after a surgical operation.

Mobic is the name brand of the drug and is still technically only available for human prescriptions. However, the generic versions, called Meloxicam or Metacam, can be prescribed to a pet by a veterinarian. While Mobic is only for humans, and Meloxicam and Metacam are for humans or dogs, Loxicom is an oral suspension, or liquid, formula of the drug only for dogs.

Giving Meloxicam/Metacam to dogs

While the drug itself is the same when given to humans, the dosage is drastically different. The smallest human dosage of Mobic is a 7.5 mg tablet. Only a quarter of the tablet is enough for a dog weighing 45 pounds. If you give a dog a whole Mobic tablet, your dog would almost certainly overdose. Loxicom, Metacam, and Meloxicam for dogs is sold as a liquid because it makes administering the right dosage a lot easier, which keeps your dog safe. While a very large dog may technically take a portion of a tablet safely, getting an accurate dosage this way would still be very difficult. You should never give your dog medication without first getting a prescription from a vet, and a vet would not prescribe Mobic for dogs since it is only made for humans.

Metacam should only be given to a dog after getting a veterinary prescription, and your vet should give you instructions on proper dosage and administration techniques. Generally, the initial dosage is 0.09 to 0.1 mg per pound of weight. After the first day, this should be decreased to 0.045 to 0.0.5 mg per pound of body weight.

The drug should be administered in a dosing syringe, and while it may be administered directly into the mouth of a larger dog, it should only be given indirectly to smaller dogs by putting it in their food in order to avoid an overdose.

Metacam for dogs side effects

Like all prescriptions, Loxicom/Meloxicam/Metacam for dogs may cause side effects. The most common side effects are vomiting and decreased appetite. Call your vet immediately if you notice other side effects, including changes in bowel movements, changes in behavior, jaundice, increased drinking, changes in urination, skin irritation, and unexpected weight loss. The most serious side effects include stomach ulcers, unusual bleeding, and loss of kidney function or kidney failure. You should talk to your vet about any side effects before discontinuing use.

Signs of overdose

When administered properly with an oral syringe, chances of overdose should be minimal. An overdose can be deadly to a dog, though. If you suspect your dog has overdosed after taking Meloxicam, Metacam, or Loxicom for dogs, look for the following symptoms: lost appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, dark or tarry stool, increased urination, headache, increased thirst, pale gums, jaundice, lethargy, fast or heavy breathing, poor coordination, seizures, or behavior changes. Visit the local emergency veterinary clinic or call the pet poison helpline at (855) 213-6680 if you notice any of these symptoms and believe your dog may have received too much medication.

Want to know more about medicine for dogs? Check out What Human Medicine Can I Give to My Dog?, Medications To Help Calm Dogs, and Anti-Vomiting Medications for Dogs at Cuteness.com!

This article is provided by Cuteness—the go to destination for passionate pet parents. Cuteness has answers to all of your health, training, and behavior questions – as well as the cutest, funniest, and most inspiring pet stories from all over the world.

National Pet Cancer Awareness Month is observed in November. More pets are diagnosed with cancer each year, but there are advances being made in animal healthcare when it comes to early detection and treatment. Educate yourself on the signs of cancer and what the treatment options are.

It’s prime mushroom season and that means keeping your dogs from consuming any wild mushrooms. While only a few are toxic, it’s best to keep pets from all mushrooms. Here are the ones to be especially aware of. If you suspect mushroom poisoning, get your dog to the vet immediately.

Recently there have been reports of deadly side effects of certain flea and tick medications. While all drugs come with side effects, some side effects reported as a result of taking flea and tick medications have been more severe. Most dogs and cats do not have notable reactions to flea and tick medications. If you are trying a new flea and tick medication for the first time, it is best to monitor your dog that day for any reactions.

Symptoms of reactions

Tick preventives can cause mild symptoms, such as itching and scratching, or they can be more moderate such as excessive salivation, vomiting, and diarrhea. Severe symptoms include seizures and even death. If your dog has any of these side effects shortly after receiving flea and tick medication, it is best to see your veterinarian. These side effects can also be signs of other potentially more serious problems.

Neurological Problems

A recent statement put out by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), reports that flea and tick medications in the isoxazoline class have been shown to cause seizures in dogs. This class of drugs includes Bravecto, Credelio, Nexgard, and Simparica.

These medications can lower the seizure threshold in the dog, which causes a dog who has seizures to have more seizures or a dog who has never had a seizure before start having seizures. All these flea and tick medications should be avoided in dogs with seizures.

The only approved drug in the class for use in cats is Bravecto. Currently, there has been little to no evidence that this drug causes neurological problems in cats.

Gastrointestinal Problems

Some flea and tick medications can cause gastrointestinal upset, leading to vomiting and diarrhea. Usually, these problems go away after just a day. If every time you give your dog oral flea and tick medication, they start vomiting and having diarrhea, use topical medications instead.

The Dangers of Dog Flea for Cats

Most topical flea and tick medications for dogs contain permethrins. These are usually not toxic to a dog, but just a small amount on your cat can cause neurological problems.  You should never use flea and tick medication intended for dogs on a cat. If your cat does get some of this medication on them, you will notice neurological signs very quickly. It is best to bathe this medication off your cat with dishwashing soap and take your cat to your veterinarian immediately. If caught early and your cat has only received a small amount of the drug, then they do have the potential to return to normal. Sadly, most permethrin toxicities are usually deadly.

Alternative Preventatives

If your dog does have a history of seizures, it is advised to use different flea and tick medications than those mentioned above. Topical medications such as Advantage, Vectra, Revolution, or Frontline are good choices. Some dogs may have a localized reaction to topical medications. For dogs with reactions to both oral and topical medications, veterinarians recommend flea and tick collars. The Seresto collar is one of the more recent flea and tick collars to hit the market.

For most pets, flea and tick preventions are safe and effective. Many veterinarians will say that the risk of catching a disease from a flea or tick is much higher than the potential risk of the medication, which is why most vets recommend using flea and tick preventatives.

By monitoring your pet after receiving flea and tick medication, you can catch the symptoms of a reaction sooner than later. If your dog has a history of seizures, it is best to have a conversation with your vet about which flea and tick medications are safe for your dog.

Sara Ochoa, DVM is a small animal veterinarian in Whitehouse TX. In her free time, she likes to travel the world with her husband Greg, bake yummy desserts and spend time with her 4-legged fur kids, a dog Ruby, a cat Oliver James “OJ”, and a tortoise Monkey-Man.

If you’re a dog parent, you probably know about heartworm disease. Your veterinarian has stressed the importance of year-round heartworm prevention and annual heartworm testing to keep your dog heartworm-free.

Given how much the veterinary community has championed heartworm prevention for years, you’d think that the disease wouldn’t be a big problem. But it is. Heartworm incidence is expected to increase in 2019, continuing a trend of yearly increased incidence since 2013.

Why is that? Why are more dogs getting heartworm disease when veterinarians are doing all they can to prevent it? What can you do to prevent your dog from getting heartworms?

Heartworm Basics

Before answering those questions, let’s talk a bit about the disease itself. Heartworm disease is caused by Dirofilaria immitis, a parasite that is carried by mosquitoes. When an infected mosquito bites a dog, little D. immitis larvae enter the blood and mature into adults within about six months. The adults can live for 5 to 7 years and cause a range of clinical signs, including coughing, exercise reluctance, weight loss, and, once heart failure sets in, a fluid-swollen belly.

Heartworm disease is treatable, but the treatment is expensive and requires strict avoidance of exercise. Unfortunately, after going through treatment, some dogs aren’t as happy and carefree as they used to be.

Why is Heartworm Incidence Increasing?

Historically, heartworm disease has been most problematic in the southern and southeastern United States. Two main factors contribute to increased heartworm risk throughout the country: climate change and cross-country dog transportation.

Climate change. Warmer temperatures and increased humidity across the country increase mosquito breeding, which can increase the likelihood of mosquitoes carrying D. immitis. Milder winters mean that mosquitoes don’t die off as they usually would in cold temperatures, keeping the mosquito population higher than it should be in the winter.

Cross-country dog transportation. Dogs are increasingly transported across state lines for several reasons, one of which is natural disasters in heartworm-endemic areas. When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005, for example, animal welfare organizations rescued dogs from the hurricane, then transported and adopted them out across the country; Louisiana is endemic for heartworms.

As reported by a study in Animals journal, animal welfare organizations do not routinely test or treat rescued dogs for heartworms or administer heartworm preventatives before transporting the dogs. Thus, transported dogs who are heartworm positive can spread the disease to wherever they are going. It is possible that dogs rescued from Hurricane Katrina spread heartworm disease to their new location.

A second reason for increased dog transportation is the effort to reduce euthanasia and increase adoption of shelter dogs. If dogs are not tested and treated for heartworms before being adopted out, they could introduce heartworm into their new community, which could be in a different part of the country.

What Can You Do?

By now, you may be wondering if heartworm disease is going to come knocking on your door. Fortunately, despite the increased risk of heartworm disease across the country, heartworm prevention remains practical and easy to do. Follow these prevention strategies:

• Be aware of heartworm incidence where you live. This awareness is especially important if you live in an area that, historically, is not endemic for heartworms. Talk to your veterinarian about heartworm risk in your area. You can also look at the heartworm prevalence map at the Companion Animal Parasite Council website.
• Limit your dog’s mosquito exposure. Keep your dog indoors during peak mosquito times: dawn and dusk. Also, remove any potential mosquito breeding spots around your home, such as birdbaths or empty flower pots that hold standing, stagnant water.
• Administer year-round heartworm prevention. With rising temperatures, mosquitoes are problematic for longer during the year. Give all of your pets (even your cats!) a monthly heartworm preventative.
• Get your dog tested for heartworms each year.

Concluding Thoughts

Although heartworm disease is on the rise for several reasons, it is also easily preventable. Do your part by being proactive about preventing heartworm disease in your pet.

Content provided by JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM. Dr. Pendergrass is owner and founder of JPen Communications, a medical communications company specializing in consumer education.

Beating heartworm is tough enough – with Healthy Paws, pet parents don’t have to choose between their pet and their wallet. By signing up for pet insurance when pets are young, ongoing treatments will be covered up to 90%. Find out more by getting a free quote.