Beautifulgirls....are you there?!

[whispywhisp]

A few weeks ago you were so helpful re a diabetic dog that belonged to a mate of mine and advice re my old arthritic dog. Unfortunately both have now passed away. I just wanted to ask you something concerning my dog - the labx I had that had arthritis. Please can you reply on here. Thank you.

bumping for BG for you and lots of love to you - it's horrid when you lose a loved pet

Thank you Wisteria...that's very kind of you. Yes its been a tough time. Both dogs died very quickly but the loss is huge, especially for me, because my dog was just over 12yrs old. I still can't believe she's gone. She was such a big part of my family. My eldest dd grew up with her. She's trying to be brave for me but its so hard not to cry. Fortunately I have another lovely little dog which is keeping me busy but nothing will replace my lovely old dog. xxxxx

don't try to stop yourself crying - it's important to grieve properly

(((hugs)))

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Bump. Sorry for your loss.

Hi I am here.
Sorry to hear about the loss of both of the dogs. It is a very sad time when a pet dies and feels in many ways like a part of your family has gone
Will be about on and off during the day so post away any questions and I'll check in when I can to answer for you if I can.

Hi Beautifulgirls....x

Thanks for your reply. Yes its a tough time, especially for us, obviously, seeing our dog was 12.5yrs old and my eldest dd had grown up with her (being 9). She'd not shed a tear all week - the dog was pts'd on Tuesday and then all of a sudden she burst into tears last night and we've had tears since. Anyway the question I wanted to ask you was referring to Metacam.

I had Metacam prescribed for my dog for her arthritic condition - mainly in her hips but also in one shoulder. She was on Metacam since the end of last Summer (07). She had quite a few bouts of diarrhoea whilst on Metacam (rarely before) which I took her to the vet about and each time was given some paste to give to her (in a large tube- grey cement looking paste) and told to starve her etc etc. Each time she was ill her diarrhoea would be full of blood. I asked my vet if he felt there was a possibility the Metacam was causing her condition and each time told no and to carry on with it. In hindsight I am now wondering if this is why she went downhill so quickly. She lost the use of her legs - twice I had to pick her up over the weekend and on Monday. She had no strength to speak of. Her diarrhoea was again full of fresh blood and her stomach was very swollen. She became so poorly we had no option but to put her down.

I have read up about the side effects of Metacam and diarrhoea, loss of appetite and blood - due to ulceration of the gut lining and perforation - are the main effects.

I just wondered what your opinion was on the matter?

I know nothing will bring her back and having seen how ill she was I knew there was nothing that could be done - she was so weak and due to her age I was not prepared to put her through any more.

I am still struggling to come to terms with losing her. Twelve years is a very long time. She was our pre-kids child, iykwim and whilst I know she had a lovely happy healthy 12yrs I still can't believe I won't see her again.

Yes metacam can do that though it is not a particularly common side effect - though actually that is what happens with my dog and why I have struggled with her joint issues and pain management. In her case though it was not diarrhoea but sickness that she had with a bad gastritis (stomach inflammation). In general though I do think it is one of the better anti-inflammatories that we have available and I still prescribe it for suitable cases quite a lot.

I think if you were not taking your dog off the metacam totally when she had diarrhoea it is pretty unlikely that things would have been improving in between these bouts of diarrhoea and blood, so it is perhaps less likely that the metacam may have been underlying the problems here. There are lots of reasons that dogs can have these sorts of tummy upsets and without a full postmortem it would be pretty difficult to know for sure. The paste stuff sounds like one of the kaolin pastes that helps bulk out the stool again making it firmer in the short term.

It sounds to me like you have done the best you possibly could for your old lady and you made the very kindest and hardest decision you have ever made for her at the end - not to let her go through any more difficulties at her age. I don't think you need to be upset that you gave her the metacam. It was what she needed and without it she may not have managed as far as she did with her legs.

Take care - enjoy all the happy memories that you have of her. It will get easier with time and I know you will never forget her.