Calpol anyone?

[icedaisy]

I have had dogs for about 20 years. I am an assured breeder. I have terriers, and we as a family have working collies, huntaways and bearded collies.

I just took terrier to vet for metacam for shoulder injury.

They came back out with calpol. Two doses a day.

I have never come across this before. Makes sense, certainly cheaper, but I'm still like calpol?

Must be calpol apparently and not supermarket version.

Anyone else had this?

I always thought Metacam was ibruprofen based and Calpol is paracetamol based?

One is anti inflammatory and one is pain relief?

I thought paracetamol was dangerous to dogs?

Only as I had asked vet if the dog could have child neurofen instead of Metacam.

She said no to any 'human' medicine 😀

Paracetamol I've seen given as a pain relief before. In tablet form. This dog is a pain for tablets, well documented.

Calpol does same job apparently, but easier to give.

Good point about nurofen. This is child's calpol, with dog details on side on label, dose 2.5ml twice a day.

Is like piriton, where off-label use is frowned upon?

I have huntaway envy, BTW. Friends have a working huntaway and he is such a lovely dog, but I couldn't give one the life it would need and deserve.

I have been given paracetamol for two different dogs, by both a specialist vet hospital and our local vets, over the past few months. Had dogs for just over 30 years and never been given or told to give it before.

First time it was for a sighthound with severe gastro pain. Second was my old boy last week, he’s on Rimadyl for arthritis and they told me to add in paracetamol if he’s having a bad day, as it’s the most benign option and works well.

I have to say, it definitely seems to work.

Interesting.

Had a Google and see to be a new development. Handy to know though as always have calpol.

@GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman they are rather lovely. New just acquired a new two year old. We are remote Scotland and she travelled up with some she mooing to Carlisle from Wales. If she stood on her hind legs she would be taller than dh who is six foot plus. She's some animal. Yet as gentle as with it.

Enjoy your huntaway - she sounds great.

Nurofen is ibuprofen and metacam is meloxicam so whilst both Non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs they have different molecules and the ibuprofen is unfortunately toxic to dogs.
Oral metacam is manufacturer in Mexico and the factory has been closed due to Covid-19 so it is currently in short supply hence why they may have dispensed a different drug like a paracetamol.

Paracetamol is toxic to cats, but can be used carefully in dogs.

Paracetamol very effective in dogs in our experience; like a PP, our old labrador has it alongside rimadyl for arthritis. I would say it’s actually more effective than the rimadyl and any old brand does fine so long as you make sure they are uncoated tablets or caplets. He quit happily eats them just dropped on his food and as a 30kg dog has half a standard tablet morning and evening.

We've had Calpol suggested for a dog by the vet. It was a few years ago, so I can't remember what for, but he had a bit of reaction to metacam. I think in the end we only gave a couple of doses, but we did have a problem getting it at first. My husband was asked by the chemist about the age and size of the child (think there's two forms of Calpol?). When he said it was for the dog the chemist wouldn't sell him it for obvious reasons, even though the vet had suggested it. So I think it's safe if your vet recommends it, but a pharmacist isn't going to give you something that hasn't been thoroughly tested for that animal if they're any good at their job. We trusted our vet, because we'd used them for years for different dogs, but in order to try again we had to describe our dog as a toddler.