Dog Kidney Medication Alongside Metacam

by | May 10, 2019 | Common Conditions, Conventional Medicine, Kidney, Vet Care | 1 comment

by Kate
(Colorado)

I adopted Addie, a 10 ten year old mixed breed in June of 2014. She has reverse sneezing and very productive “forward” sneezing. About a month ago, she was panting and I realized it was due to her having difficulty breathing through her nose.

Just about 2 weeks ago (12-12-14) she had a CT scan and a Rhinoscopy done. There were no foreign objects found in her nasal cavity. She was diagnosed with chronic nasal inflammation and put on .4ml of Metacam. She received that dose every day for a week.

After a week, I had her blood work done and her kidney values are good. After the initial week was up, she went on an every other day regime. The internal medicine vet said to try every three days.

Addie is not quite there yet. She starts sneezing the day she is due to have another dose. She has improved immensely with the forward sneezing.

I have been giving her milk thistle 2’xs a day to help support her liver. I give her about a 5th of 175mg capsule.

I saw on Dr. Karen Becker’s website a liver/kidney product and wanted to know if you thought it would be ok to give to Addie with the Metacam.

If you don’t think it would help Addie, what kind of kidney support would you recommend?

I do have human Renafood by standard process that was recommended for a dog I had at one time.

Addie is just about 15 pounds. I don’t know anything about her history except that her person died and she was surrendered to a kill shelter. My vet wonders if perhaps she lived with a smoker. I do not smoke.
Thanks for you time and help.
Kate

Comments for Dog Kidney Medication Alongside Metacam

Dec 31, 2014My Online Vet Response for: Dog Kidney Medication Alongside Metacam
by: Dr Carol Jean Tillman December 31, 2014

Hi Kate,
I commend you for adopting an older dog that has health issues. Addie is a lucky girl!

If she weighs 15 lbs the dose for milk thistle is 8mg per lb TWO times daily. You are not giving her enough milk thistle. Her dose is 120 mg TWO times daily, in food. (it would be ok if you gave her the whole 175mg two times daily)

Renafood is a GREAT kidney supplement and Standard Process, has a good track record, as it has been in business since before 1975! I would give Addie 1/2 tablet in food two times daily.

A suggestion, if the anti-inflammatory properties of the Metacam is what is benefiting Addie, perhaps trying a less ‘toxic’ anti-inflammatory drug would be better? Consider Ecotrin or Ascriptin. These are Maalox coated aspirin products. I would only give her 1/8-1/4 tablet one time daily, and wean her down from there. Or even 1/2-1 baby aspirin one time daily, weaning her to every other day.

Or better yet, a homeopathic remedy. You have not given me enough information to prescribe a homeopathic remedy, but a holistic veterinarian could help.

You should seek the help of a holistic veterinarian to write an exemption for NO MORE vaccinations for her. Although, she was probably vaccinated as soon as you adopted her, which would not help her immune system at all.

Make sure she is on a canned or RAW diet. Mucous membranes of the nose need a lot of moisture, and a dry dog food is the worst thing to feed her.

She might also benefit from Standard Process Canine Whole Body support, and Immuplex. (1/2 capsule in her food two times daily)

Another resource for vets knowledgeable in homeopathy is AVH.org.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Jan 31, 2015Update on Addie
by: Kate Addie continues to barely have any productive forward sneezing. By any I mean, less than 5 times total during this past month. She does continue to have bouts of reverse sneezing. During days that it is occurring several times (more than 4 times) and for more than 20-30 seconds at a time,I will give her a dose of the metacam. I didn’t start her on the coated aspirin as suggested because the forward sneezing had decreased so significantly. It is important to note that before giving her the metacam, I will give her a generic allergy tablet for Chlorpheniramine Malate 4mg (approved to be given by her vet 2 times a day )to see if that will stop the reverse sneezing. If it subsides, I won’t give her the metacam.

The most profound thing I have found that seems to sometimes work is Slippery Elm. I read that it helps people for bronchial issues and tried giving it to her with great results. I give her 1-2 tablespoons 2x’s a day. She is not big water drinker so I had fresh chicken or beef broth. I also keep a vaporizer going when I am home.
Thanks for you help. Kate

Jan 31, 2015My Online Vet Response for: Dog Kidney Medication Alongside Metacam
by: Dr. Carol Jean Tillman January 31, 2015

Hi Kate,
Thank you so much for sending us an update on Addie.

You wrote,
“She… barely has any productive forward sneezing…. less than 5 times total during this past month…but she does continue to have bouts of reverse sneezing. During days that it is occurring several times (more than 4 times) and for more than 20-30 seconds at a time,I will give her a dose of the metacam.”

Have you considered any of the homeopathic remedies for reverse sneezing? In the rubric for ‘hydrophobia’ (related to the Rabies miasm) there are several that could be considered:

Belladonna
Hyoscyamus
Lachesis
Lyssin
Phosphorus
Stramonium

A holistic veterinarian would need to do an exam of Addie to determine which remedy would be the best. https://www.organic-pet-digest.com/dog-vet-care.html

These are remedies that are specific for eliminating and curing the effect of the Rabies miasm, which commonly presents as a reverse sneeze.

You wrote,
“Slippery Elm… helps people for bronchial issues… I give her 1-2 tablespoons 2x’s a day. She is not big water drinker so I had fresh chicken or beef broth. I also keep a vaporizer going…”

Slippery Elm is a nice herb to use, and acts as an emollient to soothe mucous membranes, used most commonly for diarrhea.

I am glad that it seems to be helping Addie.

Hopefully, she will continue to improve and you will not have to give her any more of the Metacam!

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Click here to go back to the Ask a Vet Online Library of questions.

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