Bad reaction to Piroxicam in dogs

Hi - I too am new to this board. I was deeply saddened to hear that my 12 year old Bichon has acquired this awful cancer. Sugar is still very playful but definitely shows times when she would rather be alone which is very unlike her.

My question revolves around Piroxicam. After I give this medication to my dog, her heart rate increases, she pants loudly and often. She also begins staring blankly into space. Having mentioned this to my vet he tells me that there have been no other reports of this reaction. I too have done some research on line and can find no other report of this reaction. I am wondering if anyone else has a pet who reacted in this manner.

Sugar weighs approximately 16 pounds and I am wondering if it is a doseage issue. Can anyone tell me the dose they are giving to their similarly wighted dog? 

I am also curious to know if anyone knows of an alternative medication.

Any and all information would be helpful. 

Our Scottish Terrier, Lucy, was diagnosed with TCC in early June (she's 7 yrs old.)  She had a very bad reaction to Piroxicam (bloody stools & throw up).  We switched her to Deramaxx and it seems to agree with her.  We haven't seen a change in her symptoms so I do wonder if Deramaxx is as effective as Piroxicam.  The good news is that her symptoms havent' become worse with Deramaxx.  I wondered about the dosage as well, but they double-checked and it seemed to be correct.  She's about 20 lbs and the dosage was 27 mg once a day. Hope you find something that works for your little one :)  We just started Lucy on a new diet - 75% hihg quality, minimally processed, all natural dry food and 25% raw food. Many people recommend a 100% raw diet to battle cancer, but that's unrealistic for us.  I've also ordered herbal treatments for her.  we just started on all of this, so I can't report any progress. 

On 8/2/2007 Longhornlucy wrote:

Our Scottish Terrier, Lucy, was diagnosed with TCC in early June (she's 7 yrs old.)  She had a very bad reaction to Piroxicam (bloody stools & throw up).  We switched her to Deramaxx and it seems to agree with her.  We haven't seen a change in her symptoms so I do wonder if Deramaxx is as effective as Piroxicam.  The good news is that her symptoms havent' become worse with Deramaxx.  I wondered about the dosage as well, but they double-checked and it seemed to be correct.  She's about 20 lbs and the dosage was 27 mg once a day. Hope you find something that works for your little one :)  We just started Lucy on a new diet - 75% hihg quality, minimally processed, all natural dry food and 25% raw food. Many people recommend a 100% raw diet to battle cancer, but that's unrealistic for us.  I've also ordered herbal treatments for her.  we just started on all of this, so I can't report any progress. 

 

I am so sorry to hear of your dog having this terrible disease too. Although I find the whole topic unbearable at times I seem to be obsessed with looking for new information.

It is intereresting to me that your dog is on Deramaxx in lieu of Piroxicam. My do was actually prescribed both Dearamaxx and Piroxicam. I should mention that apparently just very recently they have come out with a new and improved version of Deramaxx called Denamarin which my dog was switched to. She tolerated Deramaxx just dine and is doing equally as well with the Denamarin.

The vet has suggested eliminating the Peroxicam and replacing it with Previcox which is also an inhibitor.

I don;t know if you have had a chance to read all the information on this site (and others) about the use of lowfat organic (small curd) cottage cheese and flaxseed oil which is supposed to act as an inhibitor as well. I think it is definitely something to consider if only because it is such a "do-able" option. I kind of have the attitude of - what can you lose if you try it? Even if it doesn't work it is not something that is dangerous to your pet - unlike the possible side effects of some of the medications.

I hope Lucy has many good years ahead of her.

On 8/1/2007 GeriNap wrote:

Hi - I too am new to this board. I was deeply saddened to hear that my 12 year old Bichon has acquired this awful cancer. Sugar is still very playful but definitely shows times when she would rather be alone which is very unlike her.

My question revolves around Piroxicam. After I give this medication to my dog, her heart rate increases, she pants loudly and often. She also begins staring blankly into space. Having mentioned this to my vet he tells me that there have been no other reports of this reaction. I too have done some research on line and can find no other report of this reaction. I am wondering if anyone else has a pet who reacted in this manner.

Sugar weighs approximately 16 pounds and I am wondering if it is a doseage issue. Can anyone tell me the dose they are giving to their similarly wighted dog? 

I am also curious to know if anyone knows of an alternative medication.

 

Any and all information would be helpful. 

 

My Bichon, Lexi, will be 16 in January and has just been diagnosed with a tumor in her bladder. Becuase of her age and a heart murmur they are not recommending surgery and have not done anyting more than a CT scan - tumor was very obvious in the scan.  When she was 4 or 5 she had stones in her bladder which were surgically removed and she had been fine up until now.  She weighs 12 lbs and the vet has her on piroxicam. It's liquid and she gets 1 ml every 48 hours and a 1/4 of a tablet of original Prilosec daily. She has been responding well to the treatment with no side effects. Appetite is excellent, She was always a fiesty little dog but with age has become less so and was sleeping alot. Since the treatment began on Nov. 11th she's gotten much more perky and even has even been more affectionate than she had been. We're just going day to day. I also have a male Bichon who is 12 years old and weighs 14 lbs. He's always been healthy.

On 10/16/2008 dragonflygirl54 wrote:

Hi there: My Bichon (14 yrs) is also battling cancer. A hemangiopericytoma to be exact. I am new to this forum and would like to know what kind of cancer you are fighting. Is Piroxicam an anti-inflammatory? If so, could you try Metacam?Looking forward to your reply. Carolyn

 

On 8/1/2007 GeriNap wrote:

Hi - I too am new to this board. I was deeply saddened to hear that my 12 year old Bichon has acquired this awful cancer. Sugar is still very playful but definitely shows times when she would rather be alone which is very unlike her.

My question revolves around Piroxicam. After I give this medication to my dog, her heart rate increases, she pants loudly and often. She also begins staring blankly into space. Having mentioned this to my vet he tells me that there have been no other reports of this reaction. I too have done some research on line and can find no other report of this reaction. I am wondering if anyone else has a pet who reacted in this manner.

Sugar weighs approximately 16 pounds and I am wondering if it is a doseage issue. Can anyone tell me the dose they are giving to their similarly wighted dog? 

I am also curious to know if anyone knows of an alternative medication.

 

Any and all information would be helpful. 

 

 

On 7/25/2008 JackieH wrote:

Our 13 year-old terrier mix was diagnosed with transitional cell carcinoma yesterday, so we are new to all of this. She has been put on piroxicam. We will see how she reacts to it.   How did your dogs do on the different therapies?  Did the cottage cheese and flaxseed oil help?

My dog was recently diagnosed with this transitional cell carcinoma as well along with Cushings disease. He is 12 and 1/2 and weighs 65 pounds. He is taking piroxicam 10 mg once a day. It's only been a week so we don't have any idea how he will respond. The vet gives him from 3 months to a year to live. One tumor is in the mid section of his bladder the other on the tip of his bladder. It all came on suddenly. With the cushings disease there's not much they can do. He is an Austrilian Blue Heeler and Dalmation mix. How is your dog doing?

On 8/1/2007 GeriNap wrote:

Hi - I too am new to this board. I was deeply saddened to hear that my 12 year old Bichon has acquired this awful cancer. Sugar is still very playful but definitely shows times when she would rather be alone which is very unlike her.

My question revolves around Piroxicam. After I give this medication to my dog, her heart rate increases, she pants loudly and often. She also begins staring blankly into space. Having mentioned this to my vet he tells me that there have been no other reports of this reaction. I too have done some research on line and can find no other report of this reaction. I am wondering if anyone else has a pet who reacted in this manner.

Sugar weighs approximately 16 pounds and I am wondering if it is a doseage issue. Can anyone tell me the dose they are giving to their similarly wighted dog? 

I am also curious to know if anyone knows of an alternative medication.

 

Any and all information would be helpful. 

 

Hi,

I have a 14 year old lab who has been diagnosed with Transitional Cell Carcinoma. I put her on Piroxicam immediately and she did not have any reaction; however, when I took her to the Oncologist, the Dr. recommended Deracoxib (or Deramaxx).

My dog is 73 lbs and is taking 1-1/2 tablets of each 25 mg. pill per day. So far, she has been ok with it. Double-check the dosage you are giving her. Make sure she is getting the right dosage one time per day as prescribed AND/OR make sure she is getting the right dosage for her size.

In response to your dog's panting, she is probably in pain. Dogs respond to pain diferently than people. They absorb it and they react by panting. I used to think my dog was just feeling warm, but she was in pain. My vet explained that to me. Therefore, I give her a mild dose of Tramadol with the Deracoxib so that she can be relieved of pain. This has helped her greatly.

Also, be aware that with TCC, dogs will be prone to infections in their bladder/urethra, so I watch her for symptoms and if I see she may be having difficulty and she is in pain after I give her the Tramadol, then I immediately ask my vet for the strong antibiotic she is used to. She takes it for ten days and then she is fine.

As for meals, go to the website for B-Naturals. Search for "Cancer recipes". Lew Olsen has created recipes for raw diets and cooked diets. For cancer fighting "cooked" diets, she recommends high protein, fat and carbs in the form of spinach, broccoli or other vegs she has listed. It is important to read her article to see the appropriate portions and types of foods.

Do not feed your dog any kind of wheat, grain, corn or dark-shade vegetables. Dogs cannot metabolize carbohydrates in that form the way people do. Processed foods and treats shorten a dogs life by greatly compromising their livers. Read her articles, she can explain it fully.

Unfortunately, as any of you may know, with TCC, the cancer will not go away and may spread. I am having difficulty with what will be on the horizon in the next 2-3 months. One thing is for sure, I will have another ultrasound and blood and urine tests to see where her levels are.

The cancer has not yet metastasized and it has been one year since we suspected something when we saw blood in her urine. I hope that I will be able to have laser surgery done for her, so she can be more comfortable. She can't be healed from this, but it will give her quality for the time she has left. Chemo is out of the question, especially at her age and the quality of her life will diminish quickly with chemo.

The good news is, she is asymptomatic most of the time.  She still likes to run and stay outdoors and still has a ravenous appetite. I found out on B-Naturals that the reason a dog is always hungry is because they are not getting enough fat in their diet, so I have been adding a little more fat from meats, pork and poultry and from cottage cheese or ricotta cheese. Be sure to help your dogs with their liver function so they can process the fat better, by giving them Milk Thistle. There are other wonderful herbal supports on the B-Naturals website as well. You can write to Lew Olsen for any questions or advice and she gives it freely.

I have been blessed to have my dog this long, especially since she had cancer 3-1/2 years ago in her leg. It took two surgeries to get it all out and all she has is a little scar. Now she will be 14 next week. 

For all the joy our dogs give us, it is unfortunate that they cannot live longer. I wish you and your pups health and happiness for their remaining time with you.

Hi , We are new to this list as well and just found out our 9 yr old english setter has stage 2 Malignant Melanoma. The vet also put him on Piroxicam but only 8mg and he weighs 68 lbs she also recommended pepcid .

I have been feeding him the raw diet for the last 6 yrs so I didn't have to change his diet much I also give Flaxseed. I'm glad I found this list it has answered some of the questions I had in mind.

And that there are other alternatives if this dosn't work for him.

Hi, I recently learned that my 8 yr old Blood Hound has TCC. It is in the last stages and not much can be done.  I am supposed to start Piroxicam tomorrow,10 mg for 100LB. The vets give him a few months. His appetite is good. He urinates frequently and strains each time.  His bowel movements are strained also and soft. I know he is in some pain at best discomfort.

I hesitate to give him Piroxicam. But it seems that most of the dogs you are reporting are doing okay with it.  The vets recommend we feed him anything we want. So it is interesting to learn about an alternative diet.I have never given him anything but dog food. I am afraid a big change in his diet would upset his stomach. This would give him more to have to deal with. And he is an indoor dog.

 I  hesitate to prolong his life. I feel like I am prolonging the inevitable just for selfish reasons.  I do not want him to have a painfull death. It is hard to watch him suffer and harder to make the decision to end his life.

I don't understand if the Piroxicam will cause more issue for him to deal with or make it easier for him in his final days, weeks or months. I welcome any thoughts or comments. tybri