Metacam for cats is a type of drug that is used to help address pain, swelling and irritation. Metacam is the brand name version of the drug that is called meloxicam. This drug is used in various forms in humans as well as in veterinary medicine for both dogs and cats. If your cat is suffering from pain due to an injury, a surgical procedure, a disease or something else, Metacam may be a good way to help rid him of these symptoms.
Metacam Overview
Metacam is a useful type of medicine because it is classified as a non steroidal anti inflammatory drug. These medicines, oftentimes abbreviated as NSAIDs, are a common type of drug used to reduce swelling, inflammation and pain that is caused by a wide variety of different symptoms. They function by causing your pet's body to not be able to synthesize and produce a certain type of chemical called prostaglandins. These chemicals elicit a pain response when they attach and bond with different types of cell receptors. By blocking the creation of these chemicals, Metacam and other NSAIDs effectively stop inflammation, pain and fever before they begin, or help to eliminate them after they have become an issue.
Using Metacam to Address Your Pet's Issues
There are different types of Metacam that are available for veterinary use. Namely, one type is an injectable form and one type is an orally administered version. The injectable form has been tested and approved by the FDA for use in dogs only, while the oral form is appropriate for use in cats. Because of the risk of adverse reactions to the injection of the drug, it's not a good idea to give the medicine to your cat in this way. However, veterinarians can legally prescribe the injectable version of Metacam for a cat, but only as an extra label medicine.
Metacam Warnings and Side Effects
Metacam can react badly with many other types of diseases or drugs that might already be in your pet's system. For this reason, it's crucial that you inform your vet of any and all other issues that are going on with your pet before you begin the treatment with Metacam.
Some of the side effects of Metacam include the following:
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Internal bleeding and ulceration
- Dark, bloody stool
- Intestinal perforation
Some of these side effects are quite severe, and the fact that they can appear suddenly and without warning means that you must always keep a close eye on your pet when you decide to give him a Metacam treatment. Because of these potential side effects, it's important that you discuss with your vet whether or not giving your pet Metacam is actually worthwhile considering the tradeoff of his disease, injury or other source of pain. Always have your pet monitored closely by a vet, particularly if you suspect that he may be suffering from one or more of the side effects above.