Anyone use Piroxicam before?

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Melanie and Smokey

Melanie and Smokey

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We just came home with Smokey after undergoing a scope of her throat. She had imflammation in her vocal cord and hadn't talked right for about a month. Anyhow, the scope went well and no scary causes were found and the vet sent us home with Piroxicam since its a nonsteroid anti-imflammatory. The insert scares me more than giving a diet controlled diabetic steriods. It seems like a class of drug that shouldn't be given to cats. They are very specialized docs so I trust them, yet the literature scares me. We are to give her 1.5ml every 4 hours for 7 days. Anyone have experience with this drug?
 
I've used it for cancer kitties in the past. Helps reduce inflammation. Only negative I experienced in giving it was gi upset. So gave Pepcid with it and food.

According to Plumb's Vet Drug handbook, 5th edition its use in cats is controversial; is a NSAID w/antiinflammatory and antitumor (indirect) activity; and that there are safer NSAIDs available for pain/inflammation for dogs and cats. It can cause gi ulceration and bleeding.

Also says it can cause falsely elevated blood glucose values when using the glucose oxidase and peroxidase method using ABTS as a chromogen. Not sure what that means but it sounds like blood draws at vet and how they get their results.?.

Under client info it says to have clients monitor for GI ulceration/bleeding (anorexia, tarry stools).

I know that it is an old arthritis drug that's been replaced with newer/safer drugs. It used to be used on dogs with bone cancer in a study done at a Chicago veterinary school.

I'd consider asking the vet for something newer on the market. FWIW.

Dale
 
It almost seems like they are giving me an anti-inflamatory that would also treat any early term cancer they might not have found??? I really can't believe that the U would give me "old school" medication, but for the use we were supposedly prescribed it for, it is an old school med with newer/safer options it appears. From a couple comments out of the two vets (main and student, not surgeon) I kind of think they aren't really top notch on diabetic cats so maybe she was grasping at straws with our concerns over steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs.

We did go ahead and give her the first dose last night. I could hear her upset tummy from her napping spot 7 feet away behind a chair. Will watch her over the next couple of days to see if there are any other symptoms before administering another dose. I really don't think our vet will be enthusiastic about changing a decision of the U vet.
 
Hi

My guess re: the piroxicam choice is that the prescribing vet is comfortable with it. S/he may have used it for years in cats (before metacam was avail in the US), or his/her mentor did, and s/he has had good experience with it. S/he may also have had a terrible experience with Metacam, or another drug, etc. There is usually a reason along those lines for what may seem to be a 'quirky' drug choice.
 
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