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  1. #1
    Puppy Kellsie's mom's Avatar
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    Anyone familar with this medication?

    I started another thread about low fat food for my dog Thunder, but I am also questioning a medication that the internal specialist we saw at Tufts put Thunder on. A few weeks ago he started dry heaving. Happened 2 or 3 times a day. Thought he may have something in his stomach. After lots of testing, x-rays and an ultrasound that is not the case. Questioned pancreatitis although tests did not support this. Also questioned if he is just developing a sensitive stomach now that he is older. Thunder will be 7 in July.

    She put him on metoclopramide which is supposed to speed up digestion and make things pass more easily though the stomach. She also put him on another anti-nausea medication. After 2 doses of the metoclopramide Thunder had major diarrhea. My dog walker called when she came to take the pups for their daily walk and she was met with a major mess all over Thunder's crate. She cleaned it all up. I felt awful for him.

    I called specialist vet immediately and told her what had happened. I told her I thought it was the medication, but she said it absolutely was not the metoclopramide. I was not buying it. I read online one of the side effects was diarrhea. She continued to say it was not the drug and uses it all the time with other canine patients. I told her all dogs react differently to meds. She prescribed flagyl which stopped the runs. I put him on chicken and rice and sweet potatoes and the vet encouraged me to put him back on the meds. I did not. He is much better.

    He has not had any runs and the dry heaving has stopped, but I did not put him back on the metoclopramide. I continue to give him the other medication at night. (it is called Ondansetron HCL and is for vomiting and nausea)

    Anyone heard of this medication (Metoclopramide)? Anyone's dog had similar reactions to it?

    I am going with my gut and not putting him back on it. However she wants him on it for a few months......

    Thanks for any input.

  2. #2
    Chief Pooper Scooper JenC's Avatar
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    Never heard of it, but if you don't want your dog on it, I wouldn't use it. Also, if you haven't done this yet, there is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion. I have a few vets I go to so that I can bounce ideas off of them. If I don't like what one is saying, I go to another.

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  4. #3
    Senior Dog Sue-Ram's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kellsie's mom View Post
    Anyone heard of this medication (Metoclopramide)? Anyone's dog had similar reactions to it?

    I am going with my gut and not putting him back on it. However she wants him on it for a few months......

    Thanks for any input.
    One of my cats had been put on this drug, brand name is Reglan for motility issues. Like you I stopped giving it to him because it made him a zombie with the shakes. My cat now eats Royal Canin gastro which has increased fiber amounts to speed up motility.

    Like Jen said, you can always get a second opinion.
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    Kellsie's mom (06-25-2014)

  6. #4
    Puppy Kellsie's mom's Avatar
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    OK thanks for thoughts.....I did some research and couldn't find too much information on it. Yes I may seek a second opinion. I wasn't fully comfortable with this specialist....she didn't want much input from me. Kept telling me she thought Thunder was too slow moving and wasn't too active for a lab, she called him a "big pat of butter!" He is almost seven and I see him slowing down, but he was terrified, hates the vet and I can't blame him after 2 major obstruction surgeries he smells the vet and closes down. He is a big love, we call him Eeyore!

    Problem is I am in-between vets and need to find a new one. I am a teacher and I plan on looking now that I am on summer vacation and have extra time. I loved our old vet, just couldn't afford them anymore. With 2 dogs I had to think of my financial status. New vet we have been going to for a year or so had no clue what was wrong with Thunder....actually offered us zero input. That is why we went to a specialist and honestly we had good treatment during emergency situations but just not sure this doc was the best fit for us.

    I will continue my search and perhaps seek a 2nd opinion. No worries I don't plan on giving the drug to him anymore. Especially now that you said it made your cat like a zombie....no thanks!

  7. #5
    House Broken
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    Metoclopramide is one of the most common motility drugs used in Veterinary medicine. We use it all the time with absolutely no side effects. HOWEVER, any substance, whether taken orally, IV or topical, can cause side effects not commonly seen. A common side effect is constipation. And it is used sparingly in seizure dog's as the drug does cross the blood brain barrier. If presented with a similar situation, our Vets would stop the medication for enough time to eliminate the problem then try it again. If they felt strongly that the dog required the medication. Hope you get to the root of the issues soon. It is so hard to see them suffer.

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    Kellsie's mom (06-25-2014)

  9. #6
    Puppy Kellsie's mom's Avatar
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    She did explain it is used commonly in many dogs, but Thunder has been and probably always will be hypersensitive to meds. He is usually given half the dose of whatever medication he happens to need (antibiotics etc.) due to his sensitivity. He only gets one vaccine at a time because he is even sensitive to those too. He is just a sensitive furball.

    So although I understand this medication can be used often and frequently in most dogs, it bothered me that she did not want to consider that his explosive diarrhea could be related to the meds. She did explain to us that it is used sparingly in dogs who have other medical conditions, like seizures but that was about it.

    I am still playing it safe and not putting him back on it, especially since he is feeling so much better. I agree it is difficult to see them suffer, especially when he loves food so much and I could tell that his stomach was very uncomfortable. Poor boy.

 



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