YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post - PREVICOX WARNING

stedmansmommy · 01-28-2009, 07:21 PM

I hope it's ok that I post this here being that I already have it posted in Health & Diet - but I REALLY wanted as many people to read this as possible and I don't know how many people (especially new members) read that section of the board. I want you all to read this NOT JUST about Previcox - but just to get the message out that we really DO need to research each and every medication that we give our babies....it is just SO important. Just because a medication is given to us by our vet, doesn't mean it's safe for our babies.

Please read more to find out WHY.....

I wanted to post this here for everyone to read. As alot of you may know, Tatum has Luxating Patella in both back legs and needs surgery. Lately she has been in pain due to her having LP, so almost a month ago I called my vet and asked that he prescribe her some pain meds to help control the pain and keep her comfortable. He agreed and gave her a bottle of Previcox. He only gave me 7 pills (well, not even 7 to be exact - because the pills are more than halved) - anyway, as of today (because I gave her a pain pill this morning as she was hurting - but this was BEFORE I found out what I did about PREVICOX) she has taken all but one of the pills in the bottle.

Well, my aunt told me a while back about a local grocery store in town that will fill dog prescriptions for half the price if you bring in the prescription from your vet. So, I called the grocery store today to see if the medications that Tatum is on is available through them. The first medication she said they do have, but when I mentioned the second one (Previcox) she said that she had never heard of it and that I should call my vet and get the "real" name of the medication (as some of you many know, there are several different names used for the same drug). Anyway, before I called them I figured that I would go ahead and search for it online (from my Blackberry, because my computer was messed up) - and anyway, the very *first* web site that it pulled up was entitled: "DEATH BY PREVICOX" and I immediately started to panic. I couldn't click on the link fast enough.

I read the entire article on my Blackberry and was shaking the entire time. I had JUST given Tatum a Previcox pill this morning, prior to reading this article. I know that she had taken 6 Previcox pills prior to this morning's pill, but I felt like I had just fed my baby poisoning. I had NO idea of the side effects and the number of dogs that this medication has killed. And to think I almost re-ordered another bottle of this medication - I cannot believe it. I am so GRATEFUL that I found this article when I did. There was only one Previcox pill left in her bottle and it is now in the trash.

This article really opened my eyes. I am going to try and make this as short as possible, but back in January of 2006 we lost our Cocker Spaniel who was approx. 13 years old (we were unsure of her age as she was a rescue). She did have Cancer and an enlarged heart, however she showed no signs of being sick. The day my vet diagnosed the Cancer and the Enlarged Heart, he gave her 2 prescription medications (NEITHER of them were Previcox - don't want to confuse anyone here). I immediately went home and gave the meds as my VET instructed me to. I WAS ONLY DOING WHAT THE VET TOLD ME TO DO. As an owner, this is all we know. WE TAKE THE ADVICE OF OUR VETS.

Later that very night, she had her first heart attack. I was in my bedroom and I heard her HOWLING like a wolf (I had never in my entire life heard her make a sound like this before - ever.) - I walked into my living room and she was laying flat on her side with all four legs stuck out straight, stiff as a board and she had her head cocked back as far as it could go - and she was just HOWLING. I ran to her and hugged her dropped to the floor and started shaking and sobbing not knowing what in the WORLD was going on with her. This was at 2 a.m. and I called my vet and woke him up at home and he FLEW to his office. He told me that she was indeed having a heart attack. Mind you, before we left for the vets she had 2 more heart attacks here at home.

So, she stayed at the vets office over night. The next morning she was scheduled to have surgery (this surgery was scheduled BEFORE the heart attacks started) as they were going to remove the Cancerous growth that was on the under side of her stomach. She made it through the night at the vet's o.k. and the next morning they preformed the surgery. They insured me that they would call me right after the surgery was complete and let me know how she was doing. But, me being the impatient person that I am when it comes to my babies, I went ahead and called up there myself just to check on her. The receptionist asked for my name and asked for my dog's name and when I told her she said, "Oh........(pause)......hang on just one second sweetie, I am going to let you speak with the vet" - and that is when he got on the phone and told me that shortly after the surgery she had another heart attack and was turning blue. He said that they put her on oxygen and pumped her heart for 10 minutes straight trying to get her back - but she was unresponsive.

She lost oxygen to her brain and just stopped breathing. I never even got to say goodbye. The night that we rushed her to the vet after she had her first set of heart attacks, was the very last time I ever saw my baby.

Three years later my heart is still broken and I am crying as I type this. I know now, after doing much research online, that my baby died because of the MEDICATIONS that were given to her. I read online that one of the medications that she was given should NOT be given to dogs with enlarged hearts - my baby had an enlarged heart. Why did the vet NOT know this? WHY? Do they not even know the side effects of the medications that they are giving out to their patients?

Our Cocker Spaniel never had a heart attack a day in her life until this medication was given to her. This medication is what took her life in the end. Now I feel like it is MY fault because if I wouldn't of given her the medication, she wouldn't have died. She might still be here with us today. If I would have ONLY done the research BEFOREHAND. If I would have asked the vet more questions - IF ONLY.

Now she is gone and I can't ever bring her back. But I CAN say this - I BEG YOU....before you give your dog ANY PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION please please please do your research on it first. I don't care how much you feel you trust your vet - DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. It could save your babies life.

Tatum will never again be given Previcox. Not after doing the research I've done on it and reading the things I've read about it. She could do just fine on it, but I am not going to take any chances with it, especially not with the bloody-stool episode she just has this afternoon (see this thread: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...ool-again.html).

Again - PLEASE research all meds before giving them to your babies....it really is *SO* important.

P.S. - The article about Rowdy, the Black Lab who lost his life due to Previcox, can be found here: "Death by Previcox"

01-28-2009, 07:21 PM	#1
stedmansmommy I Love My Lil' Punkin's Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Stedman and Tatum's World :) Posts: 15,331 Blog Entries: 5	PREVICOX WARNING - Please Read Entire Thread!!!! I hope it's ok that I post this here being that I already have it posted in Health & Diet - but I REALLY wanted as many people to read this as possible and I don't know how many people (especially new members) read that section of the board. I want you all to read this NOT JUST about Previcox - but just to get the message out that we really DO need to research each and every medication that we give our babies....it is just SO important. Just because a medication is given to us by our vet, doesn't mean it's safe for our babies. Please read more to find out WHY..... I wanted to post this here for everyone to read. As alot of you may know, Tatum has Luxating Patella in both back legs and needs surgery. Lately she has been in pain due to her having LP, so almost a month ago I called my vet and asked that he prescribe her some pain meds to help control the pain and keep her comfortable. He agreed and gave her a bottle of Previcox. He only gave me 7 pills (well, not even 7 to be exact - because the pills are more than halved) - anyway, as of today (because I gave her a pain pill this morning as she was hurting - but this was BEFORE I found out what I did about PREVICOX) she has taken all but one of the pills in the bottle. Well, my aunt told me a while back about a local grocery store in town that will fill dog prescriptions for half the price if you bring in the prescription from your vet. So, I called the grocery store today to see if the medications that Tatum is on is available through them. The first medication she said they do have, but when I mentioned the second one (Previcox) she said that she had never heard of it and that I should call my vet and get the "real" name of the medication (as some of you many know, there are several different names used for the same drug). Anyway, before I called them I figured that I would go ahead and search for it online (from my Blackberry, because my computer was messed up) - and anyway, the very first web site that it pulled up was entitled: "DEATH BY PREVICOX" and I immediately started to panic. I couldn't click on the link fast enough. I read the entire article on my Blackberry and was shaking the entire time. I had JUST given Tatum a Previcox pill this morning, prior to reading this article. I know that she had taken 6 Previcox pills prior to this morning's pill, but I felt like I had just fed my baby poisoning. I had NO idea of the side effects and the number of dogs that this medication has killed. And to think I almost re-ordered another bottle of this medication - I cannot believe it. I am so GRATEFUL that I found this article when I did. There was only one Previcox pill left in her bottle and it is now in the trash. This article really opened my eyes. I am going to try and make this as short as possible, but back in January of 2006 we lost our Cocker Spaniel who was approx. 13 years old (we were unsure of her age as she was a rescue). She did have Cancer and an enlarged heart, however she showed no signs of being sick. The day my vet diagnosed the Cancer and the Enlarged Heart, he gave her 2 prescription medications (NEITHER of them were Previcox - don't want to confuse anyone here). I immediately went home and gave the meds as my VET instructed me to. I WAS ONLY DOING WHAT THE VET TOLD ME TO DO. As an owner, this is all we know. WE TAKE THE ADVICE OF OUR VETS. Later that very night, she had her first heart attack. I was in my bedroom and I heard her HOWLING like a wolf (I had never in my entire life heard her make a sound like this before - ever.) - I walked into my living room and she was laying flat on her side with all four legs stuck out straight, stiff as a board and she had her head cocked back as far as it could go - and she was just HOWLING. I ran to her and hugged her dropped to the floor and started shaking and sobbing not knowing what in the WORLD was going on with her. This was at 2 a.m. and I called my vet and woke him up at home and he FLEW to his office. He told me that she was indeed having a heart attack. Mind you, before we left for the vets she had 2 more heart attacks here at home. So, she stayed at the vets office over night. The next morning she was scheduled to have surgery (this surgery was scheduled BEFORE the heart attacks started) as they were going to remove the Cancerous growth that was on the under side of her stomach. She made it through the night at the vet's o.k. and the next morning they preformed the surgery. They insured me that they would call me right after the surgery was complete and let me know how she was doing. But, me being the impatient person that I am when it comes to my babies, I went ahead and called up there myself just to check on her. The receptionist asked for my name and asked for my dog's name and when I told her she said, "Oh........(pause)......hang on just one second sweetie, I am going to let you speak with the vet" - and that is when he got on the phone and told me that shortly after the surgery she had another heart attack and was turning blue. He said that they put her on oxygen and pumped her heart for 10 minutes straight trying to get her back - but she was unresponsive. She lost oxygen to her brain and just stopped breathing. I never even got to say goodbye. The night that we rushed her to the vet after she had her first set of heart attacks, was the very last time I ever saw my baby. Three years later my heart is still broken and I am crying as I type this. I know now, after doing much research online, that my baby died because of the MEDICATIONS that were given to her. I read online that one of the medications that she was given should NOT be given to dogs with enlarged hearts - my baby had an enlarged heart. Why did the vet NOT know this? WHY? Do they not even know the side effects of the medications that they are giving out to their patients? Our Cocker Spaniel never had a heart attack a day in her life until this medication was given to her. This medication is what took her life in the end. Now I feel like it is MY fault because if I wouldn't of given her the medication, she wouldn't have died. She might still be here with us today. If I would have ONLY done the research BEFOREHAND. If I would have asked the vet more questions - IF ONLY. Now she is gone and I can't ever bring her back. But I CAN say this - I BEG YOU....before you give your dog ANY PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION please please please do your research on it first. I don't care how much you feel you trust your vet - DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. It could save your babies life. Tatum will never again be given Previcox. Not after doing the research I've done on it and reading the things I've read about it. She could do just fine on it, but I am not going to take any chances with it, especially not with the bloody-stool episode she just has this afternoon (see this thread: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...ool-again.html). Again - PLEASE research all meds before giving them to your babies....it really is SO important. P.S. - The article about Rowdy, the Black Lab who lost his life due to Previcox, can be found here: "Death by Previcox" __________________ Mommy Loves Stedman and Tatum! They have us wrapped around their little paws!