Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Pawly paw

I had a pawly paw so off we went to see my favourite vet, Doctor Pedro.

Master and Misery thought it might be arthritis because I am old. They bought me some glucosamine which I wrote about last month but it didn't seem to make any difference.

We have learned two things about going to see Pedro. Not to go on a Monday morning because it is full of people who have waited over the weekend, and not to go first thing when there is a queue.

So we went about half tennish (he opens at 10) on a Tuesday, and walked straight in. Pedro walked over to see us in the waiting area. Unless I am going for my jabs, he likes to see us in the public area. I like that too, it's sort of friendly and informal.

He moved my leg backwards and forwards and I didn't even do the tiniest little yelp. Then he went out the back and came back with some tablets. Hmmmm. Would they taste nasty? Would I get them wrapped in tasty slices? :)

Misery asked what was wrong. Was it arthritis? Pedro said it could be arthritis or atrophy. A trophy? Does that mean I won a prize? Seems not.

Later Misery was puzzled. She spoke to Master about it. She couldn't understand why Pedro had said I was wasting away when he said I looked healthy and a good size.

'Muscle wastage,' said Master intelligently. 'Ah,' said Misery, realising that Master had hidden depths of cleverness.

Anyway, I am allowed to write about my tablets myself this time instead of Misery pretending to be clever and stealing all my interesting info and putting it on her blog. Pippa the Pill Popper. No, I don't think I like that image. Pippa the Pharmacologist, yes, that is much better. Serious and thoughtful.

So, I got Cimicoxib - generic name, brand name is Cimalgex. I got the 80 mg version. It is made by Vetoquinol.

It is a cox-2 inhibitor like the Previcox I had when I was poorly with erlichiosis. Now here comes the techy bit. Cox inhibitors are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS, or AINEs in Spanish). They work by inhibiting ie suppressing or turning off, an enzyme called cyclooxygenase (COX).

Now, there is COX 1 and COX 2. There is also COX 3 or 1B but that doesn't seem to be important. Just thought I would mention it in case anyone thought I hadn't done my research properly.

NSAIDs like aspirin and ibuprofen inhibit all cox enzymes. But cox-2 inhibitors only go for the enzyme that causes inflammation. It seems cox-1 is a good cox that looks after our stomachs so we don't want to inhibit that one.

There now, I think that is it. Cimalgex is a new tablet that only came out this year. It is chewy and tasty which is always a good thing in my dog opinion. Like all tablets it has side effects. I think I will write about that later as I am tired now after my pharmaceutical research.

My paw is better.

Even though I was on sick leave, I thought it was important to make sure I supervised the painting. And to ensure my table den did not disappear under all those sheets.


Here is my friend Perro Blanco who lives at the finca across the road. Actually he is not my friend at all as we always bark at each other. But he has a pawly paw too - he needs to go and see Pedro the Vet.


Here he is laughing at Misery. Perhaps we have something in common. In fact I think we look similar in some ways? What do you think?

14 comments:

Dexter said...

I have the a trophy too! My vet lady says that mature doggies start to get skinny bottoms and bigger front ends. That is certainly true of me as I have the bottom of a teenage boy and the front end of a line backer. She also told me that the muscles in my head will a trophy. Huh?

Thanks for the tip on that new drug. I take the metacam and had to up my dose recently. Let us know if you have the side effects.

Slobbers,
Mango

Fred said...

Pippa the Pharmacologist! Yes! I hope your pawly paw is better soon. You and Perro Blanco do have some similarities, but you are much handsomer.

Tama-Chan, Benny, Vidock, Violette, Ollie, Heloise, Momo, Ryu said...

A pawly paw is not a good thing, Piuppa. I have an intermittent pawly ligament and I hate it because when it plays up, it means no play for me!

I hope the fancy drugs do the trick 100%!

Woofs,
Tommy

Jake of Florida said...

Hey Pippa, We're sorry about your pawly paw. I get one too when I've been at camp too long -- but it's from not being smart enough to stop jumping whenever anyone passes by my run.

Our Mom has been super busy with a kibble-paying project -- that's why we haven;t updated our whispers. Lots of interesting stuff though, if we ever get her to live up to her secretarial responsibilities.

Thank you for stopping by. Please hold off on those trophy thingies though!!!

Wirey woofs,

Jake

FiveSibesMom said...

Hi, Pippa! We just found your blog and became followers and thought we'd stop by to say "wooo!" Sure glad your paw is feeling better. Come visit us sometime too!

Asta said...

Pippa
Thank dog you have such a nice vet and that you did so much weseawch
I suwe hope all those pillses help youw poowly paw I think you look a little alike wif youw fwiend/enemy, hehehhe, BUT I think you awe MUCH mow handsome Sigh....
I hope youw den /table wa left alone and not damaged doowing that painting. Thank you fow youw Biwfday wishes..they awe most welcome anytime..thewe is no time limit
and no Bad Pippa evew
smoochie kisses
ASTA

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

I thought woo were playing a trikhk on us with those shots!

Of khourse, woo are much more handsome!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Pawly paws are not good, Pippa. we are so glad that Pedro seems to have a pill to make you better.

We see you did get to do some paint snoopervising like we did. Today we got to keep an eye on the patio project. This was way more fun - lots of dirt - we are hoping it rains tonight so we can have mud tomorrow.

Your friend Perro Blanco is very handsome, but we think you are much nicer.

Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning

Jacks, Narra, Tuchuck, and Rousseau said...

We're glad your pawly paw is better, Pippa! We hate to think of you being sick! At least it didn't prevent you from visiting our blog--thanks for coming by even though we're so lame about keeping up.

BTW, Narra wants you to know that she has fantasies of Spain with you! ;)

Cheers!
JNTR

Ruger said...

Hi there Pippa!!!

Mumma & I is fery sorry that woo hafe a pawly paw. I hafed a pawly paw when I wus visiting wif my Maree-Mum too. My paw is all better now so I hope that all that medicine helps your pawly paw git better fery soon too.
Your friend Perro hafes fery interesting ears, but wooo are a much more handsomer pup.
I hope the two-leggers don't wreck your secret den wif all their renovatings.

Lots of tail wags
Ruger

Anonymous said...

Hope that you feel better soon!

xo
Luna

JB's Big and Small Worlds said...

You sound so smart! Shall I call you Dr Pippa? Glad your paw is better, so being a pill popper must have helped. Can you give your friend some pills too?
JB

JB's Big and Small Worlds said...

Pippa, mom got a Canon EOS Rebel XS last year for when she went to Galapagos and Ecuador. It is a really great camera. Mom is still learning how to use all the functions but it is an SLR, which uses mirrors or something like that. She also bought a different lens to use on it for zooming.
JB
P.S. I still think the castle cat is in one of those towers!

Charlie said...

Hi Pippa! I'm sorry to hear that your paw is pawly, but glad that you have done such important research and found something to help.