Mavacoxib
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Mavacoxib during a consultation by Dr Noor. Mavacoxib for pets in Perth.”
Mavacoxib for pets in Perth
(mav-ah-cox-ib)
Description:
This medicine is a non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (often shortened to NSAID). This is a type of pain and swelling medicine.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Trocoxil®
Common Dosage Forms:
- For animals: chewable tablets in 6 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 75 mg, and 95 mg strengths.
- For people: none.
This information page does not include every detail that exists about this medicine. It is meant to answer common questions, but it does not replace medical advice. If you need more details or have questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
Key Information
- Give this medicine only in the way your veterinarian instructed. Do not give extra doses. Do not raise the dose unless your veterinarian tells you to.
- This medicine is NOT used daily. The first two doses are given two weeks apart. After those first two doses, it is given once each month, for up to 5 doses. After that, you must leave at least one full month before it can be given again safely.
- Do not give other NSAID pain/swelling medicines (for example, carprofen, deracoxib, or meloxicam) within 1 month after the last mavacoxib dose.
- Give mavacoxib together with your dog’s biggest meal of the day.
- Call your veterinarian if these side effects do not go away or if they are strong:
- not wanting to eat
- vomiting
- changes in poop (for example, different color or diarrhea)
- behavior changes
- drinking less water
- peeing less
These problems can show up many weeks after the final dose.
- Contact your veterinarian right away if you see any of these:
- blood in poop or vomit
- swelling of the face
- hives
- red and itchy skin
- Make sure your dog can always reach fresh, clean water while taking this medicine.
- Because many dogs may enjoy the chewable tablets, keep this medicine where animals and children cannot get to it.
How is this medication useful?
Mavacoxib is a very long-lasting NSAID (a pain and swelling medicine). It is used to help with pain and swelling linked to long-term joint wear-and-tear disease (also called osteoarthritis) in dogs. It can be especially helpful when giving a daily NSAID is hard.
At this time, mavacoxib is approved for dogs that are 12 months of age or older in the UK, Europe, and Australia. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this medicine is the best choice.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many different factors can change how well this medicine works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make the best choices together.
- Other medicines can affect this medicine. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal takes, including vitamins, supplements, or herbal products. Also share how much you give and when you give each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had before.
- If your animal has been treated for the same problem in the past, tell your veterinarian what was used and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss the possible risks of using this medicine with your veterinarian.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any medicine side effects your animal has had before, including:
- allergic reactions
- poor appetite
- diarrhea
- itching
- hair loss
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
You should expect this medicine to start helping your animal feel better within 1 to 2 hours. After that, you should see improvement in your animal’s signs.
This medicine lasts a long time. Its effects may continue for several weeks (about 4 to 6 weeks). The effects may last even longer if your animal’s kidneys and/or liver do not work as well.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any special concerns for your animal.
Mavacoxib should not be given to other kinds of animals (for example, cats).
This drug SHOULD NOT be used in dogs:
If your animal has any of these situations, discuss the possible risks and benefits with your veterinarian.
- Dogs that have an allergy to this medicine or to sulfonamide drugs.
- Dogs that are younger than 12 months old or that weigh under 5 kg (11 lb).
- Dogs that already have kidney, heart, and/or liver problems.
- Dogs that are taking other NSAIDs (for example, deracoxib, etodolac, carprofen, meloxicam), aspirin, or steroid medicines (for example, prednisone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone). Using them together increases the chance of side effects.
This drug should be used WITH CAUTION in dogs:
- Dogs that currently have stomach or gut problems.
- Dogs that are pregnant, used for breeding, or nursing.
- Dogs that have had stomach or gut ulcers before; this medicine may cause ulcers to worsen or return.
- Dogs that are dehydrated, have low blood pressure, or are being treated with water pills (diuretics) such as furosemide or hydrochlorothiazide.
- Dogs that are taking other medicines that can harm the kidneys (for example, aminoglycoside antibiotics or amphotericin B).
- Dogs that have a bleeding problem (for example, von Willebrand disease).
- Dogs that are elderly, weak, or frail.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Most dogs handle mavacoxib well. However, in rare cases, serious problems (stomach ulcers, liver problems, or kidney problems) have been reported, and sometimes death has been reported.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you notice any of the signs below, stop giving the medicine and contact your veterinarian immediately. Other uncommon side effects have also been reported, so contact your veterinarian if you are worried about anything else while your dog is taking this medicine.
- Eating less than usual, losing weight, vomiting, or changes in poop (for example, diarrhea, or poop that is black and tar-like, or contains blood).
- Changes in behavior or energy (more active or less active than normal), trouble coordinating movement (stumbling or clumsiness), weakness, seizures (convulsions), or aggression (threatening actions).
- Yellow color on the gums, skin, or the whites of the eyes (jaundice).
- Changes in drinking or peeing habits (how often, how much, or changes in color or smell).
- Skin changes (such as redness, scabs, or scratching).
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
If you see an overdose happen, or you think it may have happened, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center for advice.
How should this medication be given?
- To get the intended effect, give this medicine exactly as your veterinarian prescribed. It is helpful to read the prescription label each time so you confirm you are giving it correctly.
- This medicine should be given to dogs with a full meal. Giving it with only a small snack is not enough.
- After the first dose, the next dose is given 14 days later. After that, it is given once per month for 5 more doses. If treatment will continue beyond that, one extra month must be skipped before starting another treatment round. Most dogs will not need other pain medicines during the month off, but some dogs may need a different pain medicine during that break. Contact your veterinarian if your dog needs more pain control.
- If a special liquid version has been made for your animal (a compounded liquid), measure it with care. Your veterinarian or pharmacist can provide special measuring spoons or syringes.
- If giving the medicine is difficult, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for ideas to make dosing easier and to lower stress during medicine time.
- This medicine may be used for different lengths of time. Make sure you understand how long your veterinarian wants your animal to keep taking it. You may need prescription refills before the full course is finished. Before you stop giving this medicine, speak with your veterinarian, because there may be important reasons to keep going.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
If you forget a dose, give it as soon as you remember. Then wait the recommended time between doses (one month) before giving the next dose. Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine in the original prescription container, or in another approved dose organizer (such as a pill minder). Store it at room temperature and keep it away from light.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist prepared a special compounded form for your animal, follow the storage directions and the expiration date provided for that product.
- Store it where children and other animals cannot reach it. The chewable tablets may be very tempting to dogs, so keep them in a secure place.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
No special handling steps are needed unless you are allergic to this medicine. Wash your hands after you handle any medicine.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not put this medicine into the toilet and do not pour it into a sink drain.
- If your area has a community medicine “take-back” program, use that option.
- If there is no take-back program, combine the medicine with used coffee grounds or cat litter so it is unpleasant to children and animals and not recognizable to someone searching through trash. Put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag to prevent leaks, and place the bag in the regular trash.
- Do not keep leftover medicine to use later, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- While your dog is taking this medicine (and other NSAIDs), your dog should not become dehydrated. Make sure your dog always has plenty of fresh, clean water available.
- To protect your animal’s safety, your veterinarian will need to run blood tests from time to time while your dog is on mavacoxib. Do not skip these follow-up appointments.
- This medicine may not be permitted in some animal competitions. Check the rules before entering your animal in a competition while this medicine is being given.
- If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”