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Limping Dogs: A treatment we used that worked!

Many a time we at Jaagruti have come across street dogs with a limp in either their hind (back) legs or the fore (front) legs. The cause for these limping legs is not difficult to guess, more often than not it is inflicted by humans whereby dogs get hit by vehicles or often it is self-inflicted when the severely territorial street dogs acting macho enter into ‘dog fights’ to shoo other street dogs from intruding into their areas.

But, since it is practically impossible to pick up all limping street dogs and take them to a vet to get antibiotics and painkillers administered for a course of 3-4 days, we were looking for a simpler method to treat such dogs, a method which gives us the flexibility to treat them on the street with minimal fuss.

Thankfully, while exploring such options, our consultant vet suggested we try out a veterinary liquid syrup based medicine named, ‘Petcam’/now renamed ‘Melcam’ (Brand of CIPLA) or ‘Melonex’ (Brand of INTAS). For Rs.50-Rs.80 for a 10 ml bottle depending on the brand one buys, it was and is not a strain on the pocket either.

As we purchased our first bottle of Petcam/Melcam/Melonex, our eyes noticed its key ingredient, which was ‘meloxicam’ (also the more generic name of this medicine). Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It is also the substitute advised in place of ‘Doclofenac’.

A poster being used to make public aware of using 'Meloxicam' in place of 'Diclofenac' as a veterinary drug/painkiller (As Diclofenac administration to cattle is being held responsible for the decline in vulture population that feeds carcasses of cattle that had been administered Diclofenac)

‘Diclofenac’ is a veterinary drug (commonly used in cattles) which is now being held responsible for the decline in India’s vulture population, prompting the Indian Government to ban its sale. Latest news reports and studies validate say that this ban on use of Diclofenac has proved effective.

Now coming back to how we have used the bottle of Petcam medicine to cure 6 dogs with limping legs over the past few months.

Petcam, as the bottle cover says is used for control of osteoarthritis assoiated (i.e bone related) pain in dogs. Petcam Oral Solution can be used on a long-term and continuous basis (but what is advised is that you follow the veterinary doctor’s advice depending upon the severity of the limp), as obviously Petcam can’t cure fractured bones!

Petcam-Oral-Suspension-Meloxicam

Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your veterinarian. Use Petcam Oral Suspension exactly as directed.

The dosage of Petcam to be given to street dogs is easily adjusted according to the dog’s weight. This medicine box comes with a syringe marked with gradation from 1ml to 10 ml.

The medicine is usually administered as a single dose of 0.2 mg/kg body weight (i.e 1ml of this suspension for every 10 kg of dog weight) on the first day of treatment. Thereafter it is administered once daily as 0.1 mg/kg.

For example: If the dog weighs around 30 kgs, the dose that needs to be given to him on Day 1 would be 6 ml followed by 3ml doses for the next 2-3 days. Normally clinical signs of improvement would be noticed by  Day 4 of treatment.

The oral suspension can be either mixed with food or placed directly into the dog’s mouth. The way we have preferred to give it is by putting it in diluted milk placed in a plastic vessel.

Chintu

Of the many dogs we have administered Petcam succesfully, one of the cases has been that of Chintu, a street dog who with his habit of sleeping underneath cars was constantly limping around with one or the other leg of his. Chintu’s condition was brought to our attention by two families caring for him residing on the ground floor of the very building whose stairs are Chintu’s home. Beginning with a 4 ml dose on Day 1 followed by 2ml doses over the next three days, we were successfully able to get Chintu back on his feet.

Another case was that of a dog, whom we found on a road divider next to  Dilli haat, Pitampura, he had such a severe limp that one of his hind legs was completely bent and lifted upwards.

On Day 1 we gave him a 6ml dose of Petcam followed by 3 ml doses for the next few days till he was able to put his feet back on the ground.

Petcam can also be served in a minimal dose of just 1-2 ml mixed in diluted milk (every alternate week) to an old street dog in your area who is having troubles walking either due to his age or due to his weight.

However, like all medicines, it is advised that you use Petcam with discretion. Please also note that it is not recommended to use Petcam Oral Suspension in pregnant and lactating dogs or in dogs younger than 6 months of age.

25 thoughts on “Limping Dogs: A treatment we used that worked!”

  2. MAM,

    I AM LIVING IN AHMEDABAD.
    WE HAVE A POLYTECHNIC JIVDAYA SANSTHA HELPING THE ANIMALS.THERE WORK IS GREAT.I HAVE SAVED ONE PUPPY WHICH WAS SO MUCH HURT BY OTHER ONES AND IT WAS SAVED BY THE MEDICINE OF THE SANSTHA.
    BUT I AM FULLY UNSATISFIED AND ALSO ANGRY ABOUT THE THING THAT HAPPENS WITH THE SANSTHA(INSTITUTE).I TRIED TO SAVE 2 SMALL PUPPIES,THEY WERE TOO MUCH SERIOUS.THE SANSTHA GAVE THEM THE MEICINE BUT WAS NOT READY TO KEEP THEM AT THERE PLACE AND TOLD ME TO KEEP THEM WITH ME.LI URGED THEM SO MUCH BUT THEY WERE NOT READY AND WHEN I TOOK THEM AT MY HOME ONE DIED CRYING SOMUCH ON THE NEXT MORNING IN MY HAND.THE OTHER ONE WAS OPERATIONED BY ONE OF THE DOCTOR BUT THEY WERE NOT READY TO KEEP THEM AT THERE PLACE.IF ANY PERSON IS OPERATED FOR A SMALL THING HE IS ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL FOR ATLEAST ON-TWO DAYS BUT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN TO A SMALL ONE.IT WAS GIVEN A 0.5 ANESTHESIA FOR OPERATION.BUT WHEN I TOOK THEM AT MY HOME IN THE EVENING IT DIED AND THE LEQUID MEDICINE WAS COMING FROM HIS MOUTH.

    I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN TRETED AT THE INSTITUTE PLACE THEY COULD HAVE SURVIVED.

    PLEASE DO SOMETHING IN THIS METTER AND CAN U TELL ME ANY OTHER INSTITUTE THAT CAN TAKE THE PUPPY AND TREAT THEM AT THERE PLACE.

    IS THERE ANY OF YOUR INSTITUTE IN OUR CITY?

    IS THERE ANY INSTITUTE THAT CAN ADOPT THE PUPPIES SO THAT THEY CAN SURVIVE.
    I LIVE IN AN AREA OF MEMNAGAR WHERE THE AMC VAN TOOK THE INJURED ILL PUPPY WITH HIS OTHER BROTHER WITH MOTHER DOG.THE PEOPLE USED A GREAT TRICK THAT THEY WROTE THERE ARE 3 DOGS RATHER THAN PUPPIES SO THAT THEY CAN NOT BE CAUGHT.
    THE MOTHER DOG CAME BACK BUT THERE IS NO INFO OF THE INJURED PUPPY.WHERE SHOULD I SEARCH HIM NOW.

    THERE ARE OTHER PUPPIES BOARNED RECENTLY BUT THE PEOPLE ARE TAKING TO CALL THE VAN TO TAKE THEM AWAY.ONE OF THEM IS LIMPING FROM BACK LEG.PEOPLE DONT HAVE ANY SYMPTHY.

    PLEASE TELL ME THAT IS THERE ANY INSTITUTE THAT CAN TAKE CARE OF SUCH PUPPIES.

    THANKS,
    VIVEK RAVAL

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  3. I have an old dog in my colony who suddenly started limping. After a few days the limp has improved drastically but is not completely all right. I even bought a bottle of Petcam and chickened out before giving as i read the indications in it which scared me. This stray must be atleast ten years old. If u can guide me what to do i will be grateful. Also please suggest the dose and exactly how many times a day/week etc. my thinking is should i just leave her alone and not mess as the limp is not very severe now and the going is pretty much good.

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  4. i have a labrador who is 11 months old…..he has started limping from his rear legs……..our vet said that he has problem in his muscles either due to the marble flooring or due to any accident and has started the calcium injections (calcium sandoz)…..please let me know what should i do for his recovery?…should i try petcam?….

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  5. Hi,
    I have a pug 7 month old. My vet says she is suffering from elbow dysplasia .
    Will petcam/melcam/mercal help my pet To recover?
    Are there any good hospitals in pune to operate my pug and how much it cost if it needs to be operated?
    She is suffering from past 3 months.
    We are giving her 1 bonhans and half carodyl tabs. along with calcium syrup n proviboost.
    Pls help.
    Regards
    Nagaraj

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    • Melcam etc. are all pain killers. Dysplasia won’t be cured by these pain killers. Sorry we don’t know Vet Surgeons in Pune as we are Delhi based…perhaps organisations like PFA Pune can guide you

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  6. My 1 year old dog has no problem walking and running but have problem with his hind and rear legs ….sometimes he has pain in hind legs and suddenly it starts in either of the rear legs…his hind legs also shake when he stands…will petcam/melcam will be helpful in his case

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  8. Hi,
    I take care of stray dogs in our institute campus. I often encounter dogs whose hind limbs have become paralysed, most possibly due to trauma. What is the general treatment for such cases? Few X-rays showed spinal cord injury and few showed misalignment of the vertebrae. Your response would be very much appreciated.

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  9. A stray dog in my locality(Kharghar, Navi Mumbai) was hit by a car last Sunday morning 9/4/17. Though he walks around when needed, he mostly rests most of the time. He was very active before the incident(accident). I have noticed him limphing many a times. Sometimes its not very evident, but he struggles while walking. Iam sure he is in pain but I am worried if he has any kind of internal damage because it’s been more than a week and he is still limping. I would be very greatful if you could arrange for a check up or him. I have already mentioned my area. Pl help as early as possible.

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  10. The stray dog who was hit by a vehicle and has been limping for 2 days..
    Informed blue cross and doctor asked me to give wysolone 20mg for 5 days because it’s only inflammation..
    Today is day 2 and there is no improvent in dog back leg.she still walks in 3 legs
    Could you please suggest if We are going in right direction? Or after 5 days of wysolone ..can I switch to petcam to see result?
    Thanks

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  11. Sir, we feed eight street dogs daily at our farm land at Moinabad, Hyderabad.One of them is limping as there is a metal wire stuck around it’s hind leg paws. We are unable to catch it to remove the wire. Can we some medicine to induce sleep to her so that we can remove the wire and treat the wound.

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  12. I have an Indian Pariah dog around 8-9 years old. She developed a limp in her right Hind leg, it started 3 months back. Whenever she got up after sleeping I noticed her limping, but she used to recover. In-between it started getting worse. I took her to the vet, but vet was not good just pumping injections without informing me what the medicine is. But he has given ZIP VIT multi-vitamin which I continued; I noticed some improvement. Now on a para vet’s suggestion I am giving her NEURO KIND to her. The slight limp is still there. Her pace of running and chasing other dogs and playing has gone down. Though she is still active. But sometimes while climbing stairs she kind of collapses and sit, with trembling of leg.
    It’s difficult to take her to a vet for me as she is not very well trained. Wondering how I can help her. Please advice.
    Or if you know of a good friendly doctor or clinic in Greater Noida near Dadri area please suggest.

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