Important: Anyone whose dog has succumbed to Previcox (firocoxib) poisoning, please contact Merial for a case number as soon as possible for future reference. This is the link to the Merial website with phone numbers for all geographic locations. If you find that it does not work, please contact me immediately.

http://www.merial.com/ContactUs/Default.aspx

The US number is: 1.888.637.4251 (Select option 3)

Also, contact your local poison control center and report the drug.

(Mar 20, 2009).One owner stated that her 6.5 lb dog was prescribed half a 57mg tablet of Previcox daily. At the suggested dose (from Merial) of 2.27mg per pound of body weight (5 mg/kg), this dog should have only been given 14.75mg total, not half of a 57 mg tablet. The ramifications could have been devastating.

But here is an interesting note: Merial's own website states "this drug should not be given to dogs weighing less than 12.5 lbs." Are vets not being educated about the drugs they are dispensing?

Wrong Incentives: According to Wharton management professor Lawrence Hrebiniak, author of a new book entitled "Making Strategy Work: Leading Effective Execution and Change", flaws in the culture and business model of the pharmaceutical industry are illustrated by Vioxx and the other Cox-2 inhibitors. Drug companies, he argues, have become overly reliant on the blockbuster model in which huge investments in research are targeted to a drug that could reach massive sales volume and drive profits for the entire organization.

The model breaks down when a problem arises, he says. If safety concerns crop up, there is little incentive for executives to pursue [these concerns] since the company has invested so much in developing the drug. "The incentive is to ignore them," says Hrebiniak. "The culture develops around the blockbuster, and if you are the one who says, 'We spent millions of dollars on research and development and this isn't working,' then you are persona non grata."

All drugs have side effects, so before choosing the lesser of two evils, investigate anything your plan to give your dog. Do not rely solely on information provided by the manufacturer. Remember, they are trying to sell you a product. Google <insert drug name> and read about the results of others who have actually used the drug for their dog.

Monitor your dog for these possible side effects:

Decrease or increase in appetite.
Vomiting.
Change in bowel movements (such as diarrhea, or black, tarry or bloody stools).
Change in behavior (such as decreased or increased activity level, lack of coordination, seizure, or aggression).
Yellowing of gums, skin, or whites of the eyes (jaundice).
Change in drinking habits (frequency or amount consumed).
Change in urination habits (frequency, color, or smell).
Change in skin (redness, scabs, or scratching).
Unexpected weight loss.

http://previcox.us.merial.com/faq/faq_previcox.asp

Acknowledgement: Our website is only one of many that shows how, on a regular basis, we are given drugs for our pets with little to no information on what side effects to watch for. The main complaint is that no verbal or printed warning is given prior to our pet receiving the medication. I want to express my thanks for the individuals who have shared their personal experiences. And for those who have lost their dog to Previcox or whose dog may never recover completely, I cannot express the depth of sadness I feel for you.

Kudos to the vets who urge a complete blood work and enzyme liver testing prior to administering Previcox or any of the newer cox-inhibiting drugs. They are serious about taking responsibility for the animals in their care. These are generally the same ones who take the time to inform their clients of potential side effects and encourage them to read the literature accompanying any prescribed drug, the CIS (client information sheet).

Merial, the makers of Previcox (firocoxib), has been paying for emergency treatment and hospital costs incurred when dogs have taken a turn for the worse or died. Lab work, which many of the dogs on our Previcox Email page have had, cannot be easily dismissed, no matter how 'rare' Merial claims these cases are.

Before reimbursement from Merial, you must sign an agreement which states you will not hold Merial or any of its affiliates, liable for the death of your dog. You also agree that you will not state anything derogatory about Merial or specifically Previcox either orally or in writing.

Update March 21, 2009: We continue to receive emails from ones whose dogs have died or have suffered adverse reactions (heart murmur, stomach ulcerations, liver damage) after being given Previcox.

Previcox is routinely being prescribed for problems unrelated to arthritis, for which it was developed. Some examples include: A cut paw, a scraped nose, after neutering, before having teeth cleaned, after having a tooth pulled and prior to surgery.

We wondered why this is so. When speaking to a Merial employee, we found that like human drug salesmen, vets are given "incentives" to push Previcox. These incentives may include equipment for veterinary surgeries as well as substantial discounts on future orders of Previcox.

An effective drug (baby aspirin), used successfully for decades prior to the advent of the Cox-2 inhibitors is seldom suggested due to the low cost associated with it. The availability of purchasing a drug over the counter offers no financial return so some vets fail to mention this option. Or, they may frighten individuals by telling them of the "horrible consequences" of gastric ulceration from aspirin even though aspirin for dogs is sold in many discount stores..

Dan, an individual who wrote us, stated that when he asked his vet about giving his dog aspirin, the vet acted like he had just asked if he could give her rat poison. ("Sugar")

These responses are driven by a lack of knowledge of what vets used to prescribe with good results. Aspirin is better tolerated and more forgiving by most breeds than the main ingredient in Previcox, which is firocoxib. A few doses of Previcox can and do cause death as our Previcox emails confirm.

So, there you have it. We no longer wonder why Previcox is being pushed in clinics all over North America, Europe, South Africa and other locations we are now hearing from. Dogs who should have easily healed from minor surgeries are now dead. Previcox is big business.

Other Previcox experiences

Dan, an individual who wrote us, stated that when he asked his vet about giving his dog aspirin, the vet acted like he had just asked if he could give her rat poison. ("Sugar")