How much Metacam is too much?

Honestly I'd talk to your vet. Not sure when you got the last Metacam but you need to check his liver is ok, given his age. You should also look at getting injections, in Australia we have pentosan polysulfate (aka Xydax) and in the US they have, darn can't remember the name off the top of my head. I've found the pentosan injections work really well and it's relatively safe. With an NSAID the amount will vary. My Deska was diagnosed with severe arthritis 7years ago, at first he was on it a couple of times a week, then every second day. He's now on it daily (with breaks) but is only on half a dose and he takes a stomach protectorant. Deska gets 6-mthly bloods to ensure he can keep taking the NSAID.

You might also want to try a milder NSAID if you want to give it more often. Metacam is fine for irregular or acute use, but it tends to upset stomachs easily. Deska's on Previcox (recommended by the ortho vet) and I know from other SF members there's other newer arthritis drugs.

 

I am not a vet! But you should really speak to yours.

Metacam is a great medication, but it's no joke - here in the states at least, you can only get it with a prescription. As Caro points out, it can cause liver and stomach issues. Anecdotally, my aunt's elderly Sheltie seemed to be made disoriented/groggy by Metacam (and bounced back when it was discontinued).

There are so many excellent medications out there to treat joint pain in dogs, including some that may be even less expensive than the Metacam. But you need to speak to your vet to figure out which one to pursue. Experimenting with dosages and timing isn't a great idea.