I'm worried about giving my dog Rimadyl. I have read many negative things about it?

Answer 1

I would be worried too. The side effects of that drug are many and the drug has killed thousands of dogs including 2 dogs from our breeding program. And yes they were pre screened and Ok'd for the drug. Both dogs died with lesions on their kidneys and livers with in 5 days. Both were confirmed with necropsy reports at the U of WI. I will never use it and I would suggest anyone else to find a natural alternative. I have an older Dane now that is on Flexicose and doing tremendous.
And YES, I know that Rimadyl has saved many pets but for me.... It's NOT ok if my dog dies just because yours lived.
This drug would have been pulled a long time ago if it were marketed for humans but the drug makers put a way lesser value on the life of your dog. It's up to US to do all the caring!

Dog do great on Rimadyl... except the ones that die.

Answer 2

My poor sheltie has had arthritis since she was 2. A former vet wanted me to put her on Rimadyl for the rest of her life, but after 48 hours on it she started vomiting and then vomited every time we gave her the pill. We took her off it the next day and have been using an over the counter dog asprin ever since. She is 10 now, and no worse than she was at 2. The aspirin makes a noticeable difference and my new vet does not recommend Rimadyl.

Answer 3

Talk to your vet about your concerns, all nsaids even aspirin can produce serious side effects in "some" animals so there is none that are totally safe in all animals though some have a wider safety margine than others, if your dog was spayed or neutered at one time it may have already once had an injection of rimadyl, so if done by your vet and vet gave you would then know it would be okay to use for short term use, if for longterm use then tests are normally done periodically to check that the med is not affecting health and to determine if a drug should be okay to use example if a dog is showing signs if liver problems than certain nsaids would not be good to use

With any nsaid it is important to know the side effects so as to know whether you should stop using and contact the vet

Rimadyl was the first nsaid on the market for dogs, so yes there are more reported deaths as it is the most commonly prescribed pain reliever but is does not necessarily make it worse than others, if others were around as long and prescribed as frequently they too would have similiar results

What my vet does when he is unsure which drug to use is check with the veterinary college to and tells them what breed the med is for, the college can check their databases to see if they have reports of more adverse reactions by breed to sertain drugs and then get back to the vet with which drug they recommend that according to their database has shown the least amount of adverse reactions

With greyhounds metacam was recommended, my one girl after a month on start developing bloody diearreaha from, so even that method is not a 100% foolproof though may reduce the likelihood of problems in some breeds

This is the FDA page on NSAIDS for dogs
so you can read and learn more about "current Labels" will tell you what is available

http://www.fda.gov/cvm/nsaids.htm#CVMUpdates

Even in human nsaids are a major headaches for the same reason, the alternatives tend to be drugs that are addictive
I jhave a mild sensitivity to aspirin causing stomach upset and ulceration over time, my son only need one aspirin or to drink a neo citron and he spend a week in the hospital with tubes tubes down his throat suctioning acids out of his stomach to heal a major ulcer caused by and for months afterward needs meds and bland diet to recover. Yet other people take aspirin every day for heart health, so what is a good med for one person can be deadly to another. the same applies to dogs

Answer 4

Rimadyl is one of the safest, most effective pain-relief and anti-inflammatory drugs there are for dogs. So much so that animal shelters are allowed to (at least in my state), and often do, give it to older or injured dogs they house, without a prescription from a vet.

If your dog will be on it long-term, you should make sure that he has bloodwork done once or twice a year as your vet recommends, but it's benefits generally outweigh its risks.

If it's for arthritis, you will be AMAZED at the difference in your dog. We had a lab that went on Rimadyl at 15, and just a day or two after starting it he was running around like a young dog again!

Visit www.rimadyl.com for more information on its side effects.

Answer 5

There are much safer and better products on the market then Rimadyl. Our hospital stopped selling it or recommending it's use a few years back because of the side effects.

Ask about Metacam, Previcox, Tramadol and a few others to use instead.

Answer 6

I think that if you look for issues you will find them. Rimadyl does wonders for a dog that is in pain & can't hardly move or walk. I feel that any side effects out weigh the positive effects of the drug.

If you have ever seen a dog so crippled up with pain & can't stand or get up because of pain you will use the drug just to bring pain relief.

This drug works wonders & any side effects are minamal when it comes to relieving excrusuating pain.

Answer 7

I have been giving my dog rimadyl for about a year and have noticed no side effects. I would think if the vet has prescribed them they are needed. I guess you should figure out if reported side effect that may happen out weigh the benifits of a longer more productive life ahead.

Answer 8

I had a nasty reaction to the human equivalent of this drug (relafan), so when the vet prescribed it for my 17 year old shih tzu's arthritis, I asked for something else. She has been doing fine on half a baby aspirin twice a day.
I have heard horror stories from several people since then. Ask your vet if there isn't something else available.

Answer 9

I too had heard some terrible things about it, and when my dr prescribed it to my senior dog last year (for short term)..I refused and asked for something else..(I cant remember what we ended up getting), but if you trully are worried, ask your vet for another alternative. Good luck

Answer 10

My dog has been on it for 13 years. It really helps, I strongly advise it.