Just wondered in anyone had any thoughts or stories on the medication, RIMADYL as I watched my dog go from, what I thought was normal, active, etc, to a complete mess in less than twelve hours.
Sam

Hi Sam,

I'm sorry that you have had a problem and hope that all goes well for your dog. There is a lot about Rimadyl on the Senior Dogs Project site. I've used it on assorted dogs in the past, am still using it for two very old ones and my own experiences have all been positive. As far as I can see Rimadyl is more effective than the alternatives, and I have had no problems with minor or major side-effects. That said, my vet makes a point of explaining about what could go wrong, saying what to look out for, and does liver function tests before starting Rimadyl, unless the dog has had one recently.

Thanks Sharon.The senior dogs project site was full of info.Getting in touch with B.A.R.K.S to see if we can aid in campaigning to get warnings put on drugs like this.
Sam.

My 4 yr old rotti was put on rimadyl last yr for arthritis.
Within 24 hrs she was back at the vet. She was vomiting black sick that smelt beyond belief!
Her poo was black too and she was one very ill dog.
Of course the vet said it wasn't the rimadyl, he didn't know what it was but rimadyl doesn't cause problems!?! (Or so he said)
I took Tiegan home and she was not given anymore tablets, within 48 hrs she was back on her feet.
One of my labs was prescribed Rimadyl recently for a knee injury and I refused to give it too her.

Both the dogs now have Bioflow collars and go to the Hydro pool once a week.

Go to a search engine and put in Rimadyl and it will give you lots to read. I did and I will NEVER use it again.

Now you lot have got me really worried. I have a 13 year old GSP who has injured himself and he has had a jab from the vets tonight and is due to start on this drug tomorrow :-( :-(

Leigh I've used it on several dogs who had hurt joints and have had no trouble at all. Supose it is like most medication it will help most but there will always be a few who react badly. Forwarned is forarmed. Jackie H

Thanx for the input Jackie. Badger has been given it for a head injury. Leigh

It is , I think, an anti-inflamitory drug, I have been given it for a dog who has had an op, as to reduce the swelling reduces the pain and helps with healing, it is usualy only for 1 or 2 weeks. If it is for old joints it is usualy for the rest of the dogs life. Again I think it is one of the non-steroidal drugs used for the purpose. Sorry can manage to spell English never mind Latin! All the best. Jackie H

Badger has been prescribed it as an anti-inflamatory and only has three days worth as he has to go back to the vets tomorrow if the swelling hasn't subsided.The vet never mentioned pain killers, so thanx for the info.

Leigh,William was on rymadyl for a year (my 11yrs Lab) and he was fine no problems at all,I asked them to change him to PLTs but that was because I have had good results on those for arthritis elderly dogs but the rymadyl was ok,I just think his system had got used to it and the effect wasnt the same.
I suppose an animal like a Human can have a bad reaction to any drug its the risk we have to take.

Leigh how is Badger now?

Claire.

Badger is recovering well.Thank you for asking Claire :-) I took on board everyones comments and ran some more searchs. I decided that at 13 years and in this instance, I wasn't prepared to risk it. I am glad that Sam started this thread when they did, because if nothing else, it drew my attention to the fact that there might have been a problem. Thanx Sam.

Hi.
I have used Rymadyl (used to be Zenecarp) many times on several animals with no ill effects. There is always going to be an odd dog that will react badly to a drug of whatever discription. Rymadyl is a very effective pain killer and anti-inflammatory drug, which does tend to benefit most who use it. I am pleased your dog is better but don't forget visiting a vets surgery is the primary source of infection, your dog may have picked something up there which gave her the symptoms you saw.
Dawn B

Hi Dawn, did you use it on elderly dogs tho? Leigh

Leigh - we've been prescribed Rimadyl after Damson's hip operation, after she jumped over the kiddy gate and pulled her hip out of its socket (ouch!) . The drug is very effective, but it is very important to monitor the dog's blood profile during treatment, as it can cause liver damage. It has, unfortunately, been handed out like Smarties by some vets just for instant pain relief without monitoring, and I think this is where the problems have occurred.

Yes, dogs have died as a direct result of Rimadyl, but so they have when prescribed aspirin.

There has been an investigation in the States very recently.

There is a pretty comprehensive list of sites on

http://www.doglogic.com/rimadyl.htm

and if you click on the goverment site there, it will give the most recent gudelines (I think!)

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

An after thought to my last message - I will be trying Damson on Glucosamine and Chondriotin Sulphate, possibly with MSM as soon as I feel confident to take her off the Rimadyl. If it works, it is much less of a risk, but if it doesn't, I suppose back on the dreaded Rimadyl until everything simmers down.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Jo,What are those for and where are they from? are they homeopathic?

No Mattie, not homeopathic. Available through just about all the health food shops for human use (which Rimadyl isn't, I note), and used by the vets for horses in a form called Cosequin (I think). Some very good, but anecdotal, reports of its use in combination.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Leigh,

My Dad was given Rimadyl last year for his 12 year dog for joint pain and to take the swelling down she was on a 5 day course and showed no ill effect.
I did say to my Dad be careful though and watch her and try not to have her on it long term.

Karen

Hi Leigh.

I have used it in an older dog, but at this present moment, my 6yr Border Terrier is taking it for an injury sustained while working. You do need to use it in conjunction with food, the same as aspirin. Metacam is a similar product, both being non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and I am sure we will hear of people who have had problems with that, but in the main these drugs are as safe as any other and being non-steroidal can be stopped and started as and when necessary. I won't stop using it, if it is prescribed, because we don't have our dogs long enough as it is, and if the drug suits the dog and his/her problem then I am more than happy to use it.
Cheers Leigh,

Dawn.

My Vet suggested it when one of my dogs sprained a tendon. Then told me Ibuprofen from the Chemist was just as good.
At 30p a box its much cheaper and did the job.

Sam,

I have had the Rimadyl experience, my 3 year old peke was given this for a leg injury - they injected her at 5pm and gave me the tablets to give to her for a week. The day after the injection, at 8:30am I gave her 1 pill and by 9:30am - she had died. I researched the drug for 3 months and heard many horror stories - I now always tell the vet not to administer Rimadyl.

One of the side effects is death.

Donna

I've had a bad experience too Sam, or should I say Gus did. He went from the loveable galloof he is to a very depressed and lethargic dog after just 2 days of being on Rimadyl. I seriously believe that if I hadn't taken him off them right then that I'd have lost him. It seems the good effects far outweigh the bad but it certainly doesn't hurt to be aware of them...but for a friend warning me (and not my vet surprisingly) then I think I'd have carried on giving him those pills. I gave him Glucosamine/Chondroitin & MSM too and that cleared up the problem (suspected cruciate injury) with no reoccurance!:)

Donna, sorry about your Peke!

I had my elderly Lab cross breed on it last year to ease the discomfort caused by her cancer which had metasized to her bones causing an arthritic type condition, I was reluctant to use it, but the vet advised using the minimum effective dose (which in her case was 1/2 a tablet once a day at night) and she spent her last few months in relative comfort) Sadly the cancer was already well advanced, but at least she was sufficiently pain free to be able to play her favourite games even in those last few weeks.....

Fran

One of my girls had a week's course of it prescribed recently after a c section, I was told for pain. I did not realise that some dogs reacted badly to it and wasn't warned of any side effects. This has reminded me sadly, not to trust my vets quite so blindly, and will always ask in future about any new medicines prescribed. Luckily she was fine on them, nursed her puppies brilliantly right from the start and recovered very quickly. Its the first time I have been given tablets for pain for a bitch after a C section. Previous ones have been given a "long acting" (24 hrs I think)pain killer injection before she went home after the op plus AB's, I am sure that she benefited from being pain free for a week, she really enjoyed her puppies and seemed completely unstressed, despite her ordeal.

I read the thread on this site but didnt realise until today when I looked at the vet's bill that Barney was given an injection of rimadyl after his op last Friday. They also gave me some tablets for him and I gave him half a day for a day and a half (3 halves) and he has been okay. He is only 6 1/2 months so perhaps it is better with young dogs than older ones? I will make sure, now I know what happens at a vets when a dog has treatment, that I know what he is having before he has it. He is absolutely okay now by the way and just waiting to have his stitches out Monday. Gina

There has been a lot of problems in the states with Rimadyl involving litigation with Pzizer Pharmeucuticals who make it.

My boy was prescribed it last year for back problems, and having heard all about the problems I investigated further. It certainly worked for him but everytime I gave him a tablet I worried about it.

There is a very good yahoo group (Doghealth2@yahoo.com) who are totally concerned with its side effects. Apparently Labs are particularly susceptable and it is recommended that vets inform everyone of its side effects when it is prescribed. Although I have a very good vet they did not give me any of this information.

Dazzle

Donna,
I am so sorry to hear of your experience. I know it is heart renching to have to go through the ordeal, not only for you but your dog as well.
I followed Sharon's advice and looked at the Senior dogs project website and there are people on there who have gone through the same as you.
It is an organisation where you can get involved.
I am just glad that in my own little way that I have warned some unsuspected people, because who questions whether or not to trust your vet. Who else would you ask to take care of your animal in it's hour of need??The need to discuss side affects with you.If a human went to a doctor he would discuss them and then you have the choice whether or not to take the medication.
Sam xx

Sam,

Thankyou, funny you should say that - whilst investigating Rimadyl after the loss of my little girl, it came to light that Rimadyl was first meant to be used for human consumption but because of side effects and the side effect of death - it was not found fit for human consumption and was moved on to the veterinary field. Surely, if not found fit for humans - it should not have been found fit for animals ??? I tried to fight this for 11 months and was made an offer by Pfizer (make Rimadyl) of £250 compensation and told to drop it and take it no further - no amount of money can replace my little girl but because I had her cremated and couldn't proove anythin by an autopsy - I couldn't go further, surely the offer of money means that they know there is a problem ??/ half admitting it ??? I bet they were relieved to find that she had been cremated. I'm still very bitter.

Donna

Donna:

After my chocolate lab was euthanized (due to adverse side effects of Rimadyl) Pfizer offered to pay some $21.00 in medical costs and as a "gesture of good will" some $230.00 - IF I signed their "gag order" Release. Talk about adding insult to injury. Never would I sign such a Release. I did have a necropsy done on George - and the evidence was there that Rimadyl had killed my dog.

In 1999 a Class Action lawsuit was filed in Hampton County, South Carolina against Pfizer Animal Health.The case is on-going and in settlement negotiations. I am one of two named Plaintiffs in that action.

Of course, no amount of money can ever compensate for the loss of our beloved companions - that is why I find it so important to warn others about the possible adverse side effects - Pfizer does not like those facts to come out! Actually, when the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (in 1999) told Pfizer they would either have to add the word "death" as a side effect in their Television Ads, Pfizer chose to pull the ads. The now advertise the drug in a very discreet way, not mentioning the word Rimadyl!

Jean
(Always for George - Always for the Rimadyl Dogs)
B. A. R. K. S.