Hiya, i'm really just looking for a little advice on the effects of rimadyl. Sassy was spayed today and the vet gave me this as a pain killer for her for over the next few days, i have ready many stories about this drug and wondered if anyone has had any experience of it
thanks in advance
Gail

http://www.srdogs.com/Pages/rimadylfr.html

this was a link someone posted a while back,
HTH

Hi Gail,

My boy has been on this pretty much since easter with no ill affects! he is a much livlier dog with it and without it he is in constant pain. But after a few tests vets have found out what is wrong and hopefully he won't need to take it for much longer. I would say it is a fantastic drug and I'm sure a vet wouldn't prescribe it if there were any MAJOR problems with taking it. It certainly has made life in our household much better to live.

hope your girl has a speedy recovery

Emz

Hi Gail, I wonder if she really needs to take it at all though? My two bitches were spayed on Tuesday and didn't get painkillers, other than the jag they had at the vets. They were both pretty much back to normal the next day and are wild today. I've given mine rimadyl in the past for injuries etc but probably wouldn't use it unless it was necessary. Jane

My old Vet who gave Rimadyl to my girl told me that he gave it by injection to every dog on his operating table as a pain killer for their recovery.  It didn't cross him mind if he lost a patient to think that it might possibly be a side effect to the Rimadyl.  He told me that he always assumed it was a result of the illness/injury.  I don't know if he is thinking any differently these days. :(

My girl was given this drug for pain relief after only two tablets she was poorly, i will never use this drug again.

Sheila.

I am surprised that you were given tablets to take away.  I thought Rimadyl was most effective when given pre-operatively.

I know of dogs who are on a regular dose of 1 Rimadyl daily for their arthritis, have been for months, will no ill-effects.

I personally do not allow my dogs to have it, my vets have administered arnica where necessary, I expressly exclude Rimadyl from my dogs treatment.

However plenty of people use it with no ill effects.

Hiya and thank you to all that answered my query. When I collected Sassy from the vets I was given the usual information sheet on what to keep a look out for and a box with painkillers in and told to start her on these today. It was only when i got home and read the label on the box I seen that they were rimadyl, that was when i started to worry a little because I remembered reading about a dog becoming very ill after taking them. I've decided after reading all your replies that I wont be giving them to her, I would never forgive myself if she became ill because of something I had done and having already lost 2 dogs in the space of 1 month I can't take that risk. Last night she was very sleepy and not much interested in anything which I expected but today she is eating and drinking as normal and doesnt seem in any pain, although I think she is really enjoying all the extra fuss she is getting. Thank you all again
Gail

After my awful experience, I would still consider using it for an old dog with persistant arthritic pain.  But I wouldn't use it for after op discomfort, which to me is useful to remind the dog to take it easy. 

I didn't use any pain killers for myself after a hysterectomy as I only had discomfort and not pain, which was appropriate for what they'd done to me and stopped me from dancing on the table! ;)

We were recently given medication from the vet for a minor leg strain, and I too was surprised to see it was Rimadyl. We've had this vet for 10 years now and only ever been given Metacam before for both post-op and joint pain etc. Although both are NSAIDS, Rimadyl seems to be the one causing most concern.
I vaguely remembered reading or hearing something on the news about Rimdayl, so looked it up. One of the things I read was that a blood test to check kidney & liver function is advised prior to use, and also that an information leaflet be given with each prescription. The blood test is perhaps ? more important prior to long term use, I don't know. Further blood tests are advised quarterly for long term use.

As soon as we saw that her leg was being used normally, we gave her no more.

I think animals can't be too different to humans in that what suits one will not always suit another for various reasons - a fact that was brought home to me recently with beta blockers: the standard lowest dose affected me quite severely. I adjusted the dose whilst monitoring my own BP (with approval from the doctor), only take 1/4 tablet every 40 hours and am fine - It seems I am very sensitive to drugs! How hard then for us to judge any effects a drug may be having on our animals.
One thing I bless the internet for is that we now have access to information of the highest quality, and can make informed decisions or learn more about so much, including prescribed drugs & treatments.

My bitch was on it for a couple of weeks before and after her op, with no side affects at all infact I know that it helped a lot pre-op and brightened her up a lot.

I guess it is luck of the drawer whether it affects in a bad way or not, but my experience was good. (Or I should say my bitches :-) )

OMG Freya has come home after being spayed today and hubby bought home 4.5 tablets of it with instructions that she have 1.5 tabs a day. He didn't ask if that were all at once of so much at a time (guess he was just happy to get our little one back!!). Reading this is starting to worry me. Think I'll ring vet in morning and check but even still stick to alf a tab if she is obviously in pain/discomfort.

Did anyone get the Royal canin recovery food as well. We did and at least she ate it. Didn't know if it was a ploy of worth having but hubby said yes when they asked at the vets. Bless him :) :) :)

When we were given it we were instructed to give her half a chewable tablet once per day only.

I believe that sometimes the daily dose is divided into two equal doses.

Hope Freya is comfortable soon :)

I couldn't work out why we'd give her 1.5 in one go. Sounded like taking the whole days dose of painkillers! Will ring vet in morning.

Freya is doppy as anything and looking all forlown. Will be sleeping in the lounge with her tonight.
Thanks :)

Hi Mollymoto,
Blade is on 1 1/2  100 mg strength once a day this is what he has been on since easter and to be honest from reading all about rimadyl it lasts alot longer in the system than any of our painkillers would
Hope your girl has a speedy recovery

Thanks she is definately perky today and I've resisted giving her the tabs. \Shes a brave little soul

Just spoke to vet who said give 1.5 in one go!!! Just seems a little excessive for a small cav. Will continue to with hold them unless she really needs them.

1.5 in one go does seem excessive for such a little dog, my medium sized dog was half a tablet twice daily.  I saw no ill affects at all.  I know there is a lot of talk with regards to rimadyl and yes, some dogs have a bad reaction as do we to some medications, but I feel that with all medications the horror stories are emphasised and the hundereds and thousands with no ill affects are not spoken of, it is personal choice, but why would vets keep giving out something so 'dangerous' to our dogs, they are there to cure them, not hurt them.

I just feel that 1.5 tabs in one go is a lot. I asked the vet if I could give her half at bedtime and they siad no it had to be all or nothing????  To be fair it was either one of the nurses or a recptionist eithre way I didn't recognise the voice so they could be new.

If you're not happy and Freya doesn't seem to need it, don't give it Molly. :)

Edited to say:  Just noticed your other post and it looks like you've moved on from this point!

Just little advice every dog is different. I had one dog that could take the anti inflammatorys, but my other older one noticed a spaced out look on him. This older Golden was given tramadol and neurotin for pain relief when he aged. So it depends on the dog. Tramadol was less expensive and it worked for him. The med was originally made for humans, like we need another antiinflammatory med on the market. It can be expensive too if your animal needs it daily. I am one of the lucky ones have a Vet that cares when managing pain for his clients. The place of business they say is little pricey, but when you get the right diagnosis it saves in the long run. I go to VCA in MA his name is Dr. Perry. My advice any side effect you see from any med do not wait and wonder call your Vet. I came to this site for my daughter's Siberian Husky just had a hysterectomy. Now on Rimadyl. Now has a questionable UTI. Now got a dog in a lot of pain and acting weird. It would of cost a few more dollars to do a culture and some labs, no they dipped the stick when the dog peed on the floor and found it had blood in it with a fever. Being retired from the medical profession I have seen all side effects so I get more worried. Rimadyl has helped a lot of dogs that suffer with arthritic pain and can extend their lives with us. Any drug has side effects even to us. It depends. If I had a Lab I would not even take it. There are so many horrific stories written about this med, but those are the ones you see posted. It is an individual thing. Yes I do believe they need some pain relief after the procedure. I told my daughter to ask for Tramadol, but Rimadyl was prescribed. Now with the dog in pain from surgery and now with an infection, it will be hard to tell. My female Golden Retriever now since passed could take it with no problem, but my male Golden just seemed weird on it, so I called the Vet immediately and he was given another pain management plan. It is an individual thing. So if you see any side effects that may seem different to you call your Vet. You are the one that knows your dog the most.
Joan

Think you may be a little late Joan the bitch was spayed 5 years ago.