Gemma(10 1/2) has been on Rimadyl for well over 18 months now and it has started to get less and less effective. She has artheritis of the spine.
so took her back to the vets today and saw a new vet that has moved over here from Austrailia.
She was brilliant.
Has moved Gemma off Rimadyl and I have to not give it to her for 3-4 days and then give her the previcox instead.
So 3-4 days of probable pain for her, and then hopefully this new tablet will work.
It was only brought out in this country end of last year, but it has been used in Australia for longer.
She said the next step will be steroids for her, so hopefully this will work
She is getting more and more grumpy and less and less able to walk far and less able to get up very easily.
So keep your fingers crossed.
Anyone else used it?? I did find one very short thread on it but that was it.
Lea :)

Yes I use previcox on my nearly 15 year old three legged lab, she only has one back leg, but developed issues with one of her front legs and refused to stand, previcox completely turned her around and she was soon back walking.  It can be used long term which is helpful.

thats great Justi :)
I hope it is the same with Gemma.
Day 2 without any Rimadyl and you can see she os starting rto stiffen up more, so I have got her am extra thick quilt today to sleep on at night, and will keep her out of the way of the other 2 dogs and kids LOL
Another 2-3 days and then she can go on the new tabs.
Lea :)

Oh dear :(
Now I realise how much the Rimadyl was doing.
Yesterday she got off the low sofa bed and cried out :(
Today she is walking even slower than she was before :(
Now got to try and keep her comfortable until I can give previcox on saturday :( :(
It is so hard to be cruel to be kind :(
Lea :)

Poor girl :(

Can you not see if she can have the first dose earlier considering how much pain she is in ?

Lucy
xx

I am meant to leave it until Saturday. If she is too bad tomorrow then I can give it to her then.
But they would rather I left it until Saturday so the Rimadyl is completely out of her system.
Lea :)

Put Gemma in my bedroom while I was at work out of the way of the other 2. And she didnt want to come down :( :(
Had to coerce her down stairs after I had been in an hour as was worried she couldnt get up. She didnt even lift her head when I walked in which is unheard of.
and she just walked into the living room and laid down. Hasnt even been out for a wee.
I really dont want to give her the new meds tonight as I dont want to cause any problems resulting from not having the Rimadyl out of her system, but eqyally it is hard to see her so qyuet. Now I can see how much the Rimadyl actually worked!!!!
Lea.

Hi
Would it be possible for you to keep Gemma downstairs somewhere away from the others until Saturday?? I guess stairs would just exacerbate things for her. Or would it be possible for you to carry her?  Sorry - don't know what breed she is so unsure how feasible that suggestion is!  Won't be long now.

Hows Gemma now Lea? Is the previcox working? I hope she's more comfortable :)

Well I succombed, I gave her the Previcox a night early. And what a difference it made :)
She is not 100% but she is 10 1/2!!
She is going outside at night and barking  which might sound strange,
But I thought she had stopped doing it because of age, but looks as if she probably didnt have the energy :)
So looks like it is helping alot :) :)
Oh and Gemma is a Rottweiler cross :) :)
Lea :)

Oh thats great news I'm sure the neighbours will be glad she's feeling better and more mobile ;) :D

Great news