Rimadyl

tazdevl6 · #1 10-23-2002, 12:35 PM

hello.....today is wednesday, on Monday evening..for no apparent reason, Chief started limnig and fsvoring his back right leg, he had done this before with his front legs..but not as seriously..and when prompted to play, he would "forget" he hurt. Not the same case this time, he is still limping..I took him to the vet yesterday..and she said she didn't know what it was...said it seeme dmore joint orientated than anything..and she didn't believe it was Pano....she gave me Rimadyl for him, and said to see if he was better in a week..if not, they would do x-rays etc.. to see if it was a tear or some type of displasya. I was unaware of any possible side effects of Rimadyl until i came home and spoke with a member of this forum..which prompted me to do a little research..I also called my vet back, and she told me the negative side effects are very rare..and it would be just like taking any meds (she used aspirin as an example) the "possibilities" are numerous..but the cases are rare... Chief had one dosage of Rimadyl this morning BEFORE i got on the internet and started reading all the things about this drug..I have decided that he will not receive any more of this and I will give him aspiricin to help him with his pain....which is not severe..but enough for me to notice a discomfort in him. if anyone has any other suggestions or an opinion., I am open to hering what you all think.

Gryphon · #2 10-23-2002, 05:01 PM

Hi Tazdel6,

Did the vet test for lymes? I do not want to scare you but those are the exact symptoms Gryph had and the first thing they tested for (twice) was lymes. They were sure it had to be lymes...but unfortunately it turned out to be lymphnode cancer.

My vet also gave us rymadil and said to wait and see... We found another vet the next day. If I have learned anything it is that if there is something wrong with your dog/pet, don't accept the wait and see diagnosis, find another vet. Gryph was doing great on the rimadyl so if we waited like the first vet wanted us to we would not have known that he has cancer and he would of died before we could get help. Please don't accept the "wait and see" diagnosis either get your vet to investigate more or find another vet.

Sorry If I'm scaring you with this but I do not want to see what happened to us happen to anyone elses dog.

Chief will be in our prayers tonight... let us know what happens.

tazdevl6 · #3 10-23-2002, 05:17 PM

no.the vet didn't do any tests...and you are the second person that has asked me if she checked for lymes...i didn't see my normal vet...but i did call her when i got home..and she backed up the other's advice without seeing my dog...there are only 3 vet clinics in my area and this is the ONLY one i trust..so i don't know where to go from here...I hate to demand that Chief go through all these unneccessary tests..IF they are unneccessary...especially since they will want to put him out to do x-rays of his hips....i just don't know what to do...I am almost sure that he hurt himself while playing...but i don't know why he didn't limp right away...i was discussing it with my b/f last night and we did recall him trying to jump up on the couch and slipping..but that was about a week ago. so if he DID tear something..he didn't show pain until Monday night....Am I rambling??.I don't mean to..I'm just caught in between here..i don't know which routwe to take...i might wait another day and if it's not any better, i'll call the vet and insist that somethingf is done....at least if it's nothing..we'll knowq it right???
thank you for your thoughts..i'll keep you posted!!
nikki :)

Gryphon · #4 10-23-2002, 06:51 PM

I'm not sure if I stating the obvious here or not but the test for lymes is not bad at all... they just take a little blood sample from the leg and should be able to get results in minutes. Does not eve require a bandaid:)

tazdevl6 · #5 10-24-2002, 10:17 AM

ok..thank you...i may have them do that whether he's feelibng better or not...just considering the area we live it is a higher possibility i think . He seems to be much better this A.M. so we are keeping our fingers crossed.
thank you again so much for your help:)

New NJ Mom · #6 10-24-2002, 12:15 PM

My 12 yo is suffering from the effects of arthritis and my vets's staff suggested Rimadyl 2x a day. All I need to do is bring her in and let them check her blood for kidney and liver problems.

Should I hold off on this med? Can I try asprin first?

tazdevl6 · #7 10-24-2002, 12:39 PM

from what I'm understanding, Rimady has caused serious liver and kidney damage.......at least your vet is checking for any problems BEFORE they prescribe the drug,,,mine didn't and my pup is only 8 months old....i have heard good and bad things about Rimadyl...it seems to be highly discouraged in the use on pups......IMO...you should ask your vet for any alternatives..and have him go over any possible side effects...at least you'll go there armed..I ahd no clue until I got home......I only have a week prescription for Chief..it's more of a trial thing to see what exactly the problem might be..which confuses me b/c if he is in pain...of course the drug will make him feel better..and I won't know if it was just a strain..or something more....good luck with your dog.
Nikki:)

Nancy Estes · #8 10-24-2002, 01:15 PM

I'd ask the vet to do bloodwork to make sure the dog's liver & kidneys are okay before putting the dog on Rimadyl. If the dog's on long-term, these values should be checked periodically to make sure there are no side effects. You can also check values when the dog goes off Rimadyl. I have a dog that's been on it 3 times now with no ill effects and her bloodwork is normal (and she's a survivor of severe ehrlichia).

Nancy

qhawkins · #9 10-24-2002, 02:48 PM

Our vet is not sold on Rimadyl. He prefers to consider it a last resort. His first choice is usually buffered aspirin or Cortaba, which is a combo of aspirin and a steroid. Because of long term effects of steroids, Cortaba is not a good long term choice.

Thor was taking two 120mg doggie aspirins along with glucosamine supplement for his arthritis. It was amazing how that small of a dose of aspirin helped him, if it became insufficient for him we could safely increase that dose considerably. I got the doggie aspirin from Drs. Foster and Smith. It comes in 120mg or 650mg chewable tablets and is buffered. Thor was very difficult to medicate so the chewables worked great. If your dog will take pills hidden in food then any BUFFERED aspirin is fine.
Jacqui

chivas · #10 10-25-2002, 03:06 PM

Ascripitin is better then aspirin for dogs - has maalox in it also to help coat the stomach.

TrinityRun · #11 10-25-2002, 03:33 PM

Please keep in mind that you should not mix aspirin and Rimadyl. You can't just stop giving the R and put the dog on aspirin - you've got to give the body time to flush the Rimadyl.

I had a dog on long term Rimadyl for severe hip and elbow displasia. But keep in mind it was a progession to get to the Rimadyl. It first started with plenty of exercise for muscle tone, diet, buffered aspirin as needed, glusocomine and chondrotin and eventually years later - Rimadyl. She also had no ill side effects to the drug. It worked well for her for the most part. An on again, off again process with blood work in between.

She was a great dog. I miss her. :(

WorkinDogz · #12 10-25-2002, 03:38 PM

Down time in a crate is an outstanding choice...... isn't it great that your dog does well in the crate :D

tazdevl6 · #13 10-25-2002, 03:42 PM

Yes it is actually...he seems to be healing well..not limping any longer....2 days on the rimadyl.....off of it now..still seems to be feeling better...crate rest during the day may have helped:D
Nikki

rottmommie · #14 10-26-2002, 11:45 AM

I was ANGRY when the emergency vet cussed me for giving aspirin and told me to give rimadyl for a sore leg on my dog, (he injured it roughhousing).....Im like GREAT so now his leg hurts and you want to damage his liver too?
They said, that by giving aspirin I would mask the pain, and the dog would re injure his leg by rough housing more. I countered by asking just exactly what would the rimadyl do.....SAME thing! SO why not use the aspirin.....?????
MY OWN vet told me what I did was appropriate, and agreed that rimadyl was sort of jumping the gun.
I think my self, that short term safer remidies would be better than an unsafe approach to a short term problem. If it were a terminal, end of life, or SEVERE problem, with no other alternatives left, for the quality of life, that Rimadyl is fine.

tazdevl6 · #15 10-29-2002, 03:41 PM

Just wanted to let everyone know that Chief seems to be doing much better..not limpimg anymore..I think i still may make an appt. for a Lymes test..just b/c it seem to ver very common in our area this year....thank you all for your help and advice.:)

Nikki & Chief

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