Psyches booboo and a Question about Rimadyl

[Burnsway]

Ok Thursday night I took a friend of my daughters home and confined Psyche to our master room as I always do. I was gone about an hour and went to let her out when I got home and she came out slowly which I knew at that point something was up. She is never slow....LOL!

She walked into living room but refused to use back left leg. I waited about an hour to see if maybe it was numb from being asleep or whatever. She didn't seem in pain just wouldn't use it. I looked her over good and couldn't see anything so went ahead and took her in to the Emergency Vets to be safe. Don't you love it how they always get hurt when regular vets are closed......

And don't you love it more when you get there and your dog acts like not a thing in the world is wrong.....

Any how vet looked her leg over and couldn't see anything wrong and didn't think xrays or further test or anything needed to be done but said he did notice her slightly favor the leg. So 200 bucks later....LOL....He gave her a Rimadyl shot and pills to be given once a night for about a week. They are 100MG and she is to get one and a half. The minute we got home she went back to tripod activity all the way till morning. She slept hard as a rock too....

My question is that she is fine not even favoring the leg now. Should I keep giving the pills? What exactly is Rimadyl? I don't like giving drugs if not needed but I don't want to stop if that is what is healing her. I feel stupid not knowing this but I just don't end up at the vets very often with my dogs and never really had to use Rimadyl. I feel the vet really didn't even explain what he felt was wrong if really anything was and if the drug is really a must..... He just pretty much said shes fine give these to her and check back with me in a week. I guess that was my 200 bucks worth.....

[flyballmom]

Hind limb lameness makes me think bad things....I won't even mention (shhh...cruciate.) She may vey likely just have a sprain. SORRY to say this, but you're going to need to keep her quiet (like on leash) for at least a couple weeks to let her heal. :( A swift kick in the hiney to the ER vet-a dog that's "fine" doesn't need pain meds and a return visit. Go to your own vet if things don't improve.

How much does Psyche weigh? The usual Rimadyl dose is 1mg/lb., but can go a little higher. Charleigh is 70-73lbs and I gave her 100mg tabs right after surgery. Rimadyl is an NSAID, like human Motrin. You'll hear horror stories and rave reviews about it. It has potential side effects...much the same as aspirin and Motrin. GI bleeding, diarrhea, stomach upset. It's caused liver failure in some dogs.....I don't want to start Rimadyl world war 3 here....I personally think it's very safe or I wouldn't give it to my dog. Just keep on eye on Ms. P for GI stuff, esp if she starts vomiting, acting listless. The vet should have done some baseline liver function labs, sounds like he didn't. Since this is a short term thing, I wouldn't worry, but for long-term use labs need to be done every 6 months or so.

[Burnsway]

Flyballmom she weighs 71 and a half pounds and he prescribed her 150 mg a night. See I had heard pros and cons(One reason I'm asking) too but my main concern was too high a dosage because she slept so extremely hard the first night and pretty hard last night too. In fact I checked on her around 6 AM Friday morning because she is always up and ready for her day by 5:30. She was not getting out of bed for nothing. Infact I checked her gums, eyes, and breathing because she was too out of it. "Phew" I mentioned "treat" and she kinda said in doggie language, ok maybe I will wake up.....LOL! Had me scared. You gotta know psyche and her hyperness to understand that one....LOL!

If all it is is a pain med then maybe it is masking the problem and thats why she acts fine. I most defiantly will follow up Monday with my regular vet. She is 2 hours away so I will call her first and see what she thinks. We haven't found one closer we are comfy with yet since we moved.

I think her mouth is extra dry too because she keeps smacking her lips in her sleep....LOL! We are keeping her quiet. Pretty much go out to peepee and thats it. No playing ball or anything right now. But she seems fine and very much back to normal.

[Rott-Wiley]

First off, Rimadyl is more then a pain med -- it's also an anti-inflamitory (as flyballmom pointed out). So by taking the inflamation down, that may make her feel better.

When my girl had problems with her elbow, the vet put her on a 150 mg dose and she weighed 80 pounds. We didn't question the dose even though we knew better.

I have heard and read many horror stories about Rimadyl including dogs dropping dead from using it. There is a group now that are trying to get it taken off the makret and have more studies done. As a short term treatment I think it is an excellent drug that does a very effective job.

You're wise to call your own vet on Monday and talk to them about this. It does sound like she's going to be fine. In spite of the cost, you really did do the right thing by taking her to the clinic.

[Burnsway]

Originally Posted by Rott-Wiley

You're wise to call your own vet on Monday and talk to them about this. It does sound like she's going to be fine. In spite of the cost, you really did do the right thing by taking her to the clinic.

Thanks Rottwiley, I had heard so many different things on the drug also. I wasn't worried about the money and taking her in. It was more a wisecrack that 200 bucks got me 2 minutes flat with the vet saying all is fine here are some pills, check back later.... I made it very clear to him that we would pay for X rays or any test to make sure nothing was torn or a more serious underlying problem and he just said not necessary thank you and see you in a week.

I do my best not to second guess vets that have a total of probably 12 years more education then me but in the same a little information from him would have been nice. There wasn't but one other dog there and that dog had already been looked at.

I also agree that the meds short term are probably fine. As long as they are not masking a problem that may get worst because we can't see it.

[Bruce Lanthier]

Rimadyl - A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, NSAID. Aspirin is a NSAID. NSAIDs can cause stomach upset and kidney(?) damage MAYBE or MAYBE NOT. With any NSAID you give it to your dog and monitor them looking for problems with it. sometimes the benefits outweigh the problems, sometimes not. It ultimately is YOUR call. I am learning a whole bunch of stuff thanks to SYD. LMAO :D :p

[Rott-Wiley]

I did pick up on the wisecrack of 200 bucks. I was trying to make you feel better about spending it. You're not alone there. In a 7 mile radius of where I live there are 12 vet offices and not a one of them will come out afer hours. It is a racket they all agree to participate in. Anyway, hope she's better real soon.

[MontanaRott]

Burnsway, we use Rimadyl with the old farts sparingly, on an as needed basis and have for a while. We have seen no ill effects. But we had a blood panel done before we started to use it, just to be sure they had no underlying problems that might be aggravated by the drug.
For us it has been a great thing to help the old guys on those days they are feeling a little stiff or sore.
Good luck with Psyche, I bet she is up to her old tricks in no time!

[flyballmom]

Hey, sorry to post and run. 150mg of Rimadyl for a 71 pound dog is too much. Unless it was just for a one time loading dose. So, did he say to give Psyche 150mg JUST at night? Or give her that at night and less in the morning? Giving a larger than needed dose can cause more side effects and make them worse. My regular vet gave me 100 mg tabs for <75 pound Charleigh...my ortho nearly croaked and said "no way." We got 75 mg tabs for post-op pain control. Rimadyl should also be given twice a day, as close 12 hours apart as possible. It needs to be given that way to stay in the dogs system long enough to decrease inflammation. 75 mg. twice a day would be much safer and more effective than 150 mg once a day. Sheesh.................

Originally Posted by Burnsway

Flyballmom she weighs 71 and a half pounds and he prescribed her 150 mg a night. See I had heard pros and cons(One reason I'm asking) too but my main concern was too high a dosage because she slept so extremely hard the first night and pretty hard last night too. In fact I checked on her around 6 AM Friday morning because she is always up and ready for her day by 5:30. She was not getting out of bed for nothing. Infact I checked her gums, eyes, and breathing because she was too out of it. "Phew" I mentioned "treat" and she kinda said in doggie language, ok maybe I will wake up.....LOL! Had me scared. You gotta know psyche and her hyperness to understand that one....LOL!

If all it is is a pain med then maybe it is masking the problem and thats why she acts fine. I most defiantly will follow up Monday with my regular vet. She is 2 hours away so I will call her first and see what she thinks. We haven't found one closer we are comfy with yet since we moved.

I think her mouth is extra dry too because she keeps smacking her lips in her sleep....LOL! We are keeping her quiet. Pretty much go out to peepee and thats it. No playing ball or anything right now. But she seems fine and very much back to normal.

[Burnsway]

Flyballmom....yes 150MG once at night only, were the directions. I'm going to follow for the week as told, but will keep close eye on her and after the week is up, if I see any rehash get her in for x rays and anything else if needed.

May not be any big deal. Maybe she just landed wrong jumping off her bed....... But I will watch her close. She seems so much herself now, but we are not allowing any run or play......NOT EASY WITH HER!!!!!!.... But she is being obedient and after she tries and is corrected, she just plops down with a sigh......

I do know she is extra thirsty...I suppose its the meds. Just making sure she has water and rest. But no babying.....LOL! Hubby tried to say she deserves the recliner for at-least a day.......YEA!!!!!OVER MY DEAD BODY!!!!!!!! Thats my spot...... :p

I was really just posting because I have seen you guys catch things vets haven't and also things I would never have thought of. So even when not too worried, I find myself posting if there is even a slight HU? in my mind...... ;)

[Burnsway]

My regular vet said the dosage should be fine for a week and to come in if there is a problem.

But on a funny note. Yesterday The ER vet who is also the vet down the street from me had one of the techs give me a call from his willis office and check up on Psyche.

Well I was not home so she left a quick message:

Hello, this is **** from the Willis veternarian clinic calling to check up on "Psycho the Rottweiler"............

You know it is funny when I named her Psyche I never ever even thought about the Psycho reference. Psyche means the soul and I thought it was original. I'm surprised this is the first time someone has done that.

I immidiatly called her back and said all was ok except could she change her records to "Psyche the Rottweiler mix"...........

[flyballmom]

[quote=Burnsway]Hello, this is **** from the Willis veternarian clinic calling to check up on "Psycho the Rottweiler"............

QUOTE]

Psycho the Rottweiler, that's a good one! :D We'd wonder, wouldn't we, about the intentions of someone who named their Rottweiler Psycho? hehehe Vets receptionist needs to watch those typos!

Back to the Rimadyl...that really is a large daily dose for a not-so-large-dog. Glad you talked right away to your reg vet and that he thinks it's OK. Just continue to keep an eye on her. How's Miss P. doing? Hopefully great and end of story..................

[Brooke&Ryan]

Originally Posted by Burnsway

Hello, this is **** from the Willis veternarian clinic calling to check up on "Psycho the Rottweiler"............

:D Psycho! I love it!!! :D

:)
Brooke

[Rott-Wiley]

Well (again), that is real close to the dosage my vet had put my dog on -- 150mg/80 pounds. And that's what I gave her for 7 days. That vet is board certified in ortho so I would think he'd know how much to prescribe as a dose.

[Bruce Lanthier]

Sorry, I just got back to this thread. Syd is taking 200mg a day, 100 each meal, for the next 14 days. He weighs 97 pounds. I did not ask but I expect this to probably change depending on how he does with the rimadyl and other stuff he is taking. After the first couple of days I thought he was making great improvement but he seemed more wobbly and painful after the after dinner walk. I think I may be letting him do more than I should so I'll cut back the activity. I think my Vet, like Psycho's Vet, are giving a high initial dose to see how they react and then will adjust accordingly or in Psycho's case take her completely off. Give Psycho a hug for me. LMAO Psycho LOL