Your Experiences with Rimadyl?

[Denise L.]

My vet left me a message yesterday wanting to know how Cyrus was. He was gone when I called back so I expect a call from him tonight.

In the meantime: Dr. M told me to limit Cyrus's activities for 10 days to give the Rimadyl a chance to work into his system.

Cyrus started on it Saturday morning and there is no improvement at all. As a matter of fact the front leg limping has been worse since he came home from his Xrays.

Also, I noticed this morning on the receipt there is no indication of the Lyme test being done. I am a little upset at myself for not asking about this right away and I am upset the vet forgot 'cause he was insistent on it.

Anyway, after 5 full days shouldn't I see some improvement?

TIA

[BostonRott]

I was given rimadyl for a dog once, after a particularly nasty spay operation. There has been too much controversy with this drug for my own comfort and I will not give it to my dogs, so therefore, don't really have a lot of experience with it.

Yes, if he's been on rimadyl for 5 days, and it was going to offer some improvement, you should be seeing it by now.

[Patty1231]

My experience with Rimadyl was excellent. Rocco was on it two different occasions for limping and results were seen within 2 days. Perhaps it depends on the injury - his was soft tissue.

[Denise L.]

Well, the vet said there was fluid in his elbows and he was of the opinion that Cyrus is overcompensating from the HD.

But his limp was much more pronounced after the Xray. Could the manipulation have aggravated it?

The tech told me last night Dr. M will definitely want to reevaluate him after my report so onwards and upwards...I hope it's upwards!

[Patty1231]

Originally Posted by Denise L.

...I hope it's upwards!

I'm with you there! And I would imagine manipulation would aggravate it - been there with my own injuries. Good thoughts coming Cyrus' way!!

[flyballmom]

I've had excellent experience with Rimadyl and wouldn't hesitate to use it again. (Charleigh was on it before and for awhile after both TPLO's.) The potential for side effects is there. If it's to be used long term, yearly liver function testing should be done to make sure all is well. Rimadyl is an NSAID. All NSAID, even lowly Aspirin, can cause problems if not used correctly. Unfortunately our dogs can't say "mom my stomach hurts."

Manipulation could cause an increase in soreness, but I'd think you'd see some improvement by now. I'd ask after the tick-borne testing........

[Zephir]

With Neiko and Zephir I could not tell the Rimadyl was doing any good. They were both put on something else, but I can't remember what it was(sorry). I noticed the most improvement with high doses of glucosamine and MSM.

Zephir had problems with his knee and Neiko has a severe hip injury.

[SonnyRott]

Sonny was on it for a short period of time after his hip surgery. I also could not tell if it worked because he was in a lot of pain.

My neighbor has used it long term with her Min Pin who has severe hip dysplasia. I watched this dog go from being unable to walk to running around like a puppy. He does get his liver checked to ensure the drug is not affecting his liver.

[Liz]

Molly was on it for bone cancer and I saw improvement within 24-48 hours. She was also on pred though - normally pred and rimadyl are NOT to be combined, but this was an end of life situation.

I used it occasionally with Janni in her old age (12+) and it always helped right away - she usually needed it when it was damp outside.

Liz

[Dallasbaby]

I have seen and heard good things about Deramax :)

[rottgirl]

We used Rimadyl for our first rott - Snickers (bridge 6/04). She had both HD and ED we saw results usually within a day or two. Also, in the damp weather it worked great. As Flyballmom indicated there are possible side affects if used long term which our doctor explained to use. We never had a problem with it.

Good Luck, Michele

[Succubyss]

We used Rymadal and didn't notice any improvement in Hondo's (14 yr old shep/rott) pain, but he did goe slightly off his food when he was on it. Vet changed to Deramaxx and we could def tell he felt better.

Hope that helps some...

S

[JeanT]

I urge you to do google on Rimadyl and complications. It caused liver failure in my dog, and he died. It did relieve his arthritic pain very quickly - a day or so if I recall. Liver function studies (a blood test) should have been done before your dog was started on it and then in 2 weeks, I think it is, then monthly. Can't recall the schedule and I do not want to look it up. I know it is not annually.

[Tank's Grandma]

They gave Tank Rimadyl after his TPO hip surgery, but once he was done with the heavy duty narcotics, and the codeine, he did just as well with just an Ecogesic, so didn't use it too much. I have a huge bottle of it that we haven't used, because once he was on the Cosequin, he did so well, we haven't needed it.
Yes, when he had his first x-rays, it did make him more sore from the manipulation, but it didn't last but a day, and he had pretty severe HD so I would expect Cyrus to be feeling better if the soreness were from that.
Definitely follow up with the vet.

[Sharon Marples]

My best friend's dog had minor surgery to put some stitches in where she tore herself on a piece of chain link.

When they sent her home, they put her on Rimadyl. They had done the blood test at the hospital and her liver was fine.

Within 3 days she needed dialysis (sp?) and ended up on it for over a month to the tune of almost $5000 in vet bills. They almost lost her twice.

Some dogs do well on it, others don't. Watch your dog very carefully. Usually if the drug is going to affect them, it happens very quickly.

I prefer to use alternative sources to help with my dogs pain.