Another dog dies from Rimadyl

Full Question:

I was reading your page on Vaccinosis. This sounds like the answer behind my 7 year old GSD's death. On a friday he was brought into the vet for a leg injury, and we went ahead had his shots done. We were given anti-inflamitories, and sent on our way. Saturday & Sunday he became lethagic, and refused to eat. Monday morning he could barley walk and he'd dropped 5 lbs in 4 days. And he had a fever of 105. He never recovered. Saturday, July 23, 2011 he started vomiting blood, so we had him PTS. I now wonder if all of his problems where caused by the shots. I fell like I let him down and caused his death by giving him something that was supposed to help him. I'll never vacinate another dog again.

Cindy's Answer:

I’m so sorry to hear about your dog. :(

What anti-inflammatory was he given? Was it something oral that you gave him? I’ve gotten a couple emails lately from people who have lost dogs due to Rimadyl (NSAID).

Again, please accept our condolences.

Cindy Rhodes

User Response:

It was Rimadyl! In fact, he got worse after I gave him a dose. He was never one to skip meals, especially chicken. He was never sick a day in his life except for an ACL tear when he was 3 years. And to see him go so fast after something so simple kills me. It's like he gave up completely once he became ill.

Cindy's Answer:

I'd be raising some hell with your vet unless he 1) explained the dangers of the drug (it's well documented that some dogs can die from this medication) and 2) he did the proper bloodwork BEFORE prescribing this medication.

Every vet in my area knows me as the pain in the butt client that makes them write NO RIMADYL on top of every dog's chart in huge letters.

Here is a link to a letter I got just a week ago.

If you google Rimadyl toxicity, you will find that a lot of people have lost dogs to this drug. It was originally for people, but the side effects were so bad they couldn't get approval for use in humans... so they didn't want to spend all that money on formulating a medication without making a profit so they labeled it for dogs... makes me REALLY angry. I'm most angry at the vets who prescribe it without letting their clients know how dangerous it can be.

Again, I'm SO sorry for the loss of your dog.

Cindy Rhodes

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