I have a 13yr old golden/collie mix with health problems. For pain, I would prefer to give her regular aspirin, appropraite for her weight & age. Our vet insists on a mild morphine patch (makes her TOO groggy) or Rimadyl (gives her diarrhea). She seems to do much better on the aspirin but the vet says it is too dangerous for her stomach, causes blood clotting problems, and does not want us to use it.

Does anyone know if this is true about aspirin? or if there is a better solution? The drugs our vet wants us to use are not working, are getting quite expensive, and are making our poor pup miserable. She seems to be better, and much happier, on plain ol' aspirin.

Any ideas/suggestions?
Thanks!

I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV, but I have given my dogs aspirin before. I didn't have any problems with it. If you are concerned about the stomach bleeding thing, maybe a coated version, or slow releasing. I've heard lots of bad about Rimadyl though. Good luck. ALSO if this is for arthritis I have tons of good to say about Glucosimine and Condrotin. I had a dog that would limp with out it, and walk just fine on it.

Ascriptin is what I use for pain in my dogs. Asprin + Maalox. I am guessing at her age you are looking more at quality of life instead of quantity- and the results/side effects of asprin are better in my non-professional opinion than the other drugs you have listed.

Also- to continue posting on this board you need to update your profile to include your full name. The instructions to do so are at the top of the main entrance to the BB.

Thanks.

Aspirin is whats classed as an NSAID (Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drug)which means that although it will calm the pain of the arthritis and reduce any tissue swelling associated with the pain, it does not really promote healing of the affected area (Steroids do that job)Vets dont really like the use of Aspirin for dogs because its a drug thats not really designed for them in the form its available in, and not really for long term usage (which arthritis pain would need)Aspirin blocks the enzyme that helps in the pain pathway, but unfortunately this enzyme is also in the pathways that keeps your stomach lining thick and healthy. This means stomach acids attack the lining causing ulceration, bleeding and making your dog even worst. It also decreases prostoglandin production that causes effective blood clotting.
You have to remember that arthritis is essentially an auto immune disease, where the body attacks the joints and errodes the cartilage, lessening the cushioning effect in joints. If you are worried about medication making the dog feel ill, there are natural food supplements (here in australia we have a mixture called Sashas Blend)and different meds out there. If in doubt, try a second opinion or get a hold of a canine specialist

good luck ... Jules <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

P.S.

Aspirin can also interfere with the effects of cortisone, digoxin, some antibiotics, Phenobarbital, and Furosemide(Lasix®. Its also shown to cause birth defects in dogs and cats.

You are able to observe the dog on a daily basis, and the Vet is not. If you think it does better on Aspirin, do that, but use the coated kind, to help protect the stomach.
Over the years living with many dogs, I have found it best to be pro-active with their health care, no matter how good the Veterinarian. If I think the treatment is not helping or may be detrimental to the dog in the long run, I just won't do it. Rimadyl is the last thing I would use on my dog.
All OTC pain relievers are different, and people sometimes confuse them. I have heard of people giving their dogs Tylenol when the vet said to give the dog an Aspirin. Tylenol should not be given to dog or cats.

Folks,
A little info on aspirin ( or ASA , medical terminology )

ASA remains the most powerful of the NSAID's - no other NSAID has been shown to have a more powerful anti-infammatory effect.

ASA remains the cheapest of the NSAID's - by far.

ASA, like all NSAID's is dose related. Take two ASA'a, and you've relieved the pain of a headache. Take five ASA's, and you've achieved a significant anti-inflammatory effect.
The above dosing statement for pain relief vs. anti-inflammatory reaction is true for all NSAID's - take Motrin ( Ibuprofen ) for example. The over the counter dose is a 200 mg tablet - take two and you've treated headache pain. The anti-inflammatory dose is usually 800mg , so you'd need to take four of the 200mg tablets to achieve the needed results with Motrin.

ASA has the worst side effect profile of *any* NSAID. Gastric bleeds are a given on high dose ASA treatment.

If ASA was discovered today - it'd *never* pass the FDA drug safety tests ( the FDA has actually come out and said that ).

I wouldn't agree that aspirin has the "worst" side effect profile, just the most consistent. Aspirin and many other NSAIDs work by inhibiting COX (cyclooxagenase enzymes). Aspirin inhibits both COX1 and COX2. COX2 is the enzyme that leads to the production of compounds which cause inflammatory responses due to injury, COX1 has been shown to be essential for maintaining gut cell lining integrity. Since Aspirin inhibits both of these enzymes you get a reduction in the production of compounds which cause inflamation, but you also reduce the body's ability to maintain healthly gut tissue. More specific NSAIDs which inhibit only COX2 would not have this effect. However, many of these more specific COX2 inhibitors have other more serious side effects (i.e., liver and kidney damage).

So what I'm hearing is that aspirin does have those side effects but still is not "as bad" as Rimadyl...? My dog is 56lbs and I am giving her 2 aspirin (120mg each) per day with food.

The "pain" is from a fractured jaw - an absessed tooth, misdiagnosed from a vet last Fall, has led to deterioration of her left jaw (4 days after he declared her "extremely healthy - she just looks funny", a dime-sized hole opened up in her chin and infection started draining out - he said the bulge was scar tissue). We have had tests done for bone and soft tissue cancer, all results were negative. With a new vet and cultures done to determine the bacteria, we are currently giving her SMZ TMP and Clavamox for infection, which has worked wonders however, this new doc also insisted on a Morphine patch or Rimadyl for pain. My dog does not show us any indications of pain - although we know there must be some discomfort with the disfiguration and infection...thus, the inquiry about aspirin.

A month ago the new vet wanted us to put Abbey down but we said no - she still has too much "life" left in her - a tremendous appetite despite the "problem", lets me massage her face, still loves to play and go for walks, "talks" to us, goes up and down stairs, and sleeps up on the couch when we're at work.

Abbey is slowing down a bit, but for her age she's doing okay. She's been a sweetheart for 13yrs and we just want her to be comfortable during the days (good and bad) she has left with us.

Thanks to everyone for your help on this and to Ed for his words of encouragement!

Chad,
I didn't bother to post all the other side effects of treatment with ASA, like tinnitus, etc. And *all* NSAID's have been linked to some degre of liver or kidney damage, usually dose and time related.

Deaths by GI bleeds associated with NSAID use outnumber deaths by liver/kindey failure associated with NSAID use - 2800 to 1, as per the last study published in the Mortality & Morbidity journal.

ASA's side effect profile is far worse than any other NSAID on the market - period.
If you have information that conflicts with my statement, I'd be interested in viewing it.

Believe me, I'm not making any of that up - it's well documented and easy to research. Remember, I have a degree as a PA and practiced medicine for several years in hospital settings - this is a subject that am well informed about. I may not practice anymore, but I still read the journals every month. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />