Molly

I would by all means at this point in your dogs life would use steroids as this is not a young dog and steroids will probably not cut short the life span.
I have 2 dogs that are on steroids (Unfotunatly) & I have seen no bad side effects from them but unforunatly they do not have the desired effect after being on them for long periods of time.

I have used deramaxx, it does have side effects but it appears to be between the effects of rimadyl and metacam.

sorry that this topic appears to have been steered toward my dog's needs - but I am very interested in learning what can help my old girl. Angela - do you think the Duramax works as well as Metacam in pain relief? Rimadyl is not an option because I already know it makes Ayla sick. My vet said something about changing her to Duramax, and also giving her a one-time steroid shot - maybe that is prednisone. Putting her on prednisone is not a problem I have, but hate to jump to that if there is something "in the middle" that can help her first. I know there is a limited time-span that prednisone will work for a dog, and so I would hate to have her run out of that time and then have nothing more to give her, to help her continue living as comfortable as possible. I am not trying to get my dog to break any longevity records here - she is very very old and not doing that great. But, as I said every morning she gets up (we help her up) and she eats and she goes in the truck on our "rounds", follows my Dad everywhere he goes, sleeps most of the rest of the time, barks when she needs to get up and can't, gives us the same greetings she always has when she hasn't seen us for a while - yes she is in pain, but yes I believe she still has a quality of life. She still has a "spark" and I believe in helping an old dog live as comfortably as possible, until they tell you it is time to go. Thanks all for your help!!! I really appreciate it.

Well I have 2 older dogs that are 8, one has DM, the other spondylosis. I use metacam for her and it works fine. Rimadyl put her in a seizure one night. My vet has even given me deramaxx for my younger dogs that came down with pano with very good results. My vet says deramaxx is middle of the road, better than metcam, not as bad side effects as rimadyl.

here's a link for deramaxx: Deramaxx

Rimadyl:
Rimadyl

versus metacam:
Metacam

Each link lists side effects, etc. Rimadyl is a carprofen, deramaxx is a deracoxib, and metacam is meloxicam.Each different but in the same nsaid group.

This link has an overview on commonly prescribed meds for pets: vet partner

Angela,
Thank you for the links! As my other dogs get older I'd like to be able to discuss our pain relief options in an informed manner.
One thing which puzzles me a little is that my vet does not under any circumstance prescribe narcotics for home use. From what I have read, it sounds as though the Deramaxx and Lasix may have contributed to her agonizing final night. If a dog has little time left, why not use a drug which would make her more comfortable (and probably be safer as well)?
Oh well, no use second-guessing at this point I suppose. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
Pat

Hi guys,

My pup is four months now. I did not know about this side and the possible side effects of RIMADYL. My 9 weeks old puppy had popped out his inner linning of his anus while going one morning. The vet gave hime two medication:- RIMADYL AND METRONIDAZOLE(Flagyl). Is there aftermath of this medication that can effect my pup now or ever?
SHould I be worried now? Will the medicine effect his bones in any way? PLEASE ADVISE.
Next time my vet gives any medication, I will get approved from you guys.

Regards,
Rashmi

Why is he on the meds at 4 months? There are other medications besides rimadyl for pain, see some of the links above, it covers the side effects for these medications.

Hi,

Not at four months. He was on it when he was 9 weeks old for 1 week. I did not know better then. Damn these VETS. Tell me something, if RIMDYL is this bad why it is still in the market? Why there aren't any law suits against it? I wish I could do something
So no one has yet answered my question, will my pup at 4 months still can have any side effects from "R"? HE took it when he was 9 weeks old for about 6 days.

Rashmi

 Quote:

Hi,

Not at four months. He was on it when he was 9 weeks old for 1 week. I did not know better then. Damn these VETS. Tell me something, if RIMDYL is this bad why it is still in the market? Why there aren't any law suits against it?

Because all drugs have side effects. Thanks to the internet, those handful of reactions are broadcast around the world. Then, despite the fact that THOUSANDS of dogs take or took Rimadyl had no problems whatsoever, the handful that did (most likely due to improper prescribing, dosing and monitoring by the vet) are the ones that are remembered. Nobody remembers the thousands of horribly painful dogs that were able to stave off euthanasia just a little while longer thanks to Rimadyl, the first NSAID of its kind licensed for use in veterinary medicine.

I've worked in the field for nine years, and have seen hundreds of dogs take Rimadyl. I have only personally seen three or four reactions in those hundreds of dogs, and all were reversed. If the monitoring is done CORRECTLY, the damage can be caught early, and can nearly always be reversed. We don't use Rimadyl as much anymore, as Metacam has been shown to have fewer side effects, but ocassionally, it may still have a place.

All NSAIDs can have serious side effects, even the OTC drugs. How many of you have bloodwork done prior to using acetaminophen or ibuprofen? Or have used these drugs around the same time as having a beer or a glass of wine? Just something to think about <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

All NSAIDs can have serious side effects, even the OTC drugs. How many of you have bloodwork done prior to using acetaminophen or ibuprofen?

I don't know of any doctors that do bloodwork when telling you to take a tylenol or aleve. It's a given that it's fairly safe to use. Prescription nsaids, they didn't do bloodwork for that either. I know, reacted to celebrex ended up in the ER. No more NSAIDS for me ever unless I want a repeat performance. No thanks! So you learn to live with pain instead.