Rimadyl for Dogs

[Mona2006]

Does anyone have any opinions/experience with this drug for your dog? Both our dogs have arthritis and Bethany has been greatly helped with Metacam. Nicky started this and it isn't helping him so the Dr. prescribed Rimadyl. I looked online for info and saw some horror stories. I know this is true of every drug but if anything happened to Nicky I don't know what I would do. :(

Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[shill22]

we used Rimadyl for our German Shepard with joint probs. Katie(the dog) did fine on it-we noticed a difference. unfortunately, as with any med(people or dogs), each will respond differently. since you have tried something else for your dog and since your vet is recommending it, I'd give it a try. as printed on the literature that comes with people drugs, it always states that your doc has deemed the benefits outway the possible risk/side effects. if you've tried something else and there are no better choices, go for it. your trying to do the best for your furrykid, right?

[Canesluver]

My Dodger was on Rimadyl for quite awhile, I remember. He did fine.

How old is your dog?

[BrindAmourFan]

Mona -- We foster rescued Beagles (through TriBeagles.org) and recently had the opportunity to host an 11-year-old sweetheart named Millie. She suffers from severe arthritis and is on Rimadyl as needed, and she did fine with it. Her vet records indicate she's been on it for several years and (apparently) has managed it well. I'd be interested to hear about the kinds of problems you've read about.

My brother in Florida has a senior Rottweiler...a *huge* dog (he looks more like a grizzly bear!), who has had problems with his hips for years. He's not medicated, per se, but they do give him a type of food treat with glucosamine additives.

[Canesluver]

That was something else I was going to add.

Our 15-year-old beagle mix, Tonka, has been on GlycoFlex since he was about 7 years old. It's a glucosamine supplement. He's doing so well, my vet believes he doesn't need any kind of arthritis prescription. You can get it from a vet or on-line to save a few bucks.

[kermelbar]

A friend had a senior beagle that she gave these Ol' Roy (from WalMart) snacks to and they had the gluchosamine mix in them. She said she really noticed a difference, but when I tried to give them to my senior dachshund, they seemed to upset her stomach. (Which is amazing, because I swear that tub of lard could eat cyanide and live to tell.)

[Mona2006]

Thanks everyone for the info. Our furkids are 9... I gave him his first half last night and watched him overnight. He took the 2nd half this morning. I wish I could call him and ask him how he is feeling. :) We give them both Glucosamine/Chrondoitin everyday in addition to the prescription medicine.

Kermelbar Nicky ate some kind of treat like that and it seemed like he was even more stiff after it.. so we didn't give it to him again.

Thanks CL for the info about Glycoflex. We will keep some on hand. The Dr. also said that there are pain managers that they can use along with the Rimadyl should they be needed. Hopefully he will feel better quickly.