quick question Rimadyl

[capra]

Cookie had a bad reaction to Rimadyl pills (gastric ulcer), when he vomited a brown-ish liquid I stopped it immediately.
A couple of days ago he started limping badly on his left front leg (took x-rays, it's degenerative joint disease in his elbow). I told my vet that he had a bad reaction to Rimadyl, so he is now on Rimadyl injections instead and is doing fine. Tomorrow we go for the last dose.
An option to consider if she doesn't do well with the pills. Most dogs do.

Sorry for Cookie has that elbow problem, on top of what he already been through. Despite all this, he always seems so happy and active. He is a strong boy
I'm giving Rimadyl to Cilek with food. Up to now no problems but I'm watching her carefully to recognize any discomfort.

[POPTOP]

First experience with Rimadyl was with Potion. She was 9 at the time. Pre op blood work was completely normal. Two week check of liver values because of the Rimadyl was off the charts. Immediately stopped it and added milk thistle and wild salmon oil. Neither cure the liver but help support liver function. It took 3 months for liver function to return to normal. Since then, all of our labs have been on Rimadyl for a very short period of time following surgery of one type or another with no problems. I'm still leery of it and will choose another med if possible. Rimadyl does it job but you have to be very vigilant.

[capra]

First experience with Rimadyl was with Potion. She was 9 at the time. Pre op blood work was completely normal. Two week check of liver values because of the Rimadyl was off the charts. Immediately stopped it and added milk thistle and wild salmon oil. Neither cure the liver but help support liver function. It took 3 months for liver function to return to normal. Since then, all of our labs have been on Rimadyl for a very short period of time following surgery of one type or another with no problems. I'm still leery of it and will choose another med if possible. Rimadyl does it job but you have to be very vigilant.

Did you see any sign of liver damage before taking her to a blood test?
I'm also planning to have her liver values checked 10 days later. That makes 2 weeks after regular use.

[Berna]

Is it helping?

[MontananDakota]

Montana was on Rimadyl for about a year and half for pain. He did well, we did blood work to monitor and he was fine. I gave it to him every day because it wears off, I couldn't give it to him every other day because that would allow the pain to elevate. From what I was told at the vets -you want to keep a level dose of pain meds going on in the system so that you dont have break through pain. Sp apparently Rimadyl does not build up in the system in the way that would allow you to keep the pain at bay with minimal use. It builds up in the liver, but that is not what you want here. He had a strong system to begin with so he was able to tolerate this well. Hope you can keep your baby pain free

[Mollysmomma]

Hi Oya! Hugs to you and precious Cilek! I'm sorry she is having so much trouble......If she is having that much trouble getting up, etc, you are probably doing well to consider giving her meds that will improve her quality of life--you have to do something, right? Sometimes we have to remember that although arthritis meds like Rimadyl can have some adverse side affects, arthritis left untreated can be just as likely to take our babies down. Our first 2 Pugs were on Rimadyl since they first showing signs of arthritis, which was at around age 10. The first Pug lived to be 15 years old, & the 2nd Pug lived to be 13. So they were on it long term. Lab Molly was found to have an elevated ALT level during a blood test before a dental a couple of years ago. Then she started really showing signs of bad arthritis, but the vet does not want to put her on Rimadyl because the elevated ALT level showed there is already something going on with her liver. There is a new medication out (I've posted about it on here before) which people might want to ask their vet about if their dog is not able to have Rimadyl. This new drug is called Galliprant, and so far, it has been very helpful for Molly. It is expensive though, because it is so new. Molly was the first dog my vet tried it on, & now she has another dog on it. If Molly were able to take it, I would have her on Rimadyl. But since she cannot, I will gladly buy the Galliprant & hope it works for a long time. Molly still has some trouble getting up, etc--it is not a miracle cure. But she is doing so much better than she was last winter. I haven't felt the need to put her lifting harness on her since starting Galliprant. Molly is 13 now, & every day with her is a gift! I hope Cilek will be feeling better soon! Please keep us posted on how she is doing!

[capra]

Is it helping?

Hi Berna,
I read your post before but wasn't sure what to say. Now I know, yes it is helping
After 5 days of regular use (75 mg daily) I saw the improvement clearly. At the weekend she did not need me to lift her and carry. I just helped. Most of the time she stands up on her own. Her mood is also improving. Vet is abroad right now, when he comes I'll take her for a physical therapy to help more.

[capra]

Hi Oya! Hugs to you and precious Cilek! I'm sorry she is having so much trouble......If she is having that much trouble getting up, etc, you are probably doing well to consider giving her meds that will improve her quality of life--you have to do something, right? Sometimes we have to remember that although arthritis meds like Rimadyl can have some adverse side affects, arthritis left untreated can be just as likely to take our babies down.

You're absolutely right. I regret I did not give the drug earlier. I came to a point not to care about the liver. Sure, I do care but you know.
She is doing much better now. I hope her liver levels will be fine too so I can give it to her for long time.

I just checked Galliprant mechanism of action and I'm excited. It is not an NSAID!

"Many FDA‐approved drugs are available to treat pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA) in dogs (e.g., carprofen,1 firocoxib,2 meloxicam3 , and deracoxib4), all of which work by inhibiting cyclooxygenase enzymes. The adverse effect profile of the cyclooxygenase‐inhibiting nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is well established. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required language in the precaution section of the package inserts of these drugs warning that, as a class, they may be associated with renal, gastrointestinal (GI), and hepatic toxicity. Specifically, labels of these drugs warn of “the potential to produce GI ulceration and/or GI perforation.”2 Because grapiprant's mechanism of action targets the EP4 receptor, it does not inhibit the production of prostanoids, which are important in a variety of physiological functions that maintain normal homeostatic functions, including maintenance of GI integrity. Therefore, grapiprant may represent a treatment that could avoid the adverse effects associated with inhibition of cyclooxygenase in dogs."
source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4913586/

I will definitely ask this to our vet.
I hope Molly does good on this for years. I believe so

[Mollysmomma]

Hi Oya!

Please, no regrets about anything! We are all trying our hardest & doing our best to keep our precious babies as happy & healthy as we can, for as long as we can! Side effects with a lot of these medications are scary, & that makes it very hard to know what to do......We can't cure the arthritis, but I figure it is a good thing if we can keep our babies as mobile and comfortable as we can. Molly can't take the Rimadyl because we knew before we ever started it there is something already going on with her liver, so I'm glad there is an alternative that seems to be really helping her--at least for now! I hope your sweet Cilek and Tilya will be fine for a long time, too! Molly sends hugs to them!

[bmathers]

I have used Rimadyl with no issues with my 12.5 year old dog with lots of arthritis, but decided to try a new medicine called Galliprant. It supposedly isn't as hard on their livers and my dog has liver issues. You might want to ask about Galliprant.