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  1. #1
    Puppy
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    Deramaxx for long term use

    Hi, I have a 6 year old yellow male who is just starting down the hip arthritis road. He was limping and was not acting himself. He recently had xrays and the vet sees signs of osteoarthritis. He was perfectly fine as a puppy young adult dog and never any issues with pain or limping. Have ofa paperwork from breeder also from both parents on elbows and hips which where very good. Vet gave him deramaxx which he has been on a 35 mg dose everyday for the past month. He is
    101pds. So much less than his weight needs. It works miracles but I worry about him being six and on this the rest of his life. He seems to be tolerated the drug well. A little indigestion which I am giving him prepcid a.c. for and that seems to help. Blood work from 6 weeks ago was perfect and the vet says every 3-6 months is fine to recheck values at his age. He is also on a joint supplement. Wondering if anyone has any experience with long term use.

  2. #2
    Senior Dog
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    I can’t remember how old Scully was when she went on it (bad elbows), but I want to guess 8 or 9? She lived to 15+. We did lose her to kidney failure, which may or may not have been caused by long term Deramaxx (and eventually also Tramadol) but at that age, it might have happened anyway.

    At a certain point, you have to weigh longevity with quality of life and I can tell you for sure that without the Deramaxx she wouldn’t have been able to have a comfortable life for as long as she did so even if it did hurt her in the end, I think it was worth it.

    By the way, having parents with good hips/elbows increases the chances of your dog being okay, but it’s not a guarantee as inheritance is very complicated and environment (weight, exercise etc) plays a role as well.
    Annette

    Cookie (HIT HC Jamrah's Legally Blonde, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
    Sassy (HIT Jamrah's Blonde Ambition, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015

    Chloe (HIT HC OTCH Windsong's Femme Fatale, UDX4, OM6, RE) 6/7/2009

    And remembering:

    Scully (HC Coventry's Truth Is Out There, UD, TD, RN) 4/14/1996 - 6/30/2011
    Mulder (Coventry's I Want To Believe, UD, RN, WC) 5/26/1999 - 4/22/2015

    And our foster Jolie (Windsong's Genuine Risk, CDX) 5/26/1999 - 3/16/2014

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  3. #3
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Annette47 View Post

    At a certain point, you have to weigh longevity with quality of life and I can tell you for sure that without the Deramaxx she wouldn’t have been able to have a comfortable life for as long as she did so even if it did hurt her in the end, I think it was worth it.
    This. It always boils down to this.
    But having said that, i'd probably look to see if there are alternative things I could do now that would keep the dog comfortable enough to delay the use of NSAIDS (Deramaxx). Physio, accupunture, other drugs. Maybe try one or two other things once your pup settles. Maybe a good amount of weight loss and appropriate low impact exercise will go a long way too.

    My lab went on NSAIDS (metecam) around 10? He was on them for two years daily when his kidney livers were off and the vet recommended to take him off (which now has me asking questions as nsaids impact liver...oh well). But we're hvaing issues this week and I am going to give him a few days of metecam to see if we can move past them. And I know that once we hit palliative stage he may well be on more drugs that will possibly shorten his life... but at 13 quality is more important.

  4. #4
    Senior Dog labsnewfy's Avatar
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    Deramaxx is my drug of choice for mine that need something. Coleman was about the same age when he went on deramaxx and was on it long term he had both bad hips and knees thankfully for him it never effected his kidneys. Tootsie and Bailey were both on it too starting later in life and now Sarah - although she started at age 11. I agree with the others too it is the quality of life when using pain management.

    Keeping your boy in our thoughts that he continues to do well on the meds and enjoys running and playing again.
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  5. #5
    Senior Dog Jeff's Avatar
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    Deramaxx can be a very dangerous drug. Always have them take it at meal time with food. Always. Watch very carefully the indigestion problems this is exactly how we lost one lab. Deramaxx after TPLO surgery, it started as indeigestion then became and ulcer then it actually ate a hole in the lining of his stomach. 12 surgeries later trying to repair the stomach, and we had to let him go.

    Not to say the drug doesn't work but you have to make sure you give it to them properly and always with food. Never without it is more important that if they can not take it with food then they have to wait to take it or they miss a dose than to take it without. We had another dog on it for Arthritis and it was the only thing that worked, the routine was before the meal. Before prepping the meal, some pepsid to coat the stomach, prep the meal, deramaxx, then immediately meal. This dog lived to be 15.

    Not a fan of Deramaxx, I would rather do Rymadil, but if Rymadil doesn't work then you have to do what you have to do.

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  7. #6
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    Our family dog was on Rymadyl for .. gosh so many years. He lived to 16. Back then there was no bloodwork done every 6 months either (not sure we ever did bloodwork on Dryf). Rymadyl doesn't seem at all popular these days, vets use metecam (or the other version of this same drug) or Deremaxx or Tramadol.

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff View Post
    Deramaxx after TPLO surgery, it started as indeigestion then became and ulcer then it actually ate a hole in the lining of his stomach. 12 surgeries later trying to repair the stomach, and we had to let him go.
    I didn't know this! I am so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine (well I can begin to imagine) how hard a battle that must have been and how insanely expensive

  8. #7
    Senior Dog Nancy0's Avatar
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    Have you discussed with your vet doing Adequan injections. Charlie is on them and he is 9. I'm trying to stay away from NSAIDS for as long as possible. It's helping him. Just a thought.

    Nancy

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  10. #8
    Senior Dog Berna's Avatar
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    What we are doing to stay away from NSAIDs (long-term) (he is 11 now, hit by car 2 years ago, had to have hip surgery; knee surgery when he was younger; other than that he has arthritis in the other hip, both elbows and spine)

    Diet: BARF (80% meat and 20% vegetables, no carbs)
    Supplements:
    1. Turmeric (Golden Paste)
    2. Flexadin (Glucosamine + Chondroitine)
    3. Collagen
    4. Vitamin C
    5. Vitamin E
    6. Fish oil (Salmon oil)
    7. Spirulina
    8. Apple Cider Vinegar
    9. Coconut oil

    Physical therapy

    Swimming / Hydrotherapy

    Easy on leash walks


    With arthritic dogs it's really important to keep them moving, keep them lean and avoid any exercise where they can hurt themselves (jumping, running etc).

    At this point I am not considering NSAIDs long-term, but maybe one day I'll have to. I just want to postpone it for as long as possible.
    Cookie Black Snowflake
    July 12th, 2006. - May 25th, 2023.

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  11. #9
    Best Friend Retriever
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    Just a reminder, for dogs who can't use Rimadyl due to alreay existing liver conditions, there is a new medication for arthritis called Galliprant. My 13 year old Molly is on it. I also give Molly 1 Cosequin tablet each evening.

    I hope your boy can be helped with something to keep him comfortable for many years to come!

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  13. #10
    House Broken Jdog's Avatar
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    I would guess you're already on the supplement route, and tone back from the meds. Best supplement for one of my older labs with arthritis is Joint Max Triple Strength soft chews.
    Glucosamine 1000mg
    Chondroitin 150mg
    Creatine 400mg
    MSM 600mg
    Antioxidants 375mg
    Vitamin C 300mg
    DHA 36mg

    I encourage you to take 10 min and read about those supplements and how they affect arthritis, swelling, movement, even pain. Pain is elviated through natural supplementation and got my labs off pills for many years.
    In alot of cases, 3 in mine, I've had them all on this and it brought back years of joy. No more chasing the ball, but walking and wagging, I'll take it.

    Hope that helps.

 



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