"I found your website after my borzoi died suddenly after beginning a course of Rimadyl. What alarms me is that it has been four years since the concerns about Rimadyl began to surface, and yet I was totally unaware of the most serious concerns (sudden, lethal adverse reactions) as was my veterinarian.

" Josh, my borzoi, was 10-1/2 years old and slowing down considerably due to arthritis. We had him on coated aspirin and glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for six months and then last week when I asked if there was more we could do for him, our vet suggested either Rimadyl or Metacam (not available in the U.S. yet). He said there could be potential problems with long-term use of either of these drugs, but that we would do regular blood tests to catch any such problems before they did any serious damage. I chose Rimadyl because he said he'd seen very good results with it and I thought it would be easier for me to administer a tablet than a liquid medication with Josh.

"I went home with a sample 10-day supply to see if the product had any value before committing to a larger supply. Josh weighed 91 pounds and the dosage was two capsules at 100 mg each per day, in combination with the glucosamine and chondroitin. Within 24 hours the results were dramatic. Josh walked with greater ease and people commented on the new spring in his step. The very first day, he chose a longer route for our walk, where in recent weeks he'd deliberately sought the short cuts. But within three days, he started to slow down a bit. On the fourth evening, he seemed to have lost his appetite. The next morning I found him in great distress, panting and gagging. When I urged him to get up, his hind end totally collapsed and he couldn't move his back legs.

"Our vet made a house call with an assistant and they carried Josh out on a stretcher. X-rays showed his spine was 'like that of a two-year-old.' Our vet said the symptoms suggested a central nervous system problem. Josh did not get any Rimadyl that day. With his condition deteriorating into lethargy and almost paralysis of the hind quarters by that night, our vet gave him a cortisone treatment. The next morning Josh was worse, clearly in misery. He didn't even acknowledge my arrival with any sign of hope or pleasure. Our vet could offer no further treatment suggestions and predicted Josh could be dead within a couple of days. I couldn't bear to see him in such distress and in the absence of any hope of improvement decided to euthanize him yesterday.

"At no time was the subject of Rimadyl raised as a possible cause. Then I recalled a friend a couple of years ago telling me she had met a drug company rep at a conference and the rep had told her one of their canine arthritis drugs was killing dogs. Although I couldn't believe a drug that was known to be killing dogs could still be on the market two years later, I did an Internet search on Rimadyl today only to discover it was this drug she was talking about and that it was still widely in use and obviously still not as well understood as it should be by veterinarians.

"My vet is a thorough, well-respected professional who spends all kinds of time with me and my pets during our visits to explain all the possibilities and options in great detail -- so he wasn't being negligent. We both talked with the Pfizer Canada vet, who kindly but adroitly seized on aspects of Josh's medical history -- a brief episode of neck pain four years ago, a 10-pound weight loss this past year (which may or may not be significant in a member of such a large breed who was a fussy eater) -- to suggest Josh succumbed to an underlying condition rather than Rimadyl. Of course, without an autopsy, there's no way to definitely implicate Rimadyl. However, my vet and I are still suspicious. He says he's 'on the fence' on this one and will definitely approach Rimadyl with far more caution in the future.

"I hope you will pass this information on to people who should have it so as to prevent any more suspicious deaths. Josh's symptoms and story are similar enough to others on this site, that I feel their connection to Rimadyl is more than coincidence. I can't know for sure if the outcome would have been any different without Rimadyl, but if I'd known of all these other cases and the questions surrounding Rimadyl, I wouldn't have chosen to use it on Josh. Respectfully, Marylu Walters, Edmonton, AB Canada"

To read another recent report of a fatal outcome, please see the Rimadyl page.

Homes are being sought for the animals throughout the continental U.S. Although located in Texas, transport can be arranged to any of the 48 contiguous states. In the meanwhile, donations to keep the animals in good condition are being sought. According to the person coordinating the rescue effort:

"They need bowls, regular collars, fence panels, crates or xpens, and medical supplies such as Heartgard and Frontline (lyme and other tick-borne diseases are a problem in this area of the state). Also seeking vets who will discount or donate a spay/neuter, vaccinations or heartworm testing. Food donations are a problem: food is definitely needed, but there is no place to securely store it where rats won't get it. Gift certificates to Petsmart for food purchases would be a way to help. First and foremost, though, is placing as many animals as possible." To offer help, E-mail: jeran27@aol.com

Be especially careful to keep electrical cords, tree ornaments, toys, poisonous plants and other potentially harmful items out of the reach of your animals. As always, don't leave chocolate around, and warn guests not to give any of the food you serve to them to your animals without your permission.

It is a message from a lady who tirelessly rescues rabbits in the Los Angeles area. She wrote:

"When we add up the collective sum of animals that everyone has helped just this past year, it's impressive. The photos and descriptions of shelter animals, the hours spent coordinating transport relays and driving them, those who have stayed up late to feed wee ones or nurse ill ones, those who give up their homes and their hearts, those who run up their phone bills talking to owners to help trouble shoot, or spend hours each week working on the website, those who do home checks or screen adoption applications, those who give up their weekends to help teach others how to obedience train their new dogs, those who go to bat in the courts for the animals who can't speak for themselves, or spend long hours pleading for just one more day at the shelter so a life can be saved, and all the others who help in so many ways... each one of you is appreciated by the animals... Each job you do, no matter how small it might seem compared to someone else's, is helping. Thank you for your hard work and for each life you have saved this year, even if it was one."

"Tosca, the 14-year-old gentleman, . . . (is) . . . on his way to his forever home with a woman who 'would be honored' to have him live out the rest of his days with her. Tosca is blind in one eye, a little deaf, arthritic, perhaps 50 lbs., and is as sweet as can be. He seems to have lived all around the world, including vet's records from Africa and Eastern Europe! We had a Keesie love-fest here ...Tosca loves to give kisses. He's currently sleeping in his crate in my daughter's room after eating all MY dogs' dinners! . . . Tosca will be staying here a few days until more people volunteer to move him through TN and KY and over toward the upper mid-west." Marjory in Boone, NC.

Jack was the senior blind, deaf Cocker who had lived at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, for quite some time. The Sanctuary requested that an ad for Jack be posted on the srdogs site, and in June 2001, Joyce Chruscial of Pennsylvania responded to it and subsequently adopted Jack.

Sadly, we received this news on November 30:

"I just wanted to let you know that Jack was euthanized November 29 due to kidney failure. Jack was one of the best dogs I have ever had. He had nothing but love with this family and we would gladly do it again....we love our Jack....may he rest in peace. Sincerely, Joyce Chruscial"