Misty, the 10-year-old Golden Retriever who inspired the Senior Dogs Project

The Senior Dogs Project
..........."Looking Out for Older Dogs" ...........

"Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog."
- Sydney Jeanne Seward

A Review of Signs of a Potentially Life-threatening Reaction to Rimadyl

loss of appetite
change in drinking habits (refusal to drink or increased water consumption)
unusual pattern of urination, blood in the urine, sweet-smelling urine, an overabundance of urine, urine accidents in the house
vomiting
diarrhea
black, tarry stools or flecks of blood in the vomit
lethargy, drowsiness, hyperactivity, restlessness, aggressiveness
staggering, stumbling, weakness or partial paralysis, full paralysis, seizures, dizziness, loss of balance
jaundice (yellowing of the skin, mucus membranes and whites of the eyes)

Ten Steps to Take If You Suspect Your Dog Has Had an Adverse Reaction to Rimadyl

(1) If you see any of the above-listed signs of adverse reaction, immediately stop the drug and take your dog to the vet. The earlier your dog gets appropriate treatment, the better the chances of complete recovery.

(2) Have the vet do a blood panel and CBC (complete blood count). This will help your vet to determine the supportive therapy your dog needs.

(3) If your dog seems seriously ill, and you cannot get an immediate appointment with your vet, go to the nearest emergency veterinary clinic. Explain that you believe your dog is having a reaction that is typical of a dog taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). If the clinic staff is unfamiliar with the potential side effects of an NSAID like Rimadyl, have them refer to the Rimadyl product description or package insert. You can print one out from the Rimadyl website. Misdiagnosis is frequent in cases of a Rimadyl reaction. Don't accept a diagnosis of cancer, for example, until an adverse reaction to Rimadyl has been thoroughly ruled out.

(4) Call and have your veterinarian call Pfizer. The Pfizer staff veterinarians should be able to offer guidance to your veterinarian for the necessary tests and therapy your dog may need:

Pfizer: 1-800-366-5288

(5) If you have caught your dog's potential adverse reaction to Rimadyl in time, it is unlikely that the outcome will be fatal. Don't panic!

(6) If it becomes necessary to establish whether Rimadyl was a factor in a dog's death, a necropsy must be performed. The necropsy does NOT have to be done by a veterinarian appointed by Pfizer; it should, in fact, be done by an impartial third party. However, Pfizer should be advised promptly that the necropsy is being undertaken and that they will be entitled to some, but not all, of the tissue samples obtained.

(7) Try to maintain a diary of the events leading up to your dog's suspected adverse drug reaction. Make it as detailed as possible. Also obtain all medical records from all sources. Your diary and these records will be invaluable, should you decide to apply to Pfizer for reimbursement of veterinary medical expenses.

(8) Contact and have your veterinarian contact the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine to report the incident.

How to report to the FDA:

by telephone at: 1-888-332-8387 (or 1-888-FDA-VETS)

via the FDA website (http://www.fda.gov/cvm/adetoc.htm)

or go directly to the form (http://www.fda.gov/opacom/morechoices/fdaforms/FDA-1932a.pdf)
Once you print out the form, just complete it and mail it. It is postpaid.

According to the FDA:

"In common terms, an adverse drug experience (ADE) is either an undesired side effect, or the lack of a desired effect. The Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) defines an ADE as 'any side effect, injury, toxicity, or sensitivity reaction (or failure to perform as expected) associated with use of an animal drug, whether or not determined to be attributable to the drug.' " This means that you need only SUSPECT that the side effect is caused by the drug; you do not have to prove it.

If you decide to report an ADE , the FDA advises as follows:

"You should first call the drug company. Inform them that you wish to report an ADE, and ask to speak to a technical services veterinarian. The technical services veterinarian should ask a series of questions about the experience, complete a form called the FDA 1932, and forward the report to CVM . We suggest the drug company as your first point of contact because many companies will also offer clinical advice or diagnostic assistance. CVM does not provide these services. If you wish to confirm that your report was forwarded, or prefer not to call the drug company, call CVM directly at (888) FDA-VETS. Please ask to speak to one of the veterinarians responsible for the ADE monitoring program."

(9) The stress of dealing with your dog's illness may make it difficult for you to attend to the practical matters of reports, procedures, and bureaucratic requirements. If you feel you need assistance or guidance, please E-mail LuSwinton@aol.com.

(10) To aid your dog's recovery, in addition to enlisting the help of Pfizer and your veterinarian, you may wish to consider other options.