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 Site Map

Reports about the Benefits of Rimadyl

1998

Report Received December 19, 1998
13 1/2-Year-Old Black Lab On a Regimen that Includes Rimadyl
"Our 13-1/2 year old Black Lab, Max, has been on Rimadyl since about last March. He was started on it due to extreme stiffness in the hindquarters and his sudden onset of anal incontinence. He was on half the recommended dosage, i.e., one 75 mg pill per day; he weighs about 77 lbs. He was given a blood test after 30 days on Rimadyl; his blood showed no signs of trouble. He did, however, show signs of more comfort and less 'dropping of mine fields' in the middle of the night. About 2-3 months later Max suddenly couldn't get up without great difficulty, he had suddenly (so it appeared to us) lost a great deal of muscle mass in his right rear thigh. We were concerned that we would have to put him down at that time. He was taken off Rimadyl by the vet, given a cortisone shot and prescribed prednisone. This treatment brought him back. After about 2 weeks of this treatment, the vet had us stop the prednisone, restart the Rimadyl (again 1/2 the recommended dosage), and add vitamin E and the neutraceutical chrondroitin sulfate (400 mg.) with glucosamine HCl (500 mg.) at the dosage of 3 pills a day. (He is actually on the product sold by Doctors Foster and Smith, Joint Care, which also has in it time-release vitamin C.) The Joint Care seems to have caused the greatest improvement in Max' health, specifically his mobility and interest in life. People who have known him are amazed at the improvement, often thinking he is a different dog. In addition to these medications, Max is now on Lomotil to help control the anal incontinence which has gotten worse, Soloxine .7 mg for low thyroid (he was shedding by the handfuls and a blood test showed his thyroid was just low enough to cause problems; the shedding has stopped) and the most recent addition is Phenylproponolamine 25 mg. for urinating in his sleep. I don't think any of these most recent problems--shedding, urinating--are side effects of Rimadyl, although you should know that his dosage of Rimadyl has been increased to 2 pills a day. Our goal with this regimen of care is to keep the old boy as comfortable as possible in his old age. We do keep a close eye on him for what we understand to be the side effects of Rimadyl.
rdweaver@pacbell.net

Report Received Decrember 28, 1998
7 1/2 Year Old Golden Retriever Can Do Obedience Training Again
"We have had only positive results with Rimadyl. The first experience was in January '98 when our nearly 7 year old neutered male Golden Retriever experienced unexplained loss of mobility and obvious distress. The diagnosis was made after a few trips to the vet and some x-rays. After only a few days taking 75 mg. Rimadyl twice a day, he was noticeably improved and was gradually able to resume all activities. This dog has been in obedience training classes since he was a pup and was able to begin agility classes during the spring of this year. I am extremely careful about gradually warming him up before any training classes, and he has been taking long walks (on lead) daily for almost every day of his adult life. At Thanksgiving time this year, he again experienced some difficulty in getting up and down, and the vet again prescribed the use of Rimadyl. This was a brief episode and our dog, now 7 1/2 years old, quickly returned to his normally energetic, enthusiastic behaviors. The veterinarian initially told me there were no adverse side effects to be concerned about, and I spoke to other dog owners who had also used Rimadyl successfully without experiencing any negative results. Since I have had such little information - and only a very good experience while administering Rimadyl to my dog - I had no reason to question this prescription."
ballylee@worldnet.att.net

Report Received December 22, 1998
Rimadyl Works with MSM Sulphur
"I have had a great success with a combination of Rimadyl, cosequin and MSM sulphur. I adopted my dog from the humane society and thought I would have to put to sleep because he hurt so bad. Now he is like a new dog! I am very happy."
bonny@IPINC.NET

Report Received December 16, 1998
15-Year-Old Avoids Surgery by Taking Rimadyl
"My 15-year-old Jack Russell was diagnosed with cruciate ligament problems. The vets wanted to do surgergy on her. Being the practical sort, and having bred dogs for many years, I opted for Rimadyl. The surgery would have been less expensive in the long run, but I was concerned about the chances of recovery and the risk of her undergoing anesthesia. At age, 15, my dog's life should be as comfortable as possible. With Rimadyl, she runs like a pup and does not know her limitations. She is happy and, if Rimadyl causes her demise, it's okay, because she would otherwise have been in pain and on her way to being put down. I realize that we are buying time, but in this case, so far, it is well worth it."
Scyancey@aol.com

Report Received December 15, 1998
3 1/2-Year-Old Chow Thrives After Almost Two Years on Rimadyl
"My 3 1/2-year-old Chow has been on Rimadyl since it came out last year in January. It has helped him a lot. He has had both cruciate ligaments repaired in his rear legs. He started on Rimadyl 6 months after his first knee surgery. His front legs clicked so bad that it made me crazy. I started him on Rimadyl in January 1997 and within 2 weeks he quit clicking. The Rimadyl has helped him through the winter months. This year he had his second knee repaired and I have not seen any signs of limping or discomfort when it gets cold. I don't think he could make it without Rimadyl. I am very happy with the product. If my other (9-1/2-year-old) Chow starts to show signs of joint problems, I will start her on it. (Right now she's as frisky as can be.) My 3-1/2- year-old Chow has taken Rimadyl everyday for almost 2 years."
FWXW08C@prodigy.com

Report Received December 5, 1998
12-Year-Old Giant Schnauzer Is "One Happy Guy"
"Please allow me to add to the list of happy campers on Rimadyl! My Giant Schnauzer, Paco, was diagnosed with severe, bilateral canine hip displasia at age 7. We started aspirin at that time and cut back on activities such as jumping. In April of 1997, Paco began vomiting, was clearly in pain, was depressed and wouldn't eat. The aspirin had taken its toll. I was able to get Rimadyl, and within 24 hours he was one happy guy! Paco has now been taking 75 mg of the drug twice daily for well over a year and a half. He will be 12 years old in January and I know he would not have made it without this help. He does get other supplements such as glucosamine/chondroitin and calcium ascorbate -- so the glory may need to be shared with Rimadyl. And, he had a blood work up a few months ago showing all systems go! Paco enjoys living and that is what Rimadyl has been able to do for him."
blaisdel@unisono.net.mx

Report Received November 30, 1998
15-Year-Old German Shepherd Doing Very Well
" I have a 15-year-old German Shepard who has been on Rimadyl about two months. He has exhibited no adverse side effects. In fact, he has shown remarkable improvement; I have even occasionally seen him run -- rather akwardly, admittedly -- but I hadn't seen him do that in at least two years!"
topacern@worldnetla.net

Report Received November 27, 1998
14-Year-Old Runs 2 - 3 Miles
"My dog Samantha is now taking Rimadyl. I give her 1/2 a tab in the morning and 1/2 in the evening. She and I always run about 2-3 miles a day. It seems to be working well for her. She is still very active for a 14 year old dog, and I've noticed her a bit happier since taking the medicine."
Rocbob@aol.com

Report Received November 26, 1998
12-Year-Old Poodle-Terrier Acts Like a Puppy Again
"My 12-year-old spayed female dog is 3/4 poodle and 1/4 terrier. At 8 years of age I had to reduce her weight from 27+lbs to 17 lbs. Then 3 years later, her mobility was impaired again. She's been blind from cataracts for 2 years which did not affect her activities. I started Rimadyl 6 weeks ago, and she is like a puppy again. She can once again wag her tail and jump up on my bed. She loves to run. She can run faster than I can. All that holds her back now is that I'm so arthritic!!! I would like all dog owners to know about this miracle drug. I thought the ads on TV were just junk done with models. But it's really true. Whatever life she has left, I want it to be happy and fun. That's how she is now, loving life again. No one told me about adverse effects, but the vet did say that once a year we should do a blood panel. Anyway, what's the choice without it? -- early death by euthanasia, long, drawn-out suffering in pain, or depression. Quality of life is very important. If my little Teri could make this decision for herself, she'd choose the Rimadyl. I wish I could get the stuff for myself."
bunny1@connectnet.com

Report Received November 17, 1998
14-Year-Old Golden Doing Very Well
"My 14 year old Golden Retriever is doing very well on the drug..and would not be alive without it. He has suffered from arthritis for nearly ten years!!  He has been on Rimadyl for well over a year. Given a choice of death and taking chances on a drug that keeps him active and playing, I will take a chance."
smark@freeway.net

Report Received October 26, 1998
Second Anniversary of 13-Year-Old Dog on Rimadyl
"In a couple of months, my neighbor's dog will have a 2-year anniversary on Rimadyl. She was ready to have the dog put to sleep because she could hardly get up and walk. Now she is running and in fairly good health. She is still a little stiff, but considering she's 13 years old, she is doing rather well. We haven't noticed any side effects and are happy that the drug exists."
apalmer@sofnet.com

Report Received October 26, 1998
Yellow Lab on Rimadyl for More Than a Year
"Ginger, my 6-year-old Yellow Lab, has been taking Rimadyl for more than a year now. She was diagnosed with arthritis at the time of surgery for a ruptured cruciate ligament (at age 4). Although she got a huge amount of relief through the surgery, Ginger still had arthritic pain. It seemed to increase over the months. I had heard of Rimadyl's FDA approval and was curious about it; my vet suggested we try it. Within 2 days of beginning Rimadyl at a low dose (37.5 mg twice daily), Ginger seemed like a new dog. The pain relief was obvious not only in her walking and running, but in the expression on her face and the set of her ears. Ginger had baseline labwork done and has bloodwork done every 6 months. So far, she is fine and her quality of life appears to be improved."
cel@ix.netcom.com

Comments Posted to the Senior-L List, October 8, 1998
"Labradors, particularly black labradors, have the highest incidence of fatal liver disease with this drug (Rimadyl). Yes, that is correct. Yes, this drug has a few highly serious side effects in a very small number of dogs. So does aspirin. Every drug has risks and every drug has benefits. It is my opinion that you weigh the risks and the benefits, and then you make the best decision you can make for your dog. My dog Cinder would have been dead without Rimadyl. She was so arthritic that she could not walk. Aspirin, adequan, acupuncture -- no effect. Rimadyl, she runs like a puppy. Sixteen months we have had with her. Sixteen wonderful months. Her liver function tests have all been normal. We watch her carefully and monitor her frequently. If tomorrow her liver went south from this drug, I would not have one moment of regret because I had 16 months of her being around for us to love, play with, and enjoy. We need to be realists about medication, any medication. We all wish for a magicpill, a pill that works wonders and never does anything bad. It doesn't exist."
Bonnie Anthony M.D." <banthony@CLARK.NET>

Report Received October 4, 1998
Giant Schnauzer on Rimadyl
Breed: Giant Schnauzer (male, "Paco")
Age: 11 years 9 monhts
Reason for Rimadyl rx: severe bilateral hip displasia
Length of Time on Rimadyl: 18 months
Dog's current condition: Unbelievably great!
Owner's Remarks: "You will have a very hard time convincing me that the side effects outweigh the benefits! My Giant Schnauzer was getting aspirin for his pain from HD until he was clearly having serious negative reactions -- no relief from the pain, nausea, lack of appetite, depression. Twenty-four hours after his first Rimadyl dose, he was a new dog! That was a year ago April. He has been tested for negative side effects and none have surfaced. He is happy, active, loves life and will be 12 years old in January! I do help him with other supplements (polyascorbate acid, glucosamine, a raw diet, Sea Meal - a vit-min supplement from Solid Gold, vit. E and brewer's yeast), but I wouldn't take him off Rimadyl for one day unless he showed I had no choice but to do so."
blaisdel@unisono.net.mx

Report Received October 1, 1998
Newly Perky Dogs
Owner's Remarks: "We have a 10-year-old Samoyed who had cruciate ligament surgery about a year ago. After totally recovering from successful surgery, he was walking as though he was uncomfortable. He was checked out by the vet, got a clean bill of health, except for the arthritis, and is now on Rimadyl. He has shown remarkable improvement in just two weeks and is walking much more smoothly and actually ran a bit today. Our 17-year-old Poodle has also been put on Rimadyl and, though not running, he is walking briskly again and somewhat playful. We will keep them both on Rimadyl unless further lab testing shows long term ill effects; but at the age of our dogs, isn't it nice that they can be comfortable in their senior years."
Jsawin@aol.com

Update Received September 28, 1998
Gretel Continues Successfully on Rimadyl with Reduced, Split Dosage and Week-ends Free
Owner's Remarks: "The latest testing I'm doing with the daily 25 mg Rimadyl dose for Gretel is splitting it 1/2 AM & PM, always with food. This came as a suggestion from a military vet to reduce gastric irritation. I've been trying it for two weeks now with no setbacks. I still withhold the drug on week ends."
Complete Report Below
jtaboas@caribe.net

Report Received September 28, 1998
Great Dane on Rimadyl
Owner's Remarks: "My Great Dane, now almost 9 years old, has been on Rimadyl since it first was available to my vet, about 3 years(sic) now. I was talking to him about putting her to sleep because she cried out in pain when she got up or laid down and was easily knocked over by the other Danes in the home. If it weren't for Rimadyl, she would be gone for 3 years now. As it is, she hasn't cried out since she began the drug. It works for her/us."
siegreich@rockemail.com

Report Received September 28, 1998
Positive Results with 11-year-0ld Chow/wolf Mix
Owner's Remarks: "Our senior has been on Rimadyl for over a year. He was first diagnosed with arthritis when he was fairly young, but his legs are oddly shaped--part chow straight leg with arthritic knees and wolf hips (he was a rescue from a terrible situation). He cannot take Prednisone or aspirin. So far, the results have been very good. We HAVE weaned him down to a 1/day dosage OR prn, and he is taking Cosequin. But he has felt very well on Rimadyl; he can run and play and jump on furniture again. Now, our younger male chow rescue (age 4) is having problems. We started him on Cosequin, but do we risk Rimadyl? The local orthopaedic vet does not like to work on Chows. This is a serious quality of life issue. I have severe arthritis myself, and I don't want them to suffer."
laurah@nashville.org

Report Received September 26, 1998
Rimadyl Combined with Adequan Is Successful
Owner's Remarks: "I had my old dog on Rimadyl and Xenocarp before it was available in the US for two years before she died. It was a life saver for her -- aspirin no longer worked, and it was Rimadyl or death for her. If I knew then what I know now, I think I would have insisted on monitoring her liver function more carefully (it was checked as part of general blood panel every 6 months and it was fine). However, it would not have changed my mind about trying it on her. The quality of her life improved immensely once I started her on Xenocarp. I am very glad it was around for her. I got to enjoy her for two more years than I otherwise would have."
Olbrich@aol.com

Report Received September 24, 1998
10-Year-Old Chihuahua
Owner's Remarks: "I have had my 10 year old Chihuahua on Rimadyl for about a year. My vet is very consciencious and checks her for liver and kidney complications every 6 months. No problems have been noted and she is much happier-- more active and doesn't yelp when I pick her up. The one side effect I have noted is aggressiveness. She used to be very docile and sweet, now she chases our cats and appears to 'hate' all other dogs. is this common-- or maybe caused by age rather than the drug?"
Wamajkut@aol.com

Report Received September 15, 1998
Rimadyl Combined with Adequan Is Successful
Owner's Remarks: "My Yellow Lab, Maggie, is now 11 1/2 years of age. She was an abused dog; we were brought together when she was just under a year. At about 8 years of age, we became very concerned about her hips and wanted to be as proactive as we could be. The vet recommended Orudis KT at first. Then we started on the Cosequin pills, then Adequan shots. When Rimadyl came out, we tried it 2x per day. We call it her "puppy pill" and noticed an immediate difference; within a few days she just bounded out of bed and was her goofy, puppy-like self. She is now on Rimadyl daily and Adequan injections every two weeks. Other lab owners I know have had the same experience with Rimadyl and are very pleased. Unfortunately, Mags is slowing down more and more, but her attitude is great. I do think the Rimadyl/Adequan combination makes a significant difference in her life. My wish is not to have to go to extreme measures with her using steroids and the like. I hope Pfizer will keep improving the product. It's made a difference!"
patricia.c.cosgel@bos.frb.org

Report Received September 8, 1998
Breed: Bullmastiff (female)
Age: 1 1/2 years
Reason for Rimadyl rx: bad knees
When reaction occurred following initial dose: no negative reaction
Symptoms: none
Vet informed about possible side effects: did not inform owner
Current condition: good
Owner's Remarks: "I had no idea that there were negative side effects for this drug. My dog has had to have her back end supported just to get up the stairs and at times has had a very hard time just walking. But when on Rimadyl she can get around much better and does not seem to hurt as much. She has also started eating and stopped losing weight since this medicine has eased her pain. I would never have questioned any medication that my veterinarian gave to my dog, but I will in the future."
fiveofus@monumental.com

Report Received September 7, 1998
"I found this site, and I am very thankful! My 8 year old dog (Doberman mix) has been taking Rimadyl for a year now. Originally a 75mg tablet twice a day, which became too expensive, so we cut him down to one a day (our own decision, not the vet's ). He has shown vast improvement on this medication, and we were really glad that the vet recommended it for him. I was never informed of side effects (none of which he has shown...thank God!), however, nor was I told that my dog should have a blood screening for liver damage every year either! Believe me,he's going to get one this week! "
Squidrox@aol.com

Report Received September 7, 1998
Breed: Belgian Malinois (male, "Corey")
Age: 11 years
Reason for Rimadyl Rx: Degenerative disk disease (spine) & crepitation in one knee
When reaction occurred following initial dose: 2 weeks
Symptom: Very occasional frothy yellow vomit around 4am -- eliminated by feeding him a small "snack" around 11:00 pm just before bedtime.
Vet informed about possible side effects: Extensively
Owner's remarks: "My vet is superb; he explained Corey's problems to me at great lengths and discussed all the treatment alternatives and their associated risks. Corey is now on Rimadyl and Glycoflex. He had an episode of fairly severe pain in his cervical vertebrae shortly after he turned 10, and was on Rimadyl for about 3 weeks afterwards with excellent results -- it managed the pain very well, and his symptoms have not recurred. We put him on it again just after he turned 11 for his mid-back and knee problems, and he is again showing excellent results, and is clearly feeling much better. My vet explained about the possibility of liver problems, and always does liver function tests before prescribing Rimadyl and then does a follow-up test five days into the treatment, since liver problems will usually become visible by then. I'm very comfortable with my vet's knowledge of the drug and its risks and benefits, and with the course of treatment that he and I agreed on for Corey. I am grateful that Rimadyl is available to make my dog happier and more comfortable in his senior years."

Report Received August 26, 1998
Breed: Sheltie (male)
Age: 6 years
Reason for Rimadyl rx: osteoarthritis of shoulder
When reaction occurred following initial dose: none
Symptoms: none
Vet informed about possible side effects: does blood panels
Owner's Remarks: "My Sheltie was hit by a car when very young and has osteoarthritis of the shoulder as a result. I give him Rimadyl at the same times my own arthritis flares, which is usually with changes from warm to cold and changes in barometric pressure. He has been on this intermittent dosing schedule for a year, and his last blood panel was clear. It's made an incredible difference in his ability to get around and even his tolerance of my other dogs; he knows when they are goofing around he can jump up on a bed to get away from them, or move out of the way if he doesn't want to join them.
cutbank@sherwood.ndak.net

Report Received August 25, 1998
Breed: Rottweiler (male)
Age: 4 years
Reason for Rimadyl rx: torn ACL (surgery), mild hip dysplasia
When reaction occurred following initial dose: beginning of 1 1/2 year period
Symptoms: gastrointestinal distress
Vet informed about possible side effects: "NEVER, EVER" mentioned to owner
Current condition: continues to do well on very low dosage
Owner's Remarks: "I became VERY, VERYupset when I read about the package inserts with Rimadyl. NEVER, EVER have I received any information on Rimadyl from my vet -- I had to tell HER about it. But that's ok - effective TODAY, I am switching vets. Yet...I've been very lucky with Rimadyl. I read about it from an online newsletter and immediately wanted it for my Rottweiler Harley (the article said there were zero side effects). I had to beg my vet to contact her rep from Pfizer so I could get him on it. Day one, the difference in my boy was significant! And he continues to do well - has been on it for almost 1 and 1/2 yrs - although he did experience some tummy distress in the beginning and I had to discontinue it temporarily. Before the Rimadyl, Harl had to be on a low dose of prednisone on and off constantly for another condition and he no longer has to take that. Over the past year and a half I have weaned him down to almost a third of his original dose (he is at 50 mg and weighs 122 lbs) and am exploring some alternatives. However, what is most important to me, MORE THAN ANYTHING, is that my boy has a happy life. It killed me when I saw my happy-go-lucky, pollyanna Rottn Harley become depressed following his first surgery (before he was one year old). It used to break my heart when he wanted to have fun, yet lacked the strength to run and the stamina to play. Now he does! And in just the last few months, for the FIRST TIME in his life (he just turned 4) he was able to stretch his front legs out straight in front of him WITH his butt up in the air - you know, the big, huge, full body stretch! I have to laugh when I think to myself: 'be careful what you wish for'"! Now, if I don't go outside and play immediately when I get home, I'M BEING MEAN TO HIM! I love Harley and I want to take him off of Rimadyl very badly but I will not compromise the QUALITY of his life for LENGTH, that is simply being selfish. I want him around forever; he is everything to me. But I knew him pre-Rimadyl and I see him now... I would hope that if anyone else ever had the say-so for my life that they would opt for quality and not quantity."
AZannie5@aol.com or
work email: ANN_SCHOFIELD@missionfoods.com

Report Received August 25, 1998
Breed: Akita (male)
Age: 6 years
Reason for Rimadyl rx: torn ACL (surgery), mild hip dysplasia
When reaction occurred following initial dose: no negative reaction
Symptoms: none
Vet informed about possible side effects: not determined
Current condition: "did a world of good"
Owner's Remarks: "I have used Rimadyl on my Akita for a period of 3 months. He is 165 lbs and gave 3 tablets a day as prescibed by my vet. I found that it did a world of good for my Akita and use it when the temperature is cold. When the temperature is cold it takes toll on his ability to move well. I also read all the bad PR on it, but have not experienced any of the bad side effects. My Akita does great with it."
Astx@webtv.net

Report Received August 14, 1998
Breed: Pit Bull/Rottweiler (female)
Age: 15 years
Reason for Rimadyl rx: chronic arthritis
When reaction occurred following initial dose: no negative reaction
Symptoms: none
Vet informed about possible side effects: not determined
Current condition: huge improvement with drug
Owner's Remarks: "My15-year-old Pit Bull/Rottwieler took Rimadyl for the last two years of her life. She had extreme chronic arthritis and amazed the vets at her will to live. I saw a huge improvement in her with this drug. She did have cancer throughout her body, including her liver, but she had been fighting this since she was three. All I can say is that with this drug and others she was able to live out a happy, contented life."
crissc@ur.msstate.edu

Report Received August 4, 1998
Breed: Labrador Retriever (female, "Penny")
Age: 7
Reason for Rimadyl rx: severe arthritis; sudden onset of immobility/locking of joints
When reaction occurred following initial dose: no negative reaction
Symptoms: none
Vet informed about possible side effects: did blood work
Current condition: mobility vastly improved
Owner's Remarks: "My 7 year old Labrador Retriever has been on Rimadyl for several weeks. It has been a very good experience for both of us. Here's what happened. Penny was sitting on the floor with her chin on the couch looking cute and trying to convice Kevin to pet her. Kevin was absorbed in his book and igonored her. She gave up on him and stood up. Her right rear leg stayed in sitting position. She was a bit concerned when she tried to move forward and it doen't come down and she apparently decide that it was a moving forward problem so she went to back up and still it was in sitting postion. At the time she was between the sofa and the coffee table so I moved her away from the furniture and rubbed her hip thinking that it was a muscle cramp. I gently moved her leg forward toward her chest and then backward toward her tail. Her hip would not move backward and her knee was locked. I asked Kevin to call the vet and about that time her other rear leg locked up and then her two front legs locked at the knees as well. She extended all of her toe nails like a cat and she arched her back. She was really scared at this point. She then tried to run away (without moving her knees or elbows) and I picked her up and put her on the coach. Having called the vet, Kevin came back in the room and I ran upstairs to get the number for the emergency vet. When I located the number for the second vet, our regular vet called back. I described the above to her and she said that it sounded like a seizure and to keep a close eye on her for the remainder of the night and to bring her in for bloodwork the next day. I brought her in and Penny's regular vet asked me to describe the episode and she said that it sounded like an orthopedic problem. Since Penny was having a hyper-spaz-panic-attack (normal for Penny when at the vet or in the car) the vet wanted to sedate her in case it was a seizure (so that Pen didn't have another one) and, since they were sedating her, the vet recommended x-rays in addition to blood work. The x-ray showed severe, severe arthritis in her left hip and that an FHO had been done on her right hip previously. Her blood work came back normal. The vets think that her right hip locked up and she strained her left hip which caused her a lot of pain and brought on the seizure-like behavior. Penny is seven and has never had a seizure before and they feel that is is unlikely that they would start now. In addition, they have her on Rimadyl. Please note that we had her hips examined before, and the vet felt that intervention would be necessary when Penny showed obvious outward signs of discomfort (limping, soreness, etc.) At any rate, Penny improved after several days on Rimadyl. All of her bloodwork came back perfectly perfect. She had hip surgery on her other leg and she is now on Rimadyl for pain relief during recovery. Her surgery was 7/29 and she finishes her prescription 8/5."
jmkizer@bigfoot.com

Report Received July 30, 1998
Breed: Dobie Mix (female, "Katie") (mother pure dobie; father, likely Australian Shepherd mix)
Age: 14 (June 98)
Reason for Rimadyl rx: stiffness
When reaction occurred following initial dose: over 1 year (began spring '97)
Symptoms: vomited what looked like stomach bile; quite red, like blood
Date of episode: a few months ago
Vet informed about possible side effects: "My original vet, who started her on it, never informed us. At the time, Katie was one of the first dogs he had put on Rimadyl, and I don't think he knew what the side effects were. He asked me to call him periodically and let him know anything -- good or bad -- that happened. My current vet has said that it can cause stomach upset but didn't mention anything else. My current vet will let me have a few months worth of refills then insists that I bring her in to be checked before I can get more. I never knew why until now."
Current condition: mobility better than a year-and-a-half ago, before Rimadyl started; vomiting has not recurred.
Owner's Remarks: "When I started Katie on Rimadyl, she could barely get up and change her position on the loveseat. After about 3 weeks on Rimadyl, she was running around like a puppy. All of the dog owners that we saw in the park every day were amazed at the change in her. She wasn't afraid to play with the dogs anymore (she used to be afraid of getting hurt), and she played and wasn't sore the next day. I didn't realize that Rimadyl could hurt her stomach; I always thought that dogs had iron-clad stomachs. She's currently on 50mg in the morning and 50mg at night, but she only weighs about 50 pounds. That worries me now that I read what the dosage should be. I've tried to reduce her dosage in the past, but she seems to get stiff again. I give her half a pill in the morning and half at night; but she didn't always eat in the morning. I think her stomach was affected because I kept giving her the morning pill even if she didn't eat. But I didn't know. Now I make sure she eats something, no matter what it is, or I don't give her the pill. Katie is also on a supplement called 'Joint Care' that consists of: 500 mg Glucosamine HCI, 400mg Chondroitin Sulfate and 50mg Vitamin C. She started on it last fall, when her stiffness increased, even though she was on Rimadyl. I'm thinking of cutting back to one Rimadyl per day to see if she can get enough relief."
dvarco@mindspring.com

From Alice Fedelski, West Lebanon, NH, alice.fedelski@valley.net: "I have a 15-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer who was on Carprofen for about a year. Normal dosage was two tablets per day and three if he was in more discomfort than usual. A few weeks ago, he had a bad spell and was in a great deal of pain, so I made an appointment to see my vet to start steroid therapy. I had put this off because of the side effects. He started on a maximum dosage of the steriod 'Dextromethasone' and is now down to one a day. This is working much better than the Carprofen at this point. One of the side effects -- incontinence -- has not gotten much worse than it was when we was on the Carprofen, and he is more comfortable. He had also been on Cosequin for about two years. He has arthritis in his hips, one hip being worse than the other. He occasionally falls and is in great pain, but recovers in a day or two with rest. He gets vitamins C,B, and E and cod liver oil. He has been on Nutra Lamb & Rice diet for about 8-9 years and still eats twice a day. His exercise is limited to two to three walks around our quarter acre lot each day. "

From Irene O., San Francisco: "My dog will be 16 years old in August. He's been diagnosed with cancer and has multiple tumors in his abdomen and groin area. I've decided not to do anything heroic to prolong his life. He still eats well and seems happy. Last month he began to limp, though. I know he doesn't have much time left, but, whatever that time is, I'd like him to spend it without pain and with mobility. My vet told me the possible side effects of Rimadyl. I'll watch for them, but, quite frankly, my dog is going to die soon anyway, and whether it's from Rimadyl or the cancer won't make that much difference, I don't think. At least he'll get relief from his pain and will be able to walk until that time."

From Jose Taboas<jtaboas@caribe.net>: "The decision had to be made to try Rimadyl as a last ditch measure or to euthanize my 7-year-old German Shepherd Dog, Gretel. I was not about to opt for the latter, so I went for Rimadyl, which was just coming into the US market at the time. Before starting Gretel on it, I researched the Internet and read as much as I could find on the subject. I also had lengthy conversations with the vet prior to accepting the risk. She was started on 100 mg Rimadyl twice a day (and Cosequin DS; two caps AM & 1 cap PM) early last year, when very little was known, at least in Puerto Rico, about this drug. She started vomiting after the first week and the drug was discontinued. Pfizer paid for a full blood panel which yielded normal values. Cosequin DS was continued with decreasing effectiveness. There were no alternative courses of action suggested at the time. Since her arthritic/dysplastic hips continued deteriorating at a very fast pace, I decided to again try Rimadyl for lack of an alternative course of therapy. A full blood profile, including hepatic and renal functions, was made to insure a clean bill of health before starting therapy the second time. I requested 75 mg Rimadyl caps instead of 100's (Gretel weighs 76 lbs and should get only 1 mg per pound of body weight) and administered one cap twice a day for 4 weeks. The drug was always administered with food this second time around. The analgesic effect was evident on the afternoon of the first dose. I am happy to say that there has been no indication whatsoever of adverse reactions other than increased shedding. Gretel is back to being her jolly, playful, loving self. Gretel (now 8 years old) is currently on a maintenance dose of 25 mg daily in the morning. She continues to be monitored regularly with a full blood panel every six months and a CBC every month. CBC's are made monthly since Gretel is an autoimmune-disease patient (spleenectomy performed in 1993) on a maintenance dose of 5 mg of Prednisone every other day. The concurrent use of Prednisone has posed no problem because of its very low maintenance dose, I imagine. Results of both tests have been consistently normal so far. The benefits of therapy in this case clearly outweigh the risks of administering it, including the possible long term effects of extended use. The key really is benefit versus risk. I will continue administering the drug to her unless compelling evidence dictates otherwise. I am not insensitive to the plights of others with the drug. I grieve with my fellow dog owners over the loss of their companions -- whatever the cause -- as if they were my own. "

From jude <eak1@EARTHLINK.NET> "All drugs have side effects. The Tylenol that I took this evening for a headache has side effects. So does the blood pressure medication my husband takes. (The warning on his medication says that it may cause liver damage if used for an extended period of time.) The warnings on Rimadyl haven't changed since I used it for my then-13-year-old German Shepherds. I was aware of the possible side effects, but had exhausted every avenue of relief for them...including herbal and holistic remedies of every kind. If Rimadyl didn't work, I would have had to put Max and Ginger to sleep. They could hardly move, and the pain in their eyes made me want to cry. They did little more than lie on their make-shift beds in the den. They needed help getting up to go outside to go to the bathroom. They looked pathetically to the couch where they used to sleep...but had no way to get up on it. They cried out in pain when we tried to help them up. Then I heard about Rimadyl. So...we tried it. Within a week they were walking around...almost 50% improved. By the end of the second week, we were amazed at the improvement, and our neighbors yelled across the fence...asking if they were the same dogs. By the end of three weeks, we were awakened by a strange noise coming from the den (where they slept). They were wrestling with one another! And they were able to once again curl up on their couch. I used the lowest dose possible for them...(they weighed over 70 pounds, but I gave them only 50 mg. twice a day). I was aware of the possible side effects...I'd read article after article on this drug, and had a long talk with both my vet and a vet on the internet. However, one has to weigh the good against the bad. Max and Ginger were on Rimadyl for over a year. It made that last year of their lives livable. It bought them some time...some quality time. They were put to sleep in January of this year at the age of 14 1/2. They were suffering from old age, and a variety of other ailments which accompany it. I had no autopsy performed, so I cannot be 100% sure that Rimadyl wasn't indirectly involved...but you know what? I'd give that drug again if I had it to do over...I'm sure of it. My suggestion to anyone with dogs suffering from arthritis and/or joint pain that doesn't improve with other medication is this: check with your vet, ask all kinds of questions, have your dog checked regularly--blood counts, liver profiles, etc....just as you should do before and during the administration of any other drug. But don't put a scare into folks who are giving this drug to their dogs and seeing an improvement. I am fortunate that my vet sat down with me and we went over the possible side effects of Rimadyl.  He told me to watch Max and Ginger carefully for any adverse effects.  We started out slowly, with the least possible dose.  I was supposed to gradually increase it until we met the desired dose for their weight.  I never did increase it...mainly (and I'll be honest with you) because of the cost!  And, it was easier to break a 100 mg. tablet in half twice a day.  I think that we, as pet owners, know our pets better than the vets do...we can detect the smallest change in their appearance, appetite, and behavior.  And, we must act on our instincts.  We were lucky that both of our dogs benefited from it.  I have a small mutt now who cannot tolerate Ascripton.  He starts vomiting the next day and for the next three days he is ill...with just one dose. (My other dog has no problem with it, and has Shar Pei Fevers, which require that he take large quantities of Ascripton.)  The mutt has back problems, and when the time comes to perhaps start treating this on a regular basis, I will have to make a decision. I will try the holistic approach first...just as I did with Max and Ginger.  If it doesn't work, I will try whatever my vet prescribes, including Rimadyl.  I hope he can tolerate it...and I will monitor him closely, and inform my vet of the tests that I want him to run.  I won't wait for him to suggest the tests! One more thing...the internet is full of information about every conceivable drug. It is obviously at all of our fingertips, and we should all use it to gain the knowledge we need to make the right decision on behalf of our mute four-legged friends. "

From Janine Ose, Orlando, FL <User157159@aol.com> "After reading all the e-mails about Rimadyl, I felt I just had to write. One of our dogs, 'Gingerbread,' is a 1 1/2 year old pit bull mix. She has hip dysplaysia in both her rear hips. She has now been taking 50 mg. Rimadyl daily for 6 months. This decision was not made lightly as the drug is marketed primarily for older dogs, but we (our vet and my husband and I) felt this was the best course of action because she is too young yet for hip surgery. Prior to taking Rimadyl she had quite a bit of trouble standing, sitting, and running; but since she started taking it she has done extremely well. She still bunny hops when running, but she does run now whereas before she refused to run at all. While we know that after she turns 2 in August she is going to have to have hip surgery, until then the Rimadyl has been a lifesaver. Her quality of life is much improved and she is much happier now than she ever was. I know that this drug is used primarily in older dogs but I just wanted you to know that in my baby the drug has been a lifesaver. Because the orthopedist won't operate until 2 years of age (due to the dog's still growing) we were faced with either putting her to sleep or giving her Rimadyl. Thank you Pfizer for giving us a choice and for giving her a chance to live until she has her hips replaced. We are more grateful than you can ever know."

From: "Teresa Maro Rozich" <teresa@maro.net> "With all the hoopla of Rimadyl side effects, I'm seriously concerned that the drug will end up being taken off the market, so I would like to submit this to your website: Our 10 -year -old lab was in such pain she was having difficulty walking up and down the steps. She would lie and cry all the time, and, on occasion, her whole body would shake when she got up. She has severe hip dysplasia. When her x-rays were first taken, we were told she would live to age 5, but that would be about all. We felt blessed that she had made it an extra 5 years, but were considering letting her go. It was just so difficult to watch her go through this day to day pain. Then, we saw the advertisement for Rimadyl. I laughed AND cried as I watched that dog retrieve a ball for what was supposed to be hours, yet thought it was all hype, and probably didn't have that kind of affect. On our next vet visit, the vet told us about Rimadyl. She said it had no reported side effects, and that Beauty was a prime candidate for it. So, we started with one pill per day to see how she responded. I began noticing her head come up a bit, and no more crying. Then, the day came when she began stalking a fly in the house. I laughed at her and told her to give it up,,, she hadn't caught a fly in over 4 years. (her favorite game). She zoomed from room to room, totally ignoring me, when suddenly she CAUGHT it! She was ecstatic! She pranced around for days because once again, she was QUEEN of the fly patrol! For days she jumped at every shadow, hoping against hope it was another fly to 'protect our home against.' About 8 months ago the vet called to tell me there had been reports of Labradors suffering toxicity from Rimadyl, affecting livers even to the point of death. She suggested I bring Beauty in immediately for blood work. I did. Luckily Beauty is fine! We now check her blood work once per month or so, and if all continues well, we will decrease that check to twice per year. I commend our vet for taking the initiative to contact all her Rimadyl patients and bring the concerns to our attention. I have another lab whose 'family' has a history of liver problems, so my vet is always concerned with her and Rimadyl (she has a hurt leg right now), so we only give her one pill every other day, and that has been helping. Even though Lisa's liver is fine right now, we want to keep it that way. So please, don't panic when your vet mentions Rimadyl. Have an informed conversation with your vet, do blood work, and after the dog has been on it for a week, do more blood work! It's worth it if it works! It has given Beauty at LEAST an additional 4 years. She celebrates her 11th Birthday in the first week of March, and is happy and semi-healthy. We are a long way from having to consider putting her to sleep. Now, she's mad at US because we don't want to throw that ball for hours....... seems like THAT part of the commercial was absolutely correct! Yes, some dogs have problems with Rimadyl. No doubt about it. And some vets are not educating themselves on this drug. Pfizer has been going out of their way to educate the vets, but it appears as if several vets are NOT reading what Pfizer is sending. So if your vet recommends Rimadyl, and does NOT do blood work first, and tell you about the possible problems, you need to find another vet! If my vet could call me EVEN BEFORE the information hit the populace of the Internet (her call came two days before my first warning e-mail did), then the rest of the vets could do the same thing. Perhaps we need to be contacting the vets in our neighborhoods and reminding them of the Rimadyl problem, and if enough of us do it, maybe we could hit ALL the vets. I would call the ones in my city if it would save the life of ONE dog."

From Sue and the Curly Kids: "My dog Cindy has been on Rimadyl for 10 months now. Cindy is 8 1/2 years old, 23 pounds and gets a 25 mg pill twice a day. She had complete blood work-ups before the Rimadyl was started and she has had regular blood work ups since. So far all has been well, and the kidneys and liver seem to be functioning within normal ranges. We have tried all sorts of treatments for Cindy including holistic medications and acupuncture. But the only thing that has kept her comfortable has been the Rimadyl. We have tried to wean her from the Rimadyl on a couple of occasions or lower her dosage, but when we have done that, it was obvious that she was in pain. Even with the Rimadyl, Cindy is no longer able to walk without support, but she does not appear to be in pain, she is alert, loving, and still has a great appetite. So, all I can say is that for Cindy the Rimadyl has been a Godsend and it has allowed her at this point, 10 extra months of life. Maybe some day down the road the Rimadyl will begin causing her problems, but unless they come up with a better and safer medication, this is just a chance we have to take. If I have to choose between the possible dangers of Rimadyl and putting my beloved little Cindy to sleep, I will choose the Rimadyl and be thankful for the extra time that it gave us to love her."

From Bonnie Anthony, MD: "As with any medication there is always a possibility of some kind of idiosyncratic reaction... The number of reported cases of liver toxicity has been miniscule compared to the number of dogs on the medication. . . .one always needs to weigh the benefits and the risks when one uses any medication or substance. Personally I have a 6-year-old Labrador Retriever who has been on Rimadyl for about 9 months now and it has made a tremendous difference in her ability to walk, run, get up from lying down, etc. It has so improved her quality of life that the small risk is, to me, worth the great benefit. . . . She is like a new dog. I thought we were looking at having to put her down within the year. Now her quality of life is so vastly improved that she not only enjoyed this summer of retrieving, she runs and plays with the other dogs, something she had not done for months and months before treatment. Luckily, we have had no problems so far with the drug and . . . I am anticipating having none, but we continue to monitor her closely. Also we elected to put our dog on a low protein, low fat diet. Our reasoning was that the lower protein intake would put less of a burden on her liver at a time when she was taking a drug that seems to have some side effect, in some dogs, on the liver. Our dog's semi-annual liver and kidney tests come back in the low normal range each time we do it. Our vet is impressed with the dog's great response -- no problems whatsoever and a side benefit has been that she went from a fat 87 lbs to a svelte 63 lbs. It is excellent for an arthritic dog to be somewhat on the thin side. In addition, we also cycle the drug. We take two week-end drug-free holidays a month, so every other weekend we do not give the drug for two days. Often that is what you do with patients who have to be on chronic medication that has some bad side effects -- you cycle the drug a bit. This is empirical in dogs, no one told us to do that, we just do it. Rimadyl has made a tremendous difference to an overwhelming majority of dogs. Any dog can show side effects from any substance. Intelligent management of the drug and close attention to the health of your dog is vital for this, and every other drug or substance you give your dog." Addendum, June 1998: "It is always a hard decision when it comes to our beloved dogs, senior or otherwise. Do we or do we not do the surgery, do we or do we not treat the epilepsy, do we or do we not do some treatment for cancer, do we or do we not give some particular medication with serious side effects? Each individual must decide --after becoming as informed as possible. There are no absolute right or wrong answers; each dog is different, each case is different and each person's ability to provide for and tolerate a treatment for their dog is different. . . . If my dog dies from Rimadyl, which is, of course, still possible, it will still have made a difference for her in terms of her quality and quantity of life. If I think about those dogs who have suffered and died from Rimadyl, it makes me quite sad; but I understand that there are no miracles, only benefits and risks, and we weigh them and march forward. . . . In general, or at least not too often, there are no miracles, there are only helpful medications that have down sides to them as well as up sides to them. Liver failure is often imminent before the lab tests reveal a problem. There are often alternatives for long term chronic conditions that are never even suggested much less tried. You need to watch your dog for signs of trouble. Like vomiting. Like a reduced apetite. Like drinking more. Like a change in the color of the poop. Those would be early-to-middle signs of impending trouble with the liver. It may be subtle. Usually livers don't fail overnight. It is true that even if you spot it early, once initiated, it might be irreversible anyway. Some dogs have gotton better when Rimadyl was removed, and some have gone on to liver failure and died. It is not yet clear what the differences between the dogs are. . . .If your vet doesn't sit down and discuss all the options with you -- tell you all the pluses and minuses -- seems to me you ought to get a new vet."

From Suzanne Kane, Muttmatchers: "In running a shelter for senior dogs, I have had LOTs of experience with Rimadyl. You need to do a blood panel first because if you have a dog with kidney or liver failure, it could be fatal. Once that hurdle is passed, it's great stuff. I have had a couple of seniors who have had stomach upsets on it, and so we don't use it with them.... But I have a bunch of 13- and 14-year olds running around like puppies with it."

From Karen Fields, Beach Cities Dog Training: "As with any non-steroidal medications, meaning pain-killers such as aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs, Rimadyl can cause side effects in some patients, the most common being gastro-intestinal bleeding. But many people use it for their animals with little or no side effects and it helps alleviate the animal's discomfort. Obviously, keeping in regular communication with your vet is important to any prescribed treatment, and if your animal starts to show any signs of stress or unusual symptoms, call your vet and get his advice . . . for many animals, Rimadyl is a good choice."

From Sue and The Curly Kids: "After about five or six months on Rimadyl, Cindy started to lose her appetite due to stomach upset. My vet suggested that I give her Pepcid once a day and that helped immediately. Within 2 or 3 days on the Pepcid, her appetite was normal again. I also now give the Rimadly with food . Pepcid needs to be given in the proper dose for the weight of each dog, so I would suggest checking with the vet before using it."

Concerning Pepcid, the consensus of advice from the Senior-L list is: Don't substitute another product such as Milk of Magnesia, Pepto Bismol, or Mylanta for Pepcid. Pepcid is reported to be safer and more effective for dogs. Check with your vet regarding the correct dosage.

From Dorothy Wilson <dotwilson@proaxis.com> "We originally gave our 11-year-old Collie, Noel, one 75 mg pill of Rimadyl in the morning and one 75 mg pill at night. When the drug made her ill (diarrhea and vomiting), we were advised by the vet to take her off it for four days. During that time, all her symptoms (depression, extreme difficulty getting up, moaning, etc. etc.) returned, so we were upset, to say the least. We decided to try one-half of the 75 mg pill in the morning and one-half at night. She has shown remarkable improvement with no side effects. Of course we are concerned about long term side effects, but sometimes the quality of life is more important than the ultimate duration of life. I might add, we tried acupuncture, massage, glucosamine sulfate, shark cartilage, Bach Flower Remedies, you name it. I know all these alternative therapies helped some, but not enough to bring her back to us. Needless to say, we are thrilled she is finally her old self again! P.S. In my search for alternative remedies, I devised a special treatment for Noel. I call it 'Angel Treatment.' I simply put my hands on her while I pray for the angels to come and 'do their stuff.' And a friend of mine gives her 'Pendulum Polarity' treatments now and then. So my feeling is that the universal healing force works through allopathic medicine and alternative therapies as well."

From Betsey Leonard, <Betseyoes@aol.com> "I had several experiences with using Rimadyl last year and had wondered to whom I should address these experiences. I have been raising Old English Sheepdogs (and showing them) since 1976, and have had, therefore, many of them go into old age and exhibit the signs of aging and arthritis. I was delighted when my vet informed me of a new drug, Rimadyl, which had been specially formulated for treating older dogs. I always research medications prior to giving them to my dogs as I have had problems with thrombocytopenia and/or anemia in my line and worry that any pain medication may bring on this condition. I once put one of my older dogs into a low platelet state (50,000 platelets) with only 3 Ascriptin. Fortunately, he responded to steroid treatment and pulled through. As I had several old dogs who had been on natural products for several years, I was anxious to give them more relief with any product I could find. I put the first dog, a 12-year-old champion male named Colby, on Rimadyl last June AFTER complete blood work-ups to assure myself he was in good shape before we started the drugs. My vet said he had had only gastric upsets in a few dogs, but most were tolerating the Rimadyl treatment well, and he was seeing remarkable results. Colby's blood was tested every couple of weeks during the initial duration of his treatment which was about 5 or 6 months. Several times his ALP level was elevated, but the other liver enzymes remained within normal range, so my vet did not recommend any alternative treatment. Since he had been doing so well, I had bloodwork done on my nearly 13 year old champion female, Cindy, in July and started her on the Rimadyl the end of that month. Although her response was not as remarkable as Colby's had been, I did see some improvement in her mobility and so continued her on the program. On September 7, 1997, about 5 weeks into her treatment, Cindy suffered acute heart failure and died instantly, within 30 seconds. One minute she was resting peacefully, she suddenly gave a tiny yelp, and she was gone. There was no suffering, and it was indeed a very swift passing. When I spoke with my vet the next day, he informed me that sometimes heart arrythmias act like that. Cindy had had a blood check-up as well as routine physical just two weeks prior to this, 3 weeks into the treatment. Nothing out of the ordinary was noted during this exam, which did include her heart's being listened to. I have no idea if the Rimadyl played a role in her sudden death, and I have not heard of any other dogs suffering heart failure from having taken Rimadyl. I simply thought that since we had no prior knowledge of a heart problem, and she had been on the drug for only 5 weeks, I would pass this information on. An 11 year old male, Zachary, was given a complete physical examination with bloodwork in late September. He suffered from spondylytis (arthritis of the spine) and had much difficulty in getting up from a lying down position. He had been on glyco-flex for several years which had helped him tremendously. However, by last fall, he was having a lot of problem, and I was hopeful that Rimadyl may help him. Zachary's bloodwork was normal, so he was started on Rimadyl late September, 1997. He did appear to respond positively to the treatment, and within a week or so I noticed improvement in his ability to get up and get around. On November 13th, Zachary did not eat his dinner (which was unbelievable!) He also had difficulty standing and collapsed shortly after being taken outside in the morning. He was taken to the vet who immediately did bloodwork which revealed Zachary was in kidney failure. Both his BUN and creatine levels were elevated. Zachary remained at the vet for 8 days, on IV treatment, pretty much refusing to eat. He was also placed on antibiotics since his white blood count was VERY high. After about 5 days, Zachary's BUN and creatine levels came down close to normal range. After 8 days, Zachary came home, however, he pretty much required 24 hour care. He had to be made to drink water, he was hand-fed specially prepared food, he urinated uncontrollably. He had a relapse after having been home for only 3 days, and he was hospitalized again. Once again his BUN and creatine levels were sky high. He was treated the same way with antibiotics, IV drips, etc., and once again, I tried to hand-feed him specially prepared food from home. He would drink water, but he would not eat. After 6 days, his BUN and creatine levels came back into normal range. My vet asked me if I wished to bring him home to encourage him to eat. I, of course, did. For four days Zachary was handfed, forcefed, force hydrated and cared for round the clock. His white blood count had also returned to normal. However, he could not get up on his own, he could not walk without assistance, he did not want to eat or drink much, and he urinated uncontrolably. I took him back in for a blood check on the fourth day, and his BUN and creatine levels were again escalated. I realized Zachary was not going to respond permanently to treatment and whatever damage had been done appeared to be irreversible long-term. Neither he nor I could continue on this schedule, and I knew he was not living the kind of life I would wish for him. His spirits remained high, but his mobility was near zero. I even had to place the bowl under his chin every hour to make him drink. On December 5, 1997, 22 days after the ordeal had begun, I put Zachary to sleep. Even if we had been able to somehow regulate his kidneys, I had no other alternative medication wise to offer him for his spondylitis. As I spoke with other people on the VETMED list and other breeders, I learned that other people had had kidney and liver problems while using Rimadyl on their pets. Colby, the 12 year old, was taken off the Rimadyl in November, when Zachary went into kidney failure. I could not bear to think of going through this with another dog. However, by January, Colby could hardly walk, so I decided as a last resort, I would try the Rimadyl again. His blood levels were checked, and since they were in good ranges, we began the Rimadyl. This time I did not see as much improvement as I had the previous year, but then again, by this time Colby was 8 months older as well. He remained on the Rimadyl the remaining three months of his life, having his blood levels checked every couple of weeks, and he suffered no adverse affects from the Rimadyl of which I was aware. He was euthanized on April 20, 1998 simply because he just could no longer walk, and his quality of life had ended. Interestingly enough, about an hour after I had made the euthanasia appointment for later in the day, Colby also developed a gurgling sound in his chest, which I figure may have been the beginning of heart failure. I was thankful I was able to spare him any further suffering, and his life was taken very gently a few hours later."

©1998, The Senior Dogs Project, San Francisco, CA