Majestic Tree H
UKC Forum Member
Registered: Nov 2005
Location: New Market Va
Posts: 4670 |
quote:
Originally posted by hillbilly56
whats the side effects on the rimadyl i use it on my wifes shitzu not on a regular basis sometimes 3 to 5 days but might be months between uses
Rimadyl About the Same as Aspirin..
The actual Name for Rimadyl is " Carprofen " and the Exact same Family As Aspirin !!!
Carprofen is a member of the class of drugs known as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), the same class as such common over-the-counter remedies as Advil (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), Orudis (ketoprofen), and aspirin as well as more controversial prescription drugs such as Celebrex (celecoxib) and Vioxx (rofecoxib). This class of drug is used for pain relief successfully in humans but the development of safe NSAIDs for dogs has only been achieved relatively recently and continues to be problematic in cats. With the possible exception of aspirin, none of the human drugs listed above can be safely used in pets.
Side Effects
The side effects of concern are the same with all NSAIDs: stomach ulceration, loss of kidney function, and inappropriate bleeding. These are dependent on the dose of medication used and on risk factors of the host (for example: an aged pet may not efficiently clear a dose of medication from its body leading to stronger and longer activity of the drug). There is also a particular idiosyncratic reaction for NSAIDs that has received a great deal of press. An idiosyncratic reaction is one that is not dose-dependent or predictable by any apparent host factor; it simply happens out of the blue. This particular idiosyncratic reaction is a liver toxicity (see the hepatopathy side effect below), which is rare enough so as not to show up in any of the initial 400 test subjects, nor in the U.K., and was not recognized until carprofen was used in over a million dogs. We will review this reaction and others below.
There is an approximately one in 1000 chances of a dog on carprofen developing nausea, appetite loss, vomiting or diarrhea. If any of the above are noted, carprofen should be discontinued and the dog brought in for a liver enzyme blood test. In most cases, the reaction is minor and resolves with symptomatic relief, but it is important to rule out whether or not the patient has more than just a routine upset stomach.
If a patient has borderline kidney function, NSAIDs should not be used as they reduce blood flow through the kidneys. It is also important that NSAIDS not be given to dehydrated patients because of this potential side effect.
A carprofen reaction that has received special attention is hepatopathy, a type of liver disease. Symptoms include nausea, appetite loss, and/or diarrhea as well as marked elevations (3-4 times higher than the normal range) in liver enzymes measured in the blood. Dogs with this syndrome show improvement with support 5 to 10 days after discontinuing carprofen. It is important that carprofen be discontinued and the patient evaluated in the event of upset stomach signs in case of this syndrome. Even though this is a rare syndrome affecting only one in 5000, it can become life-threatening if ignored. Appetite loss or other intestinal signs do not necessarily indicate a hepatopathy but since they might, it is important not to ignore these signs should they occur. There is no way to predict which dogs will experience this side effect. The hepatopathy reaction usually occurs in the first 3 weeks after starting carprofen but could theoretically occur later.
All NSAIDs are removed from the body by the liver. If the patient’s liver is not working normally due to another disease or if the patient is taking other drugs that are also removed by the liver, it is possible to overwork the liver and exacerbate pre-existing liver disease. If there is any question about a patient’s liver function, another class of pain reliever should be selected.
It is important to realize that COX-selectivity is not the sole factor in safety. In humans, the incidence of kidney function-related side effects was unchanged by the development of COX-2 preferential NSAIDs and we expect the same is true with dogs. Still, these drugs have an excellent track record for safety; the important issue is to recognize risk factors for adverse reactions and take preventive steps (see the Concerns and Cautions section below). Many exaggerated reports and rumors have surfaced on the Internet and it is important to consider only confirmed and properly investigated information.
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Steve Morrow "Saltlick Majestic's"
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03-30-2013 01:15 PM
