Rimadyl For a Dog With Arthritis? | Safe and Effective?

Last Updated on

Are you wondering if Rimadyl can help your dog with arthritis or some other debilitating joint problem?

Can I Give My Dog Rimadyl?You’ll be happy to hear that vets routinely prescribe this NSAID carprofen. The medication is actually made specifically for dogs.

So you’re on the right track.

Rimadyl is definitely worth investigating further. Keep reading to learn more…

Many Dogs Benefit From Taking Rimadyl

It happens to be very effective at reducing suffering and discomfort associated with arthritis, osteoarthritis as well as orthopedic surgery recoveries.

But also understand Rimadyl’s limitations:

While it can improve quality of life as well as your dog’s mobility, it won’t cure them. There is no known fix for arthritis, either in humans or canines.

Rimadyl can help though!

A Highly-Regarded Drug

This non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug is FDA approved for animal use.

We are normally very cautious about the use of NSAIDs for dogs, but Rimadyl is a special exception.

Experts say it is more effective than supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin.

Yet Rimadyl Risks Are Real

As with most drugs, Rimadyl can have side effects.

Being a powerful drug, it is only available by prescription. If a vet talks you out of Rimadyl, it’s because of adverse side effects some dogs experience.

Over use can lead to ulcers and kidney or liver damage.

It is very important to prevent dehydration during Rimadyl treatment since renal toxicity can occur. Gastrointestinal symptoms are also possible.

Side Effects And Interactions

Bad reactions include:

  • Loss of appetite
  • Increase in thirst
  • Increase in urination
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Fatigue
  • Behavioral changes

Complications become an even bigger concern if your dog is already taking other meds, such as steroids.

Warning: Never use a carprofen together with other NSAIDs, including aspirin.

And Now, The Good News

Rimadyl is generally well-tolerated by dogs. And that makes it a go-to supportive treatment for hip dysplasia and various other joint inflammation conditions common to canines.

A clinical study did not show a great incidence of adverse reactions verses a placebo. However, the study may be biased.

One thing is certain:

Your dog’s condition will not improve if you do not take action.

Rimadyl is worth a shot and it is fairly safe.

Dog Dosage And Duration

Be smart and limit your dog’s exposure to carprofens — Rimadyl included.

This means you should avoid administering the drug over long periods. Otherwise, a likelihood of serious effects increases.

Your dog’s weight and age are factors to discuss with a trusted professional.

Also mention if they’re pregnant or suffering from Von Willebrand disease which is most common in Doberman Pinschers.

Rimadyl comes in tablet form, in doses of 25, 75 or 100mg. It is typically provided to dogs daily in the amount of 2mg per pound.

The drug can also be injected.

The Bottom Line

Rimadyl is a relatively safe NSAID for dogs because it was developed especially for them.

But despite the good track record, reality dictates that all drugs come with potential side effects.

Be sure to get your vet’s expert advice. Better yet, get your dog diagnosed before deciding on anything.

Rimadyl requires a prescription anyway.

What Do You Think? Have Your Say Below…

Was This Article Helpful?

13 thoughts on “Rimadyl For a Dog With Arthritis? | Safe and Effective?”

  1. I wanted to start my German Shepherd Dog on turmeric. She is currently on Rimadyl which I hate. My vet told me not to use turmeric because it does something to the platelets. Your opinion would be greatly appreciated or any other options beside Rimadyl without horrid side effects.

  2. Rimadyl is a horrible drug that most vets will not use anymore. We had one vet that killed our dog by mixing Rimadyl with a steroid shot.

    After that I did a lot of research and called a lot of vets. Every single one of them told me they don’t even prescribe Rimadyl anymore due to deaths and other severe side effects.

  3. My brother’s healthy Pit Bull recently died due to liver failure after 3 weeks of treatment with Rimadyl. Pfizer has several lawsuits against them for this medication.

  4. Do not give Rimadyl. Statistics are inaccurate due to lack of reports from pet owners. My senior dog just died from internal bleeding. Steroids are dangerous and are well known to erode tissue. Feed a hand made diet, give a natural pain reliever.

    1. Rimadyl is not a steroid. It’s an NSAID, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Unfortunately, some NSAIDs (usually acetaminofen) can eat away at the stomach lining if overused and not taken with food or given properly. This is true for humans and dogs. Steroids, on the other hand, shut down various types of hormone production when given too long and can cause the development of Cushing syndrome.

      That being said, I would guess that your dog had developed a clotting issue and the Ibuprofen thinned the blood too far. Or they got into something containing grapes or raisins. That can cause the blood vessels of many breeds of dogs to dissolve. I’m sorry for your loss, but please make sure your information is accurate.

      1. Internal bleeding can also occur from Rimadyl injections. The mechanism of Rimadyl is such that it blocks prostaglandins in the body which protects mucus linings, whether oral or injected. I thought bypassing the GI tract would alleviate the risk but, no.

        If the mucus linings don’t have their natural protection (from high stomach acids), then those stomach acids can immediately cause internal bleeding. It happened to my dog. Rimadyl isn’t worth the horror when there are multiple alternatives.

    2. I agree this is a very dangerous drug for dogs. Do your research. You will read many negative experiences from owners regarding drug. I know of people who had healthy dogs die after a few days of taking Rimadyl.

      Most vets do not do liver tests prior to administering it. Tests, and enzyme panels, must be done prior to administering Rimadyl. Liver failure can easily result in death.

      Make sure to have your dog take the liver test before and afterwards assuming you still want to use this drug. The liver should be monitored closely!

  5. My 100 pound Lab has cruciate problems. My vet said surgery isn’t usually successful for dogs that large. She would also have to be crated and sedated for at least 8 weeks while recovering. Would a leg brace help her? What kind of medication would alleviate her pain? The vet suggested Rimadyl but also said it has side effects.

    1. Hi, Cathy. My Cocker Spaniel named Niles had the cruciate ligament operation 6 years ago. He took 16 weeks to heal completely but he’s fine now. He was on Rimadyl. Now has a large lump in his neck and is on Meloxidyl which is an anti-inflammatory painkiller. Ask your vet about it. Meloxidyl comes in liquid form which you measure by the weight of the dog. I hope this helps.

      1. How is the Meloxidyl working? My German Shepherd has recently been having trouble with his hips due to severe arthritis.

    2. They, unfortunately, couldn’t operate on my TJ. She was too old and they were afraid she would die on the table. It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. She was in constant pain.

    3. Be very careful with Rimadyl, especially with Labradors. They seem to be extremely sensitive to that drug. My advice, have your dog thoroughly examined by a vet before administering any NSAID. Make sure to keep your dog under veterinary control for as long as he/she is on Rimadyl.

  6. Thanks to your site, I’m doing more research on medicines and discovered that my Husky died because of a vet error.

    He did not eat for 3 days, that’s why I sent her to the veterinarian. They prescribed Tramadol, a pain killer, together with an anti-depressant called Mirtazapine Soltab.

    Through my research, I found that Tramadol cannot be given together with anti-depressants. In hindsight, I believe my Husky only suffered from toothaches and hence she refused to eat. I should have given her some honey or other soft foods, like canned foods.

Leave a Reply to Terence Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *