Is rimadyl GOOD?? Has is helped your dogs??

frillint

I took my husky/german shep to the vet today to get blood work so we can get him some rimadyl. They gave me 14 tablets to start out with at 100mg. They said they would give me more once the blood work comes out okay and the meds seem to work. I gave him 1/2 asprin this moren so they told me to wait 48 hrs to start the rimadyl. I also have smokey on food with glucosamine and chondroitin. I also have him Hip action with glucosamine and chondroitin. My dog has arthris in his left elbow. He has been holding his paw off the ground and limping alot more than normal, so thats why I wanted to try rimadle. Has anyone had success with this medicine? I also have been taking him swimming in the river right down the road for exercise since walking hurts alot. I also have him on a life jacket and im walking with him its not that deep, just enough for him to swim parts and walk parts. I also put a heating pad on his leg for about 15 mins a day. Is there anything else I can do?

ValtheAussie

It absolutely helped my 14 year old Aussie have better and additional life. She would have been lame and in terrible pain.

Rimadyl gave her more to her life for longer and I would recommend it to any dog owner.

frillint

How bad was she before you started it, because I feel like this is the last hope for him to feel any better and be able to walk without limping really bad. I dont know what else I can do.

ValtheAussie

I will be perfectly honest with you; I WISH I had given it to her sooner because she (my 14 year old Aussie) would have had a better time for a longer time.........at her old age. It made all the difference for her final year.

spotted nikes

Rimadyl helped my dogs. You might also see about starting him on Adequan. It has no side effects, but works great. It actually improves the viscocity of the joints, which helps relieve pain.

It is given by injection, usually once a week for a month, then monthly.

frillint

I have never heard of Adequan. I will research that. I just keep hearing good things about rimadyl and hearing that Aussie said it helped her dog so much gives me hope that smokey might feel better to. How much is the Adequan or does it just depend on the vet?

agility collie mom

Adequin injection cost depends on your vet. Usually your vet will give 2 injections a week for four weeks. If there is improvement you can do a maintenance dose once a month. The vet I work for charges a flat rate for all injection of $225 (for the first month). The maintenance dose of once a month is around $28. It has helped many dogs live a more comfortable life. My vet prefers deramax and metacam over rimadyl. I think it just depends on the vet.

ValtheAussie

I can't say with any authority but I'd bet the injections are for dogs that aren't very far gone in their arthritic condition. I bet it wouldn't help a dog that's nearly lame or lame or has really bad arthritis.

erway

It helped my dachshund a lot when he was having trouble with his back.

frillint

Yes, I'm not sure I would trust the shots and thoes seem to be really expensive. Does anyone know anything else that would help besides what I have already tried?

DJsMom

Often adequan is given in conjunction with NSAIDS or other pain management, at least for awhile.

Adequan is fairly new & doesn't work for all dogs, but has worked wonderfully for many.

frillint

How long will rimadyl take to show signs that its working?

spotted nikes

Rimadyl will start to work within the hour or so.

agility collie mom

Adequan is not that new. It has been used in horses for quite a while. As for it being effective I have seen it used in dogs that can hardly walk and it has improved their quality of life. Some vets use it to help dogs with CCL's to help with the healing process. If you compare the cost of daily pills versus monthly injections (after the initial "loading period") it probably works out about the same. Adequan has less side effects than rimadyl. I would ask about metacam also. The dosage that you give your dog is more accurate than rimadyl as it is a liquid. In fact I use it in my 16 yr old cat and I have seen a vast improvement. imo

frillint

I might look into that if rimadyl dont work. Im going to start it tomorrow to be safe. Is it better than asprin. I was giving him 1/2 325mg asprin in the morn at 7am then the other half at 5pm. It worked for a little while , but know it doesnt do anything. Has anyone did anything else for their dogs that have helped make them more comfortable?

DJsMom

George went through the adequan injections & it did help him immensely for quite awhile. He used it along with Tramadol.
I've never used rimadyl (except for 2 days after DJ was neutered), so I can't comment on it.

Kathyy

Sassy doesn't seem to have severe arthritis but the injections helped more than the TripleFlex we have since gone back to using. She also gets fish oil and vitamin E for general health and plenty of protein to keep what muscle she has.

Here is an article with more ideas on treating this.
http://www.dogaware.com/arthritis.html

ThoseWordsAtBest

Rimadyl turned my boyfriend's parent's 10 year old dog around. He had severe arthritis they had done nothing about (he's being treated now, but because I called AC and they said treat the dog or we take the dog) and struggled to lift his back end off the floor, limped around, and practically fell off the deck to go to the bathroom in the yard. Last time I saw him he was running up a flight of stairs at me in excitement. Wouldn't let him do that if he were my dog, but he has improved greatly.

mikewiththreedogs

I have a 14yr cattle dog who has arthritis, sore joints, and a front wrist that gives out on him occasionally. We have been using a Vet Pain Specialist here in Colorado Springs who is well known. Its been a lot of experimenting because every dog is individual in how they respond to the medications. Rimadyl has helped many and has had deadly affects to some. My boy is on Metacam and Tramadol. We additionally tried the Adequan Injections for several months and have since discontinued them (no beneficial effects). I gave them at home under the knap of the neck. I would like to find something that works better but thinking I need to resign myself to this is what we can do. He sleeps a good part of the day now anyway. His food has been the Innova Dry mixed with Natures Variety Raw Frozen. May have to do a rethink on Innova since I read that advertisement from Solid Gold on the use of Sunflower Oil.

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Laurelin

Rimadyl is worth a try imo. I know you read all these horrible side effects but I know so many dogs it truly helped. My past dog Nikki would not have had a happy last few years without rimadyl. It really turned her around and kept her very mobile.