I have an 11-1/2 year old 45 lb American Eskimo (She's not overweight; she's a big dog) who is healthy except for hip dysplasia and now arthritis. She had an incident about 7 years ago where her rear leg wouldn't straighten out, she wouldn't go up stairs, etc. I gave her baby aspirin for probably five days at that time until she was normal again. I went to the vet and she suggested glucosamine/chondroitin so I gave her one pill every day afterwards and have increased the dosage to twice a day in recent years. I have given her aspirin occasionally with no ill effects.
The vet wants to put her on Rimadyl because she is limping nearly every day now but after reading about the side effects (like DEATH) I am very much afraid to put her on it. It seems like some dogs thrive on it, some dogs it doesn't do any good and some dogs die. You just don't know how yours is going to react. Do I want to take that chance??? No.
The vet says aspirin will damage their liver and cause gastric bleeding but doesn't Rimadyl carry the same risks and costs a lot to boot? Maybe I should increase the gluc/chond. I could use some advice. Thanks.
The vet wants to put her on Rimadyl because she is limping nearly every day now but after reading about the side effects (like DEATH) I am very much afraid to put her on it. It seems like some dogs thrive on it, some dogs it doesn't do any good and some dogs die. You just don't know how yours is going to react. Do I want to take that chance??? No.
The vet says aspirin will damage their liver and cause gastric bleeding but doesn't Rimadyl carry the same risks and costs a lot to boot? Maybe I should increase the gluc/chond. I could use some advice. Thanks.