Medication……NSAIDs (Rimadyl)…..Pain Management

Many, if not most, senior dogs eventually develop arthritis --  a condition that causes pain and slows them down.  Dogs will also experience pain in other circumstances -- for instance, when undergoing surgery. Of course, both you and your veterinarian will want to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to alleviate pain and minimize any suffering your dog might experience.

According to the 2015 American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) report on pain management in animals, "Pain management is central to veterinary practice.... Alleviating pain is not only a professional obligation (recall the veterinarian's pledge to 'the relief of animal pain and suffering') but also a key contributor to successful case outcomes and enhancement of the veterinarian-client-patient relationship. A commitment to pain management identifies a practice as one that is committed to compassionate care; optimum recovery from illness, injury, or surgery; and enhanced quality of life."

Over the years that drugs like Rimadyl and other NSAIDs have been available, they have been widely prescribed. As the AAHA report points out, however, "Signs of GI toxicity usually emerge within 2–4 weeks but can occur at any at any point during administration.  It is critical that veterinarians communicate NSAID toxicity risk factors to pet owners (e.g., providing client information that describes potential side effects, including the commercial circulars provided by drug manufacturers and instruction on when to stop medication and contact a veterinarian)." 

If you think your dog may be having a toxic reaction to an NSAID that has been prescribed by your veterinarian, go directly to the NSAIDS Take Action Page.

 

At this point, you may have decided to look for alternatives to NSAIDS.  If so,  please go to the page on Pain Management Alternatives.

In addition to Rimadyl, some brand name NSAIDS are Etogesic, Metacam, Deramaxx, Previcox, Zubrin, Novox, Vetprofen.   The generic name for the drug is "carprofen."   As of April 1, 2022, the FDA had approved a generic form of NSAID -- a firocxib chewable tablet called "Firox" -- "...for the control of postoperative pain and inflammation associated with soft-tissue and orthopedic surgery in dogs."

A current list of brand-name NSAIDs approved by the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine is presented on the FDA site

The FDA's CVM site states: 
"As with any medication, veterinarians should discuss the benefits as well as the risks of the drugs with their clients when prescribing an NSAID. Every year millions of doses of medications are prescribed for dogs with good reason—but many adverse reactions occur. Most adverse reactions are mild, but some result in permanent impairment or even death. If the client can recognize a possible reaction and stop the medication while seeking veterinary attention for the dog, quick action may make the difference between a good outcome and a disaster.

"The most common side effects from NSAIDs include vomiting, loss of appetite, depression/lethargy, and diarrhea. Some side effects can be serious, especially if the drug is not used according to labeled directions, resulting in the need for medical care. Serious adverse reactions include gastric ulcers and perforations, kidney and liver problems. Death may result in some instances."

FDA's Extensive Guidelines for Prescription and Use of NSAIDs for Dogs
The Food and Drug Administration has issued guidelines covering the prescription and use of NSAIDs. Please review them, and be certain your veterinarian has seen them, before administering them to your dog. Also see "Get the Facts about Pain Relievers," an excellent article published by the FDA.

Bloodwork Prior to and During the Course of an NSAID Regimen
Ideally, a senior dog should have bloodwork done before being placed on an NSAID regimen and at regular intervals over the course of therapy.  Blood testing will reveal whether a dog has compromised liver or kidney function, in which case the dog is not a good candidate for Rimadyl or another NSAID.  Unfortunately, an aging dog may, in fact, have such compromised function.  Bloodwork does not come cheap, and, for that reason, veterinarians may be reluctant to suggest it and dog guardians reluctant to sign on for it.  NSAIDs are also used for pain control following surgery; in that case, bloodwork will have been done as part of the preparation for surgery.  Again, however, if a dog is on an NSAID regimen over a period of time, bloodwork needs to be done at regular intervals.

Mar Vista Animal Medical Center in Los Angeles advises clients as follows:
"A dog that is potentially a candidate for long term use of carprofen should have a complete examination by the veterinarian, a screening blood panel to establish baseline biochemical values, and ideally some kind of recheck testing two weeks after starting carprofen. This is because most adverse reactions, unusual as they may be, occur within this initial time frame and it is important that they be recognized before they get out of hand. After this initial period, complete blood panels should be screened every six months, an important step with any medication for long term use, not just the NSAIDs." 

Why the Senior Dogs Project Wants You to Know about NSAIDS
We can't imagine anything worse than feeling you have played a part in the death of your dog -- whether you've had the dog since puppyhood or have recently adopted a senior dog.  It can be an especially wrenching experience if, in making a commitment to saving the life of a senior dog by adopting him before he was to be euthanized at a shelter, you have inadvertently followed a path that led to his death....even while information that might have been provided by the drug manufacturer could have been instrumental in preventing his death. (This scenario played out in reality with a Chocolate Labrador Retriever named "George," whose veterinarian prescribed Rimadyl without providing any warning of potential side effects to George's guardian, Jean Townsend of Johns Island, SC.)

The Senior Dogs Project recommends that you:
(1) Discuss with your veterinarian the potential side effects versus the benefits of any drug before deciding to administer it.
(2) Do an Internet search to get both manufacturer's information and reports from consumers and veterinarians.
(3) Request and read the package insert or Client Information Sheet that should always accompany any medication that your veterinarian dispenses.
(4) While the drug is being administered, observe your dog carefully and be alert to the appearance of any of the side effects described in the insert.
(5) Report any side effects to your veterinarian immediately and get veterinary attention for your dog.
(6) Follow up with a report of the side effects to the drug's manufacturer and to the FDA.

The FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine offers some excellent advice on ensuring you get all the information you need when your veterinarian prescribes a medication for your dog.

The American Veterinary Medical Association has a list of commonly-prescribed medications that your veterinarian may advise you to use.