Anyone give their dog Rimadyl?

My lab has some pain in her joint on her right front leg, only happens after she rests for a bit after exercise, vet thinks she has some inflammation and swelling in the joint, maybe a little prearthritic condition or something. He recommended giving her Rimadyl before and after hunting to try and keep the inflammation down. I thought I had heard some bad things about the stuff, but I couldn’t ask him as the wife took the dog in.

Just wondering if anyone has given it or knows anything about it.

Thanks.

I have also been told this was what my dog needed with winter coming it would only help her. I have not had a chance to do and research on it myself but it seems the vets are really pushing the stuff. I have seen adds and even a billboard for it. Have not heard anything bad about it yet.

I have also been told this was what my dog needed with winter coming it would only help her. I have not had a chance to do and research on it myself but it seems the vets are really pushing the stuff. I have seen adds and even a billboard for it. Have not heard anything bad about it yet.

some dogs can develop bad liver problems from the drug and require liver tests about 1-2 times/year if they are taking it weekly. the tests plus the cost of the rimadyl can add up quickly. i have been giving my lab double buffered asprin before and after exercise and she has done just fine for several years now. i try and feed her just prior to the aspirin after exercise. just slap a little peanut butter on the pill and she gobbles it up. costs about $5 for a bottle of 50 tablets. i also know a professional dog trainer that uses the same regime. just my $0.02 worth. good luck!

some dogs can develop bad liver problems from the drug and require liver tests about 1-2 times/year if they are taking it weekly. the tests plus the cost of the rimadyl can add up quickly. i have been giving my lab double buffered asprin before and after exercise and she has done just fine for several years now. i try and feed her just prior to the aspirin after exercise. just slap a little peanut butter on the pill and she gobbles it up. costs about $5 for a bottle of 50 tablets. i also know a professional dog trainer that uses the same regime. just my $0.02 worth. good luck!

I am not a vet but I know my vet was disappointed when I told him of the great results I got with baby aspirin for dogs back pulled groin stuff.
Loss of $$ I think it was. Start small if it ain’t serious I say.

I am not a vet but I know my vet was disappointed when I told him of the great results I got with baby aspirin for dogs back pulled groin stuff.
Loss of $$ I think it was. Start small if it ain’t serious I say.

My 19 year old lab has arthritis in back pretty bad. She was taking the rymidal from vet for a while until a friend had me call a mobile vet in this area and he suggested giving her low dose regular aspirin in morning and in evening with some dog food so as not to upset stomach – shes still around and moving much better too!

My 19 year old lab has arthritis in back pretty bad. She was taking the rymidal from vet for a while until a friend had me call a mobile vet in this area and he suggested giving her low dose regular aspirin in morning and in evening with some dog food so as not to upset stomach – shes still around and moving much better too!

I spent 20 years running GSPs & Pointers in a hunting and field trial string before getting back into fishing the lake I grew up on. I was a very serious dog handler/ trainer. I would just use coated buffered asprin. I’d give a mature dog one w/ a little food & lots of water about an hour before turning them loose in a trial or hunting. Use some food and then give them water by a jug through their flews. Make sure it is washed down on not hung up in the throat. That is the reason to use coated asprin. Just be aware that regular use will cause the dogs blood to not clot as easy so watch them for cuts and slipping pads and such.
I also used asprin for an old boxer that we had as a house dog. It is much cheaper and the side effect to watch for is digested blood (black flecks) in the stool.

I spent 20 years running GSPs & Pointers in a hunting and field trial string before getting back into fishing the lake I grew up on. I was a very serious dog handler/ trainer. I would just use coated buffered asprin. I’d give a mature dog one w/ a little food & lots of water about an hour before turning them loose in a trial or hunting. Use some food and then give them water by a jug through their flews. Make sure it is washed down on not hung up in the throat. That is the reason to use coated asprin. Just be aware that regular use will cause the dogs blood to not clot as easy so watch them for cuts and slipping pads and such.
I also used asprin for an old boxer that we had as a house dog. It is much cheaper and the side effect to watch for is digested blood (black flecks) in the stool.

My dogs get half of a buffered aspirin each after a long hunt. It really helps them get moving the next morning.

BIRDDOG

My dogs get half of a buffered aspirin each after a long hunt. It really helps them get moving the next morning.

BIRDDOG

U of M vet srongly recommends if you give your dog aspirin, give them Ascriptin it is coated with Maalox. you can buy it over the counter

U of M vet srongly recommends if you give your dog aspirin, give them Ascriptin it is coated with Maalox. you can buy it over the counter

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My 19 year old lab

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All I can say is WOW! I’ve never heard of a lab that old. Good for you Carp for keeping him/her with you that long.

Quote:

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My 19 year old lab

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All I can say is WOW! I’ve never heard of a lab that old. Good for you Carp for keeping him/her with you that long.

My mother has been around dogs all her life here is what she had to say. It is a nsaid or non-steroidal anti inflamatory drug like aleve. It is excellent and I use it for stiffnes after racing the dogs etc. There have been cases of adverse liver reactions from using it so if it is used long term it should be under a vets care and blood tests need to be taken periodically. Probably okay to use on an infrequent basis after hunting. Funny after I read your post I picked up the Field and Stream and a few pages into it was a full page add for Rimadyl almost makes you think the drug company is pushing it hard and the vets are getting a kick back. In general I feel vets have the dogs over medicated for this reason?
Zoomer

My mother has been around dogs all her life here is what she had to say. It is a nsaid or non-steroidal anti inflamatory drug like aleve. It is excellent and I use it for stiffnes after racing the dogs etc. There have been cases of adverse liver reactions from using it so if it is used long term it should be under a vets care and blood tests need to be taken periodically. Probably okay to use on an infrequent basis after hunting. Funny after I read your post I picked up the Field and Stream and a few pages into it was a full page add for Rimadyl almost makes you think the drug company is pushing it hard and the vets are getting a kick back. In general I feel vets have the dogs over medicated for this reason?
Zoomer

I’ve been using it before hunts for the past two weeks. Seems to really help her as she is barely stiff at all after hunting.

I don’t think it will hurt her at these small doses, just enough to keep inflammation down after hunting stress. So far so good!

I’ve been using it before hunts for the past two weeks. Seems to really help her as she is barely stiff at all after hunting.

I don’t think it will hurt her at these small doses, just enough to keep inflammation down after hunting stress. So far so good!