Should You Treat Your Pet's Osteoarthritis with Rimadyl for Dogs

Dogs are very special to most pet owners since it is very unlikely that you will find a more loyal companion.  Luckily, as time goes by, we become extremely in tune to when our dogs are not at the top of their game.  And since they are unable to tell us how they feel, we must acknowledge this fact and address it when necessary.  One of the common afflictions for dogs, especially in larger breeds, is osteoarthritis and one of the more common treatments of this condition is Rimadyl for dogs.

Osteoarthritis in dogs occurs in their joints and results in the wearing down and sometimes tearing of the cartilage.  This results in joint stiffness in your pet and hinders their ability to run, jump, climb stairs, and in more severe cases, even causes difficulty in their ability to stand up. 

Rimadyl for dogs is an anti-inflammatory drug that is non-steroid based that is used to reduce the joint inflammation and assist in reducing the pain.  It is dispensed as a chewable tablet or caplet and is given orally to your dog along with food to help reduce gastric issues.  Rimadyl has been found to work extremely quickly and effectively for treating this condition and is given to millions of dogs throughout the country.

If you discover these symptoms in your dog, the first order of business will be a visit to your vet.  If Rover is diagnosed with osteoarthritis and your vet recommends the administration of Rimadyl for dogs, there are a few things you must consider.

As with any drug for your dog, cost may be an issue.  Rimadyl is not available as an over the counter medication and is only dispensed with a prescription.  This, of course, requires repeated trips to your vet for evaluation.  While most people are very pleased with the effectiveness of this drug, it is far from perfect and you need to consider and be aware of some of the side effects for your dog.  Rimadyl can be very toxic to your dogs, intestinal tract, kidneys, and liver.  In severe cases, this toxic effect could result in the death of your dog.  However, this is commonly avoided by the following the directions exactly as recommended.

Some of the other, less dramatic side effects of Rimadyl for dogs are diarrhea, a change in urination patterns, blood in the urine, vomiting, and a refusal to drink or excessive drinking.  Severe side effects you may witness are stumbling and staggering.  If you witness this effect on your dog, you should immediately cease giving him this medication and contact your vet immediately.

Even with the chances of the above mentioned side effects, your choice to start your pet on Rimadyl for dogs can turn out to be a great decision.  This drug has helped thousands of dogs return to their old selves and can be safely administered by being aware of the side effects, administering the smallest dose possible to start, accompanied by routine visits to your vet so they may monitor your dog's progress.