A debate has been raging for years over the proper terminology to use when describing the relationship of a person to his or her pet.  Historically, animals have been regarded as property in the eyes of the law.  Therefore, people with pets have been called pet owners.

However, a growing number of people feel that the word “owner” does not do justice to the relationship between a person and a pet.  Adherents to this school of thought often prefer the word “guardian.”  They argue, quite reasonably, that people form intense emotional bonds with their pets, and that this relationship deserves a unique title.  They point out that most people love their pets. Nobody I know would say that love their dishwasher or their sofa.

Members of the owner camp retort that calling oneself a pet guardian may have unintended consequences for people and pets.  They point to the example of adults who are guardians of children, and claim that guardianship carries responsibilities that ownership does not. For instance, the owners of a sick pet can refuse veterinary treatment if they cannot afford it.  The guardian of a child would go to prison if he declined medical treatment for the same reason.

Proponents of pet ownership ask what would happen in these circumstances if pet owners became pet guardians?  And how would the change in terminology affect the availability of procedures such as spaying, neutering, and euthanasia?  They point out that a child’s guardian cannot have him sterilized or put to sleep. Would an animal’s guardian be able to do these things?

As a veterinarian, this issue is a minefield for me.  Pet guardians are offended if I call them owners. Owners think I am crazy if I call them guardians.  I try to avoid both terms.

For now, the proponents of pet ownership hold sway in most quarters.  But the guardian camp is gaining momentum.  The guardians make some valid points, and I suspect that in the long run, if they can resolve the issues listed above, they will carry the day. Only time will tell.

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In the last week I have received several questions about the safety of Rimadyl. Since it seems to be a hot topic, I will devote this post to issues surrounding Rimadyl and related medicines.

Rimadyl is a pain killer and anti-inflammatory medication. It is a class of medicines called prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (prescription NSAIDs). Other commonly used medicines in this class include Deramaxx, Previcox, Metacam and EtoGesic.

In veterinary medicine, prescription NSAIDs commonly are used to treat pain and inflammation from arthritis, trauma, surgery, strains, sprains and pulled muscles. Prescription NSAIDs are used frequently in dogs. They are used less often in cats.

All of the prescription NSAIDs have similar side effects (gastrointestinal upset is most common). All of the prescription NSAIDs are metabolized by the liver and excreted by the kidneys. This means that all of them have the potential to damage the liver, and all of them must be used cautiously in animals that have impaired liver or kidney function.

Extreme reactions to prescription NSAIDs occur very rarely. However, when they occur they can be fatal. If you google any of the medicines that I listed above, you will find web pages in which people have written about their bad experiences with each of them. These cases are very sad. However, they are the exception, not the rule.

Rimadyl, in particular, has received some bad press for being linked to liver failure in some Labrador retrievers. However, in my experience adverse reactions to prescription NSAIDs are unpredicable, and Rimadyl does not seem to cause more adverse reactions than the others. One dog may react badly to Rimadyl and tolerate Deramaxx. For another dog, it could be the other way around.

I have said many times on this blog that in veterinary medicine one must weigh the benefits of a treatment against its risks. Prescription NSAIDs may cause side effects or, very rarely, severe adverse reactions. However, they are potent pain killers, and they give some arthritic dogs new leases on life. For most dogs, the benefits outweigh the risks.

Long-term use of prescription NSAIDs is safe for most dogs. However, regardless of which one you use, your vet should check your pet’s liver and kidney function periodically to make sure that no damage has occurred.

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