I have been following the comments on a post from quite a while back regarding a commonly prescribed veterinary medication: Rimadyl.

Rimadyl is an anti-inflammatory drug and pain killer. It has been prescribed millions of times since its introduction several years ago.

Rimadyl, like all medications, can cause side effects. Drugs in Rimadyl’s class (called NSAIDs) may cause diarrhea, upset stomach, gastrointestinal ulcers and liver or kidney damage. In extremely rare cases they cause severe adverse reactions that may lead to death.

It is shocking, horrifying and heartbreaking when a medication that was prescribed to help a pet causes the pet to die. And it is therefore no surprise that some people whose pets have suffered serious reactions to Rimadyl have gone to great lengths to publicize the dangers of the medicine (try googling Rimadyl and you will see that some people have dedicated their lives to crusading against the drug).

I have nothing but sympathy for people whose pets have suffered adverse reactions to Rimadyl and other NSAIDs.

I also will go on the record and say that veterinarians have a duty to explain the risks and benefits of any medication fully before they prescribe it to a patient.

However, I believe that Rimadyl is getting a bad rap. First, in my experience, it is no more likely to cause severe side effects than any other NSAID. Try googling Metacam, Deramaxx or Previcox. You will see that they, too, cause severe adverse reactions.

And adverse reactions are not limited to medications. A neighbor of mine recently tried on some eyeliner at a beauty store. She suffered an adverse reaction to the eyeliner, and later passed away.

These sorts of reactions are absolutely tragic. But they are the exception, not the rule.

I have prescribed Rimadyl thousands of times. It has helped hundreds of my patients. It has caused diarrhea or upset stomach in a few of them. It has killed none of them so far (knock on wood).

So yes, veterinarians absolutely should warn clients about all of the potential risks of a medication before it is prescribed. And yes, it is proper to publicize the risks of medications so that pets can be protected from unexpected adverse reactions.

But at the same time, I am troubled by the fact that so much energy is spent demonizing Rimadyl and other drugs, when the problems they cause are relatively rare. Meanwhile, hundreds of dogs are dying every day because of a different, less publicized risk: irresponsible off-leash activity.

Off-leash dogs account for virtually 100% of those that are hit by cars. They are involved in virtually 100% of dog fights. They escape and are lost. They fall off cliffs, and they drown in lakes. Worst of all, they sometimes attack people, leading to euthanasia and anti-dog sentiment in communities.

If your dog has good recall and is properly socialized, then there is nothing wrong with allowing him to run free in areas where it is legal.

But if you really want to save dogs’ lives, focus your efforts on the people who don’t bother to socialize their pets before allowing them off leash.

• What are the Treatments for Hip Dysplasia?
• AVMA Comes Out Against Ear Cropping and Tail Docking
• How can I Treat my Dog’s Injured Nail?
• American Veterinary Society of Behavior Recommends Socializing Kittens and Puppies at Seven Weeks of Age
• Is Organic Peanut Butter Dangerous for Dogs?

What are some of the things we as dog owners can
do to help a dog with hip dysplasia?

Rosie
Humble, TX

Hip dysplasia is a syndrome in which a dog’s (or less often, a cat’s) hip joints do not develop properly. This causes premature arthritis in the hips. Hip dysplasia is most common in large breeds of dogs. It has a hereditary component. Careful breeding has reduced the incidence of hip dysplasia over the last several years.

Hip dysplasia is sometimes confused with age-related arthritis. Many older animals suffer arthritis in their hips that is not related to abnormal development of the joints. However, in either instance the outcome is the same–arthritis that causes pain, stiffness, decreased mobility and a lower quality of life.

There are several techniques (some old, some new) for managing hip displasia and arthritis in pets.

Preventing hip dysplasia is by far the best option. Careful breeding is the most important aspect of hip dysplasia prevention. Less effective, but still important, is to feed at-risk puppies (Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers and other large breeds) a diet that promotes slower growth. Talk to your vet about this.

For pets diagnosed with hip dysplasia by a veterinarian, several techniques may delay the onset of arthritis. The most effective of these is weight management. Carrying extra weight puts tremendous strain on the hip joints.

Other techniques that can delay the onset of arthritis (or help to ameliorate the symptoms of arthritis after it develops) include administration of oral or injectable glucosamine, oral omega-3 supplementation, and physical therapy (mild exercise, swimming, hydrotherapy, and range of motion exercises). Young dogs diagnosed with severe hip dysplasia may benefit from a surgical technique known as triple pelvic osteotomy.

For the unfortunate individuals that are suffering from arthritis, all of the techniques listed in the preceding two paragraphs (except for triple pelvic osteotomy) can be beneficial. Additionally, treatment with the much maligned NSAID medicines can lead to a dramatic improvement in quality of life. Other, newer pain medicines such as amantadine are emerging as well that may be highly beneficial when used in conjunction with NSAIDs. Some prescription diets may lead to clinical improvement in arthritic pets.

A new generation of treatments for arthritis in the hips is also entering use in clinical practice. These treatments include stem cell injections, stimulation with certain types of lasers, and a technique known as extracorporeal shock wave therapy (it sounds scary, but it’s quite benign).

The treatment of last resort for arthritis of the hips is surgical hip replacement. Recent clinical advances have made this option more attractive than it was in the past.

The long and short of it is that there is a wide array of treatments for hip dysplasia and arthritis in pets. Many of them are new and not widely known. Your best bet is to find a vet who is passionate about comprehensive management of the syndromes. Sit down with this vet and develop a treatment plan that is right for you and your pet.

Image credit: Joel Mills. Licensing information: CC.

• Can Pets Benefit from Physical Therapy?
• Why Does my Dog Hop Like a Rabbit or Bunny?
• Can pets catch colds from humans?
• Is Garlic Good for Cats?
• Do Animals Need Pain Medicine After Surgery?