The Side Effects of Rimadyl for Dogs

Sassy, my 14-year-old Italian Greyhound, had always been a very busy, bouncy little dog. When she began to limp instead of zoom, and the spring in her step just wasn't there anymore, I took her to the veterinarian. I learned that she was suffering from painful arthritis in her legs and toes, and my veterinarian prescribed Rimadyl.

According to rimadyl.com, Rimadyl (Carprofen) "is a 24-hour, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSIAD)..." that provides "...relief of pain and inflammation due to canine arthritis, orthopedic and soft tissue surgery.

Rimadyl can be prescribed in three different forms: 1) liver-flavored chewables, 2) caplets, and 3) injection.

Tip: Most dogs think the chewables are a yummy treat, so they need to be kept safely out of reach of pets (and children) because an overdose could be fatal.

Like most human medications, drugs designed for dogs can have side effects ranging in severity from mild to dangerous or even fatal. Rimadyl is no exception.

Most dogs tolerate Rimadyl with only mild side effects, with stomach upset being the most common. Sassy had loose stools at first from the Rimadyl, and I discussed this with my veterinarian. She felt that since Sassy was already feeling much better on the Rimadyl, the tummy upset was less of a problem than the arthritis pain had been. I agreed, and after the first couple of weeks the loose stools became much less frequent.

Other less dangerous side effects include increased thirst, decreased or increased appetite, occasional stomach upset such as vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, and mild sleepiness or hyperactivity.

Some side effects can indicate that your dog is becoming allergic to the Rimadyl or the Rimadyl is causing another medical problem. These side effects include severe appetite changes, severe thirst, severe vomiting and diarrhea, bloody or tarry stools, anemia, lethargy, incoordination, seizures, changes in behavior such as irritability, jaundice (yellowing of eyes, gums, and/or skin), inability to urinate or urinating too much, skin irritation with scabbing and redness, swelling, and frequent scratching and chewing to the point of causing bald spots and bleeding.

The most dangerous Rimadyl side effect, potentially fatal liver damage, is rare. However, there have been many frightening stories posted on various web sites about it. The best way to prevent liver damage from developing is to read up on Rimadyl and its side effects so you know what to watch for, and make sure that your dog is given a baseline liver function blood test when she starts on Rimadyl and is re-tested regularly while she is on the medication.

Unfortunately, with dogs it is sometimes difficult to determine the severity of some side effects. Most dogs are very stoic and they obviously can't say, "Mom! My tummy hurts bad!" Because of this, if your dog is on Rimadyl and has any problems you suspect might be caused by the Rimadyl (no matter how mild it seems), you should talk to your veterinarian as soon as possible.

In Sassy's case, she did not experience many side effects to the Rimadyl. However, she was on the medication for only about six months before she started to become allergic to it. The skin on her feet and legs became swollen, red, and itchy. She managed to chew most of the hair off her feet in about two days and made little sores on her pads before I realized how truly uncomfortable she was. I called my vet, and we tried reducing the dose of Rimadyl she was on, but Sassy simply could not tolerate the medication anymore.

Overall, the Rimadyl helped Sassy's arthritis pain a great deal, and the Rimadyl side effects that she experienced were less bothersome to her than the arthritis pain. If Sassy had not become allergic to the medication, we would still be giving Rimadyl to her. Sassy is now on a different canine arthritis medication, and so far is doing well.