Worried about possible side effect of Rimadyl

[Savannah1234]

I wil try to be brief. Our little yorkie girl is 12 years old and was vomiting on Tue, I took her to the Vet and they ran a blood test and gave her a anti voimit shot to stop the vomiting along with meds to give her at home. Her Bun was 85 ( 72 or below is normal on their chart), her cretinine was elevated also. Wed she received fluids. They did a repeat test on Friday and the creatinine was 1.3 (within their normal range) and bun is 75, decreasing but still high, there were other levels that were slightly elevated previously, but have returned to a normal range. Her uranalysis was normal, perfect the vet said, comparable to a much younger dog. She seems bettter, we have ceased the Rimadyl. However, she has become picky in her eating habits, trying to keep her on rice and chicken for her stomach, she prefers the chicken to the rice. She is eating 4 to 6 very small meals per day and drinking normal amounts of water. Any thoughts on how to get her to eat rice or bread? I have tried soaking it in chicken broth and sprinkling garlic powder on it. Has anyone else experienced this side affect from the use of Rimadyl? We were using it to treat the luxating patella in her hind knees.

Thanks in advance for any comments suggestions.

[Maximo]

Maximo has had Rimadyl twice for pain management -- once after being neutered, and more recently for an eye ulcer. No side effects, but he wasn't on it long.

I doubt that the pain med would create a picky eater. It's probably the illness and getting back to regular food. My other Yorkie didn't care much for rice when I had to do the chicken/rice thing with him after a stomach ailment.

Did your vet recommend a schedule for reintroducing your girl's regular diet? (kibble?)

[Ladymom]

Rimadyl is known to cause serious side effects especially when used long term. How long was she on it?

Carprofen - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Senior Dogs Project

If she won't eat rice, you could try oatmeal, barley or even a little pasta. I'm sure once her stomach feels better her appetite will improve.

[2Morkies]

I had my old dog on Rimadyl before I let him go. He was 12 and really sick the Rimadyl helped comfort him. Chicken and rice is good as is the chicken broth. I would NOT use garlic powder. I've heard that it's toxic to dogs.

[deeda9999]

Gilmore is on that because of his LP surgery. He was not eating or drinking so the doctor had me stop it for 2 days. I immediately noticed a huge difference. We are back on it and again he is not pooping on schedule like he was off the meds and he is not eating as well. They told me to try some baby food which he is doing ok with. Maybe you can mix some of the rice in with baby food. I have found that if I put his medicine in a teaspoon of yogurt he eats with medicine with no problem but that is probably not good with vomiting.

Good Luck. It's horrible when they don't feel well.

[107barney]

I've used Rimadyl a few times along with another anti-inflammatory medication with no side effects.

LadyMom pointed out some alternatives to rice. You could also try cooked cream of rice, sweet potato, butternut squash, or even cooked and peeled winter (yellow) squash. I'd probably try them in that order. All of these items are easy to digest and I've used them all for my dog Daisy who has a lot of medical problems.

No garlic - even in small amounts.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by deeda9999

Gilmore is on that because of his LP surgery. He was not eating or drinking so the doctor had me stop it for 2 days. I immediately noticed a huge difference. We are back on it and again he is not pooping on schedule like he was off the meds and he is not eating as well. They told me to try some baby food which he is doing ok with. Maybe you can mix some of the rice in with baby food. I have found that if I put his medicine in a teaspoon of yogurt he eats with medicine with no problem but that is probably not good with vomiting.

Good Luck. It's horrible when they don't feel well.

I would be careful using baby food. Many of them contain onion powder, which is toxic for dogs.

[Savannah1234]

[QUOTE=Ladymom;3347120]Rimadyl is known to cause serious side effects especially when used long term. How long was she on it?


About 2 and 1/2 months. Had blood work after being on it for 2 weeks and all was normal. I will try the pasta. Thanks so much for the input. She seems to be doing better today, rolled in the grass, she loves that, and actually ran to me for food, when I was ready to give her breakfast. Thanks again.

[Savannah1234]

Hi all, she has been on the Rimadyl for 2 1/2 months. Had blood work 2 weeks after starting the meds and everything was fine. I will try the pasta. She seems better today, rolled in the grass and ran to me for her breakfast. All very good signs. Thanks for all of the comments and suggestions. I think we will be stopping the Rimadyl and go back to the adequin shots monthly, which she tolerated fine.

[Savannah1234]

Thanks for all of your thoughts and suggestions. She has been on the Rimadyl for 2 1/2 months, blood was tested prior to starting Rimadyl and 2 weeks after. She seems to be doing better today. She was rolling in the grass several times today, and ran to me for her breakfast. She still only wants the chicken. I am going to try some pasta.

Thank you all for your input and suggestions and thoughts.

[Savannah1234]

Her recent BUN level has lowered to 50 and her creatinine is normal of 1.1. All of her other levels were normal. We started a LP diet with Royal Canine LP, I am mixing it 2 teaspoons of the LP to 2 tablespoons of chicken with just a few drops of fish oil and 1 teaspoon of water mixed in with it. She is not crazy about it. I have been hand feeding her since she has been sick (been so worried about her). But later today we took a walk and she actually ate some of it off of the plate. She has had about 1/2 cup of food today in small meals. We are going to test again soon to see how the levels are doing. I sure hope they continue to go down.

Thanks for all of your help and suggestions. It is just so horrible when they are not feeling well.

[Savannah1234]

I wanted to update everyone. Her levels are now in the normal range. Bun is 31 and creatinine is 1.1, I also had her urine tested and the urine specific gravity was 1.032 which is great for a senior dog. Other than her not liking the kidney diet food and a little cough (Vet says it is from her slightly enlarged heart), she is doing quite well. Looks forward to her .8 of a mile walk every day. I am so relieved. Thanks to all of you for your care and concern and suggestions.

Thanks again

[Savannah1234]

I wanted to update everyone. Her levels are now in the normal range. Bun is 31 and creatinine is 1.1, I also had her urine tested and the urine specific gravity was 1.032 which is great for a senior dog. Other than her not liking the kidney diet food and a little cough (Vet says it is from her lightly enlarged heart), she is doing quite well. Looks forward to her .8 of a mile walk every day. I am so relieved. Thanks to all of you for your care and concern and suggestions.

Thanks again

[Patti]

That's good news.

[Maximo]

Glad to read your update that your little girl is doing well.