My dog was prescribed Rimadyl. Is it safe despite scary reviews?

Question

My 8.5 yr old dauschund was prescribed Rimadyl 25mg per day. Half AM half PM. I have read horrific reviews where many dogs die from it. I have given her 3 dosages and skipped one because I'm afraid. She's supposed to be on it for 7 days for stiff neck and lower back. Pet's info: Dog | Dachshund | Female | spayed | 8 years and 5 months old | 13 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

I understand your concerns - you can definitely read some scary things on the internet! All medications have the possibility of causing problems or side effects - thankfully, for the most of drugs that we use commonly, these issues are extremely rare. Rimadyl is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), very similar to Advil in humans. All NSAIDs have a theoretical risk of causing side effects like GI upset, irritation, and stomach ulcers, as well as liver or kidney issues at very high doses. But just like it would be extremely rare for Advil to cause these problems in humans, it's also extremely rare to see any serious side effects with Rimadyl. This is one of the most commonly used drugs in the veterinary field, and is well-tolerated by the vast majority of dogs who take it. Personally (knock on wood!) I have never had a patient have any serious problems with it, and we use it every single day in our clinic. So while nothing is every 100% guaranteed to not cause any problems, Rimadyl is a very safe and effective drug - just make sure to always give it according to your vet's directions, to minimize the chance of any issues :)

My dog was prescribed Rimadyl. Is it safe despite scary reviews?

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