Question by Sara: My dog just started Rimadyl? Side Effects Question?
My 12-year-old dog recently started Rimadyl for arthritis pain (due to old age) in his hips. He started two days ago. Yesterday, he vomited once, which I assumed was normal as a mild side effect. However, today, he has had an upset stomach all day, was hesitant to eat lunch today (he at really slowly and stood there for 2 minutes before he started eating), and he vomited 3 times. My dog, usually, will go crazy when you feed him, even if he is already fed. He never hesitates to eat. The third time he vomited, it was mostly liquid. He doesn’t have an appetite anymore, really. Food doesn’t even interest him, and usually he is mooching like crazy. But today, nothing, not even a hint of appetite. I know “Your pet may experience some mild stomach upset, vomiting…”, but I’m not sure if this is considered just mild. I don’t think it is (considering he can barely eat), but my mom just wants to see how he does tomorrow. Should we call the vet tomorrow? Please, I’m really worried about him. He will barely eat or drink. I love him so much and I’m so worried about him.

Best answer:

Answer by Rose
I have used that med with my dogs numerous times, never a problem, but yes a call tomorrow is warranted.
Maybe the dosage needs to be reduced a little. Its a great med.

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Question by hello: More details about my question? Is my dog okay?
Okay I didn’t give enough details on my last question. My dog is a 9 year old german shepherd. He used to like to play fetch, and now he only goes and gets the ball once and then he lays down. He doesn’t like to chase anything, and I haven’t heard him bark as much anymore. He likes to bark at squirrels. We have to keep him in the garage at night because of a complaining neighbor. He has pooped in the garage 4 times in a week. He hardly EVER does this. Also he eats a little more grass than most dogs. We feed him Ol Roy dog food. I know it isn’t the best kind, but he likes it and has been doing fine off of it. And he gets different food along with it. The better dog food is really expensive. We tried feeding him one of the name brands and he threw it up and got sick. We were afraid to try anything else but the kind he likes. I think he has arthritis and there is something wrong with his tummy. We are gonna take him to a vet sometime this week, but I want to know what to expect. Thanks.
We can afford good food, and we did try to switch it VERY gradually and he threw it up! Ol Roy is not crap and a lot of people buy it. You people are perfectionists. I get NO HELP from this sight.
I mean site.

Best answer:

Answer by <3
he’s getting old, or bored.

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Question by stephanie: a question about putting a dog down…?
I’m curious to know what folks with experience with this issue think of our situation. ..

Our dog is over 16, which is pretty old for a 50+ pound dog. She’s lost all bowel control, and it’s been that way for ~6 or more months. Lot’s of trips to the vets, and it mainly comes down to arthritis and nerve problems in the her spine which cause her difficulty walking and doing anything but sleeping. She’s deaf and has all sorts of signs of dementia (the vet has told is this is certainly the case)…

… her quality of life is clearly low. She eats, but she’s a shell of a dog – not much gets her excited and when we go for walks she just wants to be home on her bed. But she is not in obvious pain. And sometimes she’ll still wag her tail and get excited about life.

The hard thing… the pooping is killing us. She poops in her bed and it gets all over her…so we have to clean and bathe her in the middle of the night. She poops pretty much every night …. these nighttime rituals are tough to handle on top of a 3 year old kid (and an infant on the way in 4 weeks).

But every time we think it’s ‘time’, we think to ourselves: if weren’t up at night cleaning up poop, would we still be thinking this? I guess we would: she has almost no quality of life. But again, she’s not really in pain, she just sleeps all the time. Do you really kill a dog just because her life has degraded to sleeping and pooping in her bed? She sure seems plenty satisfied doing both…

What do you all think?

Best answer:

Answer by matt h
You have to do what you feel is best for the dog

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Question by rgflash44: My 7yr old Springer with arthritis question.?
My springer was just given dasaquin for her arthritis. I would also like to give her Wholistic Run Free, but I noticed it also has 750mg of qlucosamine in it. I really just want it for the shark cartilige and because it was recommended. Would Dasaquin and Run Free be too much qlucosamine? Thank you.

Additionally, if you are going to answer with something like, a dog is not a do-it-yourself project, don’t bother, I’m just looking for those with similiar experiences as one vet is just one person with only one person’s worth of experience, thank you.

Best answer:

Answer by twistedzandro
you should go and talk to a veterinarian immediately or else.

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Question by Mulereiner: older dog/younger dog question?
I have an 8yr old lab with imtermittent back issues and known arthritis in her back. It doesn’t stop her from tearing the barn chasing rabbits, but the next day shes feeling it. I have her on glucosamine/msm/chondrotine daily otc and then if shes really hurting the next day, I have duramaxx and tramodyl.

I have a 18mth old dog who LOVES to play with her and my poor old dog goes running after rabbits with the younger one just barging into her. If she was a younger dog I wouldn’t worry about this so much.

I call her off, the younger one stops until the older one runs and it starts up again.

I am not a big fan of shock collars, but have used one to stop my puppy from running after ppl when we get home or out at the barn and ppl stop by to see their animals. (they travel with me all over the place) She only wore that for a week and stopped that behaviour. It was to the point that if someone was walking across the street that I didn’t see, she would charge out in the street after she was out of my car and take off to that person. It was dangerous behaviour for her and that was why I resorted to the collar. These dogs go with me on my callouts because I feel safer having the dogs in my car at 2am when walking out of the hospital. They are on leashes everywhere else, but from the car to the house they are loose.

I have considered putting that on her for this purpose only, but not sure. I would like to try other avenues if you all have ideas before resorting to this, but the reality is, my old dog needs the younger one to stop it. Getting rid of the younger one is not an option, I am completely bonded to her and she goes kayaking with me and fishing. I love both dogs immensly.

What other options would you suggest, confining them at the barn isn’t an option, they both need their exercise and the younger one has no interest in rabbits, she just wants to play and run. The older one just hunts and hunts and hunts.

I’m not an abuser of the shock collar, I want to protect my animals and love them greatly, so thats why on this issue, I’m asking for suggestions. Thanks so much!

Best answer:

Answer by Moxie Java
I think youll have to resort to the shock collar sorry…

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Question by manny__♥: Dog question…?
Should we take our 8 year old Australian Shepard (mixed with a pitbull) jogging with us tonight? We took him jogging with us a few times before & he kept up with us but my dad suggested we not do that anymore because our dog is 8 years old. & also he said that could cause arthritis.. so we just kept on taking him for walks. so should we or shouldn’t we? will this give our dog arthritis? is this good for him? comments, please & thank you

Best answer:

Answer by Jo$ eph
your dog needs the exercise. its good to take them jogging.

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Question by SuperHornet: I have a question about my dog….?
I have a 14 year old German Shephard. He has arthritis very bad, and is just generally close to death. He lies on the floor and whines and yelps all night long. Like I said he is 14 years old and he weighs over 90 lbs. I just do not want to see him suffer anymore. I do not have enough money to youthanize him, and I do not want to shoot him, thats just inhumane. I am an owner of 3 dogs, I love them very much, seeing Rex suffer is breaking my family’s heart. Is there anything that I can purchase to ease my dog to the end? I know you may think I am too cheap to get it done properly, but we just want to bury him in a spot where we believe he should be, thats all. Any response to my question would be greatly appreciated,
Sad For My Dog, Illinois

Best answer:

Answer by smurf
Speak to yuor vet about your financial concerns and about getting Rex euthanized. I’m sure they can work out a payment plan for you. Anything you might consider giving him from “over the counter” would likely cause additional pain and no matter what would be considered animal cruelty if given by an everyday person.

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Question by Gemdogz;): Boxer dog question??
My dog has very bad arthritis in her back legs and I am trying to help her lose weight as she is a little fat. I would like to give her lots more exercise than just her normal daily walk. Today She had a long walk and she did a lot of running about and chasing the ball, although now I can tell that it hurts her a lot and I takes her a long time to get up and her legs are very stiff. Should I carry on giving her lots of exercise to lose weight or do I just let her be fat?

I am also going to give her glucosamine with her food at night
Her vet has told us to feed her rice and chicken or white fish until she has shed a few pounds so fingers crossed that she will!
She loves to swim so that’s a great idea! And yes she had got arthritis the vet has told us and it is very painful for her

Best answer:

Answer by Infinitely Superior
FEED LESS!!!
FEED *LESS*!!
FEED ***LESS***!!!!

ASA is an effective analgesic & inflammatory.

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Question by cinstrehle: Not a question, but I answered a question erroneously. Someone asked about giving meds to dogs with arthritis.?
It is not acetaminophen that is toxic, it is ibuprofen that should not be given. Sorry!

Best answer:

Answer by Stevie N
Half of a baby aspirin would be best. Acetaminophen is Tylenot and THAT is poisonous to pets.

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Question by Baby Eats World: What do you think of dog grooming? (question for dog groomers especially)?
I am interested in dog grooming as a profession. I did a 1-summer dog grooming internship and enjoyed it. I did some grooming and a lot of watching.

Next, I talked to dog groomers and heard many complaints. Most say that they are way to busy and have arthritis or some other problem from working with their hands all day.

I would like to here opinions about this job from actual groomers or those that know a lot about the industry. Will I be dissappointed like so many others? Would dog training or boarding be a better career choice?

Best answer:

Answer by torbaynewfs
Lots of backbreaking work,get bit,anal sacks,little hairs in your skin,crabby clients,and carpal tunnel. It was a load of fun. I stopped that after 5 years. Could do it NO longer!!!!!!!

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