Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog. Many dog owners feel it has vastly improved the quality of their dogs' lives and, in some cases, even extended their lives . However, there is a growing body of evidence showing that the drug has serious side effects . It was originally suspected that Labradors might have been particularly susceptible to Rimadyl toxicity, but this was never clear since Labradors, more than other breeds, have joint problems and are given Rimadyl for relief.
Deaths are also most definitely occurring in other breeds .
The deaths and side effects reported on this site are a representative sample. Pfizer on its own has recorded approximately 750 cases of non-fatal side effects that do not seem to be related to breed, and the 195 deaths reported to the FDA in 1997 cover many different breeds. Carprofen is not recommended for animals with known bleeding disorders and should not be used if a dog has pre-existing liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or a known tendency towards gastrointestinal ulceration. If Carprofen is used concurrently with phenobarbital , it is especially important that appropriate liver monitoring be performed. ACE inhibitors such as enalapril or captopril may not be as effective in the presence of carprofen.