Until recently, most of the conservative treatment options were human medications. It's important to note that aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen and an number of other human pain medications are licensed for use in humans and are not approved for use in animals. Osteoarthritis is a progressive, degenerative condition affecting an estimated 20 percent of all adult dogs. Since Rimadyl's introduction, over a million dogs 2 have experienced relief of the pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis, thus making it possible to restore the quality of life to America's best friend. As with other pain relievers in this class, rare but serious side effects involving the digestive system, kidneys or liver may occur.
Regular monitoring is required for pets on any medication.
See Full Disclosure for additional information. By Steve Fox, MS, DVM, MBA, PhD, Senior Technical Services Veterinarian, Companion Animal Division, Pfizer Animal Health. Prior to joining Pfizer, Dr. Fox wrote his PhD dissertation on pain management. He is considered to be among the experts on pain management in companion animals. References Proprietary market research, 1996.