Signs of Dog Arthritis and Rimadyl.

Rimadyl is a popular medicine for dog arthritis. Arthritis is a common ailment for dogs as they grow older. Dog arthritis is very similar to human arthritis because of calcification and inflammation cause joint pain and reduced activity. Another form of arthritis in dogs is canine hip dysplasia caused by genetics and diet. This can develop at an early age. The good news is that this ailment is curable with Rimadyl.

Before giving any treatment for your dog, it is important that you know the signs of dog arthritis:

1. Lameness or limping.
2. Reduced activity or less playful.
3. Dog is inactive during mornings and cold weather.
4. Difficulty rising from a resting position, especially in the morning.
5. Pain to the touch.
6. Reluctance to jump or to climb stairs.

Canine arthritis and hip dysphasia is said to affect around 13% of the estimated 60 million number of dogs in the USA. The causes of the degenerative disease can be external joint injuries, rheumatoid arthritis, and the most common reason, aging. Older NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) had side effects like common stomach ulceration, kidney damage, platelet deactivation and unstoppable bleeding.

If you notice your pet just wants to sleep and keep to a corner, loss of appetite or whines then the best thing is to bring your pet to the veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment. Obese dogs are more prone to arthritis than those with regular weight. Once therapy is made, your pet will undergo blood and bile acid testing regularly to monitor the function of the liver. Signs of Rimadyl intolerance may include appetite loss, vomiting and diarrhea, which could indicate rare but serious side effects involving the digestive tract, liver or kidneys. If these signs occur, discontinue Rimadyl therapy and contact your veterinarian.

Rimadyl for dogs is obtained on prescription basis only from a veterinarian. Rimadyl is a product of Pfizer and introduced in January, 1997. It was developed to treat dogs with inflammation and pain associated with surgery or canine arthritis. Rimadyl is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that provides safe and effective relief of arthritic pain and inflammation.

Rimadyl is usually available as 25mg, 75mg and 100mg scored caplets and 25mg, 75mg and 100mg scored chewable tablets. The recommended dosage for oral administration to dogs is 1mg/pound by mouth every 12 hours.

Another option when treating your dog with rimadyl is the injectable form. Rimadyl for dogs injectable is mostly used for canine osteoarthritis and arthritis pain control management. This injectable is FDA approved.

Dog arthritis can be a very serious illness if left untreated. You should pay close attention to your dog and take prompt action when the symptoms mentioned are noticed. Often a natural supplement is all that is needed to help your dog. But sometimes a more aggressive treatment is necessary like Rimadyl for dogs or even surgery. The most important factor is that you notice that something is wrong and get the best treatment for your beloved pet.

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