 Pain
Relief Medication for Dogs
A week hasn't gone by since
we had Dr. Stephen Jaffe on "Pet Central" that we haven't received a least
one email or note in the mail about pain relief. Jaffe introduced what
was then an all new product called EtoGesic Tablets. "Pet Central" was
the first to report on this new product in the Chicago area.
EtoGesic is a safer than aspirin
alternative pain killer for dogs, manufactured by Fort Dodge Animal Health.
Thanks to products like EtoGesic vets no longer tell their canine clientele,
"Take two aspirin and call me in the morning." Aspirin and steroids were
once the pain killers of choice to ease the formidable pain created by
hip and/or elbow dysplasia, and osteoarthritis, but long-term usage caused
problems including butchering gastro intestinal systems.
In 1997, Rimadyl came to the
rescue as the first in a line of alternatives to alleviate pain associated
with osteoarthritis. Within a year Adequan Canine and Cosequin became
available, and now there's EtoGesic. While all these products offer pain
relief, they all work differently; consumers can easily become confused
about which is best for their specific situation. Naturally, you have
to consult your vet about that. But it never hurts to understand what
they're all about. For one thing, none of these products will cure osteoarthritis
or dysplasia; they're about helping dogs to feel better.
The good news is that the products
do work for many pets, in some cases, may even work miracles. Hundreds
- who knows, maybe even in excess of a thousand dogs - who otherwise might
have been euthanized as the only relief for crippling chronic pain - now
have a new lease on life. You can't emphasize that statement enough.
On "Pet Central," we pointed
out the new pain relievers have revolutionized veterinary medicine. Still,
much remains unclear about their effectiveness including potential long-term
side-effects, and under what circumstances which pets are most likely
to benefit. On some dogs some of these products may have little or no
effect. And none of these medications come cheap.
The following is a basic guide
to the most popular of these products for dogs. with guidance from Dr.
Steven Budsberg a leading authority on pain relievers and Board Certified
Orthopedist and professor of surgery at the University of Georgia College
of Veterinary Medicine - Athens, and Dr. Claude Gendreau, a American Veterinary
Medical Association Board Certified Orthopedist from Riverwoods. Neither
of these two distinguished vets is associated with any of the pain relief
products.
Adequan Canine: Unlike drugs
which only treat the symptoms of arthritis, Adequan Canine claims to alter
the destructive cycle of the disease itself. It's unclear exactly at what
extent the product is able to do this, but it seems to only be able to
slow down the progression of early osteoarthritis. Presumably Adequan
offers ingredients to assist cartilage to re-build after breakdown, and
inactivates "bad" enzymes that destroy cartilage.
However, when the disease has
fully progressed, the drug may be less effective. For this reason, current
thinking is that younger dogs who haven't fully developed the disease
are the best candidates for Adequan.
Adequan is an injectable to
be administered twice weekly for four weeks. The good news and bad news
is that clients must have the product given as a "shot" by their vet.
This is one certain means the vet can regularly observe the dog. However,
in the real world, visiting a vet twice weekly may not be convenient,
or even an option. There are no known side-effects to Adequan Canine.
Cosequin: This is a nutraceutical,
falling somewhere between a pharmaceutical and nutritional supplement.
It is the only product listed here that is not FDA approved, and it is
the most controversial of the pack. Some vets refuse to prescribe Cosequin
pills, calling it a waste of money; other vets do consider this a serious
alternative for pain relief and have witnessed amazing results.
The primary ingredients in
Cosequin are Glucosamine/Chondroitin Sulfate. People with arthritis also
use Glucosamine, which can be found at health food stores, and the results
vary among people too.
The theory goes something like
this: Cosequin provides building blocks for cartilage. Current thinking
for those who believe Cosequin can be effective is to put a dog on Cosequin
long-term to hopefully slow the degenerative process, while using a non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory (Rimadyl or EtoGesic Tablets) as needed when there's
a flare-up creating pain.
Bottom line: Hard evidence
- meaning scientific documentation - is most suspect for this product.
Generally, side-effects have not been reported.
Rimadyl and EtoGesic Tablets:
They are two separate drugs, but each has much in common. They are both
non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. Both drugs are related to aspirin,
but tend to be kinder and gentler to canine tummies. Both these products
claim to halt the production of prostra glandin E2, a normally produced
substance that creates inflammatory response. By decreasing the inflammation,
pain is resolved.
Some dogs do suffer stomach
upset with Rimadyl, which is why EtoGesic may be an alternative, or visa
versa. "One pill may work for one dog's body and not another dog," says
Budsberg. "When it comes to non-steroidal anti- inflammatories, it's good
to have choices." Additional choices are soon expected to enter the market.
Rimadyl recommends two pills daily, and EtoGesic one tablet daily. In
some cases, EtoGesic may be moderately less expensive.
When Rimadyl first entered
the scene, it was a hotly debated topic on the internet. It still is.
Now, there are entire websights and online chats devoted to claims that
Rimadyl is extremely dangerous. Gendreau and Budsberg agree Rimadyl is
less dangerous to dogs than aspirin is to people. "The odds of positive
results far outweighs any harmful effects," Budsberg says.
Rimadyl may cause serious liver
damage or kidney dysfunction in an a minuscule population of dog, and
Labrador retrievers appear to be the most affected. As a result, playing
it safe legally, Rimadyl's manufacturer (Pfizer Animal Health) now recommends
periodic liver enzyme tests for Labs on the drug. However, Budsberg says
there's an inherent potential danger with any drug and isn't concerned
about Rimadyl's safety; he admits there's still a great deal to be learned
about long-term usage of any of these medications. Concerning similar
side effect in EtoGesic, Budsberg says it's too new on the market, too
early to tell.
Rimadyl or EtoGesic are the
drugs of choice to ease pain related to a canine sports injury.
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