Phred, with any of the 3 (rimadyl, metacam, tramadol), the vet will do routine blood work to monitor kidney, liver and other levels. There are tons of hits for each one. I just go by the rescue's guidelines, based on the report of the senior dog project.Originally Posted by Cinder & Smoke
Metacam, and Tramadol are the 2 suggested in the senior dog project, as alternatives to Rimadyl. Metacam is the Tops for pain relief, and it is the most expensive. Marlin got no relief with Tramadol and so we switch over to Metacam within 24 hours, and he was feeling noticeably better in hours. (This was back when he had 38 teeth extractions all at one go.)
Rimadyl can cause internal bleeding and kidney problems. As a short term measure and if your dog is in pain, use this with caution. Long term, it can cause liver problems.
The following is taken from this site:
http://www.nopain4pets.com/arthritis-in-dogs.html
There are two main medications that Veterinarians usually prescribe for the inflammation and pain of arthritis and hip dysplasia. These two canine pain relief treatments are Rimadyl and Metacam. Both of these medications may have moderate to severe side effects for your pet. These are controlled medicines that can only be purchased with a prescription.
Rimadyl - Rimadyl (Carprofen), is produced by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and was introduced into the market in January 1997. It has proven to be an effective means of relieving arthritis pain in dogs. Since it's introduction there has been serious concern about the side effects of the medication. Many pet owners have reported death of their pets due to adverse reactions to Rimadyl.
When my dog needed relief from her arthritis my Vet suggested that we use Metacam instead of Rimadyl due specifically to the large number of side effects with Rimadyl.
Metacam - Or Meloxicam is an NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and is closely related to ibuprofen. My Vet likened it to ibuprofen on steroids (although there are no steroids in it). It was suggested that Metacam was a far safer (yet more expensive) choice than Rimadyl. I found my Lab Brandy tolerated it very well and could not identify any side effects from it. The only downside I could see was the cost. It should be noted that Metacam can be used to treat other painful conditions including injuries, surgery and cancer.
There are loads and loads of sites on this subject, Pros, Cons, it gets mind boggling.
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