I'm glad someone brought this up. My vet (whom I have been taking my animals to for 15 years) swears by Rimadyl. He prescribed it for my RB dog Buster when he had bone cancer, and I swear that it helped him survive his last six months in relative comfort.

He has also prescribed it for Barney for his arthritis. I am more concerned with liver damage with him, due to the fact that arthritis is not a life threatening illness. I kept Barney on it for about 2 months, but for the last month, I have been treating his arthritis holistically with supplements (Glousamine and Chondrotin Sulfates, Flaxseed oil, Omega 3 Fatty Acids) and good quality food with similar ingredients.

Lately, however, he seems to be having a little more trouble moving. I am seriously considering putting him back on it. A friend also suggested I put him on Milk Thistle (which is a liver detoxifier) which would help with the adverse affect Rimadyl has on the liver.

I hate to see Barney in pain, especially since he has had such a miserable life before he came here - but I'm not sure it is worth the risk. If I do decide to put him back on it, I will definitely take him in for liver tests on a regular basis.