Rimadyl for Dogs

Rimadyl Chewable and Canine Rimadyl

Rimadyl for dogs to ease the morning stiffness and pain from joints in dog arthritis treatment is very popular. How and when to use it? Get absolute best advice from a veterinarian based on own experiences.

Rimadyl chewable tablets, ordinary tablets or injection for use in practice. Drug Rimadyl is everywhere and in all kinds of preparations.

The active drug in Rimadyl is cartrophen.

Mechanism of Action

Cartrophen is an NSAID (non steroid anti-inflammatory drug) and has pain relieving and fever decreasing properties.

NSAID acts on the converting arachidonic acid into prostaglandins.

Prostaglandins are important in many reactions in the cell.

• Regulates vascular smooth muscles (dilates or constricts)
• Regulate platelets
• Sensitizes spinal neurones to pain
• Regulate inflammatory signals
• Control cell growth
• Control calcium and hormones

The enzyme responsible for converting arachidonic acid into prostaglandines are called cyclooxidase or COX.

COX are divided in COX-1 and COX-2.

COX-1 can be found in most cells and is responsible for the normal level of prostaglandines. You can regard COX-1 as being mostly protective and "normal physiological maintenance" type of action.

COX-2 on the other hand is mostly found in inflamed tissue. It is made if necessary. COX-2 is the one often associated making inflammation worse.

Cartrophen binds specific to COX-2 enzyme. This is how it acts anti-inflammatory. Many of the prostaglandins responsible for the typical inflammatory reactions are not made. Less or no pain and less inflammatory tissue reactions are the result using rimadyl for dogs.

Canine Rimadyl in My Practice

I use it almost all the time. Especially before I perform surgery. I like to give a shot of Carprophen as a pre op preparation. This has pain killing after the operation. I find this extremely important.

And then, also as a treatment alternative in dogs having arthritis, or other painfull diseases in the skeleton or muscles.

But, I don't use it as a first choice.

Morning stiffness and getting worse after physical excises is typical signs of possible joint problems often seen in old dogs. If not too severe, I tend to recommend supplementation in form of omega 3 and/or some glucosamine/chondroitine preparation.

Trying out this for two months and then judging if any beneficial effect is seen.

It is important to stop giving the supplement if no clear effect is seen. Sometimes, the positive signs shows up very slow - which makes them "invincible" from day to day. But, suddenly by withdrawing the supplement, the negative change is much easier to see. Often in days!

Another alternative could be Cartrofen.

If no improvement is seen what so ever, Rimadyl might then be a possibility.

What is My Treatment Goal?

Remember the main goal in the rimadyl for dogs treatment is to remove pain. Remove pain is logical. But there is more to it - read on.

To make the flexibility of the muscles and joint last as long as possible. If untreated your dog will get more and more stiff. Moving lesser and lesser because of the pain.

This will soon increase the speed of the arthritic joint changes even more.

Rimadyl for Dogs and Dosage

If you try out Rimadyl and no adverse reactions is seen. Then, after some time I recommend to half the dose.

To get the positive treatment momentum takes a little more of the drug. But, after weeks or perhaps months, when no further improvement is seen, try to half the dosage and test it.

This is a recommendation I got when rimadyl for dogs got released in Denmark. Probably not used that much anymore. But, I like it and still use it.

So, after your dog is as good as he or she gets, talk to your veterinarian and see if it's OK to half the dosage. No negative reaction in your dog should be seen.

Very important.

If some slight stiffness or pain returns, perhaps after some time, go back to the normal dosage straight away. Promise me that!

In Sweden we recommend two daily administrations. Do this even if you test the lower dosage. If you got fine result giving one tablet two times a day, half dosage is half a tablet two times a day.

Every country do have its own recommendations.

Talk to your veterinarian before you change anything.

Alternative to Rimadyl

If negative reactions to Rimadyl is seen your veterinarian might suggest to try out another NSAID. Even if they in theory should do the same, there is differences between them.

This is valid both in case of adverse reactions or no reactions

Here in Sweden the most often used alternative is Metacam. This is also a COX-2 inhibitor.

I have had patients getting no big improvement using Rimadyl. Decide to try Metacam and they got better. Or the other way around. If no effect with the first one, test a second if you choose this NSAID strategy.

Dog Arthritis Relevant Pages

Dog hip pain
Arthritis supplements
Benefits of Glucosamine
Glucosamine studies
Dog food Glucosamine
Glucosamine dosage for dogs
Glucosamine and diabetes
Rimadyl side effects


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