-
Does your dog suffer from arthritis or any other painful condition? If so, chances are your veterinarian will have prescribed NSAID painkillers to make your beloved pet more comfortable. However, many owners are starting to realise that they can buy the exact same drugs online, for far cheaper.
Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, are the most commonly used type of painkiller in veterinary clinics. They are of the same family as the human drug aspirin, and work by inhibiting the production of an enzyme involved in pain transmission called cyclooxygenase (COX).
NSAIDs are used for a variety of conditions, including:
After most operations, including dental extractions
After traumatic incidents, e.g. road traffic accidents or dog fights
Abscesses
Wounds
Inflammation in the ears or eyes
Arthritis
Hip dysplasia
Knee cap dislocation
Cruciate ligament problems
Most other causes of lameness
Spinal painNSAIDs can be used in most domestic species, including dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, guinea pigs, and other small mammals. However, a veterinarian is obliged to follow a drug ‘cascade’ when prescribing an NSAID, meaning he/she must prescribe a drug that is licensed in the species in question for that purpose before any others, if there is one available.
Although NSAIDs are very commonly used in both healthy and sick animals, there are occasions when they must be avoided. These include:
In animals with kidney disease
In animals that are vomiting
In animals that have blood in their stoolsIf you are giving your pet NSAIDs for whatever reason, watch out for any of the following symptoms. If in doubt, contact your veterinarian:
Excessive drinking
Excessive urinating
Change in appearance of urine (color, cloudiness or smell)
Changes in appetite
Change in behavior
Neurological signs such as seizures or wobbliness,
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Change in appearance of stools (i.e. black and tarry, or fresh blood present)
Change in skin such as reddening or itchinessIn animals where kidney disease is suspected, a veterinarian may choose to run a precautionary blood test to assess kidney function before prescribing an NSAID.
With so many pets having chronic ongoing medical problems such as arthritis, many owners face significant monthly bills for their pet’s medication. As veterinary clinics traditionally charge a markup of up to 100% on the prescription medicines that they sell, many owners are opting to buy their NSAIDs online and reap huge savings by doing so.
Free Shipping on arthritis med orders over $65 with Entirely Pets - coupon code TELEVETS
Here is a selection of the top NSAIDs on the market and how they compare.
Rimadyl*
Drug name: Carprofen
Manufacturer: Pfizer Animal Health
Formulation: Tablets, including chewable ‘flavored’ form for easy administration. Rimadyl tablets comes in a variety of sizes according to bodyweight, including 100mg, 75mg and 25mg. Rimadyl can be purchased in quantities of 60 or 180 tablets.
Dosing: Tablets can be given once or twice daily, according to need.
*Free Shipping on Rimadyl and up to 75% off with Televets coupon code TELEVETS
Novox (nb generic form of Rimadyl)
Drug name: Carprofen
Manufacturer: IMPAX Laboratories Inc. (Distributor Vedco Inc.)
Formulation: Novox tablets comes in a variety of sizes according to bodyweight, including 100mg, 75mg and 25mg.
Dosing: Tablets can be given once or twice daily, according to need.
Special Attributes: Being a generic drug, Novox is generally cheaper than its well known equivalent, Rimadyl.
Metacam*
Drug name: Meloxicam
Manufacturer: Boehringer-Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc.
Formulation: Metacam comes in a convenient liquid form. A syringe is provided along with the oral suspension where the units correspond to body weight. Metacam is available in a variety of sizes including 100ml, 32ml and 10ml bottles.
Dosing: The liquid is given just once daily, either straight into the mouth after a meal or mixed in with the food.
Special Attributes: Metacam has recently been licensed in cats in addition to dogs. A separate formulation is available for this species.
*Free Shipping on Metacam and up to 75% off with Televets coupon code TELEVETS
Zubrin*
Drug name: Tepoxalin
Manufacturer: Schering-Plough Animal Health Corp.
Formulation: Zubrin is available in 30mg, 50mg, 100mg and 200mg tablets. It is available in either 30, 60, 90 or 100 tablets per bottle.
Dosing: Zubrin is given once daily with food.
Special Attributes: Zubrin is the only canine NSAID that provides duel COX and LOX enzyme inhibition. The COX inhibition provides the pain relief, whilst the LOX inhibition reduces the chance of any stomach ulceration occurring, which is a recognized occasional side effect of NSAIDs.
*Free Shipping on Zubrin and up to 75% off with Televets coupon code TELEVETS
Previcox*
Drug name: Firocoxib
Manufacturer: Merial Ltd.
Formulation: Previcox is available in 57mg and 227mg tablets. It comes in 30 or 60 tablet packets.
Special Attributes: Previcox is an NSAID of the class called COX-2 inhibitors. As it only inhibits the enzyme COX2 and not COX1, it is thought to be less likely to cause stomach ulceration, an occasional side effect of NSAIDs.
*Free Shipping on Previcox and up to 75% off with Televets coupon code TELEVETS
Deramaxx*
Drug name: Deracoxib
Manufacturer: Novartis Animal Health US Inc.
Formulation: Deramaxx comes in a variety of tablet sizes including 100mg, 75mg and 25mg. The medication can be purchased in quantities of 30, 60 or 90 tablets.
Special Attributes: Tablets are beef flavored for ease of administration to dogs.
*Free Shipping on Deramaxx and up to 75% off with Televets coupon code TELEVETS
EtoGesic*
Drug name: Etodolac
Manufacturer: Fort Dodge Animal Health
Formulation: EtoGesic comes in 300mg or 150mg tablets. The medication can be purchased in quantities of 30 or 90 tablets.
Dosing: Etogesic should be given once daily.
*Free Shipping on Etogesic and up to 75% off with Televets coupon code TELEVETS
Do you have a pet question you need answering? Ask our caring pet advisors here: