What are safe, affordable Deramaxx alternatives for my senior dog?

I can understand your concerns. Deramaxx, just like any other pet formulated NSAID, has the potential to cause adverse reactions in dogs. There is no medicine for suspected osteoarthritis that is considered 100% free of possible side effects in dogs. With that said, you should be informed on the potential side effects and what symptoms to watch out for that could indicate there is a problem, such as vomiting, lethargy, decreased appetite, loose stool with or without blood, and to notify your vet if any are seen. For long term use, it is advised to have baseline bloodwork done on your pet to rule out any underlying kidney or liver problems as well. And if your pets history of health is unclear or unknown to your vet, bloodwork should even be considered before the first dose is given. But pets are prescribed this medicine all the time with little to no side effects; although that perspective can be skewed when owners only list the bad outcomes via the internet. However if you do see unwanted side effects it’s recommended to notify your vet immediately and stop the medication. However, there is a good chance he will do well. Best wishes and take care.

This is a tough question and I can understand why you are confused on what to do. If you are concerned your dog is in pain and that the Galliprant is not helping then it may be time to switch pain medications or add in another medication to see if your dog gets some added relief. I have found that some NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) work better in certain dogs than in others. I usually encourage my clients to switch NSAIDs if they don’t feel like one is working particularly well for their dog. It is very similar in humans, some prefer Alieve while others prefer Advil. All drugs have potential side effects to be aware of and it is up to your veterinarian to decide which of those would be safest for your dog based on your dog’s previous medical history. It sounds as if your dog is otherwise happy and healthy so he could be a good candidate to try Deramaxx. If you were my client, I would probably recommend adding in an additional pain controlling drug before switching to another NSAID since Jackie is doing well on the Galliprant. I will add though that I have prescribed Deramaxx several times over the years and do not feel like I see more reactions with it than with any other drug. I hope this helps, I know it’s a lot of information. There is really no right or wrong answer. In the end you should do what you feel most comfortable with. Let us know if you have any other questions. Best of luck!

Adequan is safe to use with these drugs. It is not an NSAID, it is an injection of polysulfated glycosaminoglycan and has no known drug interactions. Here is more info: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1800

I would talk to your vet about alternative supplements to Denamarin. This is an antioxidant supplement containing S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and silymarin, which can usually be found at a human pharmacy, but you need to get the dose from your vet.

There is no contraindication to giving Deramaxx and diphenhydramine (Benadryl) together. Dogs on Deramaxx should avoid any other non-steroidal anti inflammatory pain medications, corticosteroids like prednisone, and aspirin.

Please do not give aspirin. Especially with an older dog it can cause a stomach upset and gastric ulcers. I recommend giving her a neck and shoulder massage, letting her rest and you can use heat on her neck to soothe the area. In a thirteen year old dog I wouldn’t give the Deramaxx without consulting your veterinarian. They may recommend checking her kidney and liver function again before starting any medication. I’ve found acupuncture is effective for pain relief, particularly with neck problems. If she gets worse then please take her in right away. If she’s still lame on Monday then I recommend a exam with your regular veterinarian. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Mocha.

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. Before beginning steroids, I typically start joint supplementation and conservative management before resorting to steroids. Below are the things I currently recommend to combat the pain from arthritis: 1. Dasuquin for large dogs 2. Adequan injections 3. Cold laser therapy 4. Omega 3 fish oil 5. Pain relievers such as amantadine, gabapentin, methadone, and tramadol. If you really want to invest more money into arthritis management PRP injections can help quite a bit. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.