Dog arthritis is a debilitating disease that affects one out of five dogs. To treat the disease, NSAIDs are a very common medication prescribed by many veterinarians. NSAIDs stand for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These medications alleviate the pain and the inflammation caused by dog arthritis. They do this by inhibiting the pro-inflammatory enzyme prostaglandin. Unfortunately, when NSAIDs suppress the inflammatory properties of prostaglandin, they also suppress the enzyme’s other functions.
Prostaglandin is any enzyme important to many bodily processes. The enzyme is responsible for maintaining the blood circulation in the kidneys. They also help in the production of blood platelets. Thus, when NSAIDs are misused in dogs, it can result in adverse health side effects.
NSAIDs Toxicity
Ironically, when NSAIDs inhibit the effects of prostaglandins, it results in both therapeutic benefits and toxicity. NSAIDs toxicity can be dangerous, and if left unchecked, it can be fatal. Vets are obliged to inform their clients about NSAID toxicity but at the same time dog owners should learn more about the treatments being administered to their dog.
NSAIDs can cause ulcers because prostaglandins are an important component of the protective lining of the stomach and upper intestine. Signs that your dog might be suffering from ulcers caused by NSAIDs are vomiting, changes in appetite, and blood in the dog’s stool. When these symptoms are observed, your dog must immediately be rushed to an animal hospital so the right type and dosage of antacids and protectants can be given, as well as any supportive therapy like fluids.
As mentioned, the kidneys are dependent of prostaglandins – they ensure that enough blood reaches the kidneys. When there is too much NSAID in your dog’s system, this can potentially reduce the blood flow to the kidneys. Hence, the kidneys are unable to function. This is a very serious condition that requires hospitalization. If you notice any changes in your dog’s behavior or physical condition, it would be best to visit a vet so that a blood test can be performed to check for kidney damage.
NSAIDs can cause blood thinning and have also been observed to affect liver function. There are many recorded cases where NSAIDs have compromised liver function, especially in golden retrievers. However, more studies are needed to explain the mechanisms behind the side effect.
It has also been observed that NSAIDs prevent bone fractures from fusing, and may in general terms slow the healing of tissues down.
Should I Use NSAIDs?
I am not trying to discourage you from using the NSAIDs – they have saved many dogs from a very painful life with arthritis. However, they should be used with caution and not as a first line of treatment for ongoing arthritis management. For more information, look our for my e-book on this topic.
Tags: Dog Anti Inflammatory Drugs, dog arthritis, dog arthritis medication, dog arthritis medicine, dog arthritis meds, dogs arthritis, dogs arthritis meds, NSAIDs and dog arthritis, Pain Relief for Dogs
LIKE THIS POST? YOU WILL LOVE OUR MEMBERS AREA
Become a Free Member of DogArthritisBlog.Info right now and discover how to help your dog cope with the misery of arthritis. It’s the one-stop source for all the information you need to help your dog through this common canine disease, and it’s free! Just create your account and you get immediate access.
My 5 yr old Neo Mastiff just had a nerve sheath tumor removed which had ruptured his ureter – which left him with one kidney which is healthy. ( the kidney that had to be removed was healthy)
His Vet put him on Metronomic therapy which includes Metacam and Doxycycline. Is this safe for him? Should he be getting regular bloodwork to monitor his liver & kidney functions?
Hi Anna,
Yes, I think it is safe. Both drugs have some anti-cancer / immune modifying
benefits. They are not specifically anti-cancer drugs .
Nerve sheath tumors (in my experience) are usually of a group called soft
tissue sarcomas. Where was the tumor and was it possible to have it
completely excised with margins.
Sounds like your vet is on the ball I have to say. You are in good hands.
My 12 yr old mastiff/ GSD mix has been steadily declining. She has had cushings for the past 3 yrs plus one shoulder and one hip joint have moderate to severe arthritis. I give her glucosamine and some other supplements and make her take at least a short walk everyday. My question: is aspirin considered an NSAID? I give her 2 low dose aspirin with both meals. I thought this small dosage, she weighs about 68lbs, would be of some benefit but not overtax her system. Thank you for all your great info.
Sorry to hear that Jill. Yes aspirin is considered an NSAID. My advice? I don’t think little amounts of aspirin will help much. Better for her system and for the arthritis to be on intermittent higher dose prescription NSAIDs (I am not as against NSAIDs as I might come across) and/or some prescription pain killers. Remember to tell your vet if you get some prescription NSAIDs as there is a washout period of about 5 days between finishing aspirin and starting the new NSAID. Also get your vet to check spinal function is ok, it is a common problem in older dogs and can mimic arthritis.
Christopher
My dog is on a COX-2 inhibitor because it’s supposed to be the COX-1 inhibitors that do most of the damage. Your article doesn’t address this. Do both kinds have affects on the kidneys, etc. My dog also has mammary cancer and COX-2 inhibitors have been shown to be effective for cancer
The COX-2 inhibitors are much more specific in their action and as such have less side effects but they can affect the kidneys and other organs in a similar way. Recent research has shown that it is not as clear cut as COX-1 versus COX-2 to minimize side effects.
Sorry to hear about your dog's cancer. My understanding is that the anti-cancer effects of NSAIDs are all founded on a drug called Piroxicam (Feldene), an early NSAID. It is kind of assumed that a similar drug Meloxicam (Metacam) might have a similar effect…but I don't think the studies have been done on this. A fair assumption though, especially if your vet is trying to treat other problems such as pain and arthritis?
One must remember that there are risks and benefits to all treatments. When I first graduated from veterinary school, the only arthritis treatment that we had available to us was steroids. While these drugs caused many problems, they were all that kept many dogs from euthanasia due to a painful condition. NSAIDS are a far cry better than cortisone, but as you mentioned not without potential risks. Patients should have blood tests before chronic NSAID use and periodically while on medication. Other forms of therapy should be investigated to see if the overall dose of the NSAID can be reduced. Weight loss, special joint diets, supplements, laser therapy, exercise, and stem cell therapy have all bee shown to decrease the dose and increase the interval between doses of NSAID needed to control pain. Early intervention and accurate diagnosis can also help slow the prevention of this painful condition. Before with holding NSAID medication from your pet due to fear of side effects, remember that arthritis is a chronic, painful condition. While they may not cry out, an arthritic dog is in pain all of the time so some effective form of therapy is needed. While NSIADS are not perfect, when prescribed appropriately, they have helped thousands and thousands of dogs live longer, pain free lives, most without any complications at all
Thanks Keith I agree. We should be grateful that we have them and I prescribe them to my patients. What I have found is that many people would prefer to avoid or minimize their use if possible. I think this IS possible and am giving my clients other options as a first line treatment if they are so inclined or if their pets are not good candidates for long term NSAID use / have shown side effects.
I also believe that the action of NSAIDs is only a small part of the arthritis treatment puzzle so suggest a combination of medication and physical therapy as you have mentioned. Thanks for your comment.
We have experienced negative effects of NSAIDs ourselves when we tried putting Jasmine on Previcox. I appreciate that they help a lot of dogs but I’m hoping somebody will come up with something better, or at least figure out what makes some dogs more susceptible to side effects.
Are you on my mailing list Jana? I am putting out a two part e-book on this very soon that can give people some options to work around the NSAIDs or minimize their use. As I said to Dr Keith the NSAIDs are not bad drugs but people such as yourself need other options for their pets.
As a safe alternative try Adult Stem Cell therapy. We take fat from the animals process it and inject the animals own Stem Cells back into the arthritic joints. We are seeing amazing results with no side effects!
Lori maybe we can do an interview sometime? I think our readers would be interested in stem cell therapy – I know I am!
[...] NSAIDs: How these Dog Arthritis Drugs Can Be Dangerous – Dog … [...]