Overdose on Rimadyl - Watch where you put your meds.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Our Springer Spaniel has a prescription for Rimadyl to aide in his recovery from CCL surgery. I would love to look on the bottle to figure out how to spell Rimadel, but........ my daughter was over with her lab and while we were at the store, he decided to get the bottle off the counter - only this big guy could even try to reach it. There were between 6 and 8 - 50mg chewable tablets left. We found Ned playing with the chewed bottle - no pills. All four dogs appear fine and we don't know if any or all shared in this unexpected feast. Rimadyl can cause serious stomach, liver and kidney damage. All four dogs are on a 3-day medication regime to coat their stomachs to try to avoid these long term health issues and we are to watch them for any "off" side-effect. If we notice something we are to bring that dog in for further blood work. This was a situation that was totally preventable - our own dogs were unable to reach this bottle - but "cuz" LeRoi is a big 75 pound lab.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's Rimadyl, lol! That problem at least I can solve!
I hope all the dogs will be okay; I know you must be worried.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We are and over Ned most of all because he weighs the least. We never dreamed that LaRoi would get so far back on the counter. We are habitually careful because Ned has been known to counter surf but not at the BACK of the counter. We just hope they shared. At least none has any aches or pains! LOL
Thanks for the spelling - my spell check had NO idea what I was going for.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I know this is no help right now, but maybe in the future it would be better for all of us not to get the chewable forms of medications; then they wouldn't be tempted to get ahold of them, even those who can reach the back of the counter! You just can't foresee everything that might happen, no matter how careful you try to be.
Ned probably didn't get any, especially if the lab got to them first. Keeping paws & fingers crossed that they will all be fine!

[Carole (*Koda*Monty*Bindi)]

Along with the tip about chewable I would suggest going with non-flavored meds as well. Both of our older dogs take Novox, which is the generic version of Rimadyl, not only because it is 50% cheaper but because it's not flavored with beef flavoring. Years ago, when our oldest just started on Rimadyl, our 130# Maddy got into the bottle and ate the contents. Gratefully, we knew exactly how many pills she ate and took her immediately to the vet and they pumped her stomach. That having been said though she did spend the weekend in the hospital with fluids to flush her system. She's a picture of health now but we recognize that it could have been tragic.

Don't beat yourself up Nancy, Karen is right. We can not foresee everything that might happen no matter how careful we try to be. Absolutely no one is perfect and we ALL make mistakes. So glad everything appears to be alright.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I am so happy that it appears all are going to be ok! It is amazine what they can get into!

The timing of this post is a little humerous though as I'm thinking how come when we try to give them medicine they spit it out ..... but when they are not supposed to have it they just chew it right up. I just finished giving Lucy her medicine this morning and this one pill is fairly large. Normally if I put a pill in peanut butter it does the trick but this one was so large, and a capsule, and she just licked the peanut butter off and spit out the pill.

How is your Springer's recovery going from his surgery?

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

He is doing well but his muscle is still kind of atrophied. We are walking him but he needs more than walking and there doesn't seem to be a treadmill or pool in our area.

[Leslie and Halas]

I hope they are all ok. I'm always surprised at what Halas can reach, since he's a mini. I don't know how I'd keep things out of the reach of a standard doodle or a lab. I guess I'd have a lot of stuff stacked on top of the refrigerator.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

That is exactly where the vet told us to put it! We decided a cupboard would also work!

[F, Calla & Luca]

If you actually are around when the dogs ingest something you can contact your vet and induce vomiting if it's OKed. I would try this if I couldn't contact the vet ,BTW. It's very important never to induce vomiting with volatile substances because the dog can aspirate these into their lungs, which is very serious. Here is a reference: Vomiting

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We called the surgeon as soon as we got home from the store - they said you had to induce vomiting within 2 hours or it would be worthless. Since we were gone about two hours there wasn't a way to get whatever we needed to induce vomiting in time for that deadline. We did go to our vet as soon as we could get there and they gave us the "stomach coating" meds.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I've also had a good response from "Ask a vet" if you can't get your vet. I think it cost $9. Ask a Vet

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Great timing for this post. My doodle will be on oral antibiotics by this weekend when the culture and sensitivity comes back for ear infection and now I know to ask for non chewables, unflavored pills. We have 2 doods in the family and they could reach the back of a counter if they REALLY wanted to. Will keep this med up with the rest tho in cabinets.