General Chat

yes i am writing to my local paper,but have put that on hold for the moment as im in the middle of writing letters to vets across the country.x

Has anyone written to the papers, surely that is the best way to get it known about or even Watchdog, that would be most informative to many dog owners.
The wider the audience the better to stop this happening to other dogs and their 'families'
Lizx

Believe me, Rimadyl now rings alarm bells. I am telling everyone I talk to with dogs to be aware of the side effects of not only Rimadyl but other drugs as well. I for one will be checking anything I get from the vets. Thanks Suzanne for making us aware.
Hilary. xx

im glad my thread is still going,im going to be writing to all vets in england and wales about what happend to tizer and warning them about rimadyl,tizer was 11yrs old and had a benign tumour on the top of his head,it wouldnt have killed him but the rimadyl did in only two months(labs have very severe reactions to rimadyl)he had a terrible death,one that traumatised my family,and the vet had the cheek to send my a bill for £150 for putting him to sleep(i havnt paid it)if my thread can help other pet owners to beware of the horrible side affects of rimadyl then tizer didnt die in vain.xx

How sad for them Hilary, all this money worry on top of the sadness.
Hope they get good advice from CAB

Lizx

Hi Liz, they really don't know where to go with it now. they have been in touch with a lady in America who has won some cases over there but of course the laws are different. To add insult to injury, they signed for the autopsy, which also said the dog had to be cremated afterwards. As this was on the same form, they understood that the cremation was also paid for. They have received another bill for the cremation. Knowing & proving are two different issues. Rimadyl was tested for humans, it was only because there was a glut of arthritic tablets on the market the drugs company turned to animals. They would like to go to the papers but are scared of being sued. Think she is going to citizens advice bureau next but don't hold out much hope.I shall most definately research any medication I get for my dog, for-warned is for-armed.

Hilary.

Hilary, this is heartbreaking, that poor dog and that poor family.
I think the vet should cancel the bill for £1000, as they didn't tell of the side effects of this drug, and if they don't, or even maybe, if they do, these people should go to the papers. That way, others will read of the risks and it might stop one dog and family going through the same situation, and could save a dog's life.

Lizx

Just felt I had to add to this thread. I read it when it was 1st put up. I was talking to a neighbour and knew 1 of her dogs had been ill. when I spoke to her & asked how Deefa was, was told that she had gone. turned out they believe it was Rimadyl that killed her. Rang alarm bells because of this thread. this is a long storey cut short. Deefa was a healthy lively 5 yr. old Springer Spaniel, all she had wrong with her was her ears. Went to vets 29th Feb. for her ears. Was given ear drops & Rimadyl. Within 2-3 weeks of finishing Rimadyl course, Deefa started to loose weight & off her food. Also, strong pulsating in her neck. Back to vets on 10th april. given antibiotics, more ear drops & ear wash plus another dose of Rimadyl. She also had an appointment at the vets to have her teeth descaled the day after her course of Rimadyl finished, under anaesthetic,17th April. She had seemed to perk up a little but still not 100%. They were never told the adverse side effects of Rimadyl, nor were they told to put off having her teeth being descaled. they also put their trust in the vets. They picked Deefa up from the vets, were told everything was ok.everything was fine, teeth done
also flushed her ears out. Within an hour of being home, Deefa was being sick. Thought it was after effects of aneasthetic. Next day, she was uncomfortable, eyes rolling, back to vets, was told she was probably dehydrated. Given anti sickness pills so she could go home & be able to keep drink down.Deefa still ill, so given blood tests, results, high levels of toxins. Put on a drip on 18th April, still on drip 23rd April. Then started being being extremely sick again. sent away further blood tests. Came back, damaged pancreas, kidneys & liver & told to prepare for the worst. They then had to have Deefa put down because she was so ill. It was then, finding it hard to know why her dog had gone down hill so quickly that my neighbour looked at Rimadyl on the internet. Was horrified to read about all the side affects. She believes rimadyl killed Deefa. Complaining to the vets they decided to have an autopsy done, paid for by the drugs company. Guess what the result was. They are now devastated, because they believe they let their beloved pet be killed by a drug that if they had been told by the vets about the side affects they could have probably saved her. This is just a warning, as I believe alot of dogs do well on Rimadyl. Next time your dog gets pills from the vets, ask about the side effects because they don't tell you, neither do they put a leaflet in like human tablets. Also, on looking at Rimadyl on the internet, some sites say that Rimadyl kills cats. They were not insured, now have a vets bill of a £1000.00. Sorry it is so long but have cut it short.
Hilary. x

So sorry to hear the trauma that you,and your family are going through. Your pain must be awful knowing what you do.
I truly feel for you, as i know how dreadful our family felt, when we had to make the decision, to have our Boxer dog, put to sleep, due to a brain tumour. That vet was very cold too.. we weren't even billed... I had just left the room i'd been in with Shane as they gave him the injection, and the vet came to me almost immediately (me sobbing uncontrolably) "that will be such and such please". Vets are in a buisness, where they will never be poor. Okay we are grateful for them when are pets are ill, and we don't know what's wrong, but thats my point. They know someone will always walk into their practice, and pay the huge fees they charge.
I could go on forever on this subject.... But i personally would take this matter further, seek some legal advice at your local c.a.b. By bringing this onto this site alone, you have made a lot of pet owners/animal lovers, aware of the terrible side effects of this drug.. If you went to a local newspaper, what an impact that would have!!

Anyway, good luck with whatever the outcome may be, and once again, im truly touched, and sorry for your loss. x

thanks for your comments.x

Oh that's confusing, two Suzannes.


Our pets are special to us all and it is disgusting what happened to poor Tizer and possible other animals too.
Lizx

Suzanne, so sorry for your loss. Rimadyl is readily prescribed in Australia. My parents Malamute, Mickie, has been prescribed Rimadyl. I'm making her take Mickie back to the vet tomorrow. The problem with these tragedies are that this is happening to our 4 legged loved ones. If it was happening to our 2 legged loved ones it would be all over the media & there would be a massive governmental investigation. Our pets just as precious to us.............
Cheers
Suze

Go for it Suzanne, the more people that know the better the chances of other dogs being ok. Will remind vets to check side effects of things they prescribe too.
Lizx

hiya, letter to newspaper very good idea.x

Suzanne, that is what I meant, don't mean you want to make a 'profit' but at least not have to pay the last bill, after all you paid for that dreadful medication that stopped you having a bit longer with Tizer and put him through such a sad end.
I still think a letter to a newspaper would help warn more people.
Good luck,
Lizx

anyone out there that i can maybe pm for advice,dont know if to leave it or carry on.xx

any solicitors on here today?xx advice welcome.x

hi liz,
ive never been after money,all my aim has been through all of this is to try and prevent someone else going through the same horrific experiance that weve been through,i know tizers gone now,but i just couldnt sit back and let this happen again,ive never sued anyone(never even thought of it)but after this i think i will take advice,when i think of all the money ive spent(to kill my poor dog)and then have to pay to have him put to sleep,its makes me very angry,if id had been told about the side affects i would have taken him off rimadyl and this would have not happend.xx

I think I might be inclined to send it back and say you have already paid it with the medication fee. I do feel in the circumstances the Vet should have cancelled this account, so worth speaking to him about it. If he has admitted being remiss and not telling you about the side effects, he is to blame and so should not have the cheek to charge for the final act of kindness to poor Tizer.
Maybe worth seeking legal advice, do you have legal protection in with your household insurance?
Personally I would be fuming by now...
Lizx

hi linda, yes it was horrible,you camn imagine my horror when i opened my post this morning to find a bill from my vet charging me £135pounds for putting him to sleep.x