Greetings,
Welcome to this month's issue of The Pet Arthritis Chronicle. Please pass this along to your friends!

Table of Contents:

1. Content from The Pet Arthritis Resource Center
2. Do Not Blame the Vet
3. Pet Arthritis Message Boards

The Myth of 100% Complete Processed Pet Foods Every day, people by the millions pour food from a package into their pet’s bowl. Day in and day out, meal after meal, pets get the same fare. This strange phenomenon is not only widely practiced, but done by loving owners who believe they are doing the right thing. Bad Joints: What can you do? We all suffer when our pets are hurting. It probably makes it worse when we see them "nursing" a bum joint. It helps to know what you can and cannot expect when you are facing an issue like this. More Issues with Food and Family Pets Recently, I went back to discussing food issues in some detail. It is important to understand that we do have ways of helping out pets not only with their diets, but with preventing things from happening long term.

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Do Not Blame the Vet

When Rimadyl® was introduced in 1997 it was called a "miracle drug" for treating arthritis in family pets. And, other drug companies followed with their own offerings of similar drugs.* A total of four major brands compete in this business.

* Rimadyl® is a registered trade name of Pfizer, Inc.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that this class of drugs is safe for use but with this important caveat. They are "safe" if used as directed.

Consequences
As I have reported in this column, there have been many instances of adverse consequences from using these NSAID's, including death. Although the numbers are not overwhelming, they are still an issue. When pets either die or have to be "put down" because these drugs have been used, it makes every pet owner wonder if the risk is worth it.

Since the FDA put their stamp of approval on these drugs, it was a long time before the special warnings were placed on the labels. Of course, with the recent warnings about the use of both prescription and non-prescription pain remedies for humans, there is a clear parallel between the two. In fact, veterinarians and pet owners have expressed concern that not enough is said about potential dangers before they are prescribed.

In one review, it was found that nearly 60% of those who reported an adverse event from using these drugs for their pet's arthritis, the owner had been giving their pet both a prescription NSAID and aspirin at the same time. That is just an instance of a "deadly mixture."

This issue really comes down to drug company representatives providing information to veterinarians that tend to minimize risks. I think it is that simple. They are more concerned with selling product than they are "educating vets."

If the Vet Recommends an NSAID
Veterinarians are becoming acutely aware of the possible complications of using these drugs. It is inevitable with all of the press coverage on these issues.

If you are not getting the total picture from veterinarians, be vigilant yourself. If your pet is on these drugs, there are usually symptoms that spell out trouble. Vomiting, diarrhea, dark stools, and changes in their intake of liquids or urination patterns. Since liver problems have also been associated with the use of these drugs, watch for any "yellowing" of gums, skin or the eyes.

The Safe Alternative
I continue to maintain that in most cases, a high-quality liquid Glucosamine provides your arthritic pet with a safer and equally effective approach. There are no adverse effects so the issue is one of taking the safe road. Frankly, I would not even consider an NSAID for any pet I owned who suffered with arthritis or joint-related pain.

See you next time.

For information on arthritis in pets visit our site at http://www.arthritis-cats-dogs.com

For information on glucosamine and the leading products read The Guide to Glucosamine Products. Or you can learn more about glucosamine formula Syn-flex®, our recommended glucosamine product.

A feature to our Pet Arthritis Resource Center is the Pet Arthritis Message Board. You can post messages, ask questions, learn more, and meet friends. You can post messages in any of the following sections.

Dogs

• Canine Hip Dysplasia
• Arthritis in Dogs
• Glucosamine for Dogs

Cats

• Feline Hip Dysplasia
• Glucosamine for Cats
• Arthritis in Cats

Other Animals

• Arthritis in Other Animals

Here's a few sample posts from the Forum...

winskins
Posted on 18 Jul 2005

I have a 13 year old black lab/Irish wolfhound mix..luckily he's the size of the black lab. He has arthritis in his spine which was causing him to not walk much. Very sad to see. The doctors put him on a drug that almost killed him, then they suggested the glaucosomine, he has a sensitive stomach so that didn't work...then I discovered SYN-FLEX for dogs, he's a new dog. He's going up & down stairs again, runs out of the house..he's still 13 but the quality of his life has improved so much that we will have him for a long, long time!

Post your own message on The Pet Arthritis Message Board now!

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This concludes the July Issue of The Pet Arthritis Chronicle. Look for the next issue in your inbox on August 15th, 2005!

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Have a great May from The Pet Arthritis Resource Center and The Pet Arthritis Chronicle. See you next month!