The Wall Street Journal reports that Pfizer, the manufacturer of Rimadyl, has withdrawn its television advertisements because the Federal Drug Administration wanted Pfizer to include the word "death" in the voiceover of the commercials about the drug's possible side effects. Rather than do that, Pfizer pulled the commercials. The company uses the word "death" on labels and in letters and materials to veterinarians.

Since the 1997 launch of Rimadyl, the FDA has received reports of about 1,000 dogs that died or were put to sleep and 7,000 more that had bad reactions after taking the drug, records and official estimates indicate. The FDA says such events are significantly underreported.

The FDA says that despite these problems, the drug deserves to be on the market, provided veterinarians take proper precautions. These include advising dog owners what bad reactions (vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea) to watch for and periodically doing liver function or other lab tests. Pfizer sent a letter to veterinarians warning of the risks of Rimadyl in mid-1997, but the FDA says that there are a lot of veterinarians who don't think they need to take the time, or who forget, or for whatever reason are not providing animal owners with information about the signs of a bad reaction. (Within a few weeks, Pfizer will start affixing a safety sheet directly to packages of Rimadyl pills.)

What should you do if your dog is on Rimadyl? Talk to your veterinarian. Make sure that your dog had a complete blood chemistry before starting on the drug. Ask your veterinarian to explain the dangers and the warning signs that the dog is having a bad reaction. Schedule regular liver function tests to make sure that your dog's kidneys or liver are not being damaged by the drug. (Some have suggested monthly blood tests.)

Some people feel that the drug should be withdrawn altogether. Others, including some who believe that Rimadyl contributed to their dog's death, disagree. They believe that the drug gave their formerly crippled older dogs good quality time and they would do it all again. You, as your dog's advocate, have to decide whether the benefits for your dog outweigh the risks. For more information, visit www.srdogs.com and click on the rimadyl link.


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