My Pet World: Give your dog something else to do besides bark at cyclists

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Q: My 12-year-old Labrador Retriever has been on (the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) Rimadyl for several years. I'm searching for a different pain relief pill and came across articles on the dangerous side effects of Rimadyl. I discovered that Quellin is safer, and I believe it's less expensive. My dog has had no adverse effects to Rimadyl to date. Any thoughts? -- L.C., via cyberspace

A: The generic name for Rimadyl is carprofen. Dr. Daryl Millis, a professor at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine and director of the Center for Veterinary Sports Medicine there, notes that Quellin, while manufactured by a different company, is also carprofen.

Millis says he doesn't know about pricing, but suggests the safety profile has got to be about the same for either Rimadyl or Quellin. Both are essentially the same.

"NSAID drugs are always a concern regarding adverse reactions," says Millis. "But then they are the most effective drug class for pain relief in dogs. We're very leery about giving a NSAID to animals with certain pre-existing conditions. Also, people should know that if there's diarrhea or increased urination and/or drinking or loss of appetite, to contact their veterinarian. Most drugs have possible side effects, and animals on NSAIDs should be watched, but the risk for most animals is minimal."

Millis says there are other drugs which can be used for pain relief, but they also have pro's and cons. Depending on your dog's pain issue, hydrotherapy, shockwave therapy, or acupuncture might help. Millis adds that for osteoarthritis in dogs (and cats), often the best treatment has no side effects: weight loss.

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Q: My 2-year-old Ragdoll mix was using her litter box like a pro, but slowly she stopped doing that. Now she goes in waves, during which she might or might not use the box. She has a skin issue we're still trying to figure out, but our veterinarian feels that isn't related to her not using the box. We've put out three litter boxes, so it's not like she doesn't have choices. One box is in the room with our rabbit, another is in the basement and the third is in the living room. The cat uses the one in the living room most often. Otherwise, she's a perfect sweetheart. Any advice? -- S.M., Chicago, IL

A: Veterinary behaviorist Dr. Sara Bennett, of Berwyn, IL, notes that you don't mention the nature of the skin problem. Some skin issues are caused by stress, or stress contributes to the problem. Certainly, inappropriate elimination in cats can also be caused by stress, or stress may be a contributing factor.

Bennett wonders if your veterinarian has ruled out bladder stones, a urinary tract infection, or idiopathic cystitis.

Bennett says that mapping out where your cat is having accidents is relevant. For example, if the cat is going next to or very near the litter box, she's communicating that the general location is fine, and that she would use the box except there's something offensive about the litter -- or the box itself.

Many cats tolerate running down to the basement to use the litter box, but others don't like this. The fact that your cat avoids the box near the rabbit is understandable. You might want to relocate one of the boxes.

If anxiety is involved, plugging in Feliway diffusers (containing a copy of a calming pheromone) in the rooms where your cat goes most often could help, and certainly won't hurt. Meanwhile, you may want to consult a veterinary dermatologist about the skin issue. If your veterinarian rules out other medical issues, consult a certified cat behavior consultant or a veterinary behaviorist.

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