My Pet World: Benefits of wonder drug Rimadyl still outweigh the risks

Q: One day, a cat came to my door, and from the first day he rubbed against me, we were inseparable. He eventually developed kidney stones and I had him put down in 1987. I just couldn't afford to pay the medical bill. I miss him so much and feel like I let him down big time. Is there any way to ask forgiveness? -- C.H., Highland Park, IL

A: I have no divine power to extend forgiveness, but I can say I fully understand your anguish. Clearly, you were a wonderful companion to this cat, as he was to you. You've written one of the most poignant emails in my 20 years of writing this column, describing the extent of the human/animal bond. What you're recounting happened 28 years ago, yet you still agonize about it.

Keep in mind that none of us can change the past, and after 28 years, none of us is the same person they once were. What you can do now? If you haven't already, you can adopt another cat (or even two!). Of course, your relationship might never equal the bond you had with your previous pet, but you could save a life, particularly that of a middle-aged or older cat.

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Q: I'm curious if you've ever done a follow up to your series of columns, "Rimadyl: Friend or Foe?" I'm impressed by your journalism. Reading your columns has been informative. So, all these years later (the columns the reader refers were published in 2002), have the drug's benefits outweighed the risks? Our beloved dog, Hannah, was prescribed Rimadyl and became a statistic, as one pill caused sudden death. I believe veterinarians still hand out Rimadyl without indicating the possible side effects. I still carry the guilt that we did a terrible thing. What do you think? -- A.H., via cyberspace

A: Let me begin by offering my condolences for your loss, which understandably still disturbs you all these years later.

Rimadyl was the first non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) specifically created for dogs. Today, there are many similar drugs.

I recall writing about what was then a soon-to-be- released revolutionary drug that would help dogs with post-surgical or chronic pain, such as osteoarthritis. Veterinarians soon saw lines outside their doors of desperate clients eager to help their pets.

Because demand was overwhelming, and also because there had never been a drug like Rimadyl before, veterinarians were caught somewhat off guard. Often, individual dogs weren't first tested to insure they were good candidates for the drug. Veterinarians sometimes failed to warn owners about all possible side effects. Also, without previous real-life experience with these side effects, some weren't fully understood. All this, combined with the sheer number of dogs on Rimadyl, multiplied the problem.

Of course, if we only knew then what we know today, a good percentage of those adverse reactions might not have occurred.

However, there was one more factor that played a role in disseminating both information and misinformation about Rimadyl: the fairly new mode of communication called the Internet.

To directly answer your question, Rimadyl (carprofen is the generic name) has saved lives and benefited millions of dogs. Today, most veterinarians do warn owners about the possible side effects of any drug, including Rimadyl. I pushed for this, as did many others. After all, our pets can't read warning labels.

Given to the right dog, for the right purpose, the benefits of Rimadyl (or any of the current list of NSAID drugs) certainly outweigh the risks.

Unless you conducted an animal autopsy, I'm uncertain if you could pinpoint Rimadyl as the cause of Hannah's death, since it's exceedingly rare for the drug to cause sudden death. While sudden death in cats (due to heart disease) is sadly somewhat common, it's rare in dogs. Today, veterinarians could only speculate on what happened to your best pal. I'm not suggesting that Rimadyl wasn't the cause of death. I am saying cause and effect aren't always as clear as we think.

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Q: My family loves your column, and I love animals. Unfortunately, I'm allergic to cats, so we have dogs. There are many outdoor cats in our area. Their owners don't seem to understand that I don't want cats in our yard, leaving their urine behind. We've tried putting cayenne pepper at spots where the cats mark. What else can we do? -- B.A., Brockton, MA

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Q: I'm tired of cats using my garden as their litter box. I know who these cats belong to, but she doesn't seem to care. I'm ready to trap them and take them to a shelter. I can't bring myself to do it yet, but I'm getting close. -- T.A., Appleton, WI

A: I agree that both cat owners are not being neighborly. For starters, allowing cats to roam isn't in the pets' best interest, as they're prone to being hit by cars and exposed to inclement weather, other cats and predators, not to mention the garden issue.

There are repellents available, including coyote urine (though you have to reapply after it rains). Another option is a motion detector sprinkler that sprays water when it senses movement. One model is called the Scarecrow.

For both readers, if you know the cats' owners, try chatting with them. Some cats who've lived outdoors all their lives resist switching to the indoor life, while others seem downright grateful, particularly when their indoor environment is enriched with toys and other enticements.

For T.A., your frustration is palpable, and I suppose if the cats are on your property, you have the legal right to take them to a shelter. I'm not sure that's the ethical thing to do, however. In a shelter, the cats could be euthanized. Death is a pretty harsh penalty for animals whose only crime was to have irresponsible owners.

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