Carprofen is prescribed for treat osteoarthritis in dogs and is also used to provide pain relief after surgery.

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis (also called Degenerative Joint Disease or DJD) refers to the medical condition when your pet has progressively worsening inflammation of a joint.  In a healthy joint, which moves smoothly and painlessly, cartilage acts as a cushion - when the cartilage in the joint starts deteriorating, or breaking down, it is called osteoarthritis. This can happen due to “wear & tear” or due to disease, age, injury, repetitive stress, or obesity. 

You may have seen your dog show pain, or a decreased range of motion or your pet may develop inflammation or bone spurs.  Joints most likely to be affected are the legs and lower back.   

Dogs are really good at hiding their pain, so the early symptoms of osteoarthritis may not be immediately seen by pet owners.  Here are some signs to watch for in your dog:

• Stiffness, lameness, limping, or difficulty getting up
• Lethargy, or reluctance to run, jump, or play
• Weight gain
• Pain when petted or touched
• Irritability or changes in behavior
• Difficulty posturing to urinate or defecate, or having accidents in the house
• Loss of muscle mass over the limbs and spine

You should discuss any changes with your vet, as vets estimate that 1 in 5 dogs suffer from osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis can be managed!

Fortunately, osteoarthritis in dogs can be managed.  With medicine, such as Carprofen, your dog’s pain can be managed and joint inflammation decreased, and this means their movement is improved. This improves your pet’s quality of life!

Other treatments may be recommended for your dog, such as physiotherapy or changes in diet.  For dogs that have developed or who are at risk of developing osteoarthritis, maintaining a healthy weight is very important.

What is Carprofen?

Carprofen is both the brand name of the drug, and the name of the active ingredient.  It is an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) that acts as pain relief and treats joint inflammation and is in the same family of drugs as ibuprofen. (Obviously, it is NOT exactly the same as ibuprofen, which is not for use in dogs - never give your dog ibuprofen or other human drugs!) Carprofen is sold as Rimadyl or Novox in some parts of the world.

Carprofen slows down or stops the body producing an enzyme called COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2).  This enzyme produces prostaglandins - substances that are primarily responsible for inflammation and pain, and so Carprofen works to control pain and inflammation at the source.

Carprofen can’t cure osteoarthritis in dogs -

Lovan is used by veterinarians to reduce anxiety and aggression in dogs and cats. It is the equivalent to the human drug Prozac, but in a different dose.

Anxiety in pets

Pets can suffer many different types of anxiety, and your pet may be showing that anxiety in different ways. It may be a fear or phobia that your pet shows - when new people arrive at the house, or when a storm approaches, or it may be separation anxiety (this affects approximately 14% of dogs!), which may result in destructiveness, distressed vocalization (crying, howling or constant barking), or “housesoiling” (a nicer term

Cardisure is prescribed by vets to treat dogs with heart diseases.  Cardisure is used for congestive heart failure (CHF) which can be caused by either:

• Mitral valve disease (MVD)
• Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)

Heart disease in dogs

Heart disease affects about 10% of all dogs.  Some of the causes of heart diseases can be:

•  a valve defect (eg. mitral valve disease) 
• a cardiac muscle disease (eg. dilated cardiomyopathy) or 
• a parasite like heartworm.  

Vetoryl is prescribed for dogs that are diagnosed with Cushings syndrome (pituitary-dependent and adrenal dependent hyperandrenocoticsim.

What is Cushing’s syndrome or Cushing Disease?

Both pets and humans can suffer Cushing Syndrome, or hypercortisolism.  It happens more often in middle-aged and older dogs, and there are some breeds of dogs that are more likely to develop Cushing disease, such as poodles, dachshunds and smaller terrier breeds.

Cushing’s syndrome means that the body has abnormally high levels of the hormone cortisol, which is produced by the adrenal glands.  A hormone called ACTH controls the production and release of cortisol from the adrenal glands. ACTH itself is produced by the pituitary gland, a pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain. Cortisol is a natural steroid produced by the body, and a normal amount helps the body adapt, in times of stress.  It regulates proper body weight, skin condition and tissue structure.  However, too much cortisol leaves the immune system weakened, and can lead to other diseases and infections.

Sometimes this over-production of cortisol is pituitary-dependent (about 80 percent of Cushing’s disease is caused by a tumour on the pituitary gland that overstimulates the production of cortisol), or it may be adrenal-dependent (caused by a tumour in an adrenal gland).   Your vet will do tests to diagnose Cushings, and to determine what is causing it.

Left untreated, hypercortisolism not only lessens your dog’s quality of life, but increases your dog’s risk of developing serious diseases like diabetes, blood clots, kidney infection and pancreatitis.

There are treatments to help your dog with Cushing’s syndrome!

Most cases of Cushings are treated with medications, rather than surgery, and it is normally a lifelong condition, once your pet is diagnosed.  However, it can be managed and your dog can live a good life with well-managed Cushing’s syndrome.  You’ll be pleased to know that veterinary medicine has made big progress, and it is possible for your dog to enjoy many years with a good quality of life, after being diagnosed with Cushing’s disease. 

What is Vetoryl?

Vetoryl is the only licensed Cushing’s treatment for use in dogs, and contains the active ingredient trilostane.  This drug rapidly reduces the production of cortisol by the adrenal glands. Vetoryl treats both pituitary-dependent and adrenal-dependent Cushing’s in dogs.  

What can I expect when my dog starts on Vetoryl?

• Vetoryl starts working in the body in a matter of hours.
• Some symptoms of Cushings Disease can disappear quickly, once treatment commences, and other symptoms can take a few weeks before the full effect of Vetoryl is seen, but there should be gradual improvements after the first few doses. 
• Many dogs with Cushings disease have a ravenous

Phenomav is prescribed for animals that are diagnosed with neurological conditions like seizures, convulsions, epilepsy or status epilepticus .

Neurological disorders in pets

Pets can suffer many of the same neurological disorders that humans do, as their nervous systems are similar to ours.  Sometimes the cause of these disorders can be identified (trauma, congenital defect, autoimmune disorder, infection etc.), but sometimes they are idiopathic disorders, meaning no cause can be found. 

Obviously, it is incredibly distressing to watch your cat or dog have a seizure or epileptic fit.  You may have seen your pet collapse, move involuntarily, or lose consciousness. Some other symptoms that may indicate a neurological problem include circling, disorientation, head pressing or weakness in one or more limb.

What do I do when my pet is having a seizure or epileptic fit?

If your pet is having a seizure:

• Follow any advice that your vet has previously given you
• It’s important for you to remain calm, to try to calm your fur-bay down as well. 
• Animals, like humans, who are having a seizure are not in pain, even if they sound or act like it.  Also, neither animals nor humans swallow their tongue during a seizure - don’t ever try to grab a pet’s tongue whilst they are having a fit.
• Talk to your dog or cat softly, to reassure them.
• Make sure the space around them is as safe and quiet as possible - block any stairs, and if possible, cushion their head.
• Take a video.  This may not be your first impulse, but video evidence can provide your vet with lots of information about the seizure.

There are treatments to help your dog or cat!

You’ll be pleased to know that many neurological disorders can be managed.  Whilst every case is different, veterinary medicine has made big progress, and it is possible for your pets to enjoy many years with a good quality of life, after being diagnosed with epilepsy, seizures or other neurological conditions. 

What is Phenomav?

Phenomav is effective in treating a wide range of seizure disorders and neurological disorders.  The active ingredient in Phenomav is Phenobarbitone, which is a long acting barbiturate with sedative, hypnotic and anticonvulsant properties. Phenobarbitones (or Phenobarbital) works by decreasing and stabilizing neuron activity in the brain, as well as decreasing the neurotransmitter glutamate, which causes nerve stimulation.

Generally, Phenomav is considered the “first line of therapy” for pets with seizures, because it is effective, safe (if used responsibly), reasonably priced and conveniently dosed. 

What can I expect when my cat or dog starts on Phenomav?

• It can take a few weeks before the full effect of Phenomav is seen, but there should be gradual improvements after the

Trocoxil is prescribed for dogs that are diagnosed with osteoarthritis.

What is osteoarthritis?

Sometimes called Degenerative Joint Disease or DJD, osteoarthritis refers to when your pet has progressively worsening inflammation of a joint.  This happens when the cartilage in the joint starts deteriorating.  In a healthy joint, which moves smoothly and painlessly, the cartilage acts as a cushion.  This cushioning cartilage can start to break down or deteriorate, due to age, injury, repetitive

Previcox is prescribed for dogs that are diagnosed with osteoarthritis.

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis (sometimes called Degenerative Joint Disease or DJD) is a progressively worsening inflammation of the joint and is caused by the cartilage in the joint deteriorating.  When a joint is healthy, the cartilage acts as a cushion, and the joint moves smoothly and painlessly.  With age, injury, repetitive stress, obesity or disease, the cartilage can start to deteriorate or break down. You may have noticed that your dog is “not himself”, not showing enthusiasm for your normal games or walks, or is slow in his movements.   

Pets with osteoarthritis may show pain, or a decreased range of motion, and may develop inflammation or bone spurs.  The joints most likely to be affected are the legs and lower back. 

Because dogs are braver than us humans, your dog may not show early symptoms - but you should watch for these signs in your dog, and discuss changes with your vet:

• Stiffness, lameness, limping, or difficulty getting up
• Lethargy, or reluctance to run, jump, or play
• Weight gain
• Irritability or changes in behavior
• Pain when petted or touched
• Difficulty posturing to urinate or defecate, or having accidents in the house
• Loss of muscle mass over the limbs and spine

It is estimated that 1 in 5 dogs suffer from osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis - treatment can help your dog!

The good news is that osteoarthritis can be managed.  With medicine, such as Previcox, your dog’s pain is managed, and the joint inflammation is decreased. This improves your pet’s movement and quality of life!

Your vet may also recommend other treatments such as physiotherapy or changes in diet to help your dog.  Maintaining a healthy weight is important for your dog, particularly if they have developed or are at risk of developing osteoarthritis.

What is Previcox?

Previcox is an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) that acts as pain relief and treats joint inflammation. The active ingredient (Firocoxib)  works to control pain and inflammation at the source – by inhibiting an enzyme called COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) that helps produce substances that are primarily responsible for inflammation and pain. 

Previcox doesn’t cure osteoarthritis - but it starts working against the pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis within hours of giving them the first dose.

What can I expect when my dog starts on Previcox?

• Initially - Previcox works fast, from the very first dose.  By controlling the pain and inflammation in the joint, many dogs show improvement in mobility within days