"Romeo"

Romeo was adopted for companionship to my Shepherd Husky, Oasis, in October of 1991

Romeo was my first kitten and by God's grace the best cat anyone could ask for. He did not have a bad bone in him anywhere. I would always get compliments from everyone that saw him, all 18 lbs of him.
He lived a normal cat life, the first half of his journey, he was an indoor/outdoor explorer. He did all the cat things and enjoyed every minute of it. The later half of his life I decided to keep him as an indoor cat for his safety and the neighboring critters ( He was 100% TOM )

In March of 1999, after several attempts at jumping off the TV set, he injured his back foot. He started limping and I wanted to find out if anything was broken. It turned out to be an arch injury and my vet prescribed RIMADYL for him. My Shepherd Husky, Oasis had been on the same drug since January for two ruptured Achilles Tendons.

When I arrived home, I administered the first pill. I also found a Client Information Sheet (CIS) inside the box and begun to read the literature. I found that it was NOT approved for felines, I called my vet and asked him about this. His reply was " It was in the process of being approved and it was only a matter of time ". He also said that he "will inform his girls to take the CIS out of the box when the prescription is handed out." I continued to give him two more scheduled doses but felt very uneasy about it. He was very sedate and sometimes could not walk, or get up to eat his food, which is not at all like Romeo.

I started reading the Adverse Reactions that were listed on the CIS for Rimadyl and decided it was way to much of a risk. I also stopped giving it to Oasis, she was on it for three months and her injury was getting better. I adjusted Romeo's favorite spots of leisure with ramps and he had no more problems. This was Mid March 1999, by August the same year, I lost Oasis to Lymphoma Cancer (not detected until April 1999 ). Romeo survived for four more years but in June of 2003, he was put to sleep due to a very large tumor in his abdomen. He had been suffering undiagnosed for several months and by the time the tumor was found it was to large to remove.

Both my babies were learning experiences. If the CIS was handed out when Rimadyl was prescribed for Oasis I would have probably gone a different route in treatment. There were no blood tests done on either of my pets before giving the drug and none done during treatment or afterwards. I was never verbally informed of the side effects of Rimadyl for either of my pets and was told by my vet, who I trusted for over 20 years that Rimadyl was a being used with great results by many dog owners.

I did not find out about the many dogs that were lost to this "wonder drug" until after Oasis was sent to rainbow bridge. In my heart ( what is left of it ) I know that both my pets were lost to incompetent medical advise. Romeo was a survivor of Rimadyl because of that little " unnecessary " piece of paper that vets feel a burden to supply to pet owners.

All animals are our teachers, we are here to do the best to care, feed, nurture and provide them with a safe haven from danger. I failed, but also learned a great deal.

Be informed and do your own research on anything prescribed by " Doctor's " either for your pets or yourself.

In the end, you will have a better understanding of what is going into your body and your pets body.

Thank you Boo, until we meet again, and be gentle on your girlfriend Oasis, run free and play hard.