Rockford, IL Pet Arthritis Medications

Long term arthritis medication is commonly used in dogs to relieve pain and improve the quality of life for our pets. These drugs are amazing! They are fast, they work well, and they are easy to use. Unfortunately, as with all medications, side effects can occur.

Below are the official FDA recommendations that we follow at our clinic when we use these drugs.

Veterinarians often prescribe NSAIDs to relieve pain in dogs. NSAIDs should not be purchased on the Internet without a veterinarian's involvement because:

• Dogs should undergo blood testing and a thorough physical examination before starting NSAIDs
• Dogs should be monitored by a veterinarian while they are taking NSAIDs
• Veterinarians should discuss possible side effects of NSAIDs with the owner
• The prescription should be accompanied by a Client Information Sheet that explains important safety information to the owner”

Specifically, our recommendations are to perform a complete exam and run blood testing prior to use then every 6 months afterwards. Often this is combined with an annual visit and heartworm test for one of the monitoring rechecks. One tremendous benefit to this type of monitoring is that we can pick up problems early and take measures to slow the course of the disease.

Call Frost Family Pet Clinic PC today at 815-282-2800 to schedule your appointment for your dog’s annual visit.