Playing It Safe with Dermaxx

Although there are possible serious side effects to Dermaxx, if your dog does need the pain killer, there are ways you can play it safe.

First, you have to make finding a safe, effective analgesic critical. An NSAID such as Dermaxx used wisely can be beneficial to your dog. A general rule in using an NSAID is to use no more than the absolute minimum necessary to manage the pain. It means reducing the pain so that the quality of life is not significantly diminished.
Try not to overdo the analgesia. Your pet’s life may depend on it. Play it safe.

Until a screening test becomes available, there are three things you can do for your dog when Dermaxx is prescribed by your vet.

-Screening
Your dog should be screened for kidney and liver problems even if he/she does or does not have a pre-existing kidney or liver problems. Note that dogs with impaired kidney or liver function are not good candidates for Dermaxx. Dogs with heart problems are in danger of heart failure because of the effects of COX-2 inhibitors’ on the kidneys. These dogs should not be given Dermaxx either. Check your dog's stool for blood. If gastrointestinal bleeding is present, Dermaxx administration is contraindicated: toxic levels in a Slow Metabolizer could produce life-threatening hemorrhage.

-Concomitants
The time that needs to elapse between administering Dermaxx after having received another NSAID needs to be established because adverse reactions have been linked with insufficient time between administration of one drug and also taking Dermaxx. Hopefully, the FDA will research this further and provide guidelines in the near future.

-Careful Observation
There are a large number of cases in the adverse event reports and reports from owners who have not formally reported the reaction in which the dog has died or almost died after receiving a single dose of Dermaxx. Dermaxx should be stopped at the first sign of an adverse reaction. In most cases, stopping the drug is enough to prevent permanent damage and the symptoms quickly resolve. Vets and owners must be alert for signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting, diarrhea, dark or bloody stools or changes in appetite or drinking.

Reports have suggested that Dermaxx can affect a dog’s central nervous system. In many cases, symptoms have occurred post-operatively and can be attributed to the anesthetic or post-operative pain. Aggression, disorientation, staring off into space, circling, lack of coordination when walking, lethargy or hyperactivity have been documented.

The Side Effects of Dermaxx Painkiller

Dermaxx Side Effects:

The following can occur when the drug goes above a certain level in a dog's system.
The degree of damage and danger varies, but can include death.

-kidney damage and secondary effects on the heart.

-gastro-intestinal ulceration

-liver damage

In the case of the kidneys, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) can upset the body’s ability to regulate electrolytes such as sodium and potassium, leading to sky-rocketing increases in blood pressure and the kidneys themselves can be damaged leading to other problems. Dermaxx is frequently associated with high levels of BUN and Creatinine. Adverse event reports further suggest that Dermaxx can cause irreparable kidney damage. Many dogs continue to have abnormal blood values indicative of kidney damage long after they have stopped taking Dermaxx.

Although the gastro-intestinal effects of Dermaxx has been less than straightforward, but a review of reported adverse effects, including endoscopy and tissue biopsies indicates that Dermaxx can lead to massive gastric ulcerations. Signs and symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and dark bloody stools.

Excessive levels of COX-2 inhibitors can be toxic to the liver as well as shown by the frequency of high levels of SGPT/ALT and ALK PHOS in the adverse event reports. In addition, the liver produces coagulation factors that are involved in wound healing, specifically the coagulation of blood. Bleeding caused by ulceration of the stomach cannot be stopped because the liver is not producing coagulation factors necessary to stop the bleeding. Exactly how Dermaxx damages the liver is not well understood. However, the damage is caused by toxic levels of the drug in the blood and that this is common sign of dogs who have reacted badly to Dermaxx.