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.