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                               February 1, 2002

Pet Pointers

A weekly pet tip or other bit of information
from Capt. Felicia D. Langel, USMA Veterinarian 938-3817

NSAIDs

NSAID stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and refers to a class of drugs used to fight pain and inflammation. The most popular NSAID is aspirin.

Aspirin has been used for years to ease aches and pains in people. Since many people are sensitive to aspirin, buffered and enteric-coated forms are now available. Occasionally, animals can benefit from the pain relief provided by aspirin and it can be given to animals in small doses for short periods. Too much aspirin, however, can result in significant stomach upset. For pets with chronic pain, other classes of NSAIDs have been developed to minimize stomach discomfort. Carprofen (Rimadyl) and Etodolac (EtoGesic) are newer NSAIDs manufactured for use in animals only. They are intended to be an alternative to aspirin, but do not quite live up to their claims.

Liver, stomach and eye problems have all been reported with these drugs. It would seem that aspirin is still the best choice for pets for now.