George was a stray. I found him, or sometimes I like to think he found
me. I had nine other dogs at the time, and George was the tenth. He
was at least four or five years old. I had him for five wonderful years.

When he began developing arthritis, the first prescription he was
given (Arquel) did not seem to help. So, on a trip with George to the
vet's office, I asked if I could please try him on Rimadyl, for I had 
read the brochures in the vet's office and seen the ads on
television and in magazines about this amazing new "miracle"
drug. This was in September, 1997.


I was given a 10-day supply. It helped; George WAS better, so I
returned to have the prescription refilled. I purchased a month's
supply (cheaper buying in quantity). George got his medicine exactly
as I was directed to give it - I saw to that - even when he clearly
showed he did not want to take it. Little did I know, I was killing
my dog!


On a Sunday night, I was watching TV in the living room; George was
lying by my side. I got up to go to bed and George did not follow. I didn't
think anything of it. I got into bed and turned out the light. Next thing I
heard was a horrible scratching sound in the hallway. I got up to inspect.
It was George! He was crawling to the bedroom; he could not walk! I
immediately thought, my God, he's pulled a muscle. He had been playing so hard
with the other dogs. So I helped him into the bedroom and he lay right down by
my bed.
The next morning (Monday), he seemed better. I went on to work. That
night he was not eating. I fixed him boiled chicken and rice. He would
not touch it.
Now here is where my guilt really takes hold! I KEPT ON GIVING HIM THE
RIMADYL!!!


It was not until the next morning, Tuesday, after he had vomited a
clear, slightly browish liquid, that I rushed him to the vet's office.
My vet came out, looked at George and said, 'Jean, some drug reps were
just here a few days ago. They told me that six dogs across the
country had had bad reactions to Rimadyl. They were all labs, and they
all recovered! So George is the seventh.' -At that time Koda, a St.
Bernard, had died in July, I found that out later, and Fluffy, an Old
English Sheepdog only 13 months old had been on Rimadyl and had died
that same month, July 18- I had an awful feeling about the whole
situation.


Deep inside, I knew that George was in serious trouble. I went on to
work. My computer was down, so I borrowed someone else's who had
America On Line and I began searching for Rimadyl. That was when I
found a post from a senior vet student at the University of Minnesota
who warned about Rimadyl.


I visited George every day except Sunday, October 12.


On Monday morning I arrived at the vet's at 8:00 a.m. The receptionist
said, 'You can't go back just yet. Dr. wants to talk with you about
George, and he will be calling shortly.' I learned George had had a
blood-filled bowel movement that morning. I waited; then they let me
in to see him. What I saw was not my dog. He was a shadow of the
George I had known. The whites of his eyes were still that horrid
yellow, his gums were yellow, his skin was yellow. He could not hold
up his head. I went to his cage, opened it and began stroking him.
Another vet came in. She was on the phone with the Pfizer vet; Pfizer
wanted her to take some more blood samples.


Dr. called in the meanwhile, and they relayed the message that he
could try a blood transfusion. The vet techs reached into the cage to lift George
out. It was more than I could stand. I knew then and there that nothing could
save him. He was suffering untold agony. I will never forget the look in
his eyes -- such hurt, such despair! It was then that I said, 'No, no more. I
have to let him go'.


Nothing anyone can do or say will ever take away the hurt of losing
George this way.


In his memory, I am trying my best to alert as many people as I can
about the experience George had. It seems that vets are not adequately
warning their clients about Rimadyl's serious and some times deadly
side effects PRIOR to prescribing it. I have spoken with many people
whose beloved pets are on Rimadyl. None have said their vets suggested
prior workups before the drug was administered.


So that is my story. I did not mean to make it so long. It should have
been quick and to the point; but I feel I will have to bear the guilt for
the rest of my life.


I helped kill my dog.


I will not stop trying to alert people of the serious and deadly side
effects of this sinister drug. It can strike a dog in a few hours, a
few days or it can strike months later. I will say that people have
contacted me and said it has indeed been a miracle for their dogs. For
them, I think that is wonderful. But just keep your eyes open and you
and your vet be aware of all of the side effects to look for.


And, it is wrong for a vet to prescribe this medicine to any dog
without doing preliminary testing and blood workups.


Jean Townsend
Johns Island, SC
(Always for George)