Can I Give My Dog Turmeric With Rimadyl?

The purpose of this research is to explain the “Can I Give My Dog Turmeric With Rimadyl?“.

Dog owners often complain “If only he could speak and tell me what is wrong with him.” Theres nothing more frustrating than seeing your loyal companion suffering and not knowing what to do.

Dogs do communicate in their own way usually with their eyes. The sadness you see in their eyes tells you everything you need to know about their pain.

Using turmeric and Rimadyl we can treat dogs whose suffering is caused by arthritis and inflammatory conditions.

We’ll get straight to the point to see if these two concepts can be combined.

1. Can I give turmeric and Rimadyl together?

An owner whose dog has been suffering from arthritis for many years will do anything to alleviate the pain.

NSAIDs are usually prescribed by vets for the afflicted dog because thats what vets do. It is not unusual for pet parents to supplement conventional medications with alternative remedies. Turmeric for example might help with pain and mitigate the side effects of products such as Rimadyl.

It is important to remember that turmeric might interfere with NSAIDs and reduce their effectiveness. Thus the dog does not benefit much from taking Rimadyl but is still at risk of serious side effects.

The first thing you should do if you want to help your pet is to try using a natural remedy like turmeric. Rimadyl can always be given later.

You cannot tell which of the two is helping or which one causes a particular side effect if you give your pet Rimadyl and turmeric at the same time.

Having answered a very specific question lets move on to a few more general topics starting with turmeric.

2. What is turmeric?

Scientists have been studying Turmerics potential use to treat mans best friend in recent years as it has been shown to fight inflammation and pain in humans.

Turmeric is a spice thats popular in Asian cuisine especially in Indian and Thai cuisine. The color is somewhere between yellow and orange and despite being related to ginger its taste isnot as strong as gingers. For its anti-inflammatory properties turmeric is used not only as a spice but also as a traditional medicine in Asia.

3. Why is turmeric used with dogs?

Turmeric is commonly given to pets to combat inflammation and relieve pain especially in the joints. Turmeric is popular with people who treat their pets the same way they treat themselves because it is a natural product and does not cause the dangerous side effects of anti-inflammatory drugs.

4. What are the benefits of turmeric for dogs?

Turmeric contains curcumin a compound with strong antiviral antifungal and antibacterial properties. Along with its anti-inflammatory properties curcumin also enhances heart health acts as an anticoagulant and inhibits cancer tumor growth.

The bodys natural response to trauma infection or injury is inflammation. Senior dogs with osteoarthritis experience swelling and stiffness in their joints making them less active and prone to sulking and growling. Taking small doses of turmeric can ease your dogs arthritis pain and improve mobility because curcumin fights inflammation by shrinking enlarged blood vessels.

Turmerics antioxidant properties are also beneficial to age dogs. Curcumin combats free radicals that damage the bodys healthy cells causing aging and tissue degeneration.

5. What are the side effects of turmeric?

Although turmeric is a natural product it can cause some side effects although these are less severe than those associated with conventional drugs.

It is important to remember that turmeric is an anticoagulant that is a blood thinner. The drug is less potent than aspirin for example and may reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes but excessive use may lead to bleeding problems.

Owners of pets should be aware of the warming effect of turmeric which is a hot spice. Your dog does not need more spice in his life if hes constantly looking for a cool place to rest.

Potential interaction with other anti-inflammatory drugs is another matter to check out and discuss with your veterinarian.

Turmeric may cause constipation in dehydrated dogs so watch your pets bowel movements.

6. How to give turmeric to your dog

Turmerics main problem is that it cannot be easily absorbed by the body in its natural form. You cannot hurt your dog by sprinkling turmeric on their food but they would not reap all the health benefits from this amazing spice.

Turmeric can be easily absorbed when mixed with coconut oil to form a paste. Follow the instructions below.

Add half a cup of turmeric powder one cup of water one and a half teaspoons of ground black pepper which improves absorption and 1/4 cup of coconut oil. 

Over medium heat stir the ingredients until thick paste forms. 

Put the paste in a jar that can be stored in the refrigerator after it cools down.

When you prepare your dogs meal scoop a bit of the paste and sprinkle it over the food. Approximately 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric paste is recommended for small dogs while half a teaspoon is recommended for medium-sized dogs while a full teaspoon is recommended for large dogs.

You can try turmeric gravy if the paste is too dense. Pour boiling water over one teaspoon of turmeric in a cup and fill it 1/3 full with water. Mix vigorously with olive oil and black pepper. It is easy to drizzle this gravy over the dogs meal and most owners who have used this recipe say that their pets ate it up.

Alternatively you can use turmeric supplements which are available at most pet stores. Curcumin chewable tablets also contain healthy natural ingredients such as flaxseed fish oil and coconut oil besides turmeric.

7. What is Rimadyl?

Carprofen the compound under the brand name Rimadyl falls into the category of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). There are fewer side effects of carprofen than steroids but it reduces inflammation pain and fever.

A. Why is it used with dogs?

For dogs Rimadyl is one of the most commonly prescribed painkillers. It is often prescribed to treat arthritis as well as to reduce inflammation and pain following surgery. Caplets chewable tablets that taste like liver and are greatly appreciated by dogs or injections to which most dogs strongly object. Rimadyl is one of the most effective NSAIDs for dogs as well as one of the safest.

You might have NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or aspirin in your medicine cabinet but experts say you should never administer them to your four-legged friend.

B. What are the side effects?

Rimadyl is often prescribed long-term for elderly dogs suffering from arthritis but this can have serious health consequences.

As per the AKC Rimadyl can cause serious side effects some of them life-threatening. Most side effects are related to the GI tract and include vomiting diarrhea and ulcers.

Experts suggest you think about your dogs best interests when prescribing Rimadyl and watch out for these symptoms.

Changes in behavior

Consuming fewer calories

Scabs rashes or redness on the skin

The irritable bowel syndrome and related

Rimadyl can also cause liver damage. Jaundice is the most common symptom of liver damage in pets so call your vet if your pets skin gums or whites of their eyes turn yellow.

Symptoms of kidney damage include increased thirst and urination diluted urine loss of appetite and lethargy which is a serious side effect that can lead to kidney failure.

In addition to causing a toxic buildup in the body prolonged Rimadyl use can also cause symptoms similar to those of an overdose (gastrointestinal problems and kidney problems).

In regards to overdoses be aware that the liver-flavored tablets are extremely tempting and if left within reach your dog might find a way to crack open the bottle in order to get at them.  

Having received more than 13000 reports of adverse reactions caused by Rimadyl the FDA ordered Pfizer to include death among the possible side-effects of its star drug for dogs in 2004. Therefore Rimadyl might be effective but it could also be dangerous for your friend.

8. Alternative pain relief to giving turmeric and Rimadyl

A senior dog suffering from arthritis and losing much of his interest in life can benefit from a variety of alternative remedies.

Glucosamine is a natural compound that can be very helpful for dogs suffering from arthritis or hip dysplasia. The synthesis of cartilage tissue is improved by glucosamine.

Cassava also known as yucca is a root vegetable native to Central and South America that can treat joint pain and stiffness caused by arthritis. The cassava root acts similarly to turmeric in reducing blood pressure and inflammation of the joints.

Another option is to get a massage. While it does not cure your pets condition at least temporarily it relieves pain. Give him a gentle massage with circular motions over the painful areas just before bedtime if the pain keeps him awake at night.

A change in diet may also alleviate the symptoms. Feed your pet foods high in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Fish oil supplements are also available.

You can also use CBD oil to treat old-age problems like arthritis which are associated with pain and stress. As an alternative to applying CBD creams you can give your dog CBD supplements or treats that have been formulated with CBD.

Conclusion

While its heartbreaking to watch your dog suffer you should always do your own research before giving him any medication. NSAIDs are often prescribed to elderly pets but you should always make sure the benefits outweigh the risks. It is often the case that an older dog has a lot of health issues and dealing with the side-effects of drugs such as Rimadyl can be quite troublesome.

Always choose a remedy that is as safe as possible for your dog. Turmeric might be just as effective at treating pain fever and stiffness as NSAIDs without causing serious side effects.

If you want to read more about dog health tips read here: Dog Health Tips and Tricks.

Can I Give My Dog Turmeric With Rimadyl? (Watch Video)