Let me begin by saying how very sorry we are for your loss of Rowdy!  We only wish that we had found your site two days earlier, for our beloved German Shepherd Countess Muschka Von Belden lost her life this morning due to the same drug  All kinds of mistakes were made and of course the original two veterinarians do not want to hear of the "hysterical nonsense from stuff  found on the Internet"  but if my husband and I can help to save one dog's life, it would be better than to have done nothing at all. 

On the 18th of April, our Muschka was running a short distance to greet me (when the photo above was taken and she seemed to have injured her foot).  She was 11, almost 12, but in remarkably great health.

She was placed on an anti-inflammatory medication, Deramaxx and we were told that if she did not show improvement at the end of ten days, to check back.  She seemed lame in that foot and so after ten days we contacted the local veterinarian once again. 

He gave us two more scripts, Tramadol and Previcox.  The first med, showed no side affects whatsoever but did not seem to help Muschka either. 

When I picked up these new scripts, I asked the woman..."Do I need to know anything about these medications, any known side affects?"  She said "No, just go by the instructions and let us know how she is doing by next Monday, or so."

I gave Muschka a pill a day for the first time on May 8th, having finished the Deramaxx on the 7th.  She had one a day for four days, and then I found seven piles of vomit around the woodwork of our great room, huge piles of vomit!

I did not yet know about the problems with Previcox!  The next morning, I gave Muschka her morning dose, but began to worry it might be the medications, and I found your site. 

By 2:30 yesterday morning Muschka was in some sort of daze, she was up all night, never slept a wink and seemed oblivious to my all night watch care of her. 

By 3:15 AM yesterday she would no longer take any water.  By 3:30 she could no longer get up on her feet.  By 5:00AM I felt we were going to lose our beloved friend of nearly 12 years. My husband and I and 2 kind neighbors lifted Muschka into a blanket sling we placed together to transport her to our automobile.  We drove her to a Veterinary hospital with a much better reputation as we had learned just recently was the case.  

Once there, we explained all I have just explained to you.  The Dr. asked if first office had done any kind of blood work on Muschka when all of this had first began with her injury...NO...NO blood work!   He explained how any dog should have their blood work done before going on some of these meds, and that especially a dog of Muschka's age, the integrity and health of her liver enzymes should have been checked.  But the doctor, make that two doctors failed us because there should have been at least a seven day flush out period before beginning the Previcox.  Yet, we were told to begin as soon as other medication was gone one day earlier. 

The new physician got Muschka started on an IV, and kept her for what was to have been two to three days.  Yesterday afternoon, we stopped by to check on her and she still seemed really out of it, but did manage to get up and walk to use the bathroom, both to urinate and defecate and we felt somewhat encouraged by that little bit after only being there several hours, but she seemed very, very distant, not even acknowledging that we were there at all.

I rang up physician first thing at 7:05 this morning to check and see how our pal was doing.  The receptionist said for me to wait while she went to check.  She got back on the line and the words still sting at my heart "I'm afraid she did not make it."

A torn ligament, a healthy BEAUTIFUL dog, our friend, our favorite, lost her life due to medications that were too toxic for her.  Yesterday her blood work showed way high toxins in her kidneys and she had pancreatitis and the toxins were so strong that it had made her blood like syrup.  I would give anything to have a healthy lame dog, than a dead one! 

The physicians that made the huge mistakes, gave the shoddiest excuses for not having done any blood work on her, they wanted to blame the Internet for causing me to question them, to try and place blame and judgment on the new more concerned and caring physician for suggesting that somehow they may have failed us...it is of no use to try and deal with this kind of person... for they accept no wrong in this.

Thank you for your time and for you are trying so very hard to accomplish.  If I can help in any way to get the word out, do not hesitate to let me know!