Dogs dying from 'miracle drug'. Heads up, doggie owners
Posted By: sm on 2006-07-25
In Reply to:
Marketed as a miracle drug for man's best friend, Rimadyl is one of the most popular painkillers available for dogs. And it's killing dogs by the thousands.
Vince Sharkey was faced with the decision every pet owner dreads, whether to euthanize his beloved dog King Billy.
Arthritis and deteriorating bones made it too painful for the 8-year-old golden retriever to walk.
His veterinarian recommended putting the dog down.
"He had so much life in him. I said, 'I just can't do that'."
Then Sharkey discovered Rimadyl, a prescription anti-inflammatory drug heavily marketed to owners of older dogs. Sharkey says Rimadyl saved his dog's life.
"Before I had him on the Rimadyl he was not even able to walk. He would drag his back half of his body. The moment we got him on Rimadyl, he was back to being his normal self again.
But Lynne Bradburn tells a very different story.
Her Saint Bernard, Honor, was just 22 months old when he died after taking Rimadyl for a sprained knee.
"He'd been sitting in my lap. And he looked up at me, and he died," Bradburn said.
Honor died after taking just four doses of the drug.
"They tell you it's as safe as aspirin. But it's not. And yes, I'm angry. And I will always be angry," Bradburn said.
The FDA reports some 12,516 complaints about Rimadyl dating back to 1997, including more than 2,300 cases where the dog died or had to be euthanized. The largest number of cases involve liver or kidney failure or internal bleeding.
Rimadyl's manufacturer, Pfizer, maintains the drug is safe, saying some 10 million dogs have taken over a billion doses of the drug, with less than 1 percent of them experiencing any negative side effects.
"There are side effects just as there are benefits with all medicines, with all medical procedures and certainly with Rimadyl. The good news about Rimadyl is that for the overwhelming majority of those 10 million dogs, plus, it has provided safe and effective pain relief," said Pfizer spokesman Robert Fauteux.
But the FDA approved Rimadyl after it was tested on just 549 dogs, raising the question, were the rest of the dogs that took the drug acting as guinea pigs?
Retired veterinarian turned attorney Paul Mabrey says a drug for humans would never be allowed on the market with such a small sample.
In response to continued concerns about the drug, Pfizer sent a letter to veterinarians across the country warning them that some side effects may "occur without warning" and, in rare situations may result in "hospitalization or even death."
Still, veterinarians continue prescribing Rimadyl more than any other drug in its class. But they're careful to warn dog owners looking for a miracle cure.
"There's a lot of people that want the medication not fully aware of everything that's entailed with that but we make sure to do everything we can to educate before they go on the medication," said Dr. Deborah Feltz, a the Elliott Bay Animal Hospital.
It's a warning echoed by those who know first hand what happens when a miracle drug proves imperfect.
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My dog died while on Deramaxx, a COX-II arthritis drug for dogs. nm
nm
Doggie down
I used to babysit an English Cocker who totally lost control of her back legs due to a bad disc problem. It was so bad, the owners thought she would have to be put down. I suggested they try accupuncture and it was like a miracle. Within a couple of months, you would never have known this dog had had a problem. Luckily, the large city near us had a pet accupuncturist. Hopefully, you won't have to go to this extreme, but just wanted to let you know there are options out there.
Doggie
My dog is 14 1/2 years old and have been throught this a couple of times. I thought that I lost her once but it did not happen. She began with seizures after a course of prednisone (will not touch that medication ever again) and she would be paralyzed in her back legs. That was at age 5 to 6. Since then she has been weak in her back legs, also has his dysplasia, but she has continued to go for 1 to 2 miles walks 3 to 4 times a day. But last year she had a minor stroke (we think) and could not move out of her bed. I let her stay in bed, gave her a couple of aspirin and she came around again. But again she was weak in the back legs. But yours is probably more of the anesthetic as that works on the central nervous system as we all know and that affects her legs. So just give her some time. The older they get, the longer it takes. But watch what she is walking on, mine hates my kitchen floor. I also use the Petco glucosamine for her and it really helps. I also used to work for a Vet. They wanted to put my dog under to clean her teeth and I said "NO". She is not having any problems and will not put her through that. She is my child now and hopefully will have her through this winter and count my blessings everytime we make that mile walk. Good luck, my prayers are with you.
Patti
Your doggie
I bet you gave her a good home and loved her to pieces.
They know when they are crossing over just like we do when it's our time. She was so blessed to have you and you were to have her.
May time bring you peace and comfort.
Probably staining the new fence we put up to keep our dogs in and other dogs out.
The neighbor dog won't stop trying to attack our dogs, so we put up a nice big fence. Should do the trick. Doesn't keep the rabbits out, though. We'll BBQ, too. Can't go far. Hubby is on call for the weekend with his job.javascript:editor_insertHTML('text',' ');
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Good drug book vs. internet drug sites
I need to buy a new drug book. At a prior job, about a year ago, one of the supervisors told me she used the internet exclusively. What's the consensus and if you prefer the internet, which site or sites do you like. Thanks in advance.
doggie love
I may be waaay out there, but the thought of reincarnation crossed my mind. They may be have been connected in another life. I'm pretty sure my cat was with me in another lifetime.
Post drug questions on the drug board
/
Bless my doggie, Lady, who passed away tonight.
Lady, I'll love you forever. Mama 
Doggie down situation update to the very kind posters below
Well, she is trying her best to put weight on her hind legs. I have been beside myself with worry and can actually tell she is scared as well.
Will let her rest. The procedure was stressful for her and I wish I had not had it done now. She held firm when they came for her; they had to pick her up and carry her - that in itself should have made me think that she was not up to it.
I just want her to be with me for a few more years if possible. The lipoma had grown so fast I was afraid it would continue to grow (it was size of egg, on her chest, by breast.)
Thank you very much for your posts. I thought you guys would think I was ridiculous to try to preserve my old girl. Was sure I'd come on today with people telling me to put her down. Thank you so much. She is my family.
DRUG ELUDING?DRUG ELUTING?
Okay...sock it to me..when I was even newer than I am now, I wrote "drug alluding stent." QA sent a correction saying "drug eluding stent." NOW, I see on Google, "drug eluting stent." SOoooo, which is it, or are they both correct? Thanks ahead of time.
Help on the drug board--osteoporosis drug?
Sorry..........thanks in advance, I appreciate it. 
Yikes! I just took five minutes to give my doggie some love and a treat! What a crazy world!
x
MT dying
I have been working as an MT since 1992. I started at $7.50 an hour - no incentive - just a flat $7.50 an hour - that company was gobbled up by another bigger company - and the gobbling has continued on. I went to work for a smaller MTSO and at one point was making $80 an hour transcribing a very easy radiology account that was mainly normal reports - everything was a template and the template was the whole report. I now make no where near that - and have trouble getting up to $18 or $20 an hour. I am thinking of going back to school to becomeo a pharmacy tech - besides - it gets depressing working at home all the time and never having interaction with co-workers, etc. The school is just a thought at the moment. I definitely would not encourage anyone to go into MTing at this point in the game - not with voice recognition and outsourcing to other countries.
MT Dying profession
I don't agree with you. I'm betting that MT is good for MAYBE 5 more years. Maybe. Thinking they won't perfect VR is only fooling ourselves....they will. I wouldn't recommend MT to anyone looking to enter the field. Money better spent on something with a better future but what that would be, I don't know. Seems everything that can possibly be offshored is being offshored. Maybe we should move to China Then we can be sure to have jobs seeing nearly everything in the U.S. comes from there anyway. Or maybe, the way things are going we had all better learn to like rice, cuz that's probably all we'll be eating before long.
Regarding MT being a dying profession...
I have actually read in numerous places that MT is a job with future opportunity, in light of the baby boomers beginning to get old and sick. That's going to supply us with a lot of medical reports for a very long time. As for voice recognition taking over...I'll believe it when I see it. I know an MR who does VR and I've seen the gobbledegook that it comes up with. Eventually all these companies will realize that they were sold a bill of goods by these VR vendors, but because they've invested so much in this technology, they're going to stick with it until the bitter end. Just my opinion of course. Finally, outsourcing. I'm pretty confident that something will happen that will put the kybosh on sending private medical records off to Calcutta for transcription. I think that practice will also stop eventually. I could be totally wrong and maybe I'll have to put away my rose colored glasses, but for now, that's my prediction.
MT Dying Profession
Sad when you work for a company that you thought was great and all of a sudden the work is yanked away and you sit with nothing yet you see the company advertising multiple times. When you look at what many posters say, that seems to be one major problem with this profession. The companies have no loyalty to transcriptionists. The best places to work are small local services, if you can find them. I don't recommend to anyone who asks me that they get into this profession. I used to, but not any more.
MT dying profession
I totally agree, Dano. They have absolutely no loyalty to MTs OR QA for that matter - we are nothing to them. I don't feel like a respected professional who is rewarded for her expertise and hard work anymore; I feel like a factory worker in an assembly line (no disrespect to those who work in factories, BTW)who just has to pump out the work as soon as possible - it's all about numbers to them. That's why in addition to working in this field, which I have been doing for 10 years (and would have quit by now if I could!), I am going back to college to get my degree in dental hygiene. I can't wait to get out of here. Used to make good money - no more. Used to be respected -no more. They only want cheap labor. Anyone looking to get into this profession - don't be fooled by the lies - do something else!
Is transcription really dying?
I have another question for all of you...is transcription really dying out? I haven't seen that where I'm located, we are pretty much in high demand. I didn't even go to school and I got a job in-house at our hospital starting at over $13.00 an hour. But, now that I am reading all of these posts I'm starting to wonder what the chances are of me being able to continue this profession, esspecially since we are thinking of moving to a big city in the near future. I am really considering going into coding school starting in September so my husband and I will both get our degree at the same time. I'm just wondering if I should get out while I'm ahead. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!
Not dying, just growing!
First of all, HIPAA does not require EMR for all records by 2009. If that were the case, you would have known about it several years ago, because most physicians do not use EMR and have no plans to use EMR at this point. Most HOSPITALS don't use them, either. Even if they wanted to, there aren't that many viable products they could use!
He may be thinking of other HIPAA requirements which have affected his practice and which he doesn't like. HIPAA did require some privacy and security things which he no doubt found irritating. He now has a need to transmit his claims electronically, which probably annoys him.
I would guess that the concept of paying an MT annoys him, too, so he took it out on you by terrorizing you during your recent visit.
Second, nothing about an EMR means you can't dictate and transcribe.
If you're currently doing only small-office dictation, you might want to expand your capabilities so that you can do hospital acute care. I think that job prospects have been better there since internet-based voice file transfers became possible. There are a lot of jobs available with national services and even with large employers who will let you work from home.
MT is a dying profession??
Hmm...
I don't think it is dying, I think it is changing sm
There will always be a need for a hand typed medical narrative. Having said that, how much need is anyone's guess. FOR NOW, many companies are moving towards at least some VR. I have watched my company ramp it up and now ramp it down again. Why? The quality isn't there and part of that is the MEs who are doing them.
Being an ME usually only appeals to someone who can't actually type the report with any speed and accuracy (not a real MT in my book) or an MT who can longer tolerate the wear and tear on her hands (a real MT). The pay is less, which might not be a problem IF the software didn't require so darn much editing! Either the software needs to be a LOT better or we need to be paid more, if they want to the best quality, so that real MTs are doing the ME thang.
What I see happening, even now, is that companies who will hire a traditional, old-fashioned typing MT want the very best they can get at the best price they can get her. It is and will be increasingly a buyers market for our services. It will edge out any MT who is marginal...in speed, in accuracy, in attitude, in work ethic. That is to say, those of us who can stay glued to our desks and produce 99.5% or better accuracy AND do it with speed, will still be around for quite a while yet. The tolerance that some companies for not showing up on time, not getting your minimums, not producing very good work, is decreasing. I see this as a trend.
Less work? Not for some of us. No work, as in we don't need the chaff of this industry? You bet, and it is happening already.
The truly top-notch MT will always be needed. Do you have any idea how very few of us there are? I have not talked to a company who has more than 1 or 2 of us that they consider the cream of their crop. If you want to stay, look at what you need to improve, be it work ethic, speed, accuracy or scope of knowledge. If you don't, you'll be in one of the first groups out of this business.
Anyone else dying for school to start? (sm)
Grandchildren had been going to the LatchKey summer program, but they closed for the last 2 weeks before school starts to get the schools ready. So guess what? You got it. Memaw is trying to type with children. I have to totally admire those of you that do this on a regular basis. My hat is off to you.
My monitor is slowly dying...sm
I have a Dell computer and monitor, but my monitor appears to be on its last leg. I'm already looking for its replacement but instead of ordering another Dell, does anyone know of any other brands that are compatible or not compatible with Dell? I'd really rather not pay the shipping from Dell, but I do remember when I originally purchased the computer my printer was not compatible. Thanks for your help.
So, if you were dying in the bed and needed a STAT
You wouldn't mind that the person behind the document only cared about the money? You wouldn't care they put a post on this board like "why does anybody do this?"
Patient would feel slapped in the face.
That would be dying you slapped in the face.
I am really shocked and saddened to see who we serve is forgotten for the sake of money. Yes, we have to survive, and we do well. I have 3 jobs, am exhausted, but proud to say I am behind the document to help a very sick child or dying person, or recovering person, or person who was saved from suicide. I guess the idea of self rather than others is prominent around here, but not where I come from. After 27 years in the business I am proud to say I work behind the scenes and give the best I can for the patient, the doc, the nurse, my boss, the patient's family and so forth. After all, I would expect the same for me and my little boy.
and it's mostly owners now but....sm
I have lived under 3 different families with children, all children being in the MASTER bedroom above mine. I have had to wait for TWO sets of kids to grow up. It's the noise from the kids from the first 2 families. Ok, this current family, has toddlers - little toddlers of which the older one (5) is a little terror....
I transcribe in both bedrooms, the master for private MDs (as the 2nd BR used to be my daughter's but she's married now and out of here), and the 2nd BR for a national. With this 3rd family, besides the children, this bruja (Spanish for witch) decides every now and then to BLAST her music at 3 PM so loud that my walls shake (it's the bass that bothers me the most). I have complained at the concierge desk, has been documented for one year, and then a few weeks ago I decided to introduce myself, big smile on face, while her music was blasting, and tell her that I live under her.
HUGE MISTAKE!!! This bruja says *oh, YOU'RE the one (who had been complaining)* and pointed her finger at me, and I said *NO, YOU'RE the one, the one who is totally inconsiderate of those above you, below you, to each side of you, and across from you* to which she said *take it up with the concierge* who met with her and said *you can take action* -
an hour later, the police came to my door, BECAUSE I RANG HER DOORBELL - can you imagine - well imagine the courts today, how they worry about the rights of the criminals and what about the victims. While I wasn't a *victim* - the years' worth of documentation with the concierge AND security, should've been enough. Nope, they told me not to ring her doorbell anymore and if her nose level gets that bad to avoid the concierge and CALL THEM. I hate bothering the police for things like this.....but I WILL.
S. Florida is where I live in case you might be wondering where they could possibly be THAT inconsiderate.......yep, S. Florida......
Welcome new owners, but please let us know
or if our posts or information are shared with anyone.
Not on my budget. I usually can find something on if I am dying to watch T.V.
(NM)
Call, please. The rest of us are dying to find out something. nm
.
The main problem with this field is it is dying
And there isn't anything that we (as MTs) can do about that.
how did you give up cigarettes, I am dying to quit.
nm
Is medical coding a dying profession like MT?
My income is in the crapper and keeps getting worse and worse. I love working at home, been doing it for over a decade, so looking into something I can do at home. So what about medical coding? Offshore problems? Technology advances pushing out the "real person" coder? Any disadvantages? Worth learning and getting into at this point?
Irresponsible pet owners
This is similar to thread on the spotted board about irresponsible owners. The posters there had sympathy for people who were careless with their pets.
This IS the owners board to do with as....nm
owners trying to compete
The companies are trying to keep their profits high, be competitive with India and the doctors want to pay next to nothing. It's a tough business right now. I would look to other options or really push for more money. I wouldn't work for less than 9 cents. On the other hand, there are MTs out there who think they are very good, but they are honestly terrible. I think if you push for a quality company and sell yourself and you truly are worth the money, you will get it.
I don't get it....the owners, the advertisers....
nm
Owners set the tone
Owners can indeed be nice, but they also need to set the tone, or the corporate culture, for *nice*. Polite and respectful has to be the clearly stated expectation for behavior by everyone. *It goes without saying* does, indeed, need to be said and reiterated every so often. The idea that everyone in the firm is a client of every other employee needs to be stressed. Some of these things are fairly easy for the owners to check. Ever call your own business as a potential new hire and see how you're treated? Ever call Technical with a problem and describe yourself as a worker instead of a boss? It can be a real eye opener, and it's something owners need to know.
That sure is odd! I wonder if they meant the OWNERS of
nm
OSi owners can do transcription...lmao
For the board owners, just a note to say
nm
I would!!! I get so irritated at irresponsible dog owners (sm)
I hope you file a complaint. As someone else said, at least it will be on file.
I second the pepper spray!!! We have dogs in our neighborhood whose owners let them use others yards at their litter boxes, so to speak. I don't have dogs but have a yard full of dog doo. With kids who like to play outside, or even when MOWING! that is nasty!!!
Question for MTSO owners/ICs
After years of working for others, I am looking to start up my own service.
Can anyone tell me what is the average going rate to charge for a hospital/acute-care account ? I have no idea of where to start my offers out at.
Over 100. Burnt my bare feet on concrete. Plants are dying.
dd
I am feeling so stressed by changes at my company, holidays, friends dying,
not sure where to turn next. I really feel like I need to dump my whole situation and start from the beginning by doing a job where I am around people during the day instead of the curt phone calls from the office, and not having enough time to even talk or go out of the house to do anything. Why can't these companies have a little time to just say hello, thanks for a good job, or just something nice once in a while. Everything in the communication is negative, negative, and more negative. Team leaders are the pits, too. It is jusd do more, do more; they don't care if you are sick, and it means nothing to them to pile on more stress and more demands so they look good. They want you to work every day of the week, but they sure do take their days off, don't they.
heads up on X-mas
My mother likes to read soap mags, and they have these advertisements for really pretty items at the back. I decided to see if they sold these items on the web, and sure enough:
http://ardleighelliott.collectiblestoday.com/ct/store/ardleighelliott/store_ae_front.jsp?cm_ven=Search&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=Performics&cm_ite=j1792169
So, for anyone who likes to give these types of gifts, you'll find plenty here. I think the prices are fairly reasonable.
And, no, I have no connection with this company. I just think they have beautiful items that would make wonderful gifts.
That is because men have 2 HEADS! nm
x
What fun. Thanks for the heads-up. nm
nm
Thanks for the heads-up.....sm
I have to tell you that I grew up in Scarsdale NY also (like Linda McCartney) and the rumor was she was an Eastman. So, I thank you for the heads-up and I just did my own research and came up with this paragraph:
It is often stated that Linda McCartney is related to the Eastman Kodak dynasty. This is a myth and McCartney had no connection with the family, as she herself explained in an interview. Her maiden name of Eastman was an anglicised version of her family's original name, Epstein, coincidentally the same surname as the Beatles' long-time manager Brian.
thanks for the heads up
I'll definitely be watching with my box of tissues by my side. 
thanks for the heads up
I appreciate it. This will be parttime work for me as I have a fulltime job too so at least I have something to fall back on if it doesnt work out. It sounds like the hot keys are where it's at!
Thanks again
Exactly and I can't get that through their heads. sm
I took ICD9 and CPT only coding class in 2002. I'm taking a billing and coding class now which is not really heavy on the coding. I'm not ready to take a certification exam. Along with the housekeeping "suggestion" she also suggested "you might have to take a menial job." I assume she meant a minimum wage job. Why should I do that when I'm making more than that now? What possible "benefits" are worth that?
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