Meds that work to reduce inflammation come in two major categories:
Steroids (e.g. Cortisone) and
NSAIDs.
The acronym for short, NSAID (pronounced en-sayds) stands for Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug. NSAIDs is a
term you will see often in popular
arthritis medication descriptions for products used to treat
hip dysplasia
and arthritis in animals. NSAID medications are usually prescribed to provide both analgesic pain relief and
to reduce
joint inflammation. NSAIDs can be particularly useful in treating inflammatory forms of arthritis
and are usually available in both prescription (e.g. rimadyl) and non-prescription varieties (e.g. vetrin aspirin).
NSAID's work by affecting chemicals in the body which cause inflammation, unfortunately these same groups of chemicals
are involved in the stomach as well, consequently the
side effects of NSAID usage can sometimes include indigestion or stomach ulcers.
Often the more effective an NSAID is at reducing inflammation the harder it will be on the stomach. NSAID's may not
be suitable for some pets including those with stomach issues, high blood pressure or asthma. Consequently, their
usage should not be taken lightly. As always, before you make a decision on any product, prescription or non-prescription,
you should visit with your veterinarian first regarding possible benefits, all possible side effects and wether or not an
NSAID medication is the best choice for your pet. Let them know all foods, supplements and meds your pet is taking.
