Maximus is a beautiful dog, really. But at 8, he has long passed his salad days and is currently sliding down the other side of the hill. It is understandable that he is having a bit of trouble getting up and down lately. A dog of his breed, at that age, is like a man closing in on 85.
While I was glad to make recommendations a few months ago about increasing his fatty acids and starting some massage therapy, I am more than happy to add in a non-steroidal pain medication to the mix. The NSAID panel didn't show anything that would bar him from starting rimadyl, previcox, or one of the other approved NSAIDs. Now, for the difficult question: is Maximus on any other medications? Tylenol, Ibuprofen, aspirin? God forbid, Naproxin? Ok, no. Great. Any supplements besides the fish oils? Oh, vitamin B? Ok, that is fine. Now are your sure that there are no other medications that I need to know about? No prescription pills that you have lying around? No one else could be giving him any medications, right? *insert explanations of how the medication works and risks, etc*
Thanks,
Dr. Repeatable Questions
*************** One Week Later************
Dear Great Dane Owner,
Maximus is now here blowing out black tarry diarrhea and vomiting blood. What part of the question "Is he taking any other medications?" did you fail to understand. I even gave you the benefit of the doubt by asking about specific medications. See, when I ask if Max has been taking any aspirin, that means *aspirin*.... Not too hard to understand. I even used short words, just in case. You even got written instructions of what *not* to give him
So, how in the holy hell do you fail to mention to me that Max has been getting his prescribed anti-inflamatory medication AND aspirin AND prednisone that you had laying around from some skin disease from 5 years ago? What do you mean you gave him an extra dose of each when he started acting nauseous? How does that even make sense? Oh, since you bought the medications over the counter, you thought that they didn't count as medication?
I am sorry to tell you that Max is pretty sick now. The signs point to a bleeding and perhaps perforated ulcer. Things have suddenly gotten much more critical and much more expensive.
Thank you,
Dr. I didn't realize that OTC meds were not really meds
