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Deramaxx is an anti-inflammatory drug that is administered in a single dose daily. It is prescribed by a veterinarian and used to alleviate a dog's pain following orthopedic surgery or to control inflammation due to osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis, or OA, is a degenerative disease that attacks a dog's joints, causing inflammation that lead to pain and disability. OA develops when significant levels of stress are placed on a dog's joint or when the bones forming the joint become unstable. This instability is caused by irregular anatomy, trauma or injury. When a dog's joint sustains damage, the cells that compose the joint are damaged as well. As the joint attempts to heal itself, the surface of the cartilage that cushions the joint becomes worn down and, as a result, the area surrounding the joint swells with inflammation. Many dogs affected with OA have difficulty walking, jumping or traversing stairs.
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Deramaxx is a non-steroidal, COX-2 inhibitor used to treat OA in canines. COX enzymes aid in a number of a dog's bodily functions. The COX-1 enzymes produce prostaglandins that are vital to many functions, such as blood clotting, protection of the stomach lining and kidney functions, while the COX-2 enzymes make prostaglandins that, while they support kidney function, also trigger pain and inflammation. Deramaxx is unique because it controls the inflammation and pain caused by the COX-2 enzymes while most other supplements limit the effectiveness of both COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. Additionally, the prescription comes in beef-flavored chewable tablets and is therefore easy to administer.
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One dose of Deramaxx controls the pain and inflammation caused by osteoarthritis for 24 hours. Results are sometimes seen after just a few weeks of administering Deramaxx, but more significant changes occur after a month. A field study found that, after 14 days, nearly 55 percent of dogs given Deramaxx had an improved standard of living according to their owners. After 28 days, over 60 percent of dogs had improved. Although Deramaxx has a high success rate, some side effects involving the digestive system, kidneys and liver have been reported. Although they are normally mild, they can be serious. Signs of a potentially bad reaction are vomiting, a change in bowels such as diarrhea or a change in stool color, change in drinking or urination, a decrease in appetite, lethargy and aggressiveness. If a dog that has received Deramaxx exhibits these signs, administration of this drug should be discontinued, and the dog's veterinarian should be contacted.
