A controversy over a painkiller for dogs may be bubbling up again. A Colorado couple have filed a lawsuit against Pfizer for allegedly failing to adequately warn that its Rimadyl med, which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, can cause severe harm. The issue mirrors the substance of a class-action lawsuit brought in 1999 by hundreds of pet owners, but that Pfizer subsequently settled in 2004. Now, though, the publicity over this new lawsuit might prompt a new round of litigation, given that Rimadyl has been known for years to consistently generate a large number of adverse events (see this). These include a reaction that Pfizer vets call Rimadyl toxicity, which is mentioned in the prescribing information, although death is listed as a rare event (which you can find here).
