Hello there, fellow dog lovers!

I've spent years around dogs, and I like to think I'm pretty knowledgeable when it comes to their care. I mean, I've helped my pets, diagnosed issues, and even chosen the right treatment – all with the help of a vet, of course. I'm not one to self-medicate, no matter how tempting it might be.

Last summer, I brought home a SAO puppy, and let me tell you, this breed is no joke. They're serious about training, and they're serious about their health. I know all the potential pitfalls of this breed, so I keep a close eye on my girl's health and consult with a vet at the first sign of trouble. One day, I noticed my puppy limping on her hind leg, and I thought, 'Oh no, she's either tripped or sprained it.' We even built a pen with two areas connected by steps, but after observing her for a bit, I realized it was something more. I took a closer look at her paws, and it was clear – it was the joints. SAOs are prone to joint issues, and my Gera is actually a bit larger than usual for her breed. I called a vet to come to my place, and they confirmed my suspicions.

The vet arrived in the evening, and in the meantime, the joint pain got worse, and my dog started snapping at me. Now, I know what you're thinking – 'Is my dog being aggressive?' But trust me, it's just pain. My vet examined the dog, gave her three shots, and prescribed treatment.

Treating joint inflammation in dogs is no easy feat. It's a long process that requires a lot of time and effort, and it involves multiple medications. The main medication for pain relief and inflammation is Ricarfa. So, let's talk about it.

Ricarfa's full name – RicarfaForm of release – meat-flavored tabletsNumber of tablets in the package and dosage – 20 tablets, 100mgManufacturer – KRKA Pharma, MoscowCost – 1750 rublesAvailable at a veterinary pharmacy

Ricarfa for dogs➡️Ricarfa for dogs: appearance, packaging. How to give Ricarfa to your dog

The packaging is pretty standard – a cardboard box with minimal info about the medication. Inside, you'll find two blister packs with tablets and an instruction manual.

Joint inflammation in dogsThe tablets are round, red-brown in color, and they smell like barbecue-flavored chips. The texture is nice, making it easy to dose the medication.

Ricarfa for Dogs ReviewsI made sure to read the instructions carefully before using Ricarfa, as it's not exactly a safe medication. It's only meant to be used as prescribed by a vet, and you need to know your dog's weight to get the dosage right. When I picked it up from the vet's, they told me to give my dog 2 tablets at once, but I double-checked with the vet, and it turned out the dosage was way too high. Giving a quarter of a tablet could have caused serious harm, like stomach bleeding or ulcers. So, always read the instructions and confirm with your vet.

Carpofen is the most studied nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antiedema drug of the latest generation for dogs in the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

➡️My experience using Ricarfa for dogs with joint inflammation. How to give tablets to your dog?

My vet prescribed Ricarfa in the morning after breakfast. My dog weighed 50 kg at the start of treatment, and she was 7 months old.

You need to give your dog a stomach protector 30 minutes before breakfast. I gave my dog Famotidine 40mg (a human medication) as prescribed, one tablet. Half an hour after the stomach protector, you can feed your dog normally. My dogs still ate their usual food, but they started sniffing around more in the morning. I gave my dog oatmeal porridge (cooked overnight), cottage cheese, eggs, lean beef, and veggies, all in a separate pile, and my dog ate it on its own. After breakfast, you need to give your dog the Ricarfa tablet.

Ricarfa tablets have a meat flavor and smell nice. My dog ate them willingly, without any issues.

Treating arthritis in dogsIf your dog resists or spits out the tablets, try putting the tablet on the back of their tongue, closing their mouth, and gently massaging their throat to help them swallow. This is the easiest way to give any tablet to your dog. Alternatively, you can try mixing the tablet with a small amount of dry food, but this doesn't always work. One of my dogs would eat the food, but spit out the tablet as soon as it was out of my sight.

Ricarfa was prescribed for 7 days. The vet warned me that the effects would wear off by the next morning or day, and my dog might start showing aggression again. Despite being a young dog with inflamed joints, my dog's bite can be serious, especially with its new adult teeth, which are over 1.7 cm long and still growing.

I didn't have any issues giving my dog the tablet, but I did have to get creative. My dog ate it willingly from my hand, and I was relieved. I've been using Ricarfa for my dog, and I haven't noticed any negative reactions. No rashes, no changes in stool. The treatment worked perfectly. From what I've observed, Ricarfa was able to alleviate the pain in her joints and reduce inflammation. Within two days of using it, my dog was back to her usual self, jumping around like a mountain goat.

I gave my dog the tablets exactly as recommended, for a full week. After stopping the treatment, there were no setbacks or a need to give her pain relief again. Now she's on chondroprotectors and vitamins – I got them from a regular human pharmacy.

I still have one blister pack left over. I kept it in case I need to help out at local shelters, where they often need various medications.

Ricarfa for dogs reviewsLet me be clear: you shouldn't give Ricarfa to your dog just because they're in pain. It's a serious medication with potential side effects. Only a vet can prescribe it, and you need to understand that it's not a magic pill that'll fix everything overnight. My dog's treatment was a comprehensive plan, and Ricarfa was just one part of it – it helped with pain relief and inflammation. As I mentioned before, treating arthritis or joint inflammation in dogs takes time, effort, and a combination of different medications.

If your vet prescribes Ricarfa, get it and start the treatment. Just be mindful of the dosage and don't forget to give your dog medications to protect their stomach.

Thanks for reading, and I hope my experience with Ricarfa helps you and your furry friend!