Doggy Vioxx is Risky, too

Most people are aware by now that Vioxx, a prescription anti-inflammatory manufactured by Merck & Co., has been associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. But few people know that Deramaxx, an anti-inflammatory medication for dogs which is closely related to Vioxx, has been associated with hundreds of deaths in dogs. Recently, The Washington Post reported that more than 350 reports of canine deaths linked to Deramaxx were reported to the FDA. Similar to adverse events in humans, it is believed that the number of animal cases reported represent less than 10 percent of the actual total.