Pfizer Wants You To Take Fido To Thanksgiving
21 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // November 19th, 2009 // 6:42 pm
Here’s a cynical way to boost drug sales. In a press release that tugs on your heart strings, Pfizer reminds us that some people feel bad about leaving their dog at home when they go elsewhere for the holidays. And the drugmaker also notes the family dog can offer so much comfort, especially at times of great stress, such as unemployment (after being laid off by Pfizer, perhaps?)
So why not bring Fido with you? After all, what’s another beast at the dinner table when there’s so much turkey to be had? And not to worry that your pooch may suffer from motion sickness during the car ride. Pfizer has it all figured out for you. How so? Pfizer has a salve called Cerenia, which the drugmaker markets to cure….motion sickness in dogs. What a surprise.
But caution is advised. In the prescribing information for Cerenia, Pfizer disclosed that in US studies, one adverse reaction was, of all things, vomiting not associated with motion sickness. Doggies in the placebo group didn’t throw up once. But those given Cerenia, well, there was a 5.3 percent throw-up rate. And in European studies, Cerenia caused more than twice as much vomiting - for whatever reason - as a placebo, 9 percent versus 4 percent.
In other words, Fido may vomit no matter what, even if given the drug. But there’s another unknown - what if your dog throws up after you’ve arrived at Grandma’s house? As Oliver Hardy would say: That’s another fine mess. So bring the barf bag, just in case.
JaT
Yeah but do they have anything to keep Fido from mounting grandma’s poodle?
JaT
LOL @ that picture.
Batman
This is classic! Oh and wait there is more! Pfizer kept ProHeart in its acquisition of products from Fort Dodge. ProHeart has been associated with some very serious issues as well. Seems fitting. Maybe its supposed to replace Bextra in its line-up of deadly drugs?
Stephany
Ed, I wrote this post in June 2007 and it is the number one search on my blog consistantly.
http://bipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com/2007/06/pfizer-cerenia-side-effects.html
The side effects are the same as the “reason for treatment”, and frankly I am concerned that dog owners (just like psych patients) will think the problem (car sickness) is the culprit when in fact it is drug side effects.
To use this drug for mindless road trips or trips to the grocery store is not advised (by me!) save it for the chemo-dog-patients.
Side effects:(some not all)
“excessive salivation, vomiting not associated with motion sickness,and muscle tremors”
I detest pharma entering the “drug the pets too” arena, but then again, it’s a money maker so why the hell not, the people at Titan Pharma are looking into the animal drug market….why not? innocent pets can’t speak for themselves!
Christopher
No problem with any of this until Stephany announces <>. Maybe I’m missing the ‘unnecessary drugging’ point that might underly your comment. Are you really suggesting that animals should not receive medication, or if not, could you suggest when you believe it’s appropriate?
Stephany
Whenever you are comfortable with the possible side effects that mimic the “illness”; and want to take that risk on behalf of your dog/pet/cat/child for that matter. Go for it Christopher.
Stephany
BTW, Christopher nothing “I announce” should matter that much to you or anyone else unless there is reason for it to matter. Good luck with your endeavors.
harry
it seems that Fido like thousands of patients is “f****d”, but Pfizer has a sense of humor, I hope all fido’s, file a class action lawsuit if scalia/wlf/current administration- allow it :)
who will help fido? currently our system doesn’t respect our children or parents dignity so who will help our adored pets?
Pfizer ?????
Christopher
Stephany - I just want to understand if you are suggesting that pets/animals should not receive medications. Whether your announcements matter to me is immaterial.
Stephany
As my original comment states “save it for the chemo-dog-patients”
That should answer your question, Christopher, why it matters to you what I think is a completely different topic and not one I care to invest time in here.
harpy
Good thing there are many other ways to deal with dogs who get carsick. Benadryl and dramamine have been used for years, not to mention behavioral and homeopathic remedies. Personally, I’d rather the relatives left their ill-behaved, poorly trained “angels” at home.
Any particular reason you’re picking a fight with Stephany, Christopher? ‘cos from here you’re looking like a complete ass. just sayin’
Evelyn Pringle
I’m with Harpy - leave the pets home. I in fact never think of getting a dog because I realize that people would not necessarily want my pet around and it would be unfair to leave it stranded at home.
On the side effect issue, this is as bad as bad as drugging infants and toddlers who cannot voice the problems caused by the drugs.
Did the FDA approve this drug for dogs with that rate of the vomiting side effect vs placebo?
Christopher
Hello harpy, seems like you haven’t changed a bit. Actually I wasn’t trying to pick a fight with anyone. I asked a serious question based on Stephany’s original comment and was a bit surprised to get a snotty note back from him/her. Maybe I misunderstood his/her comment but mine was a genuine question. Make of it what you will. Have a good day.
JaT
We used a pet sitter when our hairy babies were still alive. They were more comfortable at home anyway.
Stephany
Your words speak for themselves here Christopher, you picked a fight (thanks Harpy) appeared like an ass doing it, and my original comment had your answer.
leave the dogs home and leave Cerenia for the chemo-patient dogs…pretty much what I said when I posted my comment here the first time.
Maybe, Christopher, you just were bored or didn’t like me speaking out against Pfizer.
The over-use of drugs on a broad spectrum based paradigm is cause for alarm. Cerenia is designed for severe cases not CAR SICK dogs.
Read Evelyn Pringle’s comment that says enough.
Back to your corner now.(that was snotty wasn’t it?)
Lisa Van Syckel
Ok Kids, fight nice, And I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Ed Silverman
Hi Folks,
I’d just like to issue a polite and delicate reminder that the comments section is a bit like a large lawn party - one is free to flit from group to group, contribute or not when the feeling strikes and move on when the time is right. But cracking glasses or throwing chairs at such a gathering makes it less inviting for others.
So this is a genuine request to please speak kindly to one another. Differences of opinion are vital to the conversation, of course, but I would ask that these be expressed in a way that everyone here can feel comfortable.
Thanks
ed
harpy
Nope, haven’t changed a bit, Christopher, thank you for noticing. Kudos for the disingenuous reply!
Joe
Millions has been spent marketing this product and it has made not a lot of money in return. PAH is doing anything to make this “DOG” of a product work.
Christopher
harpy, I didn’t imply I was a genius but I am sincere.
pharmavet
Interesting how a dog thread gets 20 posts while far more serious threads about counterfiet drugs, Prempro, Provenge, etc. get half dozen at most.