Cindy has hip dysplacia too. I give her the remadyl when she gets sluggish, esp with cold or rainy days. It perks her right up. Expensive though.
They're expensive for a full size dog if you had to give them every day... for an 80 pound Logan they were about $1 a pill... but I'd give him one a day when needed, and not all the time. Zulus were less because she was little.