Carprofen Drug Information for Dogs and Cats

Quick Info:

 

• Drug name: Carprofen
• Common name: Rimadyl, Carprieve, Aventicarp, Novox, Vetprofen, Quellin
• Drug type: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
• Used for: Pain and inflammation
• Species: Dog + cat
• Formulation: Injectable, tablets

 

Name – Active Ingredient:

 

• Carprofen

 

Name – Common Trade Names:

 

• Rimadyl, Carprieve, Aventicarp, Novox, Vetprofen, Quellin – multiple other trade names

 

Species:

 

• Short- and long-term use in dogs
• Single treatment only in cats

 

Major Indication:

 

• Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID)
  • Painkiller, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic (reduces fever)
• Used after injury or surgery.
• Can be used long-term to treat chronically painful conditions (e.g., osteoarthritis).

 

Common Contraindications and Warnings:

 

• The drug should not be given to dehydrated animals, those with low blood pressure, or those with a clotting disorder.
• Care is needed in older patients with pre-existing kidney disease, intestinal disease, or liver disease.
• Safety has not been determined in puppies younger than 6 months or in pregnant or lactating dogs.
• Do not administer alongside any other NSAID or steroid (e.g., prednisone) and do not change NSAIDs until your pet has gone through a 7-day washout period of no Carprofen.

 

Potential Side Effects:

 

• The most common side effects are vomiting and/or diarrhea (less than 2%).
• Rare side effects include liver or kidney failure, bleeding, and intestinal ulceration.
• Animals that develop side effects often tolerate a different NSAID.
• There is little evidence to suggest one particular NSAID has a better safety profile than another.

 

Administration Instructions/Handling:

 

• Give with food.
• Stop if your dog develops vomiting or diarrhea, or if it becomes unwell during treatment.
• Tablets can be very palatable, so it is important to keep them well out of reach of your dog.
• If a dose is missed, give straight away if within a couple of hours of normal dosing time, otherwise restart when the next dose is due.

 

Storage:

 

• Store at room temperature and out of reach of dogs. The tablets can be very palatable, and whole bottles may be eaten if they are accessible.

 

Speed of Action + Monitoring:

 

• NSAIDs start working within a few hours. In chronic pain conditions, it can take several weeks for the full benefit to be seen.
• Pain levels should also be closely monitored to be certain no additional treatment is needed.
• With long-term use, intermittent blood testing is routinely recommended to monitor liver and kidney function.
• When given to treat pain, your pet’s pain levels should be monitored to ensure the treatment given is effective.

 

REMEMBER! READ THE LABEL!

 

To download this resource please click on the green button above.