Carprofen for Dogs: A Medication That Treats All Kinds of Pain

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Is your dog showing signs of pain, perhaps limping or slowing down on walks? Or maybe they just recently had a wound or surgery. There are many causes of pain and inflammation.

If your dog is experiencing one or more pain symptoms, carprofen is one of the most common medications prescribed.

Carprofen for dogs at a glance

What is carprofen for dogs, and how does it work?

Carprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). The most common brand for dogs is Rimadyl. Several other brands exist, including:

• Novox

• TruProfen

• Carprieve

• Rovera

Carprofen, like other NSAIDs, can relieve pain, inflammation, and fevers in dogs. Carprofen has these effects through blocking an enzyme called cyclooxygenase (COX). It also has some effect against synthesis of prostaglandin, a hormone that plays a key role in inflammation.

Carprofen is more selective at blocking the COX-1 versus the COX-2 pathway. NSAID medications that work this way have fewer side effects on a dog's digestive tract and kidneys.

What is carprofen used for in dogs?

Carprofen is labeled for use in dogs for the relief of pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. It is also labeled for control of pain associated with soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries in dogs.

A veterinarian may also prescribe carprofen for other conditions that cause pain and inflammation. These can include:

• Tendon or ligament injuries

• Wounds

• Back pain

• Some cancers responsive to NSAID medications (such as prostate carcinoma)

Veterinarians may prescribe carprofen for short periods of time. This includes for short periods after surgeries or for minor wounds and injuries.

Veterinarians can prescribe carprofen for long-term periods too. This can include dogs with chronic conditions like arthritis or a chronic injury like a cranial cruciate ligament tear. In these cases, your vet may recommend carprofen for daily use.

Carprofen also comes in an injectable form given under the skin (subcutaneously). This form is given by veterinarians in a hospital. Most often this is done before a surgery. Vets may also use the injection as a way of providing more immediate pain relief during visits for wounds or injuries.

How is carprofen dosed and given for dogs?

The FDA-approved dosage of carprofen for dogs is 4.4 mg per kilogram of a dog's weight once a day (every 24 hours) or 2.2 mg per kilogram twice a day (every 12 hours).

Many veterinarians prescribe carprofen every 12 hours (a dose in the morning and a dose in the evening). This may reduce the risk of gastrointestinal upset effects for dogs.

Carprofen can come in several forms:

• Chewable tablets (25 mg, 75 mg, 100 mg)

• Flavored tablets (25 mg, 75 mg, 100 mg)

• Caplets (25 mg, 75 mg, 100 mg)

• Injectable solution (50 mg/mL)

You cannot give carprofen more often than every 12 or 24 hours, depending on the dose prescribed. Increasing the dose or frequency can greatly increase risk for side effects.

What are the common side effects of carprofen in dogs?

Most healthy dogs tolerate carprofen well. The most common side effects of carprofen are associated with digestive upset, including:

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Constipation

• Reduced appetite

Other, less frequent side effects can include:

• Lethargy

• Weakness

• Ataxia (problems with balance and walking)

• Behavior changes

• Skin issues (itching, hair loss, skin inflammation)

• Mild elevations in liver enzymes (ALT, alanine transaminase; ALP, alkaline phosphomonoesterase)

What are the most serious risks of carprofen for dogs?

Serious risks related to carprofen in dogs are considered rare, but they do occur.

No blood clotting

NSAID medications can have antiplatelet effects. Platelets are used to help blood clot, and antiplatelet medications can prevent blood from clotting if dogs injure themselves. In healthy dogs, this is not a significant risk. But carprofen may be a risk to use in dogs with:

• Preexisting platelet disorders

• An active bleeding disorder

• Trauma leading to heavy bleeding

GI risks

Any NSAID medication can cause very serious gastrointestinal (GI) effects, including stomach or small intestinal ulceration and bleeding and pancreatitis. These serious GI risks tend to be higher with inappropriately high or frequent doses.

Liver problems

Liver enzymes, including ALT and ALP, may elevate severely in rare cases. This is called an idiosyncratic reaction and is unpredictable. This reportedly occurs in less than 0.05% of dogs. But this effect can be very serious and can occur with only 1 or 2 doses of an NSAID medication.

Kidney issues

NSAID medications can have a negative effect on kidney function. COX-2-sparing medications like carprofen have reduced risks compared with others. This is especially true of human NSAID medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodium. But in dogs with preexisting kidney disease, an NSAID can carry a risk for making kidney disease worse.

Because of these risks, your veterinarian may advise periodic blood work checks to track your dog's internal health.

Allergic reactions

Hypersensitivity reactions (allergic reactions) can occur with any medication. Signs may include facial swelling, hives, and skin redness.

Poisoning

With carprofen, the most common risk for serious toxicity is associated with the flavored chewable tablets. If the bottle is not kept in a safe place, a dog may chew open the bottle and ingest multiple tablets.

This can cause very serious gastrointestinal, kidney, and liver toxicity. Emergency hospital care should be sought immediately. You can also call a pet poison hotline for guidance.

Does carprofen interact with any other dog medications?

You cannot give carprofen at the same time with any other NSAID medications or steroid medication (like prednisone). Doing so greatly increases the risk of GI ulcers and bleeding.

When switching between NSAID medications or from an NSAID to a steroid (or vice versa), a washout period is common. This means that for 3 to 10 days, neither medication will be given. A veterinarian will guide you on how long the period should be. This allows the first medication's effects to be reduced enough for the second medication to be started safely.

There are other medications that may interact with carprofen. This list includes the most significant known interactions:

• Aminoglycosides (gentamicin, amikacin)

• Amphotericin B

• Anticoagulants (heparins, warfarin, clopidogrel)

• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (benazepril, enalapril)

• Angiotensin receptor blockers (telmisartan)

• Aspirin

• Blood pressure medications (amlodipine, sildenafil)

• Pepto-Bismol

• Bisphosphonates (alendronate)

• Cholestyramine

• Cyclosporine

• Dacarbazine

• Desmopressin

• Digoxin

• Dinoprost

• Diuretics (furosemide)

• Omega-3 fatty acids

• Frunevetmab (Librela)

• Insulin

• Methotrexate

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (fluoxetine)

• Tigilanol tiglate

• Toceranib

What should you do if your dog misses a dose of carprofen?

You can give carprofen either once or twice a day, depending on a veterinarian's instructions.

Try to give your dog any missed dose as close as possible to when it was due or when the next dose is due. Then consider these guidelines depending on your dog's situation:

• If your dog takes this medication once every 24 hours and less than 12 hours have passed, give a dose as soon as possible. But start giving future doses 24 hours apart from the new dose time.

• If your dog takes carprofen once every 24 hours and more than 12 hours have passed since the missed dose, wait until the next dose is due.

• If your dog takes this medication every 12 hours and more than 6 to 8 hours have passed since the missed dose, wait until the next dose is due.

If you have specific questions about missed doses, contact your veterinarian.

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