Carprofen for Dogs

Carprofen (brand names: Rimadyl, Novox) is a prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for dogs. It helps relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Top uses your team will hear about: long-term management of osteoarthritis (arthritis) pain and short-term control of pain after surgery (soft-tissue or orthopedic). It is for dogs only and is Rx-only. Urgent red flags to relay to a veterinarian right away: vomiting or diarrhea (especially black/tarry stool or blood), not eating, marked lethargy, yellow gums/eyes, or increased thirst/urination. Your veterinarian can discuss why it was prescribed for this pet and what to watch for based on their history.

Quick owner FAQs about carprofen (Rimadyl, Novox) for dogs: Q: What is carprofen and why was it prescribed? A: It’s a prescription NSAID used to reduce pain and inflammation from arthritis or surgery in dogs. Many dogs seem more comfortable within a few days, but timing and duration vary—your veterinarian will advise for your pet. Q: What side effects should I watch for? A: Call us the same day if you see vomiting, diarrhea, not eating, black/tarry or bloody stools, big behavior changes or lethargy, yellow gums/eyes, or changes in drinking or urination. If there’s collapse, seizures, or vomiting/pooping blood, go to an emergency clinic now. Your veterinarian can discuss monitoring and when bloodwork is recommended. Q: Can I give carprofen with other medications? A: Do not combine it with other anti‑inflammatories (NSAIDs) or steroids unless your veterinarian specifically directs it. Always tell us about all meds and supplements your dog takes; your veterinarian can confirm what’s safe to use together. Q: Should I give it with food? A: Carprofen may be given with or without food. If stomach upset occurs, call us before the next dose so the veterinarian can advise. Q: What if I miss a dose or my dog ate extra chewables? A: Don’t give an extra or double dose without veterinary direction. Chewables are palatable—if you suspect an overdose, contact us or a pet poison control service right away. Keep all meds locked away from pets and children. Your veterinarian can provide the official Client Information Sheet and answer any other questions.

What owners most often report after starting carprofen: upset stomach (vomiting, diarrhea or soft stool), not wanting to eat, and acting less active/tired. These are known NSAID effects. Treat these as not “normal”—the clinic should be notified the same day so the veterinarian can advise next steps. Tell the veterinarian about any other medicines or supplements the dog is getting, as NSAIDs have important safety considerations if combined with other drugs. Urgent red flags that require immediate care: black, tarry, or bloody stool; vomit with blood or that looks like coffee grounds; yellow gums/eyes/skin (jaundice); very pale gums; severe lethargy/collapse; facial swelling or hives; incoordination, stumbling, or seizures; repeated vomiting; or a marked change in drinking/urination with not eating. Serious reactions can occur without warning, so escalate promptly. Your veterinarian can discuss whether monitoring (like periodic labs) is needed while on carprofen and how to proceed based on the dog’s signs.

Forms and how to give: Carprofen for dogs is dispensed as chewable tablets and caplets for home use; your veterinarian may also give an injection in-clinic. Chewables are very palatable—offer by hand or place on a small amount of food, and watch to be sure the full dose is eaten. Tablets are scored to split if the veterinarian instructs. Store securely out of your dog’s reach; dogs may eat large amounts if they find the bottle. Do not combine with other pain relievers (other NSAIDs) or steroids unless the veterinarian specifically directs. Pilling tips: Hide the tablet in a small “meatball” of canned food, cheese, or a pill pocket; or coat with a small amount of peanut butter—confirm the product is xylitol‑free (xylitol is toxic to dogs). If your dog still refuses, your veterinarian can discuss switching between caplets/chewables or using a flavored compounded form from a licensed pharmacy when medically appropriate; note that compounded products are not FDA‑approved. Troubleshooting stomach upset: If a dog vomits after a dose or seems off food, giving with a small meal next time may help. If vomiting persists, or you see black/tarry stool, blood in vomit or stool, yellow gums/eyes, marked lethargy, collapse, or seizures, seek immediate veterinary care. For any vomiting after a dose, contact the veterinarian before giving more so they can advise next steps.

Carprofen is an Rx-only NSAID for dogs. For any refill request, confirm the pet’s name, owner, medication name/form, how many doses are left, preferred pickup vs. pharmacy, and contact info. Check the chart for: prescription expiration/refills remaining, last doctor exam, and any notes about needed blood or urine testing. Because long-term NSAID use requires monitoring, the veterinarian may require a check-up and/or lab work before approving more medication. Provide the FDA Client Information Sheet with each refill and route any medical questions to the veterinarian. Red flags while a dog is on an NSAID include vomiting, diarrhea, black or bloody stools, not eating, low energy, or yellow gums/eyes. If any of these are reported, stop the routine refill workflow and escalate to a veterinarian or licensed technician for same-day guidance. If the caller mentions the dog is also taking another pain reliever (another NSAID) or a steroid such as prednisone, flag and route to the veterinarian before proceeding. For online pharmacy requests, only process to licensed pharmacies that require a valid prescription and that will contact our hospital for verification; sites that don’t require a prescription are a red flag. Your veterinarian can discuss whether a recheck or lab work is needed and the safest plan for ongoing therapy.

Escalate to a veterinarian or technician immediately if a dog on carprofen shows any of the following: vomiting (especially with blood or “coffee‑grounds”), black or tarry stools, repeated diarrhea, not eating, marked lethargy or behavior changes, wobbliness/incoordination, pale gums, yellow gums/skin/eyes, or increased drinking and urination. These can signal serious stomach/intestinal bleeding, kidney problems, or rare liver injury, and reactions can occur without warning. Do not give advice about dosing—get medical staff right away. If an overdose is suspected (dog chewed the bottle or received more than prescribed), treat as an emergency. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, bloody vomit, black stools, lethargy, abdominal pain, increased thirst/urination, or seizures. Because carprofen chewables are very palatable, accidental large ingestions are a known risk—immediate veterinary assessment is needed; have the medication bottle available for the medical team. Escalate urgently for signs of a severe allergic reaction such as facial swelling, hives, or trouble breathing. Your veterinarian can discuss risks, monitoring, and the safest next steps for this patient.

Flag and hand off to the veterinarian any time an owner mentions another anti‑inflammatory or steroid with carprofen. Combining carprofen with another NSAID (for example, aspirin, meloxicam, deracoxib, firocoxib) or with a corticosteroid (prednisone, prednisolone, dexamethasone) increases the risk of stomach/intestinal bleeding, ulcers, and kidney or liver problems. Owners sometimes give human OTC products—ibuprofen/Advil, naproxen/Aleve, aspirin, or Pepto‑Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate, a salicylate)—these should be flagged immediately for veterinarian review because they can be dangerous with carprofen. If the owner reports black/tarry stools, blood in vomit, severe vomiting/diarrhea, collapse, seizures, or yellow gums/eyes, direct them to an emergency clinic now and notify the veterinarian at once. Also flag common interaction categories for veterinarian review: heart/kidney medicines such as ACE inhibitors (enalapril, benazepril) and diuretics (furosemide), blood thinners/anticoagulants, seizure medicines (phenobarbital), immune‑modulating drugs (cyclosporine), insulin, certain antibiotics (e.g., aminoglycosides, sulfonamides), and SSRIs such as fluoxetine. These combinations may require monitoring or an alternate plan—your veterinarian can discuss risks and next steps with the owner. Meds often mentioned alongside carprofen in multimodal plans include gabapentin or amantadine for pain control, trazodone for anxiety/sedation around visits, anti‑nausea medicine after surgery, and GI protectants like omeprazole or famotidine. These are used only under a veterinarian’s direction. Collect a complete list of all prescriptions, OTC drugs, and supplements and hand off to the veterinarian to confirm safety before the owner gives anything new.

Store carprofen chewable tablets at room temperature. Labels for Rimadyl and generics allow 59–86°F (15–30°C), and some generics specify a preferred 68–77°F (20–25°C) with brief excursions to 59–86°F permitted. Keep the medication in its original, labeled, child‑resistant container and store it out of reach of pets and children. Flavored chewables are attractive to dogs, so secure the bottle in a closed cabinet. If a pet or child swallows more than prescribed or gets into the bottle, treat this as urgent: contact the veterinarian or a veterinary emergency clinic immediately; for human exposure, contact Poison Control. Your veterinarian can discuss safe storage during travel or in homes with multiple pets. Shelf life after opening: product labels do not specify a shorter “use by” period for unopened whole tablets once the bottle is opened. However, several carprofen chewable labels instruct that if a tablet is split, the remaining half should be used within 30 days. For disposal, use a take‑back location or FDA mail‑back program when possible. If no take‑back is available and the drug is not on the FDA Flush List, dispose of it in household trash per FDA directions (e.g., mix with an unappealing substance, seal, then discard). Your veterinarian can advise on clinic or community disposal options.

Before a dog starts carprofen, schedule a doctor exam and baseline lab work (blood ± urine) so the veterinarian has starting values for liver and kidney health. A first recheck with an exam and bloodwork is typically set 2–4 weeks after starting or after any dose change to make sure the medication is being tolerated; your veterinarian can adjust timing based on the pet’s risk factors and history. FDA labeling also asks that owners receive the NSAID Client Information Sheet and that pets on NSAIDs have periodic follow‑ups while on treatment. For ongoing therapy, plan periodic monitoring to check liver and kidney values and assess comfort. Many patients are rechecked every 6–12 months when stable; seniors or pets with other health concerns may be seen more often as directed by the veterinarian. If an owner reports red-flag signs such as not eating, vomiting or diarrhea, black/tarry stools, yellow gums/eyes, marked lethargy, seizures, or big changes in drinking or urination, escalate to a veterinarian the same day for guidance on next steps.

Carprofen is a prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for dogs used to reduce pain and inflammation from osteoarthritis and to control postoperative pain after soft‑tissue or orthopedic surgery. It is marketed under several brand names, including Rimadyl and Novox, and is for dogs only. Common side effects owners may report include vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, or lower energy. Urgent red flags that require immediate escalation include black or tarry stools, bloody vomit, yellow gums/eyes, severe lethargy or collapse, pale gums, incoordination, or seizures. Increased thirst or urination can also be concerning and should be relayed to the veterinarian the same day. Front‑office safety notes: confirm all current medications—especially other NSAIDs or steroids—since these are typically not used together unless directed by the veterinarian. Rimadyl/carprofen chewables are very palatable; if a dog gets into the bottle or eats extra tablets, treat as an emergency and direct the client to an emergency hospital or pet poison control while we alert the veterinarian.