Carprofen

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Carprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is used by veterinarians as a supportive treatment for the relief of arthritic symptoms in geriatric dogs. It can be used both short term, for joint pain or post-operative inflammation, or long term.

Brand names include Rimadyl®, and Zenecarp® in the UK. It is made by Pfizer.

Administration

Carprofen is available in 20, 75 and 100 mg tablets. An injectable formula is available in the UK, along with 50 mg tablets as opposed to 75 mg tablets.

Health issues

Although most dogs respond well to carprofen, it is capable of causing liver toxicity in some animals, and in the early days of introduction there were significant anecdotal reports of sudden animal deaths arising from its use.

It could often not be determined to what extent these were carprofen-related however. Indeed, many may not have been connected to use of the drug, as carprofen is often prescribed to older or sick animals, or in cases of significant pain and illness.

Several years later, a more realistic view is that it is safe and tested for the vast majority of animals, however some will react, and therefore regular blood tests (monthly, or at least twice a year) are often recommended if an animal is to be placed on carprofen for long term use. These tests check for liver toxicity byproducts, and confirm that the animal is not suffering an adverse reaction.

Other symptoms which can indicate a problem, and which are worth raising with a vet include excessive drinking or urination, blood or dark tar-like material in urine or stools, jaundice (yellowing of eyes), unusual lethargy and so on.

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