Carprofen

Indications

Rimadyl is indicated for the relief of pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis and for the control of postoperative pain associated with soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries in dogs.

Dosage and Administration

Always provide Client Information Sheet with prescription. Carefully consider the potential benefits and risk of Rimadyl and other treatment options before deciding to use Rimadyl. Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration consistent with individual response. The recommended dosage for oral administration to dogs is 2 mg/lb of body weight daily. The total daily dose may be administered as 2 mg/lb of body weight once daily or divided and administered as 1 mg/lb twice daily. For the control of postoperative pain, administer approximately 2 hours before the procedure. Rimadyl chewable tablets are scored and dosage should be calculated in half-tablet increments. Tablets can be halved by placing the tablet on a hard surface and pressing down on both sides of the score. Rimadyl chewable tablets are palatable and willingly consumed by most dogs when offered by the owner. Therefore, they may be fed by hand or placed on food. Care should be taken to ensure that the dog consumes the complete dose. PALATABILITY A controlled palatability study was conducted which demonstrated that Rimadyl chewable tablets were readily accepted and consumed on first offering by a majority of dogs.

Contraindications

Rimadyl should not be used in dogs exhibiting previous hypersensitivity to carprofen.

Warnings

Keep out of reach of children. Not for human use. Consult a physician in cases of accidental ingestion by humans. For use in dogs only. Do not use in cats. All dogs should undergo a thorough history and physical examination before initiation of NSAID therapy. Appropriate laboratory tests to establish hematological and serum biochemical baseline data prior to, and periodically during, administration of any NSAID should be considered. Owners should be advised to observe for signs of potential drug toxicity (see Information for Dog Owners, Adverse Reactions, Animal Safety and Post-Approval Experience).

Precautions

As a class, cyclooxygenase inhibitory NSAIDs may be associated with gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic toxicity. Effects may result from decreased prostaglandin production and inhibition of the enzyme cyclooxygenase which is responsible for the formation of prostaglandins from arachidonic acid. 11–14 When NSAIDs inhibit prostaglandins that cause inflammation they may also inhibit those prostaglandins which maintain normal homeostatic function. These anti-prostaglandin effects may result in clinically significant disease in patients with underlying or pre-existing disease more often than in healthy patients. 12,14 NSAID therapy could unmask occult disease which has previously been undiagnosed due to the absence of apparent clinical signs. Patients with underlying renal disease for example, may experience exacerbation or decompensation of their renal disease while on NSAID therapy. 11–14 The use of parenteral fluids during surgery should be considered to reduce the potential risk of renal complications when using NSAIDs perioperatively. Carprofen is an NSAID, and as with others in that class, adverse reactions may occur with its use. The most frequently reported effects have been gastrointestinal signs. Events involving suspected renal, hematologic, neurologic, dermatologic, and hepatic effects have also been reported. Patients at greatest risk for renal toxicity are those that are dehydrated, on concomitant diuretic therapy, or those with renal, cardiovascular, and/or hepatic dysfunction. Concurrent administration of potentially nephrotoxic drugs should be approached cautiously, with appropriate monitoring. Concomitant use of Rimadyl with other anti-inflammatory drugs, such as other NSAIDs or corticosteroids, should be avoided because of the potential increase of adverse reactions, including gastrointestinal ulcerations and/or perforations. Sensitivity to drug-associated adverse reactions varies with the individual patient. Dogs that have experienced adverse reactions from one NSAID may experience adverse reactions from another NSAID. Rimadyl treatment was not associated with renal toxicity or gastrointestinal ulceration in well-controlled safety studies of up to ten times the dose in healthy dogs. Rimadyl is not recommended for use in dogs with bleeding disorders (e.g., Von Willebrand's disease), as safety has not been established in dogs with these disorders. The safe use of Rimadyl in animals less than 6 weeks of age, pregnant dogs, dogs used for breeding purposes, or in lactating bitches has not been established. Studies to determine the activity of Rimadyl when administered concomitantly with other protein-bound or similarly metabolized drugs have not been conducted. Drug compatibility should be monitored closely in patients requiring additional therapy. Such drugs commonly used include cardiac, anticonvulsant and behavioral medications. It has been suggested that treatment with carprofen may reduce the level of inhalant anesthetics needed. 15 If additional pain medication is warranted after administration of the total daily dose of Rimadyl, alternative analgesia should be considered. The use of another NSAID is not recommended. Consider appropriate washout times when switching from one NSAID to another or when switching from corticosteroids use to NSAID use. Due to the palatable nature of Rimadyl chewable tablets, store out of reach of dogs in a secured location. Severe adverse reactions may occur if large quantities of tablets are ingested. If you suspect your dog has consumed Rimadyl chewable tablets above the labeled dose, please call your veterinarian for immediate assistance and notify Zoetis Inc. 1-888-963-8471.

Adverse Reactions

During investigational studies for the caplet formulation with twice daily administration of 1 mg/lb, no clinically significant adverse reactions were reported. Some clinical signs were observed during field studies (n=297) which were similar for carprofen caplet- and placebo-treated dogs. Incidences of the following were observed in both groups: vomiting (4%), diarrhea (4%), changes in appetite (3%), lethargy (1.4%), behavioral changes (1%), and constipation (0.3%). The product vehicle served as control. There were no serious adverse events reported during clinical field studies with once daily administration of 2 mg/lb. The following categories of abnormal health observations were reported. The product vehicle served as control. Percentage of Dogs with Abnormal Health Observations Reported in Clinical Field Study (2 mg/lb once daily) Observation Rimadyl (n=129) Placebo (n=132) Inappetence 1.6 1.5 Vomiting 3.1 3.8 Diarrhea/Soft stool 3.1 4.5 Behavior change 0.8 0.8 Dermatitis 0.8 0.8 PU/PD 0.8 — SAP increase 7.8 8.3 ALT increase 5.4 4.5 AST increase 2.3 0.8 BUN increase 3.1 1.5 Bilirubinuria 16.3 12.1 Ketonuria 14.7 9.1 Clinical pathology parameters listed represent reports of increases from pre-treatment values; medical judgment is necessary to determine clinical relevance. During investigational studies of surgical pain for the caplet formulation, no clinically significant adverse reactions were reported. The product vehicle served as control. Percentage of Dogs with Abnormal Health Observations Reported in Surgical Pain Field Studies with Caplets (2 mg/lb once daily) Observation A single dog may have experienced more than one occurrence of an event. Rimadyl (n=148) Placebo (n=149) Vomiting 10.1 13.4 Diarrhea/Soft stool 6.1 6.0 Ocular disease 2.7 0 Inappetence 1.4 0 Dermatitis/Skin lesion 2.0 1.3 Dysrhythmia 0.7 0 Apnea 1.4 0 Oral/Periodontal disease 1.4 0 Pyrexia 0.7 1.3 Urinary tract disease 1.4 1.3 Wound drainage 1.4 0 * A single dog may have experienced more than one occurrence of an event. During investigational studies for the chewable tablet formulation, gastrointestinal signs were observed in some dogs. These signs included vomiting and soft stools. Post-Approval Experience Although not all adverse reactions are reported, the following adverse reactions are based on voluntary post-approval adverse drug experience reporting. The categories of adverse reactions are listed in decreasing order of frequency by body system. Gastrointestinal: Vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, inappetence, melena, hematemesis, gastrointestinal ulceration, gastrointestinal bleeding, pancreatitis . Hepatic: Inappetence, vomiting, jaundice, acute hepatic toxicity, hepatic enzyme elevation, abnormal liver function test(s), hyperbilirubinemia, bilirubinuria, hypoalbuminemia. Approximately one-fourth of hepatic reports were in Labrador Retrievers . Neurologic: Ataxia, paresis, paralysis, seizures, vestibular signs, disorientation. Urinary: Hematuria, polyuria, polydipsia, urinary incontinence, urinary tract infection, azotemia, acute renal failure, tubular abnormalities including acute tubular necrosis, renal tubular acidosis, glucosuria . Behavioral: Sedation, lethargy, hyperactivity, restlessness, aggressiveness. Hematologic: Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, blood loss anemia, epistaxis . Dermatologic: Pruritus, increased shedding, alopecia, pyotraumatic moist dermatitis (hot spots), necrotizing panniculitis/vasculitis, ventral ecchymosis . Immunologic or hypersensitivity: Facial swelling, hives, erythema. In rare situations, death has been associated with some of the adverse reactions listed above. To report a suspected adverse reaction call 1-888-963-8471.

Description

Rimadyl (carprofen) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) of the propionic acid class that includes ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen. Carprofen is the nonproprietary designation for a substituted carbazole, 6-chloro-α-methyl-9H-carbazole-2-acetic acid. The empirical formula is C 15 H 12 ClNO 2 and the molecular weight 273.72. The chemical structure of carprofen is: Carprofen is a white, crystalline compound. It is freely soluble in ethanol, but practically insoluble in water at 25°C. Chemical Structure

Information for Owners

Rimadyl, like other drugs of its class, is not free from adverse reactions. Owners should be advised of the potential for adverse reactions and be informed of the clinical signs associated with drug intolerance. Adverse reactions may include decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, dark or tarry stools, increased water consumption, increased urination, pale gums due to anemia, yellowing of gums, skin or white of the eye due to jaundice, lethargy, incoordination, seizure, or behavioral changes. Serious adverse reactions associated with this drug class can occur without warning and in rare situations result in death (see Adverse Reactions). Owners should be advised to discontinue Rimadyl therapy and contact their veterinarian immediately if signs of intolerance are observed . The vast majority of patients with drug related adverse reactions have recovered when the signs are recognized, the drug is withdrawn, and veterinary care, if appropriate, is initiated. Owners should be advised of the importance of periodic follow up for all dogs during administration of any NSAID.

Storage

Store at controlled room temperature 15°–30°C (59°–86°F).

Other labels for this ingredient

These labels are also stored for the same active ingredient. They are not identical to the one reprinted above, and each is listed by product and set id rather than merged with it.

• Rovera ® (carprofen) Chewable Tablets, Vicar Operating, Inc.. Set id 4ae3727a-7bb8-45ed-bab2-3d094dce91d5.
• Norbrook Laboratories Limited Norbrook Laboratories Limited Carprieve carprofen carprofen carprofen brown ROUND 25 Carprieve carprofen carprofen carprofen brown ROUND 75 Carprieve carprofen carprofen carprofen brown ROUND 100 Approved by FDA under ANADA # 200-595 Carprieve ® (carprofen) Chewable Tablets Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug For oral use in dogs only CAUTION: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. DESCRIPTION:, Norbrook Laboratories Limited. Set id 8b7f3f89-c745-4156-b27d-5dbe8d41fde3.
• MWI/VetOne Norbrook Laboratories Limited Norbrook Laboratories Limited OstiFen carprofen carprofen carprofen brown ROUND 25 OstiFen carprofen carprofen carprofen brown ROUND 75 OstiFen carprofen carprofen carprofen brown ROUND 100 Approved by FDA under ANADA # 200-595 OstiFen ™ (carprofen) Chewable Tablets Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug For oral use in dogs only CAUTION:, MWI/VetOne. Set id 1aeab3b3-d810-4123-8e8a-2db9aef77ef7.
• Carprofen Chewable Tablets (carprofen) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug For oral use in dogs only, Cronus Pharma LLC. Set id 3c088145-0f3e-4fb6-9b46-d53344de1b82.
• MOVODYL TM Chewable Tablets (carprofen), Virbac AH, Inc.. Set id 64b63612-56c9-4e53-8991-9ef2fad36826.
• CARPROFEN Soft Chewable Tablets Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug For oral use in dogs only, FELIX PHARMACEUTICALS PRIVATE LIMITED. Set id 1ea3e536-87d8-467c-a5c6-4af09f827212.
• CARPROFEN Chewable Tablets Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug For oral use in dogs only, FELIX PHARMACEUTICALS PRIVATE LIMITED. Set id 56288f28-7f63-4d94-9451-9548175413e7.
• CARPROFEN Chewable Tablets, BUTLER ANIMAL HEALTH SUPPLY, LLC DBA COVETRUS NORTH AMERICA. Set id f52b2ae4-6902-4637-abc5-140ceee95826.
• LEVAFEN TM (carprofen) Chewable Tablets, ASPEN VETERINARY RESOURCES®, LTD. Set id 9cf11a97-bf7f-4eab-ab61-7d7fc3304fbd.
• ZYVET ANIMAL HEALTH INC. ZYVET ANIMAL HEALTH INC. Carprofen carprofen CARPROFEN CARPROFEN Pig 11;U Carprofen carprofen CARPROFEN CARPROFEN Pig 12;U Carprofen carprofen CARPROFEN CARPROFEN Pig 13;U Carprofen, ZYVET ANIMAL HEALTH INC.. Set id 0683a5ff-db4a-4612-9261-6101b6d67ccf.
• quellin, Elanco US Inc.. Set id 879f0b28-00c0-40e8-b224-afcf39b1fce7.
• Levafen™ (carprofen) Tablets Flavored Tablets Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug For oral use in dogs only, ASPEN VETERINARY RESOURCES®, LTD. Set id 66b1fb37-af06-4924-8c79-2de3ef6eb69a.
• Carprofen Tablets Caplets Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug For oral use in dogs only, BUTLER ANIMAL HEALTH SUPPLY, LLC DBA COVETRUS NORTH AMERICA. Set id 3a819c41-3921-494c-a694-62d84e724fc2.
• Carprofen Tablets Caplets Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug For oral use in dogs only, FELIX PHARMACEUTICALS PRIVATE LIMITED. Set id 5f458726-987e-4303-9577-71159e2b771d.
• Carprofen Tablets Flavored Tablets Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug For oral use in dogs only, BUTLER ANIMAL HEALTH SUPPLY, LLC DBA COVETRUS NORTH AMERICA. Set id 9a6c4321-332c-4d11-aa11-2cd673378ea1.
• Carprofen Tablets Flavored Tablets Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug For oral use in dogs only, FELIX PHARMACEUTICALS PRIVATE LIMITED. Set id d810726c-460f-484b-b5b9-7a8691d62da5.
• OstiFen™ (carprofen) Tablets Flavored Tablets Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug For oral use in dogs only, MWI/Vetone. Set id caf911ae-6de4-4027-a0f2-1f843a8296e2.
• Norbrook Laboratories Limited Norbrook Laboratories Limited Carprieve carprofen carprofen carprofen orange OVAL 25;mg Carprieve carprofen carprofen carprofen orange OVAL 75;mg Carprieve carprofen carprofen carprofen orange OVAL 100;mg Approved by FDA under ANADA # 200-498 CARPRIEVE ® (carprofen tablets) Caplets Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug For oral use in dogs only CAUTION: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. DESCRIPTION:, Norbrook Laboratories Limited. Set id 33ffc2c7-3ae1-4cac-b21a-b7d08fe6165d.
• Vetprofen ® (Carprofen Flavored Tablets) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug For oral use in dogs only, JVET PHARMACEUTICALS LLC. Set id bcb57a12-eb9a-4517-ae74-4d56ff56157d.
• RIMADYL ® (carprofen), Zoetis Inc.. Set id ae09baf6-1d34-44b0-b9c9-aa9766cdab14.
• MWI/VetOne Norbrook Laboratories Limited Norbrook Laboratories Limited OstiFen carprofen carprofen carprofen orange OVAL 25;mg OstiFen carprofen carprofen carprofen orange OVAL 75;mg OstiFen carprofen carprofen carprofen orange OVAL 100;mg Approved by FDA under ANADA # 200-498 OstiFen ™ (carprofen tablets) Caplets Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug For oral use in dogs only CAUTION: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. DESCRIPTION:, MWI/VetOne. Set id c190e51b-aef9-449c-838a-82053e52d7c6.
• Aspen Veterinary Resources Norbrook Laboratories Limited Norbrook Laboratories Limited Levafen carprofen carprofen carprofen orange OVAL 25;mg Levafen carprofen carprofen carprofen orange OVAL 75;mg Levafen carprofen carprofen carprofen orange OVAL 100;mg Approved by FDA under ANADA # 200-498 LEVAFEN ™ (carprofen tablets) Caplets Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug For oral use in dogs only CAUTION:, Aspen Veterinary Resources. Set id f2754359-d104-4b65-9269-4821af0f59b8.
• Novox ® (Carprofen flavored tablets) For oral use in dogs only Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug, VEDCO INC. Set id 85b367b7-7d1a-4508-92f7-a5b27c92e322.
• Flexprofen ® (carprofen) Sterile Injectable Solution 50 mg/mL, Vetoquinol USA, Inc.. Set id 8c1bd895-6778-49be-8084-d6d3571825b1.
• Carprofen Sterile Injectable Solution 50 mg/mL Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug For subcutaneous use in dogs only, Covetrus. Set id f2fcde28-e400-4bfd-896f-6367dffe5bb3.
• Norbrook Laboratories Limited Norbrook Laboratories Limited Norbrook Laboratories Limited Carprieve carprofen carprofen carprofen Approved by FDA under ANADA # 200-520 Carprieve ® Injection (carprofen) Sterile Injectable Solution 50 mg/mL Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug For subcutaneous use in dogs only CAUTION: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. DESCRIPTION:, Norbrook Laboratories Limited. Set id 84c70074-8c1c-4239-9f5f-0087130638f8.
• covetrus ®, BUTLER ANIMAL HEALTH SUPPLY, LLC dba COVETRUS NORTH AMERICA. Set id 972f8cfd-ff4d-4e66-9011-b36dc786e9be.
• MWI/VetOne Norbrook Laboratories Limited Norbrook Laboratories Limited OstiFen carprofen carprofen carprofen Approved by FDA under ANADA # 200-520 VET one ® OstiFen TM Injection (carprofen) Sterile Injectable Solution 50 mg/mL Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug For subcutaneous use in dogs only CAUTION:, MWI/VetOne. Set id 323a2312-192e-4747-841e-cb387d69e8bc.
• Aspen Veterinary Resources Norbrook Laboratories Limited Norbrook Laboratories Limited Levafen carprofen carprofen carprofen Approved by FDA under ANADA # 200-520 Levafen™ Injection (carprofen) Sterile Injectable Solution 50 mg/mL Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug For subcutaneous use in dogs only CAUTION: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. DESCRIPTION:, Aspen Veterinary Resources. Set id f7027848-8d90-41c3-82ec-789da8836a7e.
• Carofenvet TM (carprofen) Sterile Injectable Solution 50 mg/mL Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug For subcutaneous use in dogs only, Cronus Pharma LLC. Set id 09ca9a4f-7f9d-4682-ac12-00155d4ae5b9.
• VETone OstiFen® (carprofen) Sterile Injectable Solution - 50 mg/mL Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug For subcutaneous use in dogs only, MWI Animal Health. Set id 03346a77-b27f-4976-9c44-113193143243.
• NDC No. 86101-032-42 Carprofen Sterile Injectable Solution 50 mg/mL, FELIX PHARMACEUTICALS PRIVATE LIMITED. Set id f0d6c98d-4eb8-40b0-be0d-f721ff32c55f.
• RIMADYL ®, Zoetis Inc.. Set id 27197d3c-8e25-4e78-b83b-ee26f9249369.
• Levafen TM (carprofen) Sterile Injectable Solution 50 mg/mL Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug For subcutaneous use in dogs only, ASPEN VETERINARY RESOURCES®, LTD. Set id a8a78185-c153-4dff-88e3-c0fb61360e83.
• NDC No. 86136-140-31 OstiFen™ (Carprofen) Sterile Injectable Solution 50 mg/mL, MWI/Vetone. Set id e4dd8b84-b27e-4899-b3ae-d6d20d367669.

FDA adverse event reports

The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine publishes the adverse event reports it receives through openFDA. The counts below are the reports naming carprofen as an active ingredient for each species this label names, as returned on 2026-09-16, coded by the VeDDRA reaction term the reporter chose. Reactions are counted per report, so one report can appear under several terms.

These are counts, not rates. Reporting is voluntary, the number of animals treated is not known, and a widely used product accumulates reports for that reason alone. A report records that an event followed a dose; it does not establish that the product caused it. The counts say nothing about how one product compares with another.