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Is Carprofen the right pain relief for my dog's hip dysplasia?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Yorkshire Terrier | Male | unneutered | 4 months and 21 days old | 4.2 lbs

I know Carprofen is a pain medication put is it for hip Dysplasia

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on September 10th, 2018

Carprofen is an NSAID (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). It can help relieve pain and also decrease inflammation. It is used in cases of painful joints such as arthritis or hip dysplasia, sometimes in combination with other drugs/treatments if it is not providing adequate pain control. You can read more about the drug at https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951477

2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA
Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer
Published on March 16th, 2017
There are many different medications that can be used to treat pain due to hip dysplasia in dogs, including NSAIDs (such as carprofen), tramadol, gabapentin, and occasionally steroids in some cases. All of these are prescription medications that need to be obtained from a veterinarian - they can be dangerous if given incorrectly, so I would never recommend attempting to medicate your dog on your own. Both prednisolone and carprofen are drugs that are sometimes used in dogs, but it's not safe for a dog to be on both of these medications at one time since this combination of drugs can cause severe stomach irritation, ulcers, internal bleeding, and even death.

I would suggest having your dog examined by a vet to confirm that he does have hip dysplasia, and discuss appropriate treatment options from there. Your veterinarian can prescribe medication for this problem, and will give you specific instructions on how to give it.
5Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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What's the difference between Dasuquin and Carprofen for dog hip pain?

Dasuquin is a joint supplement to help with arthritis. Carprofen is a prescription non steroidal medication given to relieve arthritis pain. They are often given together to keep dogs comfortable. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Mia.

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My dog takes carprofen. What are side effects & joint supplement options?

Carprofen is an nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medication (NSAID) like aspirin or ibuprofen for humans. It's used daily for arthritis or other chronic pain, and short term for more acute/temporary pain. The half life is the amount of time it takes for half of the drug to leave the body (via the liver, kidneys/bladder, or gut). Carprofen can occasionally have side effects on the liver, so if he's going to be on it long term, it's usually recommended to check liver values after 2 weeks. That said, liver issues are rare. Intestinal upset (vomiting/diarrhea) are also possible side effects and if he had any of that you'd want to stop and figure out a different appropriate medication with his vet. With just 6 days of medication, no additional testing will be done. You can (and should, if that is how it was prescribed) give carporfen daily. Appropriate supplements could include fish oils and glucosamine and others, depending on what exactly is going on. I'd recommend asking about supplements for long term when you go for your recheck visit

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Carprofen vs. Tramadol for dogs: Can I use old meds for my pet?

Tramadol is an opioid meant to alleviate moderate pain, however there are research papers now that determined it is not that effective. Carprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (like aspirin, but for dogs) which is given for certain types of pain such as arthritis. However Carprofen is excreted via the kidneys and if it is to be used, the dog receiving it needs to have a small blood test to verify that his kidneys are working properly. Also carprofen can cause stomach ulcers in some dogs. So unless your vet prescribes these medications for your dog, please do not give them. However, should your vet prescribe those medications for your other dog, you can tell him that you have them and then be informed of the proper dosage to give.

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Is it okay to give my dog another dog's carprofen for pain relief?

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to recommend any treatment or dosage of medications on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Legally, a pet must be physically examined by a vet before any treatment can be prescribed or recommended. Rimadyl can be used for any muscular or joint inflammation or pain, so it is probably the right choice for Westley. If you get in touch with your local vets, they should be able to advise about the dose for Westley. You will also find Rimadyl dosage on the leaflet, that should be provided with the tablets that were prescribed for Winston.

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My dog has HOD, carprofen isn't working. How to relieve his pain?

There are many different pain management medications that are available in addition to NSAIDs like carprofen. My own dog has arthritis and we used a combination of four different medications to control his pain. Multimodal therapy can be very effective and safe. I would speak to your veterinarian about the addition of drugs like tramadol, gabapentin, amantadine, and various opioid medications if you feel that the carprofen is not doing the trick. You can also look into some more natural remedies like acupuncture, rehabilitative services, and massage therapy. Hope this helps and hope that Hosmer feels better soon!

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My senior dog is in pain and limping. Is leftover carprofen safe?

I wouldn’t recommend it -carprofen may not be safe for dogs that have underlying medical conditions like a sensitive stomach, kidney or liver disease. Older dogs are more likely to have an issue like this. If Goose was prescribed carprofen in the recent past it might be a little safer but otherwise I’d recommend talking to your vet first. Sadly there is not another over the counter pain option that I’d consider to be safer so if you feel he’s in significant pain you may want to consider seeing a vet tonight.

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My dog has hip dysplasia. What else helps his pain and walking?

Poor Rocco! There are many treatment options for managing hip dysplasia in dogs. I'm not sure what kind of medication he's currently taking, but many dogs with this problem benefit from a combination of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like Rimadyl or Previcox along with a pain medication like tramadol and/or gabapentin. Glucosamine/chondroitin and omega-3 fatty acid supplements have also been shown to be helpful in many cases, and can safely be given with all of the above medications. Finally, adjunct treatment options like laser therapy and acupuncture can also be very helpful for some dogs with hip dysplasia. I would recommend talking with your vet about these options to see what they would suggest as the next step for Rocco.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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