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

Accidents happen! Fortunately, the carprofen won't impact her heart disease or interact with the pimobendan. However, there is a chance that she could experience some stomach upset with vomiting and/or diarrhea, particularly since this is a pretty big dose for a dog her size. With this kind of dose, the worst case I'd expect to see could be ulceration of the GI tract. Normally, carprofen is prescribed at a dose of 4.4 mg/kg over 24 hours. Today, your dog consumed 7.86 mg/kg. In most cases, we don't see toxicity impacting the kidneys until a dose of 40 mg/kg is ingested. With all of that in mind, your dog should be absolutely fine! In order to be extra cautious, I'd recommend feeding her a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken and white rice for a few days, then gradually mix it in with her normal food over 5-7 days. You can also call your vet to see if they can give a dose for an antacid, like Pepcid. (It's illegal for me to do so without having examined your dog.) If you see any vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or blood in the stool, you should call your vet right away. I hope that everything goes well!

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

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Bailey. Carprofen and gabapentin can be used chronically if necessary for pain control. Carprofen controls pain and inflammation while gabapentin acts on neurological pain. If they are to be given chronically then bloodwork needs to be monitored especially for carprofen. It can have serious side effects on the liver and kidneys. Typically a blood sample is drawn before starting and then a month after use. From there bloodwork is usually monitored every 6 months. There will not be a comparable natural or over-the-counter medication. Joint supplements are available and some have been proven to slow the progression of arthritis. However, being supplements they are not regulated by the FDA and there is quite a bit of variation between products. They typically only help in mild cases. I hope this information helps!

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.

Dosage of Carprofen for a dog his size is about half of that, which means most chances it won't have a huge effect on him if he only had one pill of 75mg but do watch him for signs such as vomiting, lack of appetite and blood in the stools. if you notice any of those- take him to your vet immediately.

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.

This is not a typical side effect of carprofen with the most common side effects being gi in origin. Is your pet drinking more water as well? As these drugs (nsaids) can affect the kidneys increased thirst/urination is sometimes related to this. Other options could be he is sore and not making it outside as often or has a urinary tract issue (bladder/prostate). I would recommend a recheck with your family vet to check his kidney values and rule out a urinary tract issue. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!