Can my vet prescribe Carprofen for my dog's slipped disk to fill elsewhere?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! In the US we do not charge to write prescriptions (as far as I know). The laws in the UK must be different. Robenacoxib are prescription so there is no way to get the drug with out your Vet approving the prescription, My suggestion is to ask for a larger supply, 3 months or more with refills. That way you do not have to pay the prescription fee that often. I hope this helps and have a great day!

Your vet should be able to write you a prescription for 30 tablets with a certain amount of refills so you don't need a prescription every month. Usually the refills should be 6-12 months depending on when your vet wants to do a recheck and test some blood-work. I am not sure of the laws in the UK but in the US a vet has to provide a written prescription and a client can have it filled online or at a human pharmacy if the product is available. You could call some other vets in your area and ask about their policy and then change vets if it works out better.

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.

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

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.

Yes, veterinarians can refuse to refill prescriptions. I realize that this can be frustrating, but some medications can have side effects or cause organ damage, requiring regular monitoring, often in the form of blood tests. Epiphen (phenobarbital), for example, can greatly impact the liver and the levels of medication within the bloodstream must be monitored to assure that the medication stays at a safe and effective therapeutic level. In the US, we also must have examined a pet within the past 12 months in order to legally prescribe any medication - including some flea and tick preventions. I don't know what regulations may exist in the UK. It may be worth another call to your vet to determine the reasons behind the refusal to refill the medication. I hope this helps to clarify the situation and that everything gets worked out for Buckley!

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