Carprieve for dogs
Formulation
Tablets
Active ingredient
Carprofen
Category
Pain relief / anti-inflammatory
What is Carprieve?
Carprieve is a brand name for the anti-inflammatory drug carprofen. It’s a type of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) used for pain relief in dogs.
What does Carprieve do?
Carprieve contains carprofen, a type of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) that works by blocking COX-2, a protein involved in creating substances that lead to inflammation. These substances, known as prostaglandins, are responsible for causing pain, swelling, and fever.
By blocking COX-2, Carprieve helps reduce inflammation and pain, making it useful for managing post-surgery discomfort in dogs. It’s also helpful in easing pain from both short-term injuries and long-term conditions like joint disease, helping dogs live more comfortably.
What is Carprieve used for?
Carprieve is used to manage pain and inflammation in dogs. It can be used for both short-term (acute) and long-term (chronic) injuries and conditions, like:
- Arthritis: Carprieve is often used for dogs suffering with joint inflammation and degenerative joint disease. It helps relieve joint pain, but it also reduces the inflammation and therefor slows the progression of the disease.
- Surgical pain: Carprieve may be prescribed post-operatively to provide pain relief and reduce the inflammation associated with surgery.
- Dental pain: Carprieve is sometimes used to help dogs with dental pain, before and after surgery.
- Injuries and trauma: Carprieve is often used for a variety of injuries that may need pain relief, such as sprained joints, broken bones, and bad bruises.
This list isn’t exhaustive – your vet may prescribe Carprieve for a number of conditions we haven’t listed here.
Which pets is Carprieve not suitable for?
Some pets shouldn’t have Carprieve, or it should be used only after a detailed risk-benefit discussion with a vet. These include:
- Cats, or other species other than dogs
- Pregnant or lactating dogs
- Dogs who are allergic to carprofen or the other ingredients
- Dogs less than 4 months old
- Dogs with severe heart problems, liver problems, or kidney problems, because of the risk of COX inhibition causing more problems for these pets
- Dogs with tummy and gut issues, especially blood in the vomit or stool
- Dehydrated dogs or cats or those with a low blood pressure
- Dogs with clotting problems such as von Willebrand’s disease
That said, some dogs with the problems above still need carprofen to help them stay pain-free, so your vet might prescribe Carprieve at a lower dose or with caution. It’s always a good idea to make sure your vet is aware if your pet is any of the risk categories above so they can adjust the plan if necessary.
What are the side effects of Carprieve in dogs?
Like any medication, Carprieve can cause side effects. While these are often mild and transient, some Carprieve side effects can be serious. If you suspect your dog has a side effect related to Carprieve, you should stop giving the medication and call your vet for advice. You may also want to report the suspected side effect to the VMD.
The side effects we know of for Carprieve include:
- Vomiting and diarrhoea: Some dogs may experience gut upset, including vomiting or diarrhoea. If there is fresh blood in the stool or tarry stools, sores on the gut lining (gut ulcers) may be present. Stop giving the medication immediately and talk to your vet.
- Sores on gut lining (gut ulcers): Prolonged use or higher doses of Carprieve may cause gut ulcers, especially if gut upset is present.
- Decreased Appetite: Carprieve may reduce appetite in some dogs.
- Kidney damage: NSAIDs, including Carprieve, can affect kidney function due to inhibition of COX. It’s essential to monitor for kidney issues in dogs taking Carprieve.
- Liver damage: While rare, liver damage may occur. Affected dogs may have yellowed eyes, gums and/or skin (jaundice).
- Allergic reactions: In very rare cases, dogs may experience an allergic reaction, characterised by swelling, itching, or difficulty breathing.
Keep in mind that not all pets will experience side effects, and for most, the benefits of using Carprieve far outweigh the risks. However, if you notice any unusual symptoms or changes in your pet’s behaviour or health while they’re on Carprieve, it’s important to reach out to your vet straight away. They can assess the situation and make any necessary adjustments to the treatment plan to keep your pet safe and comfortable.
As a pet owner, you can also report a suspected side effect to the VMD if you think Carprieve caused side effects in your pet. Or, read our article for more advice about reporting suspected pet drug side effects to the VMD.
How to give Carprieve for dogs safely
In order to minimise the risks of Carprieve side effects, here are some tips to help you give it safely:
- Follow vet instructions: Always use Carprieve exactly as your vet has prescribed. This includes the right dose and frequency. Never adjust the dose on your own, even if your dog seems to be feeling better or worse. If you aren’t sure of the dose prescribed, please call your vet to confirm.
- 2. Give with or after food: It’s safest to give Carprieve on a full stomach, to reduce the risk of side effects. You can either put it on your pet’s food or feed it directly to your pet after they’ve eaten.
- 3. Check with your vet if your dog has been on other medications recently: Your vet should be aware of other drugs your pet is on, but it’s always worth double-checking in case there’s been a miscommunication somewhere, especially if it’s not your usual vet who prescribes the Carprieve. You should also tell your vet if your dog has taken any other drugs in the last week, even if they are no longer on them. If your dog is on supplements or non-prescription treatments (even if these are herbal!) you should also tell your vet when they prescribe Carprieve, as they may not be suitable to be given together.
- 4. Storage and Handling: Store Carprieve according to the instructions on the packaging, usually in a cool and dry place (below 25°C). Wash your hands after giving Carprieve to your dog. Make sure it’s out of reach of children and other pets.
- 5. Report any overdose to your vet immediately: If you have mistakenly given too much Carprieve, report it to your vet as soon as you realise the error. They may recommend blood tests, supportive care (e.g. a fluid drip), or monitoring, depending on the severity of the overdose.
How much monitoring do pets need on Carprieve?
Moderate
Pets on long-term Carprieve need occasional blood tests
If your vet prescribes Carprieve for short-term use (less than two weeks), monitoring may not be necessary, especially if your pet is young and healthy. However, for long-term treatment, even for younger pets, regular blood or urine tests are usually recommended to check for any potential side effects. These tests typically happen every 3 to 12 months, depending on your pet’s overall health. Regular monitoring helps ensure Carprieve is working effectively and keeps your pet safe during ongoing treatment.
What does Carprieve cost?
£ – Relatively inexpensive
Carprieve costs £8-80 per month
The cost of Carprieve varies based on your pet’s size and their dose. A 10kg dog on a low dose might cost as little as £8 per month, while a 50kg dog on a higher dose might cost £80 per month. The price will also vary depending where you buy it from, but don’t forget to include prescription fees, dispensing fees, and postage costs when comparing costs of Carprieve.
You don’t have to buy Carprieve from your vet, but if you choose to buy it elsewhere your vet will need to give you a written prescription. Vets are allowed to charge a reasonable fee to cover their professional time checking doses and writing a written prescription for use elsewhere.
Carprieve FAQs
Is Carprieve a painkiller?
Carprieve is an anti-inflammatory medicine that reduces pain and inflammation.
Does Carprieve make dogs sleepy?
Sleepiness isn’t normally a side effect of Carprieve, but dogs might sleep more if they’re more comfortable. If you think your dog is abnormally sleepy after taking carprofen you should call your vet.
Is Carprieve the same as ibuprofen?
Carprieve and ibuprofen are not the same, but they are related. Both drugs are Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) that inhibit COX enzymes, but they work slightly differently. Ibuprofen is not selective for COX-1, meaning it has a higher chance of side effects and is considered toxic to dogs.
Should Carprieve be taken with food?
It’s best to give Carprieve with food, as this reduces the chance of side effects. You can give it to your dog in a treat as soon as they’ve eaten at least half of their meal portion.
How much Carprieve can a dog have?
Your dog’s Carprieve dose depends on their weight, fitness, age, and health, as well as how long they’ve been taking Carprieve for. The starting dose of Carprieve is 4mg/kg/day, but your vet will adjust this according to your dog’s needs. Therefore you should call your vet for advice if you aren’t sure what dose of Carprieve to give a dog.
Carprieve Alternatives
If Carprieve is causing side effects, your pet isn’t taking it, or there are problems getting hold of it, there are some Carprieve alternatives.
The alternative brand names of carprofen that may work for your pet include Rimadyl, Canidryl, Carporal, Carprodyl (including Carprodyl Quadri, which are pork liver flavour chewable tablets), Carprox Vet, Rimifin, and Rycarfa.
Different NSAIDs
If carprofen (like Carprieve) isn’t suiting your pet, your vet might prescribe another NSAID with a different active ingredient, such as:
- Meloxicam (Inflacam, Rheumocam, Metacam, Chanoxidyl, Animeloxan, Melosus, Meloxidyl, Arthrocam, Meloxoral, Meloxyl, Metaxx, Movocam, Lemicam) – available as chewable tablets or liquid suspension, depending on the brand
- Firocoxib (Previcox)
- Cimicoxib (Cimalgex)
- Grapiprant (Galliprant)
- Robenacoxib (Onsior)
Other pain-relief drugs
If carprofen isn’t fully controlling your pet’s pain, your vet might recommend starting another medication alongside it, or instead of it. Generally, using several drugs together is more effective, as they target different parts of the pain-feeling mechanism. Options include:
- Tramadol (Tralieve, Tramadog, Tramalgesic, Tramtab, Tramcoat, Tramsan, Tramvetol)
- Gabapentin
- Amantadine
- Ketamine injections
They might also recommend complementary therapies alongside medicines, like laser therapy, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, or anti-inflammatory supplements.
Don’t forget, all pet pain relief is prescription-only, so you should talk to your vet if you think your pet is in pain. They will be able to help. It is illegal in the UK to buy human drugs with the intention of giving them to your pet, unless you have a veterinary prescription to do so.
Carprieve Datasheet
All drugs have a manufacturer’s datasheet, which gives information about the drug’s use and possible side effects. There is usually one with your Carprieve tablets, but if you have lost it you can click on the button below to be taken on an online version.
More help for your painful dog
Carprieve offers effective pain relief for your pet, but there may be additional ways to support their comfort. Our vet-written courses are designed to help pet parents understand their pet’s condition and explore holistic options, including medications, supplements, environmental changes, and helpful products. If you’re concerned about your pet’s pain, the following courses could provide valuable guidance:
Please note that the information contained herein is provided for informational purposes only. Although it has been written by a vet, we cannot consider the individual nature of your pet’s problems so it does not constitute veterinary advice. If you have questions about your pet’s medication or their health you should contact a vet, who will be able to help.
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