Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Carprofen is dosed at 2.2–4.4 mg/kg PO q24h in dogs, per RIMADYL - Carprofen Injection [US Product Label]. Zoetis. DailyMed setid 27197d3c-8e25-4e78-b83b-ee26f9249369. Plus Plumb's 10th ed printed p.192 DOGS (oral route as served).. Carprofen is used in dogs for Osteoarthritis, postoperative pain, Perioperative analgesia. Routes documented in dogs: PO, SC. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Carprofen in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Rimadyl, Novox
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 2.2–4.4 mg/kg | q24h | Long-term for OA; short-term postop | Osteoarthritis, postoperative pain | Strong | RIMADYL - Carprofen Injection [US Product Label]. Zoetis. DailyMed setid 27197d3c-8e25-4e78-b83b-ee26f9249369. Plus Plumb's 10th ed printed p.192 DOGS (oral route as served). |
| SC | 4.4 mg/kg | Single dose preop | Single dose | Perioperative analgesia | Strong | RIMADYL - Carprofen Tablet, Chewable [US Product Label]. Zoetis; 2019. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=27197d3c-8e25-4e78-b83b-ee26f9249369 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.219 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.192, Carprofen monograph spanning p.190-192; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.80 | 4 mg/kg i.v., s.c. preoperatively or at time of anaesthetic induction; single dose should pr |
| 2.2 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.140 | • 2.2 mg/kg, q12h PO or 4.4 mg/kg q24h PO. |
| 4.4 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.140 | • 2.2 mg/kg, q12h PO or 4.4 mg/kg q24h PO. |
| 2.2 | SC | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.140 | • 2.2 mg/kg q12h SQ or 4.4 mg/kg q24h SQ. |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your dog's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Preferentially inhibits COX-2, reducing prostaglandin synthesis at sites of inflammation while relatively sparing COX-1 (GI, renal, platelet).
Hepatotoxicity reported (especially Labrador Retrievers). Monitor liver enzymes. GI ulceration risk. Avoid in cats (limited safety data). Not for use with other NSAIDs.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Carprofen dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: PO 2.2–4.4 mg/kg q24h; SC 4.4 mg/kg Single dose preop. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Carprofen in dogs: PO, SC.
Cited course lengths for Carprofen in dogs include: Long-term for OA; short-term postop; Single dose. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Carprofen is indicated in dogs for: Osteoarthritis, postoperative pain, Perioperative analgesia.
These are general warnings for Carprofen across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Hepatotoxicity reported (especially Labrador Retrievers). Monitor liver enzymes. GI ulceration risk. Avoid in cats (limited safety data). Not for use with other NSAIDs.
Why a species-specific page? Carprofen pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in dogs — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.
| 4.4 |
| SC |
| Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.140 |
| • 2.2 mg/kg q12h SQ or 4.4 mg/kg q24h SQ. |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.