what is carprofen for dogs

Carprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent used to relieve pain and inflammation in dogs. It is primarily used to treat pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis and for the control of postoperative pain associated with soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries in dogs. Carprofen is safer for use in dogs than human NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin. It is available as a caplet and is given to dogs by mouth. Carprofen should not be used in dogs exhibiting previous hypersensitivity to Carprofen. It should be used cautiously in dogs younger than 6 weeks of age, older dogs, pregnant or lactating dogs, dehydrated dogs, or dogs with pre-existing diseases, especially liver, kidney, heart, or gastrointestinal disease. It should also be used cautiously in dogs that have had bone surgery or injury, as carprofen may affect bone healing. In general, dogs administered Carprofen showed statistically significant improvement in pain scores compared to controls. However, its important to monitor dogs closely while they are on this drug, as some dogs may experience undesirable side effects.