In the absence of any specific studies in pregnant cattle, use only after a risk/benefit assessment has been performed by the attending veterinary surgeon.
In clinical studies, no adverse signs were reported after intravenous and subcutaneous administration of up to 5 times the recommended dose.
There is no specific antidote for carprofen overdosage but general supportive therapy, as applied to clinical overdosage with NSAIDs, should be applied.
Carprofen is a member of the 2-arylpropionic acid group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s) and possesses anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activity.
Carprofen, like most other NSAID’s is an inhibitor of the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase of the arachidonic acid cascade. However, the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by carprofen is slight in relation to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic potency. The precise mode of action is unclear.
Studies have shown that carprofen has potent antipyretic activity and significantly reduces the inflammatory response in lung tissue in cases of acute, pyrexic infectious respiratory disease in cattle. Studies in cattle with experimentally induced acute mastitis have shown that carprofen administered intravenously has potent antipyretic activity and improves heart rate and rumen function.
Following a single subcutaneous dose of 1.4 mg carprofen/kg the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of 15.4 μg/ml was reached after (Tmax) 7-19 hours.
The highest carprofen concentrations are found in bile and plasma and more than 98% of carprofen is bound to plasma proteins. Carprofen was well distributed in the tissues with the highest concentrations found in kidney and liver followed by fat and muscle.
Carprofen has a plasma elimination half-life of 70 hours. Carprofen is primarily excreted in the faeces, indicating that the biliary secretion plays an important role.