Target Species
Dogs
Indications for use, specifying the target species
In the dog:
Reduction of inflammation and pain caused by musculoskeletal disorders and degenerative joint disease. As a follow up to parenteral analgesia in the management of post operative pain.
Contraindications
Do not use in cats.
Do not use in pregnant or lactating bitches.
Do not use in puppies less than 4 months of age.
Do not use in animals with known hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.”
Do not use in dogs suffering from cardiac, hepatic or renal disease, where there is a possibility of gastrointestinal ulceration or bleeding, or where there is evidence of a blood dyscrasia.
Special warnings for each target species
Refer to Sections, "Contraindications" and "Special precautions for use"
Special precautions for use
Special precautions for use in animals
Use in aged dogs may involve additional risk.
If such a use cannot be avoided, such dogs may require a reduced dosage and careful clinical management.
NSAIDs can cause inhibition of phagocytosis and hence in the treatment of inflammatory conditions associated with bacterial infection, appropriate concurrent antimicrobial therapy should be instigated.
Avoid use in any dehydrated, hypoproteinemic, hypovolaemic or hypotensive dog, as there is a potential risk of increased renal toxicity.
Refer to section, "Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction"
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals
In the event of accidental ingestion of the tablets, seek medical advice and show the doctor the package leaflet.
Wash hands after handling the product.
Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness)
Typical undesirable effects associated with NSAIDs such as vomiting, soft faeces/diarrhoea, faecal occult blood, loss of appetite and lethargy have been reported. These adverse reactions occur generally within the first treatment week and are in most cases transient and disappear following termination of the treatment but in very rare cases may be serious or fatal.
If adverse reactions occur, use of the product should be stopped and the advice of a veterinarian should be sought.
As with other NSAIDs there is a risk of rare renal or idiosyncratic hepatic adverse events.
Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay
Studies in laboratory species (rat and rabbit) have shown evidence of foetotoxic effects of carprofen at doses close to the therapeutic dose. The safety of the veterinary medicinal product has not been established during pregnancy and lactation. Do not use in pregnant or lactating bitches.
Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Do not administer other NSAIDs and glucocorticoids concurrently or within 24 hours of each other. Some NSAIDs may be highly bound to plasma proteins and compete with other highly bound drugs, which can lead to toxic effects.
Concurrent administration of potential nephrotoxic drugs should be avoided.
Amounts to be administered and administration route
For oral administration.
4 mg carprofen per kg bodyweight per day.
An initial dose of 4 mg carprofen per kg bodyweight per day given as a single dose or in two equally divided doses. The daily dose may be reduced, subject to clinical response.
Duration of treatment will be dependent upon the response seen. Long-term treatment should be under regular veterinary supervision.
Do not exceed the stated dose.
To extend analgesic and anti-inflammatory cover post-operatively parenteral pre-operative treatment with an injectable Carprofen product may be followed with Carprofen Tablets at 4 mg/kg/day for up to 5 days.
Return any halved tablets to the original pack and use at the next administration.
Any halved tablets remaining after the last administration of the product must be discarded.
Overdose (symptoms, emergency procedures, antidotes), if necessary
Do not exceed the stated dose. There is no specific antidote for carprofen overdosage but general supportive therapy, as applied to clinical overdosage with NSAIDs should be applied.
Withdrawal Period(s)
Not applicable.