Active ingredient

Carprofen for Animals: Mechanism, Doses by Species & Brands

Q: Can carprofen be used in cats?

No — the label says not to use it in cats.

Reviewed by Dr. Ravi Baraiya, B.V.Sc.Updated 2 Nov 20261 source

Carprofen is an NSAID for dogs, given at 4.4 mg/kg (2 mg/lb) once daily or 2.2 mg/kg (1 mg/lb) twice daily for osteoarthritis and post-operative pain ^[1].

Drug class: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
Sourced doses for: Dogs
Brands on this site: Carodyl, Furpain, Jump Buddy, Novox, Rimadyl

Carprofen dose calculator

Type the strength printed on your own product. Results are calculated in your browser from the cited doses on this page — always check the label of the product you use.

Carprofen dose by species

Species	Use	Dose	Route	How often	Basis
Dogs	Osteoarthritis / post-operative pain — once daily Label: 2 mg/lb. For surgery give about 2 hours before the procedure.	4.4 mg/kg^[1]	PO	Once daily	Label
Dogs	Osteoarthritis / post-operative pain — divided Label: 1 mg/lb twice daily.	2.2 mg/kg^[1]	PO	Twice daily	Label

What carprofen is used for

Dogs: pain and inflammation of osteoarthritis, and post-operative pain after soft-tissue and orthopaedic surgery ^[1].

How carprofen works (mechanism of action)

Its effect is believed to be linked to inhibition of cyclooxygenase: COX-1 makes prostaglandins needed for normal gastrointestinal and renal function, and COX-2 makes prostaglandins involved in inflammation ^[1].

Safety, contraindications and precautions

Do not use in cats ^[1].
Not recommended for dogs with bleeding disorders; avoid using with other anti-inflammatory drugs ^[1].
Do not use in dogs with previous hypersensitivity to carprofen ^[1].

Brands that contain carprofen

Brand	Company	Contains	Market
Carodyl	Sava Healthcare (Savavet)	Carprofen	India
Furpain	ENTOD Pharmaceuticals (Fur by Entod)	Carprofen	India
Jump Buddy	Veko Care	Carprofen	India
Novox	Vedco	Carprofen	USA (FDA label)
Rimadyl	Zoetis	Carprofen	USA (FDA label)

Frequently asked questions

What is the carprofen dose for dogs?

2 mg/lb (4.4 mg/kg) once daily, or 1 mg/lb (2.2 mg/kg) twice daily ^[1].

Can carprofen be used in cats?

No — the label says not to use it in cats ^[1].

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Medically reviewed by

Dr. Ravi Baraiya, B.V.Sc.

Veterinarian · Reviewed 2 Nov 2026

References

RIMADYL (carprofen) chewable — labelDailyMed (US NLM) — FDA-approved label, Zoetis · 2026 · Product label
Passage read from this source
The recommended dosage for oral administration to dogs is 2 mg/lb of body weight daily.
divided and administered as 1 mg/lb twice daily.
is believed to be associated with the inhibition of cyclooxygenase activity.
Do not use in cats.

For veterinary professionals. Information supports — never replaces — clinical judgement; always check the current product label and local regulations.