Side Effects of Carprofen

Carprofen is a medication given to dogs who have pain and inflammation from such conditions as arthritis. It is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID, and works the same as human medications such as Aleve and Advil. Carprofen can be used as short-term or long-term medication in dogs. It can be given as a chewable capsule, as a pill or via an injection. Carprofen is a generic medication; it is also available as the brand-name drug Rimadyl.

  1. Gastrointestinal Side Effects

    • In rare cases, dogs taking carprofen may develop nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and diarrhea. In most cases these side effects are no cause for concern, but because of the possibility of a severe complication, a visit to the veterinarian for a liver enzyme test is advised. Most symptoms resolve without a problem, but because the liver can be affected, it must be ruled out when side effects develop.

    Hepatopathy

    • In extremely rare cases, some dogs taking carprofen will develop hepatopathy, a type of liver disease marked by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite. When these symptoms develop, the medication should be discontinued and the dog should have a liver enzyme test. If liver enzyme levels are elevated, the dog has hepatopathy and must not take the medication any longer. With most dogs, symptoms will subside within five to 10 days of stopping the medication.

    Drug Interactions

    • Carprofen is known to interact with several other drugs. For example, dogs taking carprofen should not take corticosteroids such as prednisone because this increases the likelihood of developing severe side effects. Dogs taking phenobarbital and carprofen will need regular blood tests to monitor liver function. Additionally, ACE inhibitors are not as effective when taken with carprofen.

    Pregnant Dogs

    • Tests have not been conducted on pregnant or nursing dogs, and the medication should therefore not be used in these cases because of possible risks to the puppies. Studies have been conducted on puppies, and carprofen is approved for use in dogs as young as six weeks old.

    Warnings

    • Carprofen is not safe for use in all dogs, including those with liver or kidney disease. Because of possible side effects to the liver, many veterinarians will order a blood chemistry panel and blood tests to screen for liver or kidney problems before prescribing carprofen. Additionally, dogs with gastrointestinal ulcers should not take carprofen.