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Carprofen May Be the Answer for Canine Joint Pain
Are joint pain, inflammation, and arthritis taking a toll in your old dog’s step? Is your canine on the mend following a recent surgical procedure? In both cases, it is highly likely your veterinarian may have prescribed a prescription drug with the active ingredient carprofen to help with pain management. This can come in many forms, including brand name Rimadyl, but other brands like Novox can provide the same treatment for less money.
So, what’s the deal with carprofen you may wonder. The answer will bring good news and improvement on many fronts. Your dog’s pain level will probably diminish and his mobility increase only a few weeks after you begin administering it to him. As a pet parent, this is outstanding, but you also need some answers. What exactly is carprofen and what does it do for your dog? The answer to those questions is both simple and complex, but the result will have a positive outcome for your canine.
Carprofen is available under several names. It goes by the brand name Rimadyl, the generic version Vetprofen, a generic equivalent called Carprofen, and is also labeled as Novox. Each of these products use carprofen as the same primary, active ingredient and can be purchased as caplets or chewables. What product and pill type will work for you? Consult with your veterinarian to find the best administration method for your dog and the optimum price point when choosing a product. For long-term pain control for joint health problems or arthritis in canine pets, Carprofen provides an outstanding treatment option.
What is Carprofen? – Learning the Basics
Carprofen belongs to a family of drugs called NSAIDs, which stands for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. While steroids can do the same things as NSAIDs, their use is complicated by more side effects. It provides many benefits, including the reduction of inflammation with less health issues. It also proves a safer alternative to treat dogs than using human pain medication like ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin, which may cause severe health risks to canines. Your vet may also prescribe some short-term use of this drug to treat pain and inflammation for your dog following surgery.
What does Carprofen do for my Canine Pet?
Carprofen’s anti-inflammatory ingredients treat inflammation and reduce both pain and fever for dogs. It also works to alleviate joint pain for dogs with arthritis and like joint conditions. Most dogs tolerate using carprofen well, which makes it an outstanding medical treatment. It is available in chewable tablets and other forms.
What are Carprofen Side Effects? –Get the Facts
As with any drug, some dogs may experience side effects, especially over long-term use. Most problems involve vomiting, diarrhea, and ulcers in the gastro-intestinal tract. Rare occurrences of liver and kidney problems have been reported, but are not common. For canines using carprofen for the long term, most veterinarians will recommend regular blood work monitoring as part of any physical.
Besides the above symptoms, other signs your dog may be having a reaction to carprofen are:
Notify your vet immediately, if you notice these symptoms. Early intervention and resolution can prevent serious health problems from affecting your dog. However, it is important to remember that carprofen generally presents few serious side effects for canine users.
A Powerful Answer
For the most part, carprofen offers one of the safest NSAID treatments available for dogs. It provides an outstanding treatment for dogs or pups hindered by arthritis and other related joint diseases. Partner with your veterinarian to determine how to treat your dog’s joint pain most effectively. The medication’s positive outcomes may increase your dog’s mobility and diminish his pain level, too. That’s a winning answer.