Accidental exposure after Carprofen (Rimadyl) in cats

1,242 reports to the FDA describe accidental exposure in cats given Carprofen. That is 73% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.6% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

1,242Reports

1.1%Marked serious

0.4%Recovered

3.7%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

13 57%

1–2 days

5 22%

3–7 days

4 17%

1–4 weeks

0 0.0%

Over a month

1 4.3%

How the animals did

Recovered

5 0.4%

Still unwell when reported

16 1.3%

Died

45 3.6%

Euthanised

1 0.1%

Not known

1,175 95%

Problems reported at the same time

676 54%

251 20%

154 12%

137 11%

118 9.5%

84 6.8%

47 3.8%

35 2.8%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

205

1–3 years

284

4–7 years

238

8–11 years

191

12+ years

127

About this medicine

Carprofen relieves pain and inflammation from arthritis or after surgery.

Products with this ingredient include Rimadyl, Novox, Vetprofen. The FDA hides brand names in its public data, so these reports cover every product with the same active ingredients.

NSAIDs can affect the stomach, liver and kidneys. Vets usually recommend blood tests before and during long-term use.

Questions owners ask

Can Carprofen cause accidental exposure in cats?: 1,242 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within the same day of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Accidental exposure with similar medicines

Accidental exposure after Meloxicam (Metacam) 88 reports · 2.4% of its reports
Accidental exposure after Deracoxib (Deramaxx) 62 reports · 61% of its reports
Accidental exposure after Firocoxib (Previcox) 23 reports · 44% of its reports

All reported side effects of Carprofen in cats · Medicines most reported with accidental exposure