Carprox vet 50 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Dogs and Cats

Carprofen

Last verified

Veterinary medicinal product: solution for injection. Distribution category: POM-V (Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, Schedule 3). Active substance: Carprofen.1

In short: questions and answers

Does Carprox vet 50 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Dogs and Cats need a prescription?
Prescription only. As stated in the registration decision.1
Which animals is Carprox vet 50 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Dogs and Cats for?
Cats, Dogs.1
What is the active substance in Carprox vet 50 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Dogs and Cats?
Carprofen. ATCvet code: QM01AE91.13
What is the withdrawal period of Carprox vet 50 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Dogs and Cats according to the leaflet?
No withdrawal period is set for this drug: it is not intended for food-producing animals.3
Dispensing
Prescription only1

POM-V: Prescription Only Medicine - Veterinarian. Supplied only on a prescription written by a veterinary surgeon who has assessed the animal.12

Supplied only on a veterinarian's prescription. As stated in the registration decision.

Animal species
Cats1, Dogs1
Active substance
Carprofen
ATCvet code
QM01AE913
Manufacturer
Marketing authorisation holder: KRKA, d.d., Novo mesto

Withdrawal period

No withdrawal period is set for this drug: it is not intended for food-producing animals.3

Summary of product characteristics

Composition

Each ml contains:

Active substance:

Carprofen 50 mg

Excipients:

Qualitative composition of excipients and other constituentsQuantitative composition if that information is essential for proper administration of the veterinary medicinal product
Arginine
Benzyl alcohol (E1519)10 mg
Glycocholic acid
Hydrochloric acid, dilute (for pH adjustment)
Lecithin
Sodium hydroxide
Water for injections

Clear, pale yellow coloured solution.

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Pharmacological properties

4.1 ATCvet code: QM01AE91

4.2 Pharmacodynamics

Carprofen possesses anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activity. Like most other NSAID’s, carprofen is an inhibitor of the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase of the arachidonic acid cascade.

However, the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by carprofen is slight in relation to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic potency. The precise mode of action of carprofen is not clear.

Carprofen is a chiral drug with the S(+) enantiomer being more active than the R(-) enantiomer. There is no chiral inversion between the enantiomers in-vivo.

4.2 Pharmacokinetics

Carprofen is well absorbed after subcutaneous administration with peak plasma concentrations achieved within 3 h after administration.

The volume of distribution is small. Carprofen is highly protein bound.

Carprofen is characterised by a half-life of approximately 10 hours in dogs. In cats, the elimination half-life is longer ranging from 9 to 49 hours after intravenous administration (mean of ~ 20 hrs).

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Target species

Dogs and cats.

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Indications

Dogs: For the control of post-operative pain and inflammation following orthopaedic and soft tissue (including intraocular) surgery.

Cats: For the control of post-operative pain following surgery.

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Dosage

Intravenous and subcutaneous use.

Dogs: The recommended dosage is 4.0 mg carprofen/kg bodyweight (1 ml/12.5 kg bodyweight), by intravenous or subcutaneous injection. The veterinary medicinal product t is best given pre-operatively, either at the time of premedication or induction of anaesthesia.

Cats: The recommended dosage is 4.0 mg/kg (0.24 ml/3.0 kg bodyweight), by subcutaneous or intravenous injection, best given pre-operatively at the time of induction of anaesthesia. The use of a 1 ml graduated syringe is recommended to measure the dose accurately.

Clinical trial evidence in dogs and cats suggests only a single dose of carprofen is required in the first 24 hours perioperatively; if further analgesia is required in this period a half dose (2 mg/kg) of carprofen may be given to dogs (but not to cats) as necessary.

To ensure a correct dosage, body weight should be determined as accurately as possible.

In dogs, to extend analgesic and anti-inflammatory cover post-operatively, parenteral therapy may be followed with carprofen tablets at 4 mg/kg/day for up to 5 days.

For administration of the veterinary medicinal product a 21-gauge needle should be used.

The cap can be punctured up to 20 times. When puncturing more than 20 times, use a draw-off needle.

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Contraindications

Do not use in animals suffering from cardiac, hepatic or renal disease or gastrointestinal problems, where there is a possibility of gastrointestinal ulceration or bleeding, or hypersensitivity to carprofen or any other NSAIDs or any excipients of this veterinary medicinal product. As with other NSAIDs there is a risk of rare renal or idiosyncratic hepatic adverse events.

Do not administer by intramuscular injection.

Do not use after surgery which was associated with considerable blood loss. Do not use in cats on repeated occasions.

Do not use in cats less than 5 months of age.

Do not use in dogs less than 10 weeks of age.

See also section 3.7.

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Adverse reactions

Dogs and cats:

Rare (1 to 10 animals / 10,000 animals treated):Renal disorder. Hepatic disorder1.
Undetermined frequency (cannot be estimated from the available data):Vomiting2, loose stool2, diarrhoea2, blood in faeces2, appetite loss2, lethargy 2; Injection site reaction3

1 Idiosyncratic reaction.

2 Transient. Generally, occur within the first treatment week and are in most cases disappear following termination of the treatment but in very rare cases may be serious or fatal.

3 Following subcutaneous injection.

If adverse reactions occur, use of the veterinary medicinal product should be stopped and the advice of a veterinarian should be sought.

Reporting adverse events is important. It allows continuous safety monitoring of a veterinary medicinal product. Reports should be sent, preferably via a veterinarian, to either the marketing authorisation holder or its local representative or the national competent authority via the national reporting system. See the package leaflet for respective contact details.

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Warnings

Special precautions for safe use in the target species:

Do not exceed the recommended dose or duration of treatment.

Due to the longer half life in cats and narrower therapeutic index, particular care should be taken not to exceed the recommended dose and the dose should not be repeated.

Use in aged dogs and cats, may involve additional risk. If such use cannot be avoided, such animals may require a reduced dosage and careful clinical management.

Avoid use in any dehydrated, hypovolaemic or hypotensive animal, as there is a potential risk of increased renal toxicity.

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.

Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals:

Care should be taken to avoid accidental self-injection.

Carprofen, in common with other NSAIDs, has been shown to exhibit photosensitising potential in laboratory animals. Avoid skin contact with the veterinary medicinal product. Should this occur, wash the affected area immediately.

Special precautions for the protection of the environment:

Not applicable.

3.11 Special restrictions for use and special conditions for use, including restrictions on the use of antimicrobial and antiparasitic veterinary medicinal products in order to limit the risk of development of resistance

Not applicable.

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Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay

Pregnancy and lactation:

Laboratory studies in laboratory animals (rats and rabbits) 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 dogs or cats during pregnancy or lactation.

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Interactions

Do not administer other NSAIDs and glucocorticoids concurrently or within 24 hours of administration of the veterinary medicinal product. Carprofen is highly bound to plasma proteins and may compete with other highly bound drugs, which can lead to toxic effects.

Concurrent administration of potential nephrotoxic drugs should be avoided.

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Overdose

There is no specific antidote for carprofen overdose but general supportive therapy as applied to clinical overdosage with NSAIDs should be applied.

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Special warnings

None.

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Withdrawal period

Not applicable.

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Incompatibilities

In the absence of compatibility studies, this veterinary medicinal product must not be mixed with other veterinary medicinal products.

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Immediate packaging

Glass vial (amber glass): 1 vial of 20 ml solution for injection with rubber stopper and aluminium seal, in a box.

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Storage

Store in a refrigerator (2 °C – 8 °C).

Do not freeze.

Once broached, do not store above 25 oC.

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Shelf life

Shelf life of the veterinary medicinal product as packaged for sale: 3 years. Shelf life after first opening the immediate packaging: 28 days.

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Disposal of unused product

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater.

Use take-back schemes for the disposal of any unused veterinary medicinal product or waste materials derived thereof in accordance with local requirements and with any national collection systems applicable to the veterinary medicinal product concerned.

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Additional information

Vm 01656/4014

8 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION

19 November 2010

9 DATE OF THE LAST REVISION OF THE SUMMARY OF THE PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS

November 2024

10 CLASSIFICATION OF VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCTS

Veterinary medicinal product subject to prescription.

Find more product information by searching for the ‘Product Information Database’ on www.gov.uk.

Approved 11 February 2025

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Registration holder

KRKA, d.d., Novo mesto

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Regulations

Sources

  1. VMD Product Information Database: Carprox vet 50 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Dogs and Cats, 01656/4014 UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate (OGL v3.0), checked 2026-10-04 archived copy from 2026-10-04
  2. The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, Schedule 3 (categories of veterinary medicinal products) UK Government, legislation.gov.uk, checked 2026-10-04 archived copy from 2026-10-04
  3. Summary of Product Characteristics: Carprox vet 50 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Dogs and Cats UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate, SPC of the marketing authorisation holder, checked 2026-10-04 archived copy from 2026-10-04

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