Coxatab 57 mg Chewable Tablets for Dogs
Firocoxib
Last verified
Veterinary medicinal product: chewable tablet. Distribution category: POM-V (Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, Schedule 3). Active substance: Firocoxib.1
In short: questions and answers
- Does Coxatab 57 mg Chewable Tablets for Dogs need a prescription?
- Prescription only. As stated in the registration decision.1
- Which animals is Coxatab 57 mg Chewable Tablets for Dogs for?
- Dogs.1
- What is the active substance in Coxatab 57 mg Chewable Tablets for Dogs?
- Firocoxib. ATCvet code: QM01AH90.13
- What is the withdrawal period of Coxatab 57 mg Chewable Tablets for Dogs 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
- Dogs1
- Active substance
- Firocoxib
- ATCvet code
- QM01AH903
- Manufacturer
- Marketing authorisation holder: CP Pharma Handelsgesellschaft mbH
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 chewable tablet contains:
Active substance:
Coxatab 57 mg chewable tablets
Firocoxib 57 mg
Excipients:
Qualitative composition of excipients and other constituents
Lactose monohydrate
Microcrystalline cellulose
Hydroxypropyl cellulose
Croscarmellose sodium
Silica, colloidal hydrated
Magnesium stearate
Chicken flavour
Off-white to light brown, speckled with brown spots, round and convex tablet with a cross-shaped break line on one side. The tablets can be divided into 2 or 4 equal parts.
Pharmacological properties
4.1 ATCvet code:
QM01AH90
4.2 Pharmacodynamics
Firocoxib is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) belonging to the Coxib group, which acts by selective inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) – mediated prostaglandin synthesis. Cyclooxygenase is responsible for generation of prostaglandins. COX-2 is the isoform of the enzyme that has been shown to be induced by pro-inflammatory stimuli and has been postulated to be primarily responsible for the synthesis of prostanoid mediators of pain, inflammation, and fever. Coxibs therefore display analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties. COX-2 is also thought to be involved in ovulation, implantation and closure of the ductus arteriosus, and central nervous system functions (fever induction, pain perception and cognitive function). In in-vitro canine whole blood assays, firocoxib exhibits approximately 380-fold selectivity for COX-2 over COX-1. The concentration of firocoxib required to inhibit 50 % of the COX-2 enzyme (i.e., the IC50) is 0.16 (± 0.05) μM, whereas the IC50 for COX-1 is 56 (± 7) μM.
4.3 Pharmacokinetics
Following oral administration in dogs at the recommended dose of 5 mg per kg of bodyweight, firocoxib is rapidly absorbed and the time to maximal concentration (Tmax) is 1.25 (± 0.85) hours. The peak concentration (Cmax) is 0.52 (± 0.22) μg/ml (equivalent to approximately 1.5 μM), area under the curve (AUC0-24) is 4.63 (± 1.91) μg x hr/ml, and oral bioavailability is 36.9 (± 20.4) percent. The elimination half-life (t½) is 7.59 (± 1.53) hours. Firocoxib is approximately 96 % bound to plasma proteins. Following multiple oral administrations, the steady state is reached by the third daily dose.
Firocoxib is metabolised predominantly by dealkylation and glucuronidation in the liver. Elimination is principally in the bile and gastrointestinal tract.
Target species
Dogs.
Indications
For the relief of pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis in dogs.
For the relief of post-operative pain and inflammation associated with soft-tissue, orthopaedic and dental surgery in dogs.
Dosage
Oral use.
Osteoarthritis:
Administer 5 mg per kg bodyweight once daily as presented in the table below. Duration of treatment will be dependent on the response observed. As field studies were limited to 90 days, longer-term treatment should be considered carefully and regular monitoring undertaken by the veterinarian.
Relief of post-operative pain:
Administer 5 mg per kg bodyweight once daily as presented in the table below for up to 3 days as needed, starting approximately 2 hours prior to surgery.
Following orthopaedic surgery and depending on the response observed, treatment using the same daily dosing schedule may be continued after the first 3 days, upon judgement of the attending veterinarian.
| Body weight (kg) | Number of chewable tablets by size: 25 mg | Number of chewable tablets by size: 100 mg | mg/kg bw range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 – 3.5 | 0.75 | 5.4 – 6.25 | |
| 3.6 – 5 | 1 | 0.25 | 5.0 – 6.9 |
| 5.1 – 6 | 1.25 | 5.2 – 6.1 | |
| 6.1 – 7.5 | 1.5 | 5.0 – 6.1 | |
| 7.6 – 8.5 | 1.75 | 5.1 – 5.8 | |
| 8.6 – 10 | 2 | 0.5 | 5.0 – 5.8 |
| 10.1 – 15 | 0.75 | 5.0 – 7.4 | |
| 15.1 – 20 | 1 | 5.0 – 6.6 | |
| 20.1 – 25 | 1.25 | 5.0 – 6.2 | |
| 25.1 – 30 | 1.5 | 5.0 – 6.0 | |
| 30.1 – 35 | 1.75 | 5.0 – 5.8 | |
| 35.1 – 40 | 2 | 5.0 – 5.7 |
Or
Number of chewable tablets by size (Body weight (kg) | 57 mg | mg/kg bw range):
3.0 – 5.5 | 0.5 | 5.2 – 9.5
5.6 – 7.5 | 0.75 | 5.7 – 7.6
7.6 – 10 | 1 | 5.7 – 7.5
10.1 – 13 | 1.25 | 5.5 – 7.1
13.1 – 16 | 1.5 | 5.3 – 6.5
16.1 – 18.5 | 1.75 | 5.4 – 6.2
or
Number of chewable tablets by size (Body weight (kg) | 225 mg | mg/kg bw range):
18.4 – 22.5 | 0.5 | 5.0 – 6.1
22.6 – 33.5 | 0.75 | 5.0 – 7.5
33.6 – 45 | 1 | 5.0 – 6.7
45.1 – 56 | 1.25 | 5.0 – 6.2
56.1 – 67 | 1.5 | 5.0 – 6.1
67.1 – 78 | 1.75 | 5.0 – 5.9
78.1 – 90 | 2 | 5.0 – 5.8
Tablets can be administered with or without food.
Tablets can be divided into 2 or 4 equal parts to enable accurate dosing. Place the tablet on a flat surface, with its scored side facing up and the convex (rounded) side facing the surface.
To split into 2 equal parts:
Press your thumbs down on both sides of the tablet.
To split into 4 equal parts:
Press your thumb down in the middle of the tablet.
Contraindications
Do not use
- in cases of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.
- in pregnant or lactating bitches.
- in animals less than 10 weeks of age or less than 3 kg body weight.
- in animals suffering from gastrointestinal bleeding, blood dyscrasia or haemorrhagic disorders.
- concomitantly with corticosteroids or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Adverse reactions
Dogs:
| Uncommon (1 to 10 animals / 1,000 animals treated): | Vomiting1, Diarrhoea1 |
|---|---|
| Rare (1 to 10 animals / 10,000 animals treated): | Nervous system disorder |
| Very rare (<1 animal / 10,000 animals treated, including isolated reports): | Renal disorder, Hepatic disorder |
1 Generally of a transitory nature and reversible when the treatment is stopped.
If adverse reactions like vomiting, repeated diarrhoea, faecal occult blood, sudden weight loss, anorexia, lethargy, degradation of renal or hepatic biochemistry parameters occur, use of the product should be stopped, and the advice of a veterinarian should be sought. As with other NSAIDs, serious adverse effects can occur and, in very rare cases, may be fatal.
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.
Warnings
Special precautions for safe use in the target species:
The recommended dose, see section 3.9, should not be exceeded.
Use in very young animals, or animals with suspected or confirmed impairment of renal, cardiac or hepatic function may involve additional risk. If such use cannot be avoided, those dogs require careful veterinary monitoring.
Avoid use in dehydrated, hypovolaemic or hypotensive animals, as there is a potential risk of increased renal toxicity. Concurrent administration of potentially nephrotoxic medicinal products should be avoided.
Use this veterinary medicinal product under strict veterinary monitoring where there is a risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, or if the animal previously displayed intolerance to NSAIDs. Renal and/or hepatic disorders have been reported in very rare cases in dogs administered the recommended treatment dose. It is possible that a proportion of such cases had sub-clinical renal or hepatic disease prior to the commencement of therapy. Therefore, appropriate laboratory testing to establish baseline renal or hepatic biochemistry parameters is recommended prior to and periodically during administration.
The treatment should be discontinued if any of these signs are observed: repeated diarrhoea, vomiting, faecal occult blood, sudden weight loss, anorexia, lethargy, degradation of renal or hepatic biochemistry parameters.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals:
This product may be harmful following accidental ingestion. The target organs for toxicity in the repeat-dose toxicological studies were usually liver, brain and gastrointestinal tract.
In order to prevent children from accessing the product, tablets should be administered and stored out of their sight and reach. Halved or quartered tablets should be returned to the open blister pocket and inserted into the outer carton.
In the event of accidental ingestion of one or more tablets, seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the doctor.
Laboratory studies in rats and rabbits have shown evidence that firocoxib has the potential to affect reproduction and to induce malformations in foetuses. Pregnant women or women who are intending to become pregnant should administer the product with caution.
Wash hands after use of the product.
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.
Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay
Pregnancy and lactation:
Do not use in pregnant or lactating bitches.
Laboratory studies in rabbits have shown evidence of maternotoxic and foetotoxic effects at dose rates approximating the recommended treatment dose for the dog.
Interactions
Pre-treatment with other anti-inflammatory veterinary medicinal products may result in additional or increased adverse effects and accordingly a treatment-free period with such veterinary medicinal products should be observed for at least 24 hours before the commencement of treatment with the veterinary medicinal product. The treatment-free period, however, should take into account the pharmacokinetic properties of the veterinary medicinal products used previously.
The product must not be administered in conjunction with other NSAIDs or glucocorticosteroids. Gastrointestinal tract ulceration may be exacerbated by corticosteroids in animals given non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Concomitant treatment with molecules displaying action on renal flow, e.g. diuretics or Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, should be subject to clinical monitoring. Concurrent administration of potentially nephrotoxic veterinary medicinal products should be avoided as there might be an increased risk of renal toxicity. As anaesthetic veterinary medicinal products may affect renal perfusion, the use of parenteral fluid therapy during surgery should be considered to decrease potential renal complications when using NSAIDs peri-operatively.
Concurrent use of other active substances that have a high degree of protein binding may compete with firocoxib for binding and thus lead to toxic effects.
Overdose
In dogs ten weeks of age, at the start of treatment, at dose rates equal or greater to 25 mg/kg/day (5 times the recommended dose) for three months, the following signs of toxicity were observed: bodyweight loss, poor appetite, changes in the liver (accumulation of lipid), brain (vacuolisation), duodenum (ulcers) and death.
At dose rates equal or greater to 15 mg/kg/day (3 times the recommended dose) for six months, similar clinical signs were observed, albeit that the severity and frequency were less and duodenal ulcers were absent.
In those target animal safety studies, clinical signs of toxicity were reversible in some dogs following cessation of therapy.
In dogs seven months of age, at the start of treatment, at dose rates greater than or equal to 25 mg/kg/day (5 times the recommended dose) for six months, gastrointestinal adverse effects, i.e. vomiting were observed.
Overdose studies were not conducted in animals over 14 months of age.
If clinical signs of overdosing are observed, discontinue treatment.
Special warnings
None.
Withdrawal period
Not applicable.
Incompatibilities
Not applicable.
Immediate packaging
Aluminium - PVC/PE/PVDC blister in cardboard box, containing 10 chewable tablets each.
Package sizes:
Cardboard box with 10, 20, 30, 50, 100 or 200 chewable tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Storage
This veterinary medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
Shelf life
Shelf life of the veterinary medicinal product as packaged for sale: 4 years.
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.
Additional information
Vm 20916/5014
8 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION
08 July 2024
9 DATE OF THE LAST REVISION OF THE SUMMARY OF THE PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS
July 2025
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.
Gavin Hall Approved: 11 December 2025
Registration holder
CP Pharma Handelsgesellschaft mbH
Regulations
- Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/2033), Schedule 32
Sources
- VMD Product Information Database: Coxatab 57 mg Chewable Tablets for Dogs, 20916/5014
- The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, Schedule 3 (categories of veterinary medicinal products)
- Summary of Product Characteristics: Coxatab 57 mg Chewable Tablets for Dogs
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