Veterinary NSAID Comparison Reference (Dog & Cat)
Compare approved dog and cat NSAIDs, plus the safety rules that apply when switching or combining them with other drugs.
Dog-approved NSAIDs
| Drug |
|---|
| Carprofen |
| Meloxicam |
| Deracoxib |
| Firocoxib |
| Robenacoxib |
Related, but not a traditional NSAID
| Drug | Notes |
|---|---|
| Grapiprant | A piprant (EP4 prostaglandin receptor antagonist) rather than a COX-inhibiting NSAID - associated with a different, generally more GI/renal-favorable side effect profile. |
Approved products and labeling vary by country - always check the current label of the specific product you're using.
Cats have a narrower safety margin than dogs
Cats have limited hepatic glucuronidation capacity, the pathway many drugs rely on for safe clearance - which is why far fewer NSAIDs are labeled for feline use, and why the ones that are labeled carry tighter dosing and duration limits than their canine counterparts.
Key safety rules (all species)
- Never combine two NSAIDs together, and never combine an NSAID with a corticosteroid - concurrent use dramatically increases the risk of severe GI ulceration.
- A washout period is required when switching between NSAIDs, or from a corticosteroid to an NSAID (the necessary length varies by the specific drugs' half-lives - check current guidance for the specific switch being made).
- Baseline bloodwork (renal and hepatic values) is recommended before starting chronic NSAID therapy and periodically during long-term use.
- Avoid NSAID administration in dehydrated, hypotensive, or actively hemorrhaging patients - for perioperative use, give after blood pressure has stabilized.
- Use caution or avoid in patients with a history of GI ulceration or existing renal/hepatic disease.
Frequently asked questions
Why are there fewer NSAID options approved for cats than dogs?
Cats have limited hepatic glucuronidation capacity, the pathway many drugs rely on for safe clearance, giving them a narrower margin of safety and slower elimination for many NSAIDs compared to dogs.
What's the difference between grapiprant and a traditional NSAID?
Grapiprant is a piprant - it selectively blocks the EP4 prostaglandin receptor involved in pain and inflammation rather than broadly inhibiting COX enzymes like traditional NSAIDs, which is associated with a different, often more GI/renal-friendly, side effect profile.
Why can't you combine an NSAID with a corticosteroid?
Both drug classes independently reduce the GI tract's protective prostaglandin-mediated defenses, and combining them dramatically increases the risk of serious gastric or intestinal ulceration.
Why does perioperative NSAID timing matter?
NSAIDs given while a patient is hypotensive or dehydrated - both common under anesthesia before fluids and blood pressure stabilize - carry higher risk of acute kidney injury, so many protocols wait until blood pressure is confirmed stable before dosing.