Carprofen is a member of the arylpropionic acid class of NSAIDs. Carprofen has been shown to be COX-1 sparing (COX-2 selective) both in vitro and in vivo. Carprofen is approved, both in oral and injectable formulations, to treat pain and inflammation associated with OA and postoperative pain in dogs. Carprofen has been shown to improve limb function in clinical trials of dogs with naturally occurring OA. Three long-term studies (84 days and 120 days) found that carprofen was well tolerated, and subjectively dogs appeared to improve over the treatment period. Carprofen is also effective in providing postoperative analgesia in both orthopedic and soft tissue procedures. Carprofen does not appear to affect platelet function or cause excessive bleeding in surgical procedures, although more recent data demonstrate some changes in platelet function with uncertain clinical significance.
Analgesia may be needed for 48-72 hours post-op with major extractions. In severe cases, full agonist or partial agonist opioids may require hospitalisation. NSAID’s can be used in addition to this regime. These not only limit pain and discomfort, but also help reduce swelling post-operatively. Both carprofen and meloxicam can be used parenterally on the day of surgery. Use of all NSAID’s assumes good renal and hepatic health. Other NSAID’s can be used either parenterally or orally on subsequent days.
Description
Rabbits, like other companion animals, are being taken to veterinarians in increasing numbers. Over the last two decades there has been an explosion of knowledge about their medical and surgical care in the veterinary community. Rabbits are living longer and thus have the potential to experience the discomfort of illness or surgery at some time in their lives. Veterinarians have an increasing number of safe choices for managing pain in rabbits. The first step for pain management is to recognize the signs of pain in the rabbit.
Rabbits in the wild are at the bottom of the food chain. It’s hard-wired into them not to show any sign of weakness. If they show any sign of illness or disability, to make them look slow and vulnerable, they’ll end up as somebody’s dinner. This instinct is present in our pet rabbits too.
Uses/benefits of Carprofen For Rabbits
Domestic rabbits maintain the physiology and behavior of a prey species and they experience pain in the same manner as other companion animals. Even though a rabbit may be handled frequently, he will respond to pain and stress in the same manner as his wild ancestors and as seen above if moderate to severe pain is not managed it can have serious consequences. Therefore it is ESSENTIAL that pain relief be used appropriately in rabbits in order in improve the quality of their lives and the treatment success.
I believe that rabbits should be given the benefit of the doubt and if the condition that is diagnosed or the surgery that is performed would be painful in humans or other companion mammals, then it should be assumed that it is painful in rabbits and pain management should be used. Common situations in rabbits where pain management is used include: surgical intervention, gastrointestinal disease, dental disease, trauma, and arthritis.
Dosage of Carprofen For Rabbits Rabbit
- Meloxicam 0.2 mg/kg iv or sc. Followed by 1 drop per kg per os daily. This product is not licensed for use in rabbits.
- Carprofen 2-4 mg/kg sc. or iv on day of surgery and subsequently.
- Buprenorphine 0.01-0.05 mg/kg iv os sc. Every 8 hours.
- Butorphanol 0.1-0.5 mg/kg iv or sc. Every 8 hours.
Prices of Carprofen For Rabbits
$8.99 – $58.99