I N C E P T I O N A I

Top 5 Prescription NSAIDs for Dogs in the United States 2025: Meloxicam, Carprofen, Deracoxib, Firocoxib, Robenacoxib - A Veterinarian-Recommended, Evidence-Based Guide

Veterinary nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) are prescription drugs used to control pain, fever, and systemic inflammation in dogs. Commonly prescribed for osteoarthritis, postoperative pain, and injury, these agents help improve mobility and quality of life when used under veterinary supervision. American pet owners often choose an NSAID based on demonstrated efficacy, dosing convenience, formulation options (tablet, chewable, or injectable), safety profile for their dog, cost and availability, and recommendations from their veterinarian. Because NSAIDs can affect the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, and liver, reliable monitoring, individualized dosing, and clear communication with a licensed American veterinarian are essential to minimize risks and achieve the best outcomes.

Top Picks Summary

  1. Galliprant Tablets
  2. Meloxicam Oral Suspension 1.5mg/mL
  3. Rimadyl Injectable 50 mg/mL
  4. Rimadyl Chewable Tablets
  5. Rimadyl (carprofen)
1

Galliprant (grapiprant) represents a technical differentiator as an EP4 prostaglandin receptor antagonist rather than a traditional COX inhibitor, providing targeted control of osteoarthritis pain with an improved gastrointestinal and renal safety profile for some patients. While typically more expensive than older NSAIDs, Galliprant’s novel mechanism makes it a market leader for dogs that have tolerated or are at higher risk from COX inhibitors, offering veterinarians a safer alternative for long‑term pain management.

4.5
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  • Selective pain blocker

  • GI-friendly profile

  • Selective pain blocker

  • GI-friendly profile

Review Summary

88%

"Galliprant tablets are appreciated for targeted pain control with generally milder GI side effects and good tolerability for osteoarthritis; some owners find it works more gradually and may need dose adjustments."

  • Mild-mannered miracle

  • Grapiprant (Galliprant) targets the EP4 receptor as an alternative to traditional COX inhibitors with a different safety profile.

  • Mild-mannered miracle

  • Grapiprant (Galliprant) targets the EP4 receptor as an alternative to traditional COX inhibitors with a different safety profile.

Increased Safety & Security

Time-Saving Convenience

Galliprant (grapiprant) represents a technical differentiator as an EP4 prostaglandin receptor antagonist rather than a traditional COX inhibitor, providing targeted control of osteoarthritis pain with an improved gastrointestinal and renal safety profile for some patients. While typically more expensive than older NSAIDs, Galliprant’s novel mechanism makes it a market leader for dogs that have tolerated or are at higher risk from COX inhibitors, offering veterinarians a safer alternative for long‑term pain management.

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$90-220 USD

2
BEST PRESCRIPTION NONSTEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ORAL LIQUID SUSPENSIONS FOR DOGS

Meloxicam Oral Suspension 1.5mg/mL

Meloxicam Oral Suspension 1.5mg/mL
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This generic meloxicam oral suspension is presented as the cost-effective alternative to brand-name products, offering the same active ingredient and concentration at a lower price point for practices and owners managing budgets. Compared with branded options like Metacam and regionally marketed products such as Loxicom, it offers financial advantages but may vary by manufacturer in packaging, surplus supply reliability, or ancillary services like technical support.

4.3
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  • Flexible dosing

  • Sustained relief

  • Flexible dosing

  • Sustained relief

Review Summary

85%

"Generic Meloxicam oral suspension is generally reported to be as effective as brand-name alternatives and appreciated for lower cost, though packaging and taste can vary between suppliers. Most users find it works well long-term with similar side-effect profiles to branded meloxicam."

  • Puppy-friendly flavor

  • Generic meloxicam oral suspension at the same 1.5 mg/mL concentration as brand products.

  • Puppy-friendly flavor

  • Generic meloxicam oral suspension at the same 1.5 mg/mL concentration as brand products.

Increased Safety & Security

Time-Saving Convenience

This generic meloxicam oral suspension is presented as the cost-effective alternative to brand-name products, offering the same active ingredient and concentration at a lower price point for practices and owners managing budgets. Compared with branded options like Metacam and regionally marketed products such as Loxicom, it offers financial advantages but may vary by manufacturer in packaging, surplus supply reliability, or ancillary services like technical support.

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$25-60 USD

3
BEST PRESCRIPTION NONSTEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY INJECTABLES FOR DOGS

Rimadyl Injectable 50 mg/mL

Rimadyl Injectable 50 mg/mL
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Rimadyl (carprofen) is a market leader because of its strong analgesic profile, extensive clinical data in canine musculoskeletal pain and cost-effective branded and generic options that make it attractive for longer-term management when injectable dosing is required. Relative to COX-2–targeted injectables like Previcox and Onsior, Rimadyl is less selective but often provides robust pain control at a lower price point; clinicians weigh that financial advantage against the need for patient-specific monitoring. Its established place in practice and broad availability keep it competitive for prescription injectable NSAID use in dogs.

4.2
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  • Potent pain control

  • Long-lasting effect

  • Potent pain control

  • Long-lasting effect

Review Summary

83%

"Rimadyl injectable is frequently praised for strong, fast-acting analgesia and improved mobility, though a minority of owners report adverse reactions (GI upset, liver concerns) and emphasize vet supervision."

  • Hound-approved nod

  • Active ingredient carprofen (Rimadyl); established NSAID for postoperative and musculoskeletal pain in dogs.

  • Hound-approved nod

  • Active ingredient carprofen (Rimadyl); established NSAID for postoperative and musculoskeletal pain in dogs.

Increased Safety & Security

Recreational Enjoyment

Rimadyl (carprofen) is a market leader because of its strong analgesic profile, extensive clinical data in canine musculoskeletal pain and cost-effective branded and generic options that make it attractive for longer-term management when injectable dosing is required. Relative to COX-2–targeted injectables like Previcox and Onsior, Rimadyl is less selective but often provides robust pain control at a lower price point; clinicians weigh that financial advantage against the need for patient-specific monitoring. Its established place in practice and broad availability keep it competitive for prescription injectable NSAID use in dogs.

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$150-300 USD

4
BEST PRESCRIPTION NONSTEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY TOPICAL GELS AND SPRAYS FOR DOGS

Rimadyl Chewable Tablets

Rimadyl Chewable Tablets
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Rimadyl (carprofen) is a long-established oral NSAID with extensive clinical use and brand recognition, often chosen for its predictable analgesic profile and palatable chewable format that helps with owner compliance compared to topical-only approaches. Against topical Surpass it provides systemic control for multi-joint disease, and versus other chewable competitors it frequently competes on price and generic availability, giving it a favorable financial position for clinics managing chronic osteoarthritis. While systemic by nature, Rimadyl’s large safety database can reduce perceived risk for prescribers when compared to newer agents.

4.5
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  • Tasty chew- treaty

  • Quick relief- zoom

  • Tasty chew- treaty

  • Quick relief- zoom

Review Summary

88%

"Rimadyl chewables are frequently praised for fast, consistent pain relief and good palatability, with many long-term users seeing clear improvement despite occasional reports of GI or liver-related side effects."

  • Mobility boost- bounce

  • Carprofen chewable tablets commonly used for osteoarthritis and post-operative pain relief

  • Mobility boost- bounce

  • Carprofen chewable tablets commonly used for osteoarthritis and post-operative pain relief

Recreational Enjoyment

Time-Saving Convenience

Rimadyl (carprofen) is a long-established oral NSAID with extensive clinical use and brand recognition, often chosen for its predictable analgesic profile and palatable chewable format that helps with owner compliance compared to topical-only approaches. Against topical Surpass it provides systemic control for multi-joint disease, and versus other chewable competitors it frequently competes on price and generic availability, giving it a favorable financial position for clinics managing chronic osteoarthritis. While systemic by nature, Rimadyl’s large safety database can reduce perceived risk for prescribers when compared to newer agents.

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$80-200 USD

5

Rimadyl (carprofen) is a long-established, widely prescribed canine NSAID with an extensive clinical track record for osteoarthritis and postoperative pain control. It holds a leading position because of broad veterinary familiarity and widespread generic availability, which often makes it more cost-effective than newer, branded COX-2 selective options while remaining a reliable first-line choice in many practices.

4.5
Show More Prescription Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Products by Active Ingredient for Dogs
  • Powerful pain relief

  • Improves mobility

  • Powerful pain relief

  • Improves mobility

Review Summary

85%

"Owners generally report strong, reliable pain relief for arthritis and post-surgical pain with Rimadyl; most dogs tolerate it well though a minority experience gastrointestinal upset, lethargy, or rare liver/kidney issues. Overall users praise its effectiveness but advise monitoring for side effects and periodic bloodwork for long-term use."

  • Tail-wagging favorite

  • COX-2 preferential NSAID commonly used for long-term management of canine osteoarthritis.

  • Tail-wagging favorite

  • COX-2 preferential NSAID commonly used for long-term management of canine osteoarthritis.

Time-Saving Convenience

Rimadyl (carprofen) is a long-established, widely prescribed canine NSAID with an extensive clinical track record for osteoarthritis and postoperative pain control. It holds a leading position because of broad veterinary familiarity and widespread generic availability, which often makes it more cost-effective than newer, branded COX-2 selective options while remaining a reliable first-line choice in many practices.

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$50-150 USD

What the Research Says: Safety and Effectiveness of Canine NSAIDs

Clinical trials and systematic reviews support the use of NSAIDs for reducing pain and improving function in dogs with osteoarthritis and for controlling postoperative pain when administered appropriately. Evidence highlights that efficacy, onset of action, and side effect profiles differ across drugs and formulations. Best-practice guidelines recommend baseline bloodwork, individualized dosing, and periodic monitoring to detect renal, hepatic, or gastrointestinal adverse effects early. Veterinary regulators in the United States require prescriptions and emphasize practitioner oversight to ensure safe use.

Efficacy: Randomized controlled trials show meaningful reductions in pain and lameness scores for dogs with osteoarthritis when treated with approved canine NSAIDs compared with placebo.

Postoperative analgesia: Studies support short-term NSAID use to decrease acute postoperative pain and improve recovery after soft tissue and orthopedic procedures.

Safety profile: COX-2 selective agents may reduce gastrointestinal side effects in some patients, but selectivity is not a guarantee of safety; individual factors matter.

Monitoring recommendations: Veterinary guidance and retrospective studies recommend baseline hematology and biochemistry, with follow-up testing during long-term use or if clinical signs arise.

Risk factors: Older dogs, dehydrated patients, or dogs with preexisting renal or hepatic disease have higher risk for adverse events; concomitant use of corticosteroids or multiple NSAIDs is contraindicated.

Regulatory context: Health USA and veterinary authorities require prescription status and professional oversight; approved drugs have species-specific dosing and label instructions.

In the American context, prescription NSAIDs remain a cornerstone of canine pain management when prescribed and monitored by a veterinarian. We hope this overview helped you understand why Meloxicam, Carprofen, Deracoxib, Firocoxib, and Robenacoxib are frequently recommended options in 2025. If you did not find exactly what you needed, refine or broaden your search above, or consult your veterinarian for a personalized plan tailored to your dog.