Carprofen 50 mg for Dogs: What to Know
If you searched for carprofen 50 mg, here is the short answer: there is no FDA-approved 50 mg carprofen tablet for dogs in the United States. The FDA-approved strengths, including Rimadyl and the generics, are 25 mg, 75 mg and 100 mg. A 50 mg dose is still common, and it is simply made from the tablets that exist.
How a 50 mg Dose Is Made
- Two 25 mg tablets, or
- Half of a 100 mg tablet. Carprofen tablets are scored, and the FDA label says doses are calculated in half-tablet increments.
Only split or combine tablets if your vet tells you to. Never guess a strength from the tablet's size or colour; check the imprint and the label (see our tablet identification guide).
Which Dogs Get a 50 mg Dose?
The label dose is 2 mg per pound (4.4 mg/kg) per day, once daily or split into 1 mg/lb twice daily. By that math, 50 mg a day fits a dog of about 25 lb, and 50 mg per dose twice daily fits a dog of about 50 lb. See the dosage chart by weight for the full range. Your vet picks the dose after weighing your dog and checking bloodwork.
Why You May See "50 mg" Elsewhere
Some online pharmacies list compounded carprofen 50 mg capsules. A compounding pharmacy makes these on a vet's prescription, for example when a dog cannot take the tablets or the needed strength is not made. Compounded products are custom-made and are not FDA-approved. Some products sold in other countries also use different strengths. For a U.S. prescription, trust the label on your bottle, and ask your vet or pharmacist if it does not match what you were told.
Compare prices on our where to buy carprofen page once you have a valid prescription.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a carprofen 50 mg tablet?
Not an FDA-approved one. The approved carprofen tablets for dogs come in 25 mg, 75 mg and 100 mg. A 50 mg dose is made from two 25 mg tablets or half of a scored 100 mg tablet, and some pharmacies make compounded 50 mg capsules on a vet's prescription.
Can I split a 100 mg carprofen tablet to get 50 mg?
The label says caplets are scored and doses are calculated in half-tablet steps, so half of a 100 mg tablet is a normal way to give 50 mg. Only do this on your vet's instructions.
What size dog gets 50 mg of carprofen?
At the label dose of 2 mg per pound per day, 50 mg a day suits a dog of about 25 lb. A 50 lb dog on the split schedule (1 mg per lb twice daily) gets 50 mg per dose. Your vet sets the real dose.
Why do some websites list a 50 mg strength?
Compounding pharmacies make custom 50 mg capsules on a vet's prescription, and some non-U.S. products use other strengths. Compounded products are not FDA-approved. Always read the label on the bottle your vet or pharmacy gives you.
How is carprofen 50 mg for dogs given?
Carprofen 50 mg for dogs is most often made from a split 100 mg tablet or from compounded capsules when a vet prescribes it. Never split a tablet without your vet's guidance.