Carprofen Dosage for Dogs: Chart by Weight (lbs & kg)
Short answer: the FDA-approved label dose of carprofen for dogs is 2 mg per pound of body weight per day (4.4 mg/kg). It can be given as one daily dose, or split into 1 mg per pound (2.2 mg/kg) twice a day, about 12 hours apart. Both schedules give the same daily total. The charts below turn that rule into numbers for common weights in pounds and kilograms, so you can check that a prescription label makes sense. They are not a substitute for your vet's instructions.
Only a veterinarian who has examined your dog can set the right carprofen dose. Kidney or liver disease, dehydration, age, other medicines (especially steroids or other NSAIDs) and the reason for treatment can all change it. If your dog has already had too much, see the overdose section below and call your vet or a pet poison line now.
Carprofen Dose Calculator
Carprofen Dosage Chart by Weight (lbs)
| Dog weight | Tablet and amount | Daily dose |
|---|---|---|
| 5–10 lbs | ½ of a 25 mg tablet | 12.5 mg |
| 11–15 lbs | 1 × 25 mg | 25 mg |
| 16–20 lbs | ½ of a 75 mg tablet | 37.5 mg |
| 21–30 lbs | ½ of a 100 mg tablet | 50 mg |
| 31–40 lbs | 1 × 75 mg | 75 mg |
| 41–60 lbs | 1 × 100 mg | 100 mg |
| 61–90 lbs | 1½ × 100 mg | 150 mg |
| 91–120 lbs | 2 × 100 mg | 200 mg |
Carprofen comes as 25 mg, 75 mg and 100 mg tablets (there is no 50 mg tablet; see carprofen 50 mg). Because a chart has to round to half tablets, a dog at the bottom of a weight band gets a little more than 2 mg/lb and a dog at the top gets a little less. That is expected.
Carprofen Dosage Chart in Kilograms (kg)
Outside the US, and in most veterinary references, carprofen is dosed per kilogram: 4.4 mg/kg per day, or 2.2 mg/kg twice daily. Some European and UK labels instead use a lower 4 mg/kg per day, so always read the dose on your own product's label.
| Dog weight | Daily total | Each dose if twice daily |
|---|---|---|
| 5 kg (11 lb) | 22 mg | 11 mg |
| 10 kg (22 lb) | 44 mg | 22 mg |
| 15 kg (33 lb) | 66 mg | 33 mg |
| 16 kg (35 lb) | 70 mg | 35 mg |
| 20 kg (44 lb) | 88 mg | 44 mg |
| 25 kg (55 lb) | 110 mg | 55 mg |
| 29 kg (64 lb) | 128 mg | 64 mg |
| 30 kg (66 lb) | 132 mg | 66 mg |
| 35 kg (77 lb) | 154 mg | 77 mg |
| 40 kg (88 lb) | 176 mg | 88 mg |
| 45 kg (99 lb) | 198 mg | 99 mg |
| 50 kg (110 lb) | 220 mg | 110 mg |
Worked Examples: How Much Carprofen for My Dog's Weight?
These are the weights owners ask about most. The middle columns show the exact label arithmetic; the last column shows where that weight lands on the tablet chart above.
| Dog weight | Daily total | Each dose if twice daily | On the tablet chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 20 mg | 10 mg | ½ × 25 mg (12.5 mg) |
| 12 lb (5.4 kg) | 24 mg | 12 mg | 1 × 25 mg |
| 17 lb (7.7 kg) | 34 mg | 17 mg | ½ × 75 mg (37.5 mg) |
| 20 lb (9.1 kg) | 40 mg | 20 mg | ½ × 75 mg (37.5 mg) |
| 25 lb (11.3 kg) | 50 mg | 25 mg | ½ × 100 mg (50 mg) |
| 28 lb (12.7 kg) | 56 mg | 28 mg | ½ × 100 mg (50 mg) |
| 40 lb (18.1 kg) | 80 mg | 40 mg | 1 × 75 mg |
| 50 lb (22.7 kg) | 100 mg | 50 mg | 1 × 100 mg |
| 60 lb (27.2 kg) | 120 mg | 60 mg | 1 × 100 mg |
| 65 lb (29.5 kg) | 130 mg | 65 mg | 1½ × 100 mg (150 mg) |
| 70 lb (31.8 kg) | 140 mg | 70 mg | 1½ × 100 mg (150 mg) |
| 80 lb (36.3 kg) | 160 mg | 80 mg | 1½ × 100 mg (150 mg) |
| 100 lb (45.4 kg) | 200 mg | 100 mg | 2 × 100 mg |
| 175 lb (79.4 kg) | 350 mg | 175 mg | Beyond the chart; your vet decides |
Giant dogs (over 120 lb): the arithmetic keeps rising (350 mg a day for a 175 lb dog), but vets often dose very large or overweight dogs on their lean or ideal body weight rather than what the scale says, because fat tissue doesn't change how much drug the organs have to handle. This is a case-by-case vet decision.
Very small dogs (under 10 lb): a half of a 25 mg tablet already gives about 2.5 mg/lb to a 5 lb dog. Vets sometimes prescribe a compounded liquid for toy breeds so the dose can be measured precisely.
How the Mg-Per-Pound Math Works
Multiply your dog's weight in pounds by 2 to get the label daily total in milligrams; multiply the weight in kilograms by 4.4 to get the same thing in metric. For a 30 lb (13.6 kg) dog that is 60 mg a day, either as one 60 mg dose or two 30 mg doses. In practice a vet would round that to a whole or half tablet, for example half of a 100 mg tablet (50 mg) once daily, or one 25 mg tablet twice daily (50 mg a day).
Vets also combine strengths. A 65 lb dog, whose arithmetic comes to 130 mg a day, might be prescribed one 100 mg tablet plus one 25 mg tablet (125 mg). That is a normal prescription, not a mistake. What matters is the total milligrams per day compared with your dog's weight, not the strength printed on any one tablet.
How Often Can You Give Carprofen? Once vs Twice Daily
Carprofen is given once or twice a day, never more often. The label allows either 2 mg per lb once daily or 1 mg per lb twice daily, about 12 hours apart. Both give the same daily total. There is no "as needed" extra dose: a second dose on the same day only belongs in the twice-daily schedule your vet sets.
The label treats the two schedules as equivalent because the daily total is identical. Carprofen lasts long enough in a dog's body (an elimination half-life of roughly 8 hours, longer in some dogs) for either pattern to work. Vets tend to choose:
- Twice daily after surgery, when steadier pain control matters, or for dogs whose stomach is upset by one larger dose.
- Once daily for long-term arthritis treatment, because it is easier to stick to and easier to give with the main meal.
Don't switch between the two on your own. Changing from once to twice daily without halving the dose doubles the daily total, which is one of the most common ways dogs end up overdosed.
Carprofen Injection Dose
Injectable carprofen (50 mg/mL in the US) uses the same rate as the tablets: 2 mg/lb (4.4 mg/kg) per day, given under the skin (subcutaneously) once a day, or 1 mg/lb twice daily. For surgery it is usually given about two hours beforehand so it is already working when the dog wakes up. Some UK and European injectable labels allow intravenous use as well. Carprofen is not normally given into the muscle. Dogs often go home on tablets the next day; see carprofen tablets vs injection.
Liquid and Compounded Carprofen
Compounded carprofen liquids or small capsules are made by a pharmacy when tablets can't be split small enough or a dog won't take them. The dose in milligrams is the same as for tablets, but the amount you give depends on the concentration (for example 25 mg/mL vs 50 mg/mL), which varies between pharmacies. Read the label every refill, and use the syringe that came with that bottle.
Giving the Dose: Practical Tips
- Give it with food. Carprofen can be given with or without food, but a meal reduces the chance of stomach upset.
- Split tablets along the score line with a pill splitter, and use the other half at the next dose.
- Keep one person in charge of dosing, or use a written chart on the fridge, so two people don't each give a dose.
- Store flavoured chewables out of reach. Dogs will eat a whole bottle if they find it.
- If a picky dog refuses tablets, see how to get a picky dog to take carprofen.
Missed a Dose?
Give it when you remember, unless it is nearly time for the next one. In that case, skip the missed dose and carry on as normal. Never give two doses together to catch up. Full guidance: what to do if you miss a carprofen dose.
Why Your Dog's Dose May Change Over Time
Vets often aim for the lowest dose that keeps a dog comfortable, especially for long-term arthritis. After a few weeks a dog may be stepped down, or moved to a dose every other day, if pain is well controlled. Weight loss, aging and changes on bloodwork can also prompt a new dose. See carprofen for senior dogs and how long a dog can stay on carprofen.
What If My Dog Gets Too Much?
An accidental double dose in a healthy adult dog is usually low risk, but you should still call your vet or a pet poison helpline the same day. They will want the tablet strength, how many tablets, when, and your dog's weight. Larger overdoses (a chewed-open bottle) are an emergency, because treatment works best within the first few hours. Signs include vomiting, diarrhea or black stool, not eating, lethargy, and changes in drinking or urination. See can a dog overdose on carprofen? for the signs, timeline and poison hotline numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard carprofen dosage for dogs?
The FDA-approved label dose is 2 mg per pound (4.4 mg/kg) of body weight per day. It can be given once a day, or split into 1 mg per pound (2.2 mg/kg) twice a day. Your vet sets your dog's actual dose and schedule.
How much carprofen for a 20, 50, 60, 70 or 100 lb dog?
At the label rate of 2 mg per lb a day, the daily total works out to 40 mg for a 20 lb dog, 100 mg for 50 lb, 120 mg for 60 lb, 140 mg for 70 lb and 200 mg for 100 lb. Vets round to whole or half tablets, so the prescribed amount is often a little lower or higher. Never start or change a dose without your vet.
Is it better to give one bigger dose or two smaller doses?
The label treats them as equivalent: 2 mg/lb once daily gives the same daily total as 1 mg/lb twice daily. Vets often choose twice daily after surgery or for dogs with a sensitive stomach, and once daily for convenience on long-term arthritis treatment.
What is the maximum dose of carprofen for a dog?
The label's daily total, 2 mg per pound (4.4 mg/kg), is also the ceiling vets work under. Going above it raises the risk of stomach ulcers, kidney and liver injury without adding meaningful pain relief.
Is 100 mg of carprofen too much for a small dog?
For a dog under about 40 lb, a whole 100 mg tablet is more than the label daily total. A 20 lb dog's label dose is about 40 mg a day, for example. Tablet strength means nothing without the dog's weight.
What is the carprofen injection dose for dogs?
In the US, injectable carprofen (50 mg/mL) is labelled at the same 2 mg/lb (4.4 mg/kg) per day, given under the skin, once daily or split in two. Before surgery it is usually given about two hours ahead. It is a clinic-administered drug.
Does liquid carprofen have the same dose as the tablets?
The dose in milligrams is the same, but liquids are compounded by a pharmacy at a set concentration (for example mg per mL), so the volume depends on that concentration. Always measure with the syringe supplied and read the label.
Can I crush or split carprofen tablets?
Most carprofen tablets are scored so they can be split in half along the line. Crushing a chewable into food is usually fine, but ask your pharmacist first for caplets or coated products. See can you crush carprofen?
What is the carprofen dosage?
Carprofen dosage for dogs is based on body weight and is always set by your vet. Use the chart on this page to understand typical ranges, never to pick a dose for your own dog.
Sources & Further Reading
- Rimadyl (carprofen) Caplets, Chewable Tablets and Injectable, US package insert (Zoetis), dosage and administration
- FDA Freedom of Information Summaries for carprofen (NADA 141-053 and approved generics)
- Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, carprofen monograph
- UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate product information for carprofen tablets and injection
This page summarizes and explains publicly available veterinary drug information. It is not a substitute for the official prescribing information your vet or pharmacist provides with your specific prescription.