Pet owner resources
Read the information sheet below, then print or download it for reference. Follow the instructions on your pet’s dispensing label and from your veterinary team.
Deracoxib
Pet owner information sheet
💊 The most important rule: give this medication exactly as your veterinarian prescribed it — the right dose, at the right times, for the right number of days.
What is this medication for?
- Post-op pain (7-day max at higher dose); OA pain/inflammation (ongoing, lower dose)
- Adjunctive TCC of bladder (investigational)
- Single-dose analgesia
How is it given?
Give exactly as your veterinarian prescribed — never change the dose or stop on your own unless your veterinarian has told you to.
- Chewable tablets are palatable — store out of reach; accidental ingestion risk.
What if I miss a dose?
- Give it as soon as you remember — unless it is almost time for the next dose (then skip the missed one; never double up).
- Call your clinic if you miss more than one dose in a row.
Side effects — what should I watch for?
Effects listed as common in this handout
- None commonly reported; call your clinic with any concern.
Worth a phone call to your veterinarian
- stomach/intestinal (vomiting, loss of appetite, melena, ulceration/perforation) (Most common)
- Hepatic, hematologic, neurologic, dermatologic effects (Reported, less common)
⚠️ Contact your veterinarian or an emergency clinic IMMEDIATELY if you notice
- Renal (rising kidney values, PU/PD, renal failure) (Possible, esp. at high doses)
- Focal renal tubular tissue death (Seen in chronic high-dose studies (≥6 mg/kg/day))
Before starting (or refilling), tell your veterinarian if your pet:
- has or has had: Hypersensitivity to drug
- has or has had: stomach/intestinal ulcerative disease, renal/hepatic dysfunction, hypoproteinemia, hypercoagulable states; avoid combining with other NSAIDs/corticosteroids
- is pregnant, nursing, or used for breeding
- is taking any other medications, supplements, or flea/tick products, including:
- ACE inhibitors
- Aspirin, other NSAIDs, corticosteroids
- Fluconazole
- Furosemide, other kidney damage drugs
- Methotrexate
Storage and handling
Room temperature (15–30°C).
Good to know
- Chewable tablets are palatable — store out of reach; accidental ingestion risk.
- No FDA approval for cats — single-dose use only, extra-label.
- Does not appear to affect thyroid function tests.
This information sheet is educational and supplements — it does not replace — your veterinarian's individual instructions. Doses are set by your veterinarian based on your pet's weight, health, and other medications.
Questions? Contact: _________________ (clinic) • After-hours emergency: _________________