An Update on Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) in Small Animals

There are several choices of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for treating dogs that have osteoarthritis. However, fewer drugs are available for cats. Like people, there may be greater differences among individuals in their response than there are differences among the drugs. In past practice, veterinarians often selected aspirin or phenylbutazone as an initial drug, and then progressed to off-label human drugs or other agents as an alternative. Now we have the advantage of several approved NSAIDs for which there are excellent published studies and US Food and Drug Administration or foreign approval to guide clinical use and safe dosages.