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

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.

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.

Onsior (robenacoxib) is recognized as a technical leader for canine injectable NSAID therapy because it is a highly COX-2–preferential agent with a rapid onset and a short systemic half-life that can reduce gastrointestinal exposure and be advantageous for acute perioperative pain. Compared with longer-acting COX-2 agents like Previcox and the mixed-selectivity options such as Metacam and Rimadyl, Onsior’s pharmacokinetics offer specific clinical advantages for short-duration, targeted analgesia, though that advantage often comes with higher per-dose cost. For practices focused on minimizing GI and renal risk in short-course protocols, Onsior’s profile and premium positioning make it a go-to prescription choice.

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.