# Firocoxib: veterinary dose and monograph

> Firocoxib is a veterinary anti-inflammatory drug. Coxib-class NSAID — a highly COX-2-selective inhibitor with COX-1-sparing action, giving good anti-inflammatory / analgesic effect with a wide GI safety margin at label dose. Indications include canine osteoarthritis pain and inflammation; post-operative pain (soft-tissue / orthopaedic); equine musculoskeletal pain and lameness. This monograph lists 4 reference doses for dogs, cats and horses, each with route, frequency and source.

Source: https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/firocoxib · Last reviewed: 2026-10-01

## At a glance

- **Drug class:** Anti-inflammatory
- **Also known as:** Previcox, Equioxx
- **Species with doses:** Dogs, Cats and Horses
- **General dose range:** 0.1–5 mg/kg PO q24h — check the species tables for the indication
- **Routes:** PO, IV
- **Last reviewed:** 1 October 2026

## Indications

- Canine osteoarthritis pain and inflammation
- Post-operative pain (soft-tissue / orthopaedic)
- Equine musculoskeletal pain and lameness

## Firocoxib dose by species

Doses are per administration unless stated. mg/kg doses scale with body weight; per-animal, per-quarter and infusion-rate doses are shown as the reference writes them.

### Dogs

*Firocoxib doses for dogs*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Osteoarthritis / post-op pain | 5 mg/kg | PO | q24h with or without food | — |

- Osteoarthritis / post-op pain: Papich 5e and Plumb’s p.524 (Previcox label): 5 mg/kg PO once daily, dosed in half-tablet increments, with or without food.

### Cats

*Firocoxib doses for cats*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single-dose analgesia (limited data) | 1.5 mg/kg | PO | once | — |

- Single-dose analgesia (limited data): Papich 5e: 1.5 mg/kg PO once; long-term safety in cats has not been determined. Plumb’s p.524: not currently recommended in cats without further safety data.

### Horses

*Firocoxib doses for horses*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Musculoskeletal pain | 0.1 mg/kg | PO | q24h up to 14 days | — |
| Musculoskeletal pain (IV injection) | 0.09 mg/kg | IV | q24h | — |

- Musculoskeletal pain: Papich 5e and Plumb’s p.524 (Equioxx paste label): 0.1 mg/kg PO once daily for up to 14 days.
- Musculoskeletal pain (IV injection): Papich 5e (Equioxx injection): 0.09 mg/kg IV once daily (2 mL per 1000 lb). Switch to the oral paste for longer courses.

## Contraindications

Pre-existing GI ulceration, renal or hepatic impairment, dehydration / hypovolaemia. Do NOT combine with corticosteroids or another NSAID. Not for cats. Avoid in pregnancy / lactation and in animals < 7 months (dog).

## Species-specific warnings

> **Caution:** Cats: Not labelled for cats — feline NSAID dosing is very different; use a cat-licensed product (robenacoxib / meloxicam) instead.

## Adverse effects

- GI: vomiting, diarrhoea, inappetence, ulceration
- Renal: azotaemia, especially with hypotension / dehydration
- Hepatopathy (idiosyncratic)

## Drug interactions

- Other NSAIDs or corticosteroids: markedly increased risk of GI ulceration / perforation — never combine; observe a 5–7 day washout when switching
- ACE inhibitors / diuretics (furosemide): NSAIDs blunt their efficacy and raise the risk of renal injury in volume-depleted patients
- Aminoglycosides and other nephrotoxins: additive kidney risk
- Highly protein-bound drugs (warfarin, phenytoin): possible displacement and enhanced effect

## Pregnancy and lactation

Not recommended in pregnant, breeding or lactating animals — NSAIDs can interfere with implantation, prostaglandin-dependent ductus arteriosus closure and parturition; safety not established.

## Monitoring

- Baseline then periodic renal (BUN / creatinine, urine) and hepatic (ALT / ALP) values on chronic therapy
- Appetite, vomiting and faecal colour — stop at the first sign of GI bleeding
- Hydration and blood pressure before and during NSAID use

## Toxicity and overdose

Overdose or chronic exposure causes GI ulceration / perforation, acute kidney injury and, less commonly, idiosyncratic hepatopathy. Risk escalates with dehydration, hypotension, advanced age and concurrent NSAID / steroid use. Flavoured chewables invite accidental over-ingestion by dogs.

Management: Discontinue immediately. GI protection (omeprazole ± sucralfate ± misoprostol), IV fluids to preserve renal perfusion, and supportive care for ulceration. Monitor renal and hepatic values and faeces for melaena. No specific antidote; recent large ingestion — consider emesis / activated charcoal.

## Clinical pearls

- Mind the 50-fold species gap — 5 mg/kg in dogs but only 0.1 mg/kg in horses; a dog dose given to a horse is a massive overdose
- Wash out 5–7 days when switching from another NSAID or a steroid to protect the GI mucosa
- Equioxx and Previcox are the same molecule — do not stack them

## Mechanism of action

Coxib-class NSAID. Selectively inhibits the inducible cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) isoenzyme that generates the prostaglandins (chiefly PGE2) driving inflammation, pain and fever, while largely sparing constitutive COX-1 — which maintains gastric mucosal protection, renal perfusion and platelet aggregation. The result is anti-inflammatory and analgesic efficacy with a wider GI safety margin than non-selective NSAIDs.

## Formulations and products

- Previcox 57 mg chewable tablet
- Previcox 227 mg chewable tablet
- Equioxx oral paste 8.2 mg/g (0.82 % w/w; 6.93 g syringe = 56.8 mg — Plumb’s p.525; Papich 5e p.369)
- Equioxx 20 mg/mL injection (horse)
- Previcox (Boehringer Ingelheim) — 57 mg / 227 mg, Flavoured chewable tablet
- Equioxx (Boehringer Ingelheim) — 8.2 mg/g paste; 20 mg/mL injection, Oral paste / IV injection

## Storage

Store at 15–30 °C, dry. Keep flavoured Previcox chewables securely out of reach to prevent accidental overdose. Equioxx paste / injection per label.

## Before you use this dose

> **Caution:** Reference doses for veterinary professionals. Confirm the dose against the product label, the patient’s condition, current guidance and local regulations before use; the attending veterinarian remains responsible for every clinical decision.

## Other anti-inflammatory drugs

- [Deracoxib](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/deracoxib)
- [Dexamethasone](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/dexamethasone)
- [Diclofenac](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/diclofenac)
- [Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/dmso)
- [Flunixin Meglumine](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/flunixin)
- [Grapiprant](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/grapiprant)
- [Isoflupredone Acetate](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/isoflupredone)
- [Ketoprofen](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/ketoprofen)

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the dose of Firocoxib for dogs?

Reference doses for Firocoxib in dogs: 5 mg/kg PO q24h with or without food (Osteoarthritis / post-op pain). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Firocoxib for cats?

Reference doses for Firocoxib in cats: 1.5 mg/kg PO once (Single-dose analgesia (limited data)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Firocoxib for horses?

Reference doses for Firocoxib in horses: 0.1 mg/kg PO q24h up to 14 days (Musculoskeletal pain); 0.09 mg/kg IV q24h (Musculoskeletal pain (IV injection)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### When should Firocoxib not be used?

Pre-existing GI ulceration, renal or hepatic impairment, dehydration / hypovolaemia. Do NOT combine with corticosteroids or another NSAID. Not for cats. Avoid in pregnancy / lactation and in animals < 7 months (dog).

### What are the side effects of Firocoxib in animals?

GI: vomiting, diarrhoea, inappetence, ulceration; Renal: azotaemia, especially with hypotension / dehydration; Hepatopathy (idiosyncratic).

## Sources

- Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook
- Papich, Papich Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th edition

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VetMasterJi is a clinical decision-support and education platform for veterinary professionals and students. It does not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment for specific animals. All drug doses, calculators and differentials are references that must be independently verified before clinical use; the attending registered veterinarian remains solely responsible for every clinical decision.