The label says, word for word:
DERAMAXX Chewable Tablets are indicated for the control of pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis in dogs. DERAMAXX Chewable Tablets are indicated for the control of postoperative pain and inflammation associated with orthopedic surgery in dogs. DERAMAXX Chewable Tablets are indicated for the control of postoperative pain and inflammation associated with dental surgery in dogs.
Dogs with known hypersensitivity to deracoxib should not receive DERAMAXX.
Not for use in humans. Keep this and all medications out of reach of children. Consult a physician in case of accidental ingestion by humans. For use in dogs only. Do not use in cats.
Owners should be advised to observe for signs of potential drug toxicity and be given an 'Information for Dog Owners' Sheet.
The safe use of DERAMAXX tablets in dogs younger than 4 months of age, dogs used for breeding, or in pregnant or lactating dogs has not been evaluated.
Since NSAIDs possess the potential to produce gastrointestinal ulceration and/or perforation, concomitant use of DERAMAXX tablets with other anti-inflammatory drugs, such as NSAIDs or corticosteroids, should be avoided.
Patients at greatest risk for adverse events are those that are dehydrated, on concomitant diuretic therapy, or those with existing renal, cardiovascular, and/or hepatic dysfunction.
Every approved medicine has a field study behind it, and the label prints what happened:
Osteoarthritis field study (209 client-owned dogs; DERAMAXX vs placebo, counts): Vomiting 3 vs 4; Diarrhea/soft stool 3 vs 2; Weight loss 1 vs 0; Seizure 1 vs 0; Pyoderma/Dermatitis 2 vs 0. Postoperative orthopedic study (207 dogs): Vomiting 11 vs 6; Diarrhea 6 vs 7; Hematochezia 4 vs 0; Incision site lesion 11 vs 6.
From the sheet the maker writes for owners:
Label description: "DERAMAXX (deracoxib) is a non-narcotic, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) of the coxib class." Label caution: "Federal Law (U.S.) restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian." Original approval (FDA FOI summary): Approval Date August 21, 2002, NADA 141-203, sponsor Novartis Animal Health US, Inc.; the current label is Elanco's. Owner sheet lists dogs that should not receive it, including: "Has bloody stool or vomit." "Has a pre-existing kidney or liver condition." "Has any condition predisposing to dehydration."
The emergency page sorts the signs by how long you have, and the symptom checker asks what you are seeing. Reactions to a medicine can also be reported to the FDA yourself: how to report a problem.
These answers come from the approved label on DailyMed, read on 2 October 2026. Where the label does not say, the answer says so, and the vet or the pharmacist is the one to ask.
The approved use is quoted at the top of this page. It is a chewable tablet for dogs that controls pain and inflammation: the pain of osteoarthritis, and the pain that follows orthopedic or dental surgery. The owner sheet on the label describes it as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, an NSAID.
The label gives no time for when a dog should seem more comfortable. It reports that the level of the drug in the blood peaks about 2 hours after a tablet. The owner sheet says only that the response may vary from dog to dog. Ask the vet what to expect and by when.
The owner sheet on the label says the tablets are given by mouth, and that they may be given with or without food, although with food is preferable. It says the vet will tell you what amount is right for your dog and for how long, and that you should not change the way you give the tablets without speaking to the vet first. The label describes one dose a day. After orthopedic surgery it limits the course to 7 days, and after dental surgery it describes 3 days. The label tells vets to use the lowest dose that works for the shortest time that fits the dog's response.
The label does not say what to do about a missed dose. Call the clinic or the pharmacy before you give the next one. For pain after surgery, the owner sheet does say that the dog's pain may return if the tablets are not given as the vet directed.
The studies and the warnings are quoted above. The owner sheet on the label says it is important to stop the medication and contact the vet immediately if you think your dog has a medical problem or a side effect while on Deramaxx. The signs it lists are vomiting, eating less, a change in behavior, diarrhea, black, tarry or bloody stool, a change in drinking or urination, and yellowing of the gums, the skin or the whites of the eyes. It also says to contact the vet immediately if your dog eats more than the prescribed amount, and that the tablets should not be given with other NSAIDs or with corticosteroids.
Store it at room temperature, between 59° and 86°F. Keep it out of the reach of children.
The FDA says the best way to get rid of most unused or expired medicines is a take-back option: a drug take-back location, which can be at a pharmacy or a police station, or a prepaid mail-back envelope. If you cannot use one and the medicine is not on the FDA's flush list, the FDA says to mix it, uncrushed, with something unappealing such as dirt, cat litter or used coffee grounds and to seal the mixture in a plastic bag before throwing it away. Flushing is only for medicines on that list, such as opioids. Do not give leftovers to another pet. The owner sheet on the label makes the same point: the tablets should only be given to the dog they were prescribed for.
Write the dose, the times and the stop date here, then print this page for the fridge.
Dose and times: _____________________________________________
Stop date: _____________________________________________