The label says, word for word:
PREVICOX (firocoxib) Chewable Tablets are indicated for the control of pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis and for the control of postoperative pain and inflammation associated with soft-tissue and orthopedic surgery in dogs.
Dogs with known hypersensitivity to firocoxib should not receive PREVICOX.
Not for use in humans. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children. Consult a physician in case of accidental ingestion by humans. For oral use in dogs only.
Due to tablet sizes and scoring, dogs weighing less than 7 lb (3.2 kg) cannot be accurately dosed.
The safe use of PREVICOX Chewable Tablets in pregnant, lactating or breeding dogs has not been evaluated.
Concomitant use of PREVICOX Chewable Tablets with other anti-inflammatory drugs, such as NSAIDs or corticosteroids, should be avoided.
Serious adverse reactions, including death, have been associated with PREVICOX administration at doses above the recommended dose in puppies less than seven months of age.
Every approved medicine has a field study behind it, and the label prints what happened:
Osteoarthritis field study (PREVICOX vs active control, counts): Vomiting 5 vs 8; Diarrhea 1 vs 10; Decreased Appetite or Anorexia 3 vs 3; Lethargy 1 vs 3; Pain 2 vs 1; Somnolence 1 vs 1; Hyperactivity 1 vs 0. Owner sheet: "The most common side effects associated with PREVICOX therapy involve the digestive tract (vomiting and decreased food consumption)."
From the sheet the maker writes for owners:
Label description: "PREVICOX (firocoxib) belongs to the coxib class of non-narcotic, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs." Original approval (FDA FOI summary): Date of Approval July 21, 2004, NADA 141-230, sponsor Merial Limited; the current label is Boehringer Ingelheim's. Owner sheet also says: "Tell your veterinarian if your dog is under 7 months of age." and "Is under 7 pounds in body weight." is listed among the dogs that should not be given PREVICOX. The label's Precautions sentence about puppies was omitted because it contains a dose; the owner-sheet wording is quoted instead.
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 given to dogs to control the pain and inflammation of osteoarthritis, and the pain and inflammation that follow soft-tissue or orthopedic surgery.
The owner sheet that comes with the label says that in most dogs with osteoarthritis improvement can be seen within days, and that the response varies from dog to dog. It adds that the pain and inflammation may return if the tablets are stopped or not given as directed.
It is a chewable tablet given by mouth, with or without food. The owner sheet says most dogs will take the tablet from your hand, or you can place it in your dog's mouth. The vet says how much to give and for how long; for pain after surgery the label gives 3 days, as needed. The tablets are scored for splitting, and the label says to use split tablets within 30 days. The owner sheet says not to change the way you give it without speaking to the vet first.
The label does not say what to do about a missed dose. Call the clinic or the pharmacy before you give the next one.
The studies and the warnings are quoted above. The owner sheet says to stop the medication and contact the vet immediately if you think your dog has a medical problem or a side effect. The signs it tells owners to look for are eating less or more, vomiting, diarrhea or black, tarry or bloody stools, a change in behavior such as less or more activity, loss of coordination, a seizure or aggression, yellowing of the gums, the skin or the whites of the eyes, a change in drinking or in urination, red, scabby or itchy skin, and unexpected weight loss. It also says to consult the vet immediately if your dog eats more than the prescribed amount.
Store it at room temperature, between 59° and 86°F; the label allows brief periods up to 104°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.
Write the dose, the times and the stop date here, then print this page for the fridge.
Dose and times: _____________________________________________
Stop date: _____________________________________________