Ketoprofen

Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID)

View Brand Names (4)

Dose and dosage

Cattle

a) 3 mg/kg IV or deep IM once daily for up to 3 days; withdrawal times (U.K.) are meat: 4 days; milk: 0 days 
b) 3.3 mg/kg; duration of effect 24 hours; appropriate withdrawal times: 24 hours for milk; 7 days for meat. (Walz 2006)

Buffalo

a) 3 mg/kg IV or deep IM once daily for up to 3 days; withdrawal times (U.K.) are meat: 4 days; milk: 0 days 
b) 3.3 mg/kg; duration of effect 24 hours; appropriate withdrawal times: 24 hours for milk; 7 days for meat. (Walz 2006)

Dog

As an antiinflammatory/analgesic:
a) Injection at a dose of 2 mg/kg (0.2 mL/kg) IM, IV or SC injection for one day, and continue with ketoprofen tablets PO at a lower maintenance dose of 1 mg/kg once a day for four more days. 
b) For post-operative pain control: 1–2 mg/kg IV, IM once daily for 2–3 days duration (Tranquilli 2003)
c) For post-operative pain control: 1–2 mg/kg IV, SC once daily for 3 days duration after surgery; or 1 mg/kg PO once daily for 5 days, after surgery (Hansen 2003)
d) For acute indications: 2 mg/kg SC, IM, IV once daily for up to 3 consecutive day. If preferred after one injection treatment may be followed on the next day with tablets at 1 mg/kg PO per day and continued on successive days for up to 4 days (i.e., up to 5 days in total).

For chronic pain: 0.25 mg/kg PO once daily for up to 30 days.

Cat

As an antiinflammatory/analgesic:
a) Injection at a dose of 2 mg/kg (0.2 mL/kg) SC for one day, and continue with ketoprofen tablets PO at a lower maintenance dose of 1 mg/kg once a day for four more days. In severe cases, the parenteral loading dose of 2 mg/kg can be given for up to three consecutive days.
b) 1 mg/kg PO or SC once daily for up to 5 days, or 2 mg/kg SC as a single injection. (Duncan et al. 2007)
c) For post-operative pain control: 1–2 mg/kg IV, SC once daily for 3 days duration after surgery; or 1 mg/kg PO once daily for 3 days, after surgery (Hansen 2003)
d) 2 mg/kg SC once daily for up to 3 consecutive days. If preferred after one injection treatment may be followed on the next day with tablets at 1 mg/kg and continued on successive days for up to 4 days (i.e., up to 5 days in total). 

Small mammals

a) Rabbits: For chronic pain/antiinflammatory: 1 mg/kg IM q12–24h (Ivey & Morrisey 2000)
b) Rats: 5 mg/kg SC (Adamcak & Otten 2000)
c) Rabbits: 3 mg/kg IM, estimated duration of action 12-24 hours. (Flecknell 2008)

Horse

a) For labeled indications: 2.2 mg/kg (1 mL/100 lbs) IV once daily for up to 5 days
b) As an adjunctive treatment for laminitis: 2.2 mg/kg IV once daily (Brumbaugh et al. 1999)

Swine

a) 3 mg/kg IM once daily for up to 3 days; withdrawal times (U.K.) for meat: 4 days (Label information Comforion Vet®—Merial U.K.)

Birds (Other)

As an antiinflammatory analgesic:
a) 2 mg/kg IM q8–24 hours (Clyde & Paul-Murphy 2000)
b) 2 mg/kg IM or SC q8-24h (Echols 2008)

Ferrets

a) As a post-operative analgesic: 1–2 mg/kg (route not indicted; suggest SC or IM as per cats—Plumb) q24h. (Lichtenberger 2008)


Applications: Arthritis, Laminitis, Musculo skeletal system inflammation, Paresis, Post Surgical Pain, Injury, Inflammation, Ephemeral Fever

Do not administer to animals prone to GI ulcers. Do not administer with other ulcerogenic drugs such as corticosteroids.

Do not use with other NSAID


Ketoprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used in people and animals. Like other NSAIDs, produces analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins. The enzyme inhibited by NSAID is the cyclo-oxygenase (COX) enzyme. The COX enzyme exists in two isoforms: COX-1 and COX-2. COX-1 is primarily responsible for synthesis of prostaglandins important for maintaining a healthy GI tract, renal function, platelet function, and other normal physiologic functions. COX-2 is induced and is responsible for synthesizing prostaglandins that are important mediators of pain, inflammation, and fever. However, it is known that there is some crossover of COX-1 and COX-2 effects in some situations, and COX-2 activity is important for some biological effects. Ketoprofen is a nonselective inhibitor of COX-1 and COX-2. There is weak evidence of its ability to inhibit lipoxygenase.

The following drug interactions have either been reported or are theoretical in humans or animals receiving ketoprofen and may be of significance in veterinary patients:
AMINOGLYCOSIDES (gentamicin, amikacin, etc.): Increased risk for nephrotoxicity
ANTICOAGULANTS (heparin, LMWH, warfarin): Increased risk for bleeding possible
ASPIRIN: When aspirin is used concurrently with ketoprofen, plasma levels of ketoprofen could decrease and an increased likelihood of GI adverse effects (blood loss) could occur. Concomitant administration of aspirin with ketoprofen cannot be recommended.
BISPHOSPHONATES (alendronate, etc.): May increase risk for GI ulceration
CORTICOSTEROIDS: Concomitant administration with NSAIDs may significantly increase the risks for GI adverse effects
CYCLOSPORINE: May increase risk for nephrotoxicity
FLUCONAZOLE: May increase NSAID levels
FUROSEMIDE: Ketoprofen may reduce the saluretic and diuretic effects of furosemide
HIGHLY PROTEIN BOUND DRUGS (e.g., phenytoin, valproic acid, oral anticoagulants, other antiinflammatory agents, salicylates, sulfonamides, and the sulfonylurea antidiabetic agents): Because ketoprofen is highly bound to plasma proteins (99%), it potentially could displace other highly bound drugs; increased serum levels and duration of actions may occur. Although these interactions are usually of little concern clinically, use together with caution.
METHOTREXATE: Serious toxicity has occurred when NSAIDs have been used concomitantly with methotrexate; use together with extreme caution.
PROBENECID: May cause a significant increase in serum levels and halflife of ketoprofen

All NSAIDs share the similar adverse effect of GI injury. The most common side effect is vomiting. GI ulceration is possible in some animals.

Not recommended during pregnancy.