# Diclofenac: veterinary dose and monograph

> Diclofenac is a veterinary anti-inflammatory drug. Potent human NSAID (non-selective COX inhibitor). Indications include no recommended veterinary indication — included for safety/regulatory awareness; (Human medicine: pain/inflammation — not a veterinary use case). This monograph lists 1 reference dose for horses, each with route, frequency and source.

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

## At a glance

- **Drug class:** Anti-inflammatory
- **Also known as:** Voveran, Diclonac, Dichlofenac sodium
- **Species with doses:** Horses
- **General dose range:** 1 mg/kg PO NOT recommended in animals — check the species tables for the indication
- **Routes:** Topical
- **Last reviewed:** 1 October 2026

## Indications

- No recommended veterinary indication — included for safety/regulatory awareness
- (Human medicine: pain/inflammation — not a veterinary use case)

## Diclofenac 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

*Diclofenac doses for dogs*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Not recommended | No safe systemic canine regimen — use a licensed veterinary NSAID | — | — | — |

- Not recommended: Neither Papich 5e nor Plumb’s gives a systemic dose for dogs; GI ulceration and renal injury are likely. Use meloxicam, carprofen or another approved NSAID.

### Cattle

*Diclofenac doses for cattle*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Banned (India) | Veterinary diclofenac is banned in India — residues in carcasses kill vultures | — | — | — | Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label |

- Banned (India): Veterinary diclofenac was banned in India in 2006 because residues in cattle carcasses caused catastrophic vulture declines. Use an approved NSAID (e.g. meloxicam) instead.

### Horses

*Diclofenac doses for horses*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Joint osteoarthritis (1% topical cream) | Five-inch ribbon of 1% cream rubbed into the hair over the affected joint twice daily | Topical | q12h | up to 10 days |

- Joint osteoarthritis (1% topical cream): Plumb’s p.391 (Surpass label): hock, knee, fetlock and pastern osteoarthritis — five-inch ribbon twice daily for up to 10 days; wear gloves.

### Buffalo

No buffalo-specific doses are on file, so buffalo are dosed as cattle.

*Diclofenac doses for buffalo*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Banned (India) | Veterinary diclofenac is banned in India — residues in carcasses kill vultures | — | — | — | Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label |

- Banned (India): Veterinary diclofenac was banned in India in 2006 because residues in cattle carcasses caused catastrophic vulture declines. Use an approved NSAID (e.g. meloxicam) instead.

## Contraindications

Cattle, buffalo and all food-producing animals (BANNED in India — vulture conservation). POULTRY / chickens — Carpenter's 6th ed documents severe renal toxicity and high mortality at 2.5 mg/kg IM q24h ×7 days (raised creatinine/uric acid); avoid in all fowl. Cats (high NSAID sensitivity). Renal disease, dehydration, GI ulceration, bleeding disorders, concurrent corticosteroids or other NSAIDs. Use validated veterinary NSAIDs (meloxicam, carprofen, etc.) instead.

## Species-specific warnings

> **Caution:** Cattle: BANNED for veterinary/food-animal use in India — livestock residues cause fatal renal failure in vultures. Use meloxicam instead.

> **Caution:** Cats: Cats are highly sensitive to NSAID toxicity and lack glucuronidation capacity — do not use diclofenac.

## Adverse effects

- GI ulceration, perforation and haemorrhage
- Acute kidney injury (renal papillary necrosis)
- Hepatotoxicity
- Fatal visceral gout / renal failure in vultures and other scavenging birds
- Narrow margin and high toxicity in cats

## Drug interactions

- Other NSAIDs / corticosteroids: greatly increased GI ulceration/perforation risk
- ACE inhibitors, diuretics, aminoglycosides: increased nephrotoxicity
- Anticoagulants: increased bleeding risk
- Highly protein-bound — displacement interactions

## Pregnancy and lactation

Avoid — NSAIDs risk fetal cardiovascular (ductus) effects, and diclofenac has no veterinary safety profile to support use.

## Monitoring

- If ever exposed: renal values (BUN/creatinine), liver enzymes, GI signs (melaena, vomiting)
- Regulatory awareness — do not dispense for cattle/food animals
- Choose and document a licensed veterinary NSAID instead

## Toxicity and overdose

Narrow therapeutic index in domestic animals: GI ulceration/perforation, acute kidney injury and hepatotoxicity. Ecologically catastrophic to scavenging raptors — the prime example of an agricultural drug driving wildlife collapse (Indian/South-Asian vulture crisis). This is why its veterinary/food-animal use is prohibited.

Management: No specific antidote. Decontaminate if recent ingestion (emesis/charcoal); aggressive IV fluid diuresis to protect kidneys; GI protectants (omeprazole/proton-pump inhibitor, sucralfate, misoprostol) for ulceration; monitor renal and hepatic values and treat AKI supportively. Misoprostol counters NSAID GI effects.

## Clinical pearls

- Teaching point: diclofenac in livestock nearly wiped out South Asia's vultures — use meloxicam, the proven vulture-safe NSAID, in cattle
- Veterinary/food-animal diclofenac is banned in India — never dispense it for cattle or buffalo
- For dogs/cats, reach for licensed veterinary NSAIDs (meloxicam, carprofen, robenacoxib) with established safety margins
- A real-world reminder that drug residues in carcasses have ecosystem-wide consequences

## Mechanism of action

Non-selective inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2), blocking prostaglandin synthesis to produce analgesia, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects. Loss of protective COX-1 prostaglandins underlies the GI and renal toxicity; in Gyps vultures, diclofenac causes acute renal tubular necrosis and visceral gout at the residue levels found in treated-livestock carcasses.

## Formulations and products

- 50 mg tablet (human)
- Injection 25 mg/mL (human)
- Topical gel 1 % (human)
- Voveran — 50 mg tablet; 25 mg/mL injection; 1 % gel, Tablet / injection / gel (human-label)

## Storage

Human products 15–30 °C; not stocked for veterinary food-animal use (banned). Topical gel 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

- [Carprofen](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/carprofen)
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- [Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/dmso)
- [Firocoxib](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/firocoxib)
- [Flunixin Meglumine](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/flunixin)
- [Grapiprant](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/grapiprant)
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## Frequently asked questions

### Can Diclofenac be given to dogs?

No safe systemic canine regimen — use a licensed veterinary NSAID (Not recommended).

### Can Diclofenac be given to cattle?

Veterinary diclofenac is banned in India — residues in carcasses kill vultures (Banned (India)).

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

Reference doses for Diclofenac in horses: Five-inch ribbon of 1% cream rubbed into the hair over the affected joint twice daily Topical q12h for up to 10 days (Joint osteoarthritis (1% topical cream)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### When should Diclofenac not be used?

Cattle, buffalo and all food-producing animals (BANNED in India — vulture conservation). POULTRY / chickens — Carpenter's 6th ed documents severe renal toxicity and high mortality at 2.5 mg/kg IM q24h ×7 days (raised creatinine/uric acid); avoid in all fowl. Cats (high NSAID sensitivity). Renal disease, dehydration, GI ulceration, bleeding disorders, concurrent corticosteroids or other NSAIDs. Use validated veterinary NSAIDs (meloxicam, carprofen, etc.) instead.

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

GI ulceration, perforation and haemorrhage; Acute kidney injury (renal papillary necrosis); Hepatotoxicity; Fatal visceral gout / renal failure in vultures and other scavenging birds; Narrow margin and high toxicity in cats.

## Sources

- Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th edition
- WOAH (OIE) Terrestrial Manual
- Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook
- Papich, Papich Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th edition

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