Ketoprofen for Cow: Uses, Dosing & Side Effects

This information is for educational purposes only. Never give your pet any medication without your veterinarian's guidance. Dosing, frequency, and safety depend on your pet's specific health profile.

Ketoprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). In cattle, it is used to help reduce fever, pain, and inflammation. It does not treat the underlying infection by itself, so your vet may pair it with other treatments when a cow is sick.

In the United States, ketoprofen has an FDA-approved cattle indication for control of pyrexia associated with bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in beef heifers, beef steers, beef calves 2 months and older, beef bulls, replacement dairy heifers, and dairy bulls. It is not labeled for lactating dairy cows, reproducing animals over 1 year of age, dairy calves, or veal calves. That matters because food-animal drug use must also account for legal residue and withdrawal requirements.

Ketoprofen is sometimes discussed more broadly in cattle medicine because veterinary references describe doses used for short-term pain and inflammation control. Still, whether it is appropriate for an individual cow depends on the animal's age, production class, hydration status, kidney and liver health, pregnancy or breeding status, and whether the animal is entering the food chain soon. Your vet should make that call.

In U.S. cattle practice, the clearest labeled use is control of fever linked to bovine respiratory disease. Lowering fever can improve comfort and may support appetite and recovery while the primary disease is treated. Ketoprofen is an NSAID, so it helps with the inflammatory part of illness rather than killing bacteria or viruses.

Veterinary references also list ketoprofen for short-term pain and inflammation control in cattle. Depending on the case, your vet may consider it when a cow has painful inflammatory conditions where an NSAID is appropriate and legal to use. Examples can include some musculoskeletal pain or inflammatory disease states, but the exact plan should be tailored to the diagnosis and the animal's food-production status.

For dairy and beef operations, the practical question is not only whether ketoprofen may help, but also whether it is the right NSAID for that class of cattle. In the U.S., flunixin is the only NSAID broadly labeled for cattle, while ketoprofen use in some classes remains more limited. Your vet may choose among options based on the condition being treated, route of administration, withdrawal planning, and herd-level food safety needs.

Do not dose ketoprofen without your vet's instructions. In veterinary references, ketoprofen is commonly listed for cattle at 3 mg/kg once daily for 1 to 3 days, given IV or IM in some contexts. For the FDA-approved U.S. cattle indication, ketoprofen injectable solution is labeled at 3 mg/kg as a single subcutaneous injection in the neck for control of pyrexia associated with BRD in specific classes of cattle.

Dose calculations in cattle need to be exact because body weight, concentration of the product, route, and the animal's production class all matter. A small math error can lead to underdosing, poor response, tissue irritation, or illegal residues. Your vet may also adjust the plan if the cow is dehydrated, has kidney compromise, is receiving other anti-inflammatory drugs, or is close to slaughter or milk production.

Withdrawal guidance is a major part of dosing decisions in food animals. For the approved U.S. cattle label, ketoprofen products for the BRD fever indication are associated with a meat withdrawal period, and some classes of cattle are excluded from use. Merck also notes FARAD recommendations for certain extra-label cattle dosing scenarios, including 7 days for slaughter and 24 hours for milk for dosages up to 3.3 mg/kg IV or IM every 24 hours for up to 3 days, but extra-label use in food animals must be directed by your vet within a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Never rely on a general internet dose or withdrawal time for a food animal.

Like other NSAIDs, ketoprofen can cause gastrointestinal irritation, and in more serious cases, ulceration or bleeding. In cattle, warning signs may be subtle at first. Watch for reduced appetite, depression, teeth grinding, dark or tarry manure, diarrhea, weakness, or a drop in milk or feed intake if the animal is in a class where use is allowed.

NSAIDs can also affect the kidneys, especially if a cow is dehydrated, in shock, septic, or already has reduced kidney perfusion. Merck notes that ketoprofen is metabolized in the liver and eliminated by the kidneys, and adverse effects reported with NSAIDs include renal disease and hepatopathies. If a treated cow becomes dull, stops eating, urinates abnormally, or worsens instead of improving, contact your vet promptly.

Injection-site reactions are also possible with injectable products. FDA review documents for cattle reported injection-site changes after subcutaneous use that resolved clinically over time. If you notice swelling, pain, discoloration, or tissue damage at the injection site, let your vet know. See your vet immediately if the cow shows collapse, severe weakness, black stool, marked abdominal pain, or sudden worsening after treatment.

The most important interaction concern is combining ketoprofen with other NSAIDs or corticosteroids. Using these drugs together can sharply increase the risk of stomach and intestinal ulceration, bleeding, and kidney injury. Tell your vet about every medication the cow has received recently, including flunixin, meloxicam, aspirin-containing products, dexamethasone, or prednisone-type drugs.

Ketoprofen should also be used carefully with drugs or conditions that can stress the kidneys, such as dehydration, severe systemic illness, or other nephrotoxic medications. Because ketoprofen can have antiplatelet effects, your vet may use extra caution around surgery, active bleeding, clotting problems, or other drugs that affect hemostasis.

In food animals, interaction planning also includes residue and withdrawal management. If ketoprofen is being considered alongside antibiotics or other injectables, your vet must make sure the full treatment plan remains legal and practical for meat or milk withholding. Bring your treatment records to the visit so your vet can review the timing, routes, and products already used.