Ketorolac
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Ketorolac for pets in Perth during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
(kee-toe-role-ak)
Description:
This medicine is a non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug, often shortened to NSAID (a type of medicine used to reduce pain and inflammation).
Other Names for this Medication:
- Toradol®
Common Dosage Forms:
- For animals: there is no standard veterinary product form.
- For people:
- it comes as 10 mg tablets taken by mouth
- and as injections in strengths of 15 mg/mL and 30 mg/mL.
This handout does not include every piece of information that exists about this medicine, and it has not been reviewed by the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine. It is meant to help with common questions, but it does not replace medical guidance. If you still have questions or need more details, speak with your veterinarian or your pharmacist.
Key Information for Ketorolac for pets
- This is a pain medicine made for people that may be used in animals for short-term pain control in dogs or small small mammals (for example, rodents and rabbits).
- If you are giving it by mouth, give the dose together with food.
- Stomach and gut problems (such as vomiting, sores/ulcers, or bleeding) are very likely if this medicine is used longer than a few days. Problems involving the liver, kidneys, or blood can also happen.
- Contact your veterinarian if you notice signs of stomach or gut upset (not wanting to eat, vomiting, diarrhea, black poop, or blood in the poop), or if your animal seems unusually quiet or low.
How is this medication useful?
Ketorolac for pets is mainly used to reduce pain for a short time in dogs and small mammals (such as rodents and rabbits) when the pain is mild to moderate.
You and your veterinarian can talk about why this medicine is the best option in your animal’s situation.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many different factors can change how well this medicine works and how safe it is for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make treatment choices together.
Some medicines can affect how this medicine works or increase the chance of problems. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including:
- medicines
- vitamins
- supplements
- herbal products
Also share how much you give and when you give each one.
Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had before.
If your animal has had the same illness or problem in the past, explain what was used to treat it and whether it helped or did not help.
If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss the possible risks of using this medicine.
Also tell your veterinarian and pharmacist if your animal has ever had side effects from medicines before, including:
- allergic reactions
- not eating
- diarrhea
- itching
- hair loss
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
You should expect this medicine to start helping within 1 to 2 hours. After that, your animal’s signs should start to get better.
This medicine has effects that last a moderate amount of time. This means the effects may continue for a few days. The helpful effects may last longer if your animal’s kidneys and/or liver are not working as well.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any concerns that apply to your animal.
If your animal fits any of the situations listed below, talk with your veterinarian about weighing the possible risks against the possible benefits.
- Do not use in animals that have an allergy to this medicine.
- Do not use in animals that have sores/ulcers in the stomach or intestines, or bleeding in the stomach or intestines.
- Use extra care if the animal is taking other NSAID pain/anti-inflammatory medicines (for example, deracoxib, flunixin, etodolac, firocoxib, meloxicam), aspirin, or steroid medicines (for example, prednisone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone), because the chance of problems is higher.
- Use extra care in cats if more than one or two doses are planned, because cats are very likely to develop severe side effects.
- Use extra care in dogs or other animals if it would be given longer than a few days.
- Use extra care if the animal is dehydrated, or is taking a water-pill medicine (a diuretic) such as furosemide.
- Use extra care if the animal already has kidney, heart, and/or liver problems.
- Use extra care if the animal is pregnant, nursing, or intended for breeding.
- Use extra care in animals that are very young, very old, weak, or frail.
- Use extra care in animals that have problems with bleeding.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you notice any of the signs below, stop giving the medicine and contact your veterinarian right away. Also contact your veterinarian if you are worried about anything else while your animal is taking this medicine.
- Not wanting to eat or vomiting. Giving the dose with food may help lower the chance of these problems.
- Sores/ulcers and bleeding in the stomach or intestines. Watch for:
- vomit with blood that looks like coffee grounds
- poop that is black and sticky/tarry
- or poop that has blood
- Liver trouble. Watch for yellow color on the gums, skin, or the whites of the eyes (this yellowing is called jaundice).
- Kidney trouble. Watch for changes in:
- how much or how often your animal drinks
- and changes in peeing (how often, the color, or the smell)
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
If you see an overdose happen, or you think it may have happened, call your veterinarian or an animal poison control service for instructions.
Animal poison control services that are available 24 hours a day include:
- Pet Poison HELPLINE (855-764-7661)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435)
These services charge a consultation fee.
How should this medication be given?
For this medicine to work as intended, give it exactly the way your veterinarian prescribed it. It is also smart to read the pharmacy label each time so you confirm you are giving it correctly.
- If you give it by mouth, ketorolac should be given with food.
- If your animal is receiving a specially made liquid version (a compounded liquid), measure each dose very carefully. Your veterinarian or pharmacist can provide special spoons or syringes to help you measure.
- If giving the medicine is difficult, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for ideas on how to give doses and make medication time less stressful.
- This medicine is usually used only for a very short time, typically no more than a few days. Make sure you clearly understand how long your veterinarian wants you to keep giving it.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
If you forget a dose, give it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, do not give the missed one. Instead, skip it and give the next dose at the regular time.
After that, go back to the normal schedule. Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine in the original prescription container, or in a medication organizer that is approved for dosing reminders (such as a pill minder). Store it at normal room temperature and keep it away from light.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist prepared a special compounded form for your animal, follow the storage directions and the expiration date that come with that product.
- Store it where children and other animals cannot reach it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
No special handling steps are needed unless you are allergic to this medicine. Wash your hands after you handle any medicine.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not put this medicine into the toilet and do not pour it into a sink drain.
- If your area has a community medicine “take-back” option, use that.
- If there is no take-back option:
- combine the medicine with used coffee grounds or cat litter so it is unpleasant to children and animals and not recognizable to someone searching through trash
- put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag so it will not leak
- and then place it in the household trash
- Do not keep leftover medicine to use later, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- In some animal competitions, using this medicine may not be permitted. Check the rules before entering a competition while your animal is receiving this medicine.
- Your veterinarian will need to run blood tests from time to time while your animal is on this medicine. Do not skip these important recheck visits.
- If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”