Diclofenac Cream
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Diclofenac Cream during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
(dye-kloe-fen-ak)
Description: Diclofenac Cream
This is a cream put on the skin that belongs to a group of medicines used to reduce pain and swelling.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Surpass®
Common Dosage Forms:
- For animals: a 1% cream used on the skin.
- For people: other types exist, but they are not used in veterinary medicine.
This handout does not include every detail that exists about this medicine. It is meant to address common questions, but it does not replace medical guidance. If you need more details or have questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
Key Information
- This is a cream used on horses to help with joint pain and swelling. It is approved to be used for up to 10 days. Do not apply it more often or for a longer time than your veterinarian tells you.
- Most horses handle this medicine without problems. Some horses may have hair loss or slight puffiness where the cream is used.
- The maker cautions not to apply it to more than one joint and not to use more than a 5-inch strip of cream, because doing so may lead to unwanted effects.
- When you put the cream on, use rubber gloves or other throw-away gloves that do not let the medicine soak through. Work the cream well into the hair over the joint until you can no longer see the cream.
How is this medication useful?
- This cream is used in horses to reduce joint pain and swelling.
- In some situations, veterinarians may prescribe and use medicines that contain this drug in other animal species or for different problems. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this medicine is being chosen.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many factors can change how well this medicine works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make treatment choices together.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about every medicine you give your animal. This includes vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. Also share the dose amount and the timing for each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, and any your animal has had before.
- If your animal has had the same problem in the past, explain what treatment was used and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss with your veterinarian what risks may come with using this medicine.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist if your animal has had side effects from medicines before. This includes allergic reactions, not wanting to eat, loose stool, itching, or hair loss.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
- You may notice improvement within 1 to 2 hours. After that, the signs you see in your animal should get better.
- This medicine has effects that are considered moderate in how long they last. 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 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.
This drug SHOULD NOT be used in patients:
If your animal has any of the issues listed below, speak with your veterinarian about weighing possible risks against possible benefits.
- Animals that have an allergy to this medicine.
- Birds. Diclofenac can poison some kinds of birds. Birds must not eat animals that have been treated with diclofenac.
This drug should be used WITH CAUTION in:
- The maker warns that this cream should not be used in horses that are also getting any other anti-inflammatory medicine. This includes other NSAIDs (medicines like aspirin, phenylbutazone, or flunixin) or steroid anti-inflammatory medicines (such as cortisone, prednisone, dexamethasone, or triamcinolone).
- Horses younger than one year, because safe use has not been confirmed.
- Horses that are pregnant, nursing, or used for breeding, because safe use has not been confirmed.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Horses generally seem to do well with this cream used on the skin.
Side effects that usually are not serious include:
If you notice either of the following, it is not necessary to panic unless the problem is strong, gets worse, or does not go away. If that happens, contact your veterinarian.
- Hair loss where the cream was applied, or mild swelling at the place of application.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you notice any of the following, contact your veterinarian right away.
- Colic, stomach ulcers, weight loss, diarrhea.
- Yellow color of the gums, skin, or the whites of the eyes (jaundice).
- Discharge from the uterus.
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 contact an animal poison control center right away for guidance.
How should this medication be given?
For this medicine to work as intended, use it exactly the way your veterinarian directed. It is also smart to read the prescription label each time so you confirm you are using it correctly.
- Put a 5-inch (12.5 cm) strip of cream on the affected joint two times each day, for up to 10 days.
- Use rubber gloves or other disposable gloves that do not let the medicine pass through. Rub the cream well into the hair over the sore joint until the cream is no longer visible.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
- If you forget a dose, apply it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next scheduled application, do not apply the missed one. Instead, wait and apply it at the next regular time.
- Then continue with the normal schedule. Do not apply extra to make up for the missed dose.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep the cream in the original container. Store it at temperatures up to 25°C. Do not let it freeze.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist has prepared a special version for your animal (a compounded product), follow the storage directions and the expiration date provided for that product.
- Store it where children and animals cannot reach it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
- To reduce exposure and possible harm, put on disposable gloves that do not let the medicine soak through when you handle or apply this cream. After use, throw the gloves away in the trash.
- Do not let the cream touch your skin, eyes, or gums. If it gets on your skin, wash it off right away using soap and water.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not pour this medicine into a toilet or down a sink.
- If your area has a community program that collects unused medicines (“take-back” program), use that option.
- If there is no take-back program, combine the medicine with coffee grounds or cat litter so it is less appealing to children and animals and not recognizable to people who search through trash.
- Put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag to prevent leaks.
- Then place the sealed bag 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?
- The maker cautions not to treat more than one joint and not to use more than a 5-inch strip of cream, because this may lead to unwanted effects.
- Some animal competitions may not allow use of this medicine. Check the rules before entering your animal in a competition while your animal is receiving this medicine.
- 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.”