Ammonium Chloride
Also known as: Uroeze, UriKare
> **Important:** Contact your veterinarian immediately if your pet exhibits signs of nausea, vomiting, excessive thirst, heavy breathing (hyperventilation), or progressive lethargy. * **Palatability:** The powder form has a very bitter taste, and pets may refuse to eat their food after it is mixed in. * **Livestock Tip:** For goats and sheep, adding table sugar (not molasses) may help improve palatability.
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
What it is used for
- Urolithiasis prevention
- Urolithiasis prevention
- Urolithiasis prevention
- Urolithiasis prevention
- Struvite dissolution therapy if diet and antimicrobials do not result in acid urine or to help prevent idiopathic FUS in a non-obstructed cat
- Adjunctive therapy for struvite uroliths
- Urolithiasis prevention
- Urolithiasis prevention
- General dosing
- Urinary acidifier
- Urinary acidifier to enhance renal excretion of strychnine
- Adjunctive therapy for struvite uroliths
- To enhance the renal elimination of certain toxins/drugs
How it is given
Possible side effects
- Metabolic acidosis
- Gastric irritation
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Pain at injection site (IV)
- Increased risk of calcium oxalate urolith formation (cats)
Cautions & contraindications
- Severe hepatic disease
- Uremia
- Urate calculi
- Respiratory acidosis
- Severe renal insufficiency with metabolic alkalosis secondary to vomiting
- Contraindicated in patients with severe hepatic disease (ammonia may accumulate causing toxicity) and uremic patients (intensifies metabolic acidosis). Do not administer subcutaneously, rectally (except for specific ammonia tolerance testing), or intraperitoneally. Use with caution in patients with pulmonary insufficiency or cardiac edema. A high roughage/concentrate ratio diet can decrease the urine pH lowering effect in horses.
Drug interactions
- Aminoglycosides: Urine acidification may diminish effectiveness in treating bacterial urinary tract infections
- Erythromycin: Urine acidification may diminish effectiveness in treating bacterial urinary tract infections
- Quinidine: Urine acidification may increase renal excretion
Frequently asked questions
What is Ammonium Chloride used for in pets?
> **Important:** Contact your veterinarian immediately if your pet exhibits signs of nausea, vomiting, excessive thirst, heavy breathing (hyperventilation), or progressive lethargy. * **Palatability:** The powder form has a very bitter taste, and pets may refuse to eat their food after it is mixed in. * **Livestock Tip:** For goats and sheep, adding table sugar (not molasses) may help improve palatability.
Is Ammonium Chloride safe for my pet?
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell, please consult a veterinarian.
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