Acetic Acid
Ethanoic acid
Also known as: White vinegar · E260 · eisessig · glacial acetic acid · essigsaure · etanoico · ethanoic acid
Reviewed by the VetSheet Veterinary TeamUpdated Apr 5, 2026Evidence-based veterinary reference
Doses are a clinical reference for licensed veterinary professionals. Always confirm against the current label and the individual patient.
Dosing by species
🌎 NA — North America🌍 EU — Europe
Horses
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterolith prevention | 250 mL/450 kg body weight PO | PO | once daily | — | 🌎 NA |
- Enterolith prevention: Using vinegar.
Cattle
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Putrefaction of rumen associated with a high rumen pH | 4-10 liters of vinegar | PO/Intraruminal | Once | — | 🌎 NA |
| Treatment of urea poisoning | 2-6 liters into rumen | Intraruminal | may be repeated as necessary if clinical signs reoccur | — | 🌎 NA |
- Treatment of urea poisoning: Using 5% acetic acid (vinegar). Recovery ranges from 8-24 hours. A post-recovery pro-biotic rumen inoculation may enhance the gain and productivity of urea poisoned animals.
Sheep
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment of urea poisoning | Infuse 5% acetic acid (vinegar) into rumen; may be repeated as necessary if clinical signs reoccur | Intraruminal | As needed | — | 🌎 NA |
- Treatment of urea poisoning: Dose volume not explicitly specified for sheep in monograph, but indicated for ruminants generally.
Goats
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment of urea poisoning | Infuse 5% acetic acid (vinegar) into rumen; may be repeated as necessary if clinical signs reoccur | Intraruminal | As needed | — | 🌎 NA |
- Treatment of urea poisoning: Dose volume not explicitly specified for goats in monograph, but indicated for ruminants generally.
Doses are a clinical reference for licensed veterinary professionals. Always confirm against the current label and the individual patient.
Overview
Acetic acid (commonly known as vinegar in its 3-5% diluted form) is a gastrointestinal acidifier used primarily in large animal medicine.
- Ruminants: Serves as a life-saving treatment for non-protein nitrogen (e.g., urea) induced ammonia toxicosis.
- Horses: Used prophylactically to prevent enterolith (intestinal stone) formation by reducing colonic pH.
Clinical Pearl: Always verify the concentration! Standard grocery store distilled white vinegar is typically 3-5% acetic acid and is the safest, most accessible form for emergency veterinary use. Concentrated forms (like glacial acetic acid) are highly corrosive and must be handled and diluted with extreme caution.
Mechanism of action
The primary mechanism of action relies on altering the pH of the gastrointestinal tract:
- Ion Trapping (Ruminants): Lowers rumen pH → shifts toxic, un-ionized ammonia (NH3) to the ionized ammonium ion (NH4+) → NH4+ cannot easily cross cell membranes, significantly reducing systemic absorption of toxic ammonia into the bloodstream.
- Enzyme Inhibition: Slows the hydrolysis of urea by rumen microbes.
- Mineral Solubility (Horses): Lowering the colonic pH increases the solubility of minerals (such as magnesium and phosphorus), preventing them from precipitating and forming enteroliths.
Safety & warnings
Contraindications
- Potential lactic acidosis (grain overload, rumen acidosis)
Adverse effects
- Mucous membrane irritation
- Unpleasant taste
Precautions
Should not be administered to ruminants until potential lactic acidosis (grain overload, rumen acidosis) is ruled out. Because of the unpleasant taste and potential for causing mucous membrane irritation, administration via stomach tube is generally recommended. If diluting concentrated forms, use safety precautions to protect eyes and skin, and have calculations double-checked to prevent serious corrosive injury.
Drug interactions
Due to its acidic qualities, it could potentially affect the degradation or absorption of several drugs in the gut.
Monitoring
- Rumen pH
- Clinical signs of ammonia toxicosis (e.g., tremors, tachypnea, convulsions)
- Resolution of clinical signs
Pharmacokinetics
Absorption
No information was noted.
Distribution
No information was noted.
Metabolism
No information was noted.
Elimination
No information was noted.
Overdose
When used for appropriate indications, there is little likelihood of serious toxicity occurring after minor overdoses. Due to its potential corrosiveness, the greatest concern would occur if a concentrated form of acetic acid (e.g., glacial acetic acid) was mistakenly used instead of a diluted form (3-5%).
Available products
Formulations
- Vinegar (3-5% w/v acetic acid)
- Diluted Acetic Acid NF (5.7-6.3% w/v acetic acid)
- Acetic Acid USP (36-37% acetic acid)
- Glacial Acetic Acid (C2H4O2)
Veterinary
- None commercially available
Human-labeled
- None commercially available systemically. Distilled white vinegar (3-5% acetic acid) is available in grocery stores. Concentrated forms are available from chemical supply houses.
Regulatory status
No regulatory data for: 🇺🇸 US · 🇪🇺 EU · 🇬🇧 UK · 🇭🇰 HK · 🇹🇼 TW · 🇯🇵 JP · 🇰🇷 KR · 🇦🇺 AU
Storage & stability
Acetic acid solutions should be stored in airtight containers.
Client information
What it is: Acetic acid is the active ingredient in common household vinegar.
Why it's used:
- In cattle and sheep, it is an emergency treatment for urea poisoning.
- In horses, it helps prevent the formation of intestinal stones (enteroliths).
Safety: Always use standard household white vinegar (3-5%) unless specifically instructed otherwise by your veterinarian. Never use concentrated industrial acetic acid, as it is highly corrosive and dangerous.
Administration: Due to its strong, unpleasant taste and potential to irritate the mouth and throat, it is usually administered directly into the stomach via a stomach tube by a veterinarian.
VetSheet drug reference is intended for licensed veterinary professionals as a clinical decision-support aid, not a substitute for professional judgement or the manufacturer’s current label.