Meloxicam
Researched & Compiled by the PetAuthority Editorial Team
Clinical Data Sources: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center & Merck Veterinary Manual
These pages describe clinical possibilities and a Green, Yellow, or Red triage path. They do not diagnose an individual animal or replace an examination by a licensed veterinarian. Read the editorial standards.
Is Meloxicam safe to give at home?
Meloxicam is a prescription anti-inflammatory with a narrow margin, written for one animal's weight that day. A dog dose given to a cat, or an extra cat dose, can injure the kidneys. Do not copy a dose from another pet.
Veterinary use
- Pain and inflammation in dogs under a veterinary prescription
- A single labeled cat dose in some countries, only from the prescribing veterinarian
Weight and dosage reference
Do not calculate a home dose from this page. A veterinarian uses the animal's weight in pounds (kilograms), the species, and the exact product. This database does not publish a milligram chart, and a dose must never be copied from another pet.
Meloxicam is a narrow-margin drug. The prescription label is written for that animal's weight that day. A dog dose given to a cat, or a second dose of an oral cat product, can cause kidney failure; do not copy a dose from another pet or from a human painkiller chart.
Overdose and toxic exposure
Repeating a cat dose, or giving any dog oral solution to a cat, is an overdose emergency. Dogs can develop ulcers or kidney injury from extra doses or from stacking with another anti-inflammatory. A veterinarian sets any amount from the animal's weight in pounds (kilograms) and the exact product in hand.
- Vomiting, sometimes with blood
- Black stool
- Increased thirst
- Weakness or collapse
What the emergency vet will do
The emergency team stops the drug, starts fluids, protects the stomach, and checks kidney values and blood pressure. Bring the bottle and the time of the last dose. A veterinarian sets any amount from the animal's weight in pounds (kilograms) and the exact product in hand.
Which agencies regulate veterinary drugs?
The FDA regulates pet food and animal drugs in the United States. The VMD licenses veterinary medicines in the United Kingdom, where DEFRA also sets animal-health rules, and the APVMA registers veterinary chemical products in Australia. This page is an educational summary, not a product label or a prescription.