Active substance · Anti-inflammatory painkiller (NSAID)
MeloxicamMeloxicam: NSAID for dogs and cats against pain and inflammation in musculoskeletal disorders and after surgery
Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that relieves pain and inflammation in dogs and cats. In dogs it is used for acute and chronic musculoskeletal disorders and after orthopaedic or soft-tissue surgery; in cats, after surgery and in acute and chronic musculoskeletal disorders. It comes as oral suspensions, chewable tablets for dogs and an injection, and cats need their own cat product because their safety margin is narrow.
Checked on 15.11.2026 · Sources: official product information
Key points
- Meloxicam relieves pain and inflammation in dogs and cats with musculoskeletal problems and after surgery.
- Never give the dog suspension or dog tablets to a cat; cats need the cat product and react even to small overdoses.
- Do not use it in animals with stomach ulcers or bleeding, liver, heart or kidney disease, or bleeding disorders.
- Never combine it with other NSAIDs or corticosteroids, and tell the vet about all other medicines.
- Watch for vomiting, black or bloody faeces or loss of appetite, especially in the first week, and stop treatment if they appear.
- Not for pregnant or nursing animals or for puppies and kittens under 6 weeks.
- Dehydrated animals and those under anaesthesia need extra care because of the risk to the kidneys.
- In dogs improvement usually shows within 3 to 4 days; in cats with chronic pain, within 7 days.
What kind of substance it is
Meloxicam belongs to the oxicam class of NSAIDs. It blocks the production of prostaglandins, which gives it anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, anti-exudative (reducing fluid leakage) and fever-lowering effects, and it reduces the movement of white blood cells into inflamed tissue. It inhibits the enzyme COX-2 more strongly than COX-1. Rules on prescription differ between countries.
Forms
Four forms are described: an oral suspension for dogs, given with a dropper or a weight-scaled syringe; flavoured chewable tablets for dogs that can be halved; an oral suspension for cats (also used in guinea pigs); and an injection for dogs and cats given by the vet under the skin or into a vein.
What it is used for
- Dogs: inflammation and pain in acute and chronic musculoskeletal disorders (suspension, chewable tablets, injection).
- Dogs: reduction of pain and inflammation after orthopaedic and soft-tissue surgery (injection).
- Cats: mild to moderate pain and inflammation after surgery, for example orthopaedic and soft-tissue operations (injection and cat suspension).
- Cats: pain and inflammation in acute and chronic musculoskeletal disorders (cat suspension).
How it works
By blocking cyclooxygenase enzymes, meloxicam lowers the production of prostaglandins, the messengers that drive inflammation, pain, swelling and fever. It acts more on COX-2 than on COX-1. To a small extent it also reduces the clumping of platelets triggered by collagen.
How quickly it works
Dogs usually start to improve within 3 to 4 days; cats with chronic musculoskeletal pain usually improve within 7 days. After the oral forms, blood levels in dogs peak after about 4.5 hours and in fasted cats after about 3 hours; after an injection under the skin they peak after about 2.5 hours in dogs and 1.5 hours in cats. If there is no improvement, the vet stops treatment.
Giving the medicine
- Oral suspension: shake well, then give it mixed with food or directly into the mouth, using the dropper or the syringe scaled by body weight.
- Chewable tablets: they are flavoured, taken voluntarily by most dogs, can be given with or without food and can be halved.
- Weigh the animal as accurately as possible and use calibrated measuring equipment, because the amount must be precise.
- In cats, never exceed the recommended amount, because their safety margin is narrow.
- Avoid contaminating the bottle during use.
- For dogs under 4 kg, the oral suspension is recommended over the tablets.
- If side effects appear, stop treatment and contact the vet.
Pregnancy, lactation and breeding
Safety has not been established during pregnancy and lactation, so meloxicam must not be used in pregnant or nursing dogs and cats.
Interactions with other medicines
Other NSAIDs, diuretics, anticoagulants, aminoglycoside antibiotics and highly protein-bound drugs may compete for binding and cause toxic effects. Meloxicam must not be given together with other NSAIDs or corticosteroids, and drugs that may harm the kidneys should be avoided at the same time. Earlier anti-inflammatory treatment can add to side effects, so the vet leaves a treatment-free gap before starting meloxicam. When anaesthesia and an NSAID are combined, kidney function may be at risk, and fluid therapy during anaesthesia should be considered in animals at risk, such as older animals.
When it must not be used
- Not for animals with stomach or gut problems such as irritation or bleeding, with liver, heart or kidney impairment, or with bleeding disorders.
- Not for animals allergic to meloxicam or other ingredients.
- Not for dogs or cats under 6 weeks of age, and the injection not for cats under 2 kg.
- Avoid in dehydrated animals or those with low blood volume or low blood pressure, because of a risk of kidney damage.
- Not in pregnant or nursing animals.
- The dog suspension and dog tablets must not be given to cats; cats have their own suspension.
Good to know
- In cats on long-term treatment for chronic musculoskeletal pain, the response should be checked regularly by the vet.
- After surgery in cats, other pain relief may be added if meloxicam alone is not enough (multimodal pain therapy).
- During anaesthesia, monitoring and fluid therapy should be standard practice.
- In long-term use in dogs, the vet can lower the amount to the lowest effective level, because chronic pain varies over time.
- For cats that cannot receive oral treatment afterwards, such as feral cats, a single injection without oral follow-up is used.
Possible side effects
Side effects are very rare (fewer than 1 animal in 10,000) in dogs and cats: loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhoea, blood in the faeces (sometimes hidden), bloody diarrhoea, vomiting blood, stomach or small-intestine ulcers, raised liver enzymes and kidney failure, and after the injection also anaphylactoid reactions. They usually appear in the first week and mostly pass when treatment stops, but in very rare cases they can be serious or fatal.
Contact a vet straight away if
- Black or bloody faeces, bloody diarrhoea or vomiting blood.
- Loss of appetite or lethargy, especially in the first week of treatment.
- Signs of an allergic-type reaction after an injection.
- Any sign of overdose in a cat, because cats react even to small overdoses.
- A person has swallowed the product or injected themselves: seek medical advice and show the leaflet.
In an emergency, contact your vet or an out-of-hours emergency vet.
Dosage
We do not give doses on this page. The dose depends on your pet's weight, species and condition and is set by your vet. Always follow your vet's instructions and the package leaflet.
If your pet has had too much
In case of overdose the vet treats the symptoms. Cats have a narrow safety margin: signs can appear even with relatively small overdoses, and the usual side effects then become more severe and more frequent.
Safety for people
- People allergic to NSAIDs should avoid contact with the product.
- The suspensions and injection can irritate the eyes; rinse thoroughly with water straight away if contact occurs.
- Accidental self-injection can be painful.
- If the product is swallowed by accident, seek medical advice immediately and show the leaflet.
What happens in the body
Taken by mouth, meloxicam is completely absorbed, and after an injection under the skin it is fully available. About 97% is bound to blood proteins. It is broken down into an alcohol, an acid derivative and several polar products, all inactive; in cats the main route is oxidation. The half-life is 24 hours in both species. In dogs about 75% leaves in the faeces and the rest in the urine; in cats 79% of the recovered amount is found in the faeces and 21% in the urine.
Storage
No special storage conditions are needed. Unopened packs keep for 3 years (2 years for the smallest cat bottle); once opened, the oral suspensions keep for 6 months (14 days for the smallest cat bottle) and the injection vial for 28 days.
Disposal
Do not put leftovers into wastewater; use a take-back scheme.
Frequently asked questions
Can I give my dog's meloxicam to my cat?
No. The dog suspension and tablets are not suitable for cats; cats have a narrow safety margin and need the cat product at exactly the right dose.
How quickly does meloxicam work?
Most dogs show improvement after 3 to 4 days, and cats treated for chronic musculoskeletal pain usually within 7 days.
Should it be given with food?
The oral suspension can be mixed with food or given directly into the mouth, and the chewable tablets can be given with or without food.
What side effects should I watch for?
Watch for loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhoea or blood in vomit or faeces, usually in the first week; stop treatment and contact the vet if they appear.
Can it be combined with steroids?
No. Meloxicam must not be given together with other NSAIDs or glucocorticosteroids, and the vet plans a gap after earlier anti-inflammatory treatment.
Is meloxicam safe for an old dog with kidney problems?
It must not be used in animals with impaired kidney function, and dehydrated animals or those with low blood pressure are at risk of kidney damage.
Can my pregnant cat have it?
No. Its safety in pregnancy and lactation has not been established, so it must not be used in pregnant or nursing animals.
Related articles
Sources
- Summary of Product Characteristics: oral suspension for dogs (Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD))
- Summary of Product Characteristics: chewable tablets for dogs (Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD))
- Summary of Product Characteristics: oral suspension for cats (Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD))
- Summary of Product Characteristics: solution for injection for dogs and cats (Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD))
This page is general information, not a recommendation to use any medicine. We do not sell medicines. It does not replace a visit to the vet or the package leaflet. In an emergency, contact your vet or an out-of-hours emergency vet.