Meloxicam (Metacam) for Dogs & Cats: Medication Guide

When we’re talking about arthritis in dogs and cats, we never mean rheumatoid arthritis; people and pigs are the only species to suffer from this type! We mean osteoarthritis, which affects humans, dogs, cats, even birds and reptiles!

Osteoarthritis is chronic, progressive and complicated! Changes can include joint inflammation, excess joint fluid, swelling, cartilage damage, soft tissue pain, and sharp, painful bony spurs inside the joint - ouch!

Predisposing factors include your pet being overweight (a major cause of early-onset arthritis at just a few years of age), trauma, cruciate disease, patellar luxation, hip or elbow dysplasia (and other congenital problems with how the joints form), and old age.

Symptoms include stiffness, reduced exercise tolerance, difficulty rising, reluctance to climb stairs or jump, altered movement, muscle loss, and depression - because it’s painful! In cats, reduced grooming causes scurfy coats (performing kitty yoga to clean themselves now hurts!), lower jumping and behavioural changes.

How Metacam (meloxicam) works and what it’s used for

‘Metacam’ is a trade name for meloxicam. Other trade names exist and - here’s a useful tip - may be cheaper.

There are two formulations: Metacam for Dogs, and Metacam for Cats and Guinea Pigs. The dog version is stronger, so never give it to a cat.

Meloxicam (the active ingredient in Metacam) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), much like ibuprofen. However, ibuprofen is exceedingly dangerous for pets, so never switch them out. NSAIDs reduce inflammatory chemical messengers, reducing pain, swelling and fever.

How is it administered?

Meloxicam for dogs and for cats is prescription-only and given once daily by mouth with or after food. It shouldn’t be given on an empty stomach, just like you shouldn’t take ibuprofen without food or a glass of milk!

Shake the bottle well and always use the correct dosing syringe. For dogs, two syringes come in the box depending on whether a big or small dose is needed - ask your vet if in doubt.

Your vet can also inject meloxicam for dogs and for cats under the skin. Metacam for dogs (but not cats) can also be given into a vein. Some animals start with an injection at the vet before oral dosing continues at home.

How quickly does it work?

This depends how it was given.

Into a vein: within the hour
Under the skin: within a few hours
By mouth: within a few hours

In theory, Metacam for dogs should be stopped if no improvement is seen within 10 days. However, for chronic (long term) osteoarthritis pain, I sometimes go off-label based on behaviourist and pain-specialist advice. Importantly: response can take longer because of learned trepidation!

Dogs and cats are clever. If your elderly pet knows jumping hurts, it may take days or weeks of feeling better before they try again. No visible improvement for a couple of weeks does NOT mean your pet isn’t more comfortable; perhaps they just can’t tell you. Reduced pain also doesn’t always equal better function! Basically, your pet can feel ten times better and still have mobility issues.

Precautions, contraindications and drug interactions

Meloxicam shouldn’t be used in dogs or cats with gastrointestinal irritation or bleeding, a previous bad reaction, or low blood pressure, as this risks kidney injury.

Although technically contraindicated with impaired kidney function, many arthritic elderly pets have some kidney decline. NSAIDs can be life-changing; I, like many others vets, wouldn’t take a painful elderly patient off meloxicam if there was no valid, effective alternative. No animal should be left in pain. Sometimes that means accepting the bad with the good.

Meloxicam for dogs and for cats isn’t licensed under 6 weeks of age, and safety in pregnancy and lactation has not been established. We also use more carefully, or not at all, with significant liver disease.

Important interactions exist with steroids, diuretics, anticoagulants, certain antibiotics and potentially kidney-toxic medicines. This list is not exhaustive! Always check with your vet. 

Metacam Dose for Dogs and Cats

The Metacam dose for dogs is weight and diagnosis based and must be accurate for safety. Licensed dog schedule: 0.2 mg/kg on day one, then 0.1 mg/kg daily. For longer-term treatment the vet may adjust to the lowest effective dose.

For cats, the licensed dose for chronic pain is 0.1 mg/kg orally on day one, then 0.05 mg/kg once daily. Cats have a narrow safety margin, so never exceed the prescribed amount or ‘round up’.

Missed doses

For a missed dose, don’t double up. Administer if you remember soon after the usual time. If it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed one. If you accidentally give two doses, especially to a cat, contact your vet immediately. 

Metacam side effects in dogs

More commonly noticed

●    Vomiting or diarrhoea - stop and contact your vet to discuss the plan, which will depend on your pet’s medical history and symptoms. 
●    Reduced appetite.

Less common

●    Bloody stools (bright red or dark/tarry) - stop immediately and contact your vet so they can provide treatment or monitoring.
●    Gastric or intestinal ulceration.

Rare

●    Autoimmune reactions, where your pet appears visibly unwell and may bruise or bleed easily - this requires emergency veterinary attention.
●    Kidney injury, or kidney failure. I’ve only ever seen failure in overdose, use in hypotensive pets or those with severe pre-existing problems.
●    Liver injury - very rare.

Importance of veterinary monitoring

Monitoring makes long-term NSAID use safer. For one thing, your dog or cat might not have a kidney issue when they start the drug, but six months later one might have developed (not due to the meloxicam, but rather due to advancing age!). In a case such as this one, meloxicam might be swapped out for another drug, or the dose reduced. 

Related medications and alternatives

Alternatives depend on the patient. Other veterinary NSAIDs can work well; some newer ones are kinder to the kidneys than meloxicam. Injections like Librella (for dogs) and Solensia (for cats) are also great options, without the kidney-related risks.

Joint supplements (omega fatty acids, green lipped mussel and turmeric at appropriate doses for weight) are good supporting characters. They will categorically not be enough alone, whatever the advertising says!

Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy are very valuable, and acupuncture and laser treatments show promising results. Keeping your pet at a normal weight is absolutely crucial for comfort and mobility.

Other medications swapped for or combined with meloxicam include paracetamol, gabapentin, amantadine, tramadol or codeine. Gabapentin, tramadol and codeine are addictive for your dog - do not stop these cold turkey. It’s truly cruel and can be dangerous. Work with your vet to wean your pet off slowly after long term use.

A final note - treatments are many, and always evolving. This article cannot cover them all! Sometimes removal of bone fragments via arthroscopy, total hip or elbow replacement, injections into the joint, or even stem cell therapy may be considered.

Bottom line: your dog’s arthritis is as unique as they are. Always talk to your vet! And promise me one thing?

You’ll never give your dog or cat meloxicam that wasn’t prescribed to them. Ok, great! We’ve pinky promised - there’s no going back on that.