Meloxicam

Dogs: Initial dose is 0.2 mg/kg s.c., p.o.; effects last for 24 hours if given as a single preoperative injection. Can be followed by a maintenance dose of 0.1 mg/kg p.o q24h.

Cats: Initial injectable dose is 0.2 mg/kg s.c.; effects last for 24 hours if given as a single preoperative injection. To continue treatment for up to 5 days, may be followed 24 hours later by the oral suspension for cats at a dosage of 0.05 mg/kg p.o. Postoperative pain/inflammation: single injection of 0.3 mg/kg s.c. has been shown to be safe and efficacious. It is not recommended to follow this with oral meloxicam 24 hours later. Chronic pain: initial oral dose is 0.1 mg/kg p.o. q24h, which can be followed by a maintenance dose of 0.05 mg/kg p.o q24h. Treatment should be discontinued after 14 days if no clinical improvement is apparent.

Dogs

- 0.2 mg/kg initial loading dose PO, SQ, or IV, and then 0.1 mg/kg q24h thereafter PO, SQ, or IV.

- Oral transmucosal spray (bioequivalent to oral suspension): 0.1 mg/kg sprayed in dog's mouth once per day.

Cats

- 0.05 mg/kg q24h PO, with reduction in dose if chronic treatment is pursued. Long-term treatment may be reduced to 0.03 mg/kg q24h, or 0.05 mg/kg q48h, to 0.05 mg/kg q72h, PO.

- Single doses of 0.15 mg/kg SQ may be administered for acute conditions. (There is Food and Drug Administration [FDA] approval in the US for single doses up to 0.3 mg/kg SQ.)

Pigs

- 0.4 mg/kg IM, which may be repeated in 24 hours.

Horses

- 0.6 mg/kg q24h IV or PO. In foals less than 7 weeks of age, the frequency may be increased to 0.6 mg/kg q12h because of more rapid clearance.