What is Meloxicam used for?

Meloxicam is indicated for: acute and chronic musculoskeletal disorders, Acute pain, analgesia, analgesia (NSAID), analgesia/anti-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory (NSAID), antiinflammatory, antiinflammatory (NSAID), Antiinflammatory/analgesia, authors' concluded efficacious high dose, castration, Chronic osteoarthritis (long-term), Chronic pain in older cats, dental pain, Dental pain (malocclusion), Dental pain and GI stasis secondary to pain, Feline asthma adjunct (anti-inflammatory), Induced articular pain, inflammation, Inflammation and pain, Mammary carcinoma (analgesia), musculoskeletal, Musculoskeletal pain, no evidence of efficacy, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory, NSAID, NSAID (analgesia/anti-inflammatory), NSAID analgesia, osteoarthritis, Pain, pain (post-op, mammary tumour), Pain associated, Pain management, Pain management (lameness, post-surgical), peri- and post-operative analgesia, Peri- and post-operative analgesia (Mouse Grimace Scale), Peri-operative analgesia, Perioperative analgesia (NSAID), Post-dental analgesia, post-operative, Post-operative analgesia, post-surgical, Post-surgical analgesia, postoperative pain, pre-medication, Soft tissue surgery analgesia, source prints no evidence of efficacy.

Which species have cited Meloxicam dosing data?

Meloxicam dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 40 species: African Clawed Frog, African Grey Parrot, African Pygmy Hedgehog, Amazon Parrot, Argentine Tegu, Axolotl, Ball Python, Bearded Dragon, Blue-tongue Skink, Cat (Domestic), Cattle (Beef/Dairy), Chicken (Poultry), Chinchilla, Corn Snake, Crested Gecko, Dog (Domestic), Dwarf Hamster, Eastern Box Turtle, Ferret, Fire Salamander, Gerbil, Goat (Caprine), Green Iguana, Green-cheeked Conure, Guinea Pig, Horse (Equine), Houston Toad, Leopard Gecko, Mouse, Pet Rat, Rabbit (Domestic), Red-eared Slider, Russian Tortoise, Sheep (Ovine), Sugar Glider, Sulcata Tortoise, Syrian Hamster, Veiled Chameleon, White's Tree Frog, Zebra Finch.

Is Meloxicam a controlled substance?

Meloxicam is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

How does Meloxicam work?

Preferential COX-2 inhibitor, reducing prostaglandin synthesis. Provides anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic effects.

Meloxicam

US brand names:Metacam

Calculate dosage

Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Meloxicam is dosed at 0.5 mg/kg PO q24h x 3 days in argentine tegus, per Liu Y, Zhu L, Yan M, et al. Case Report: Anesthesia for cloacal prolapse fixation surgery in an Argentine black and white tegu (Salvator merianae). Front Vet Sci. 2026;13:1770284. doi:10.3389/fvets.2026.1770284 (corroborated by Catoi S, Pop R, Bel LV, Melega I, Tabaran AF. First report of an iridophoroma in a Tegu (Salvator merianae). BMC Vet Res. 2026;22(1):198. doi:10.1186/s12917-025-05255-0 https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13051652. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Analgesic

Routes

POSC

Indications

acute and chronic musculoskeletal disordersAcute painanalgesia analgesia (NSAID)analgesia/anti-inflammatoryanti-inflammatoryanti-inflammatory (NSAID)antiinflammatoryantiinflammatory (NSAID)Antiinflammatory/analgesiaauthors' concluded efficacious high dosecastrationChronic osteoarthritis (long-term)Chronic pain in older catsdental painDental pain (malocclusion)Dental pain and GI stasis secondary to painFeline asthma adjunct (anti-inflammatory)Induced articular paininflammation

Side effects & warnings

Use with extreme caution in cats. Jurisdiction-specific labeling: the US (FDA) label authorizes a single SC dose only, with a boxed warning against repeated use; EU/UK/AU labels authorize repeated oral dosing for chronic musculoskeletal pain — follow your jurisdiction's label. GI ulceration risk. Avoid in dehydrated, hypovolemic, or renally compromised patients. Do not combine with other NSAIDs or corticosteroids.

Backed by 58 published sources

· 128. Fleming G. Clinical technique: chelonian shell repair. J Exot Pet Med. 2008;17:246-258. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.254 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.6 (Analgesic (Including Antiinflammatory) Agents Used in Reptiles). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929
· 130. Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.792 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Rodents). Located 2026-08-05: the only table covering this species in which the drug's own row prints this dose. The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9780323484350,

Sample dosing (2 of 77 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 40 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.

Species	Route	Dose	Frequency	Evidence	Source
Dog (Domestic)	PO	0.1–0.2 mg/kg	0.2 mg/kg once on day 1, then 0.1 mg/kg PO q24h	Strong	METACAM - Meloxicam 0.5 Mg/ML Oral Suspension [US Product Label for Dogs]. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc.; 2019. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ca78caf5-2b47-46c1-abec-0f925b39f455; METACAM - Meloxicam 1.5 Mg/ML Oral Suspension [US Product Label for Dogs]. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc.; 2019. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ca78caf5-2b47-46c1-abec-0f925b39f455; METACAM - Meloxicam 5 Mg/ML Solution for Injection [US Product Label for Dogs and Cats]. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc.; 2019. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ca78caf5-2b47-46c1-abec-0f925b39f455 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.854 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.825, Meloxicam monograph spanning p.825-828; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207,

· 149. Jepson L. Lizards. Exotic Animal Medicine: A Quick Reference Guide. Philadelphia: Saunders/Elsevier; 2009:268-314. | 150. Jepson L. Snakes. Exotic Animal Medicine: A Quick Reference Guide. Philadelphia: Saunders/Elsevier; 2009:315-357. | 151. Jepson L. Turtles and tortoises. Exotic Animal Medicine: A Quick Reference Guide. Philadelphia: Saunders/Elsevier; 2009:358-411. — Source: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd Ed, p.1414 — SOURCE EDITION: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530

· 608. Miller KA, Hill NJ, Carrasco SE, et al. Pharmacokinetics and safety of intramuscular meloxicam in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2019;58(5):589-593. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.460 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.6 (Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Agents Used in Birds). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 — CORROBORATION: a held reference prints 0.5-3 mg/kg for this species (Carpenter's, corpus p.459); the served 1-2 mg/kg sits inside that range.

· 63. Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.254 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.6 (Analgesic (Including Antiinflammatory) Agents Usedin Reptiles). Located 2026-08-05: the only table covering this species in which the drug's own row prints this dose. The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530

· 81. Fleming G. Clinical technique: chelonian shell repair. J Exot Pet Med. 2008;17:246-258. — Source: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd Ed, p.1414 — SOURCE EDITION: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530

· Allweiler SI. How to improve anesthesia and analgesia in small mammals. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2016;19:361-377. doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2016.01.012 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.792 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th Ed, Part B: Exotic Pets (ed. Joanna Hedley), Meloxicam, DOSES, printed p.195 / corpus p.209: 'Rabbits: 0.3-0.6 mg/kg s.c., p.o. q12-24h'. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712

· BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th Ed, Part B: Exotic Pets, p.195 (corpus p.209), Meloxicam DOSES - Reptiles: '0.1-0.5 mg/kg p.o., s.c., i.m. have been suggested'. Interval q24-48h from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th Ed, p.254, Meloxicam 'Most species' row. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.6 (Analgesic (Including Antiinflammatory) Agents Used in Reptiles). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: 'p.195' is the PRINTED page number, confirmed by finding the drug named on it in the held copy. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed., Part B - Exotic Pets, Meloxicam monograph, p.195: 'Rats: 1-2 mg/kg s.c., p.o. q24h'. Corroborated by Quesenberry FRR 4th ed., Appendix Table A.4, p.627, Rats/Mice column: '1-2 mg/kg PO, SC q24h (R)' — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: 'p.195' is the PRINTED page number, confirmed by finding the drug named on it in the held copy. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712; Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9780323484350, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323484350

· Caplen G, Baker L, Hothersall B, et al. Thermal nociception as a measure of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug effectiveness in broiler chickens with articular pain. Vet J. 2013;198:616-619. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.648 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 6.5 (Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Agents Used in Backyard Poultry, Gamebirds, and). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Backyard Poultry Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9781119511755, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781119511755

· Carpenter 6e — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 9.4 (corpus PDF pp.789-792); located 2026-08-06 by chapter-governed table: this table is in the chapter covering this species and names this drug. NOTE: the served figure was matched against the table as a whole, not against this drug's own row, so confirm the number on the page before relying on it. The held copy has no printed page numbers, so the numbered table is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.254 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.6 (Analgesic (Including Antiinflammatory) Agents Usedin Reptiles). Located 2026-08-05: the only table covering this species in which the drug's own row prints this dose. The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530 — PROVENANCE (wave 3, two readers): the served 0.1 mg/kg SC q48h regimen is printed in NEITHER cited formulary. It is from Bercier M, Zoll W, Rosenberg JF, Giglio R, McCoy L, Castleman WL, Johnson MD, Heard DJ. Gastric Intussusceptions in a Red Corn Snake (Pantherophis guttatus) Associated with Cryptosporidiosis. Case Rep Vet Med. 2017:4270904. doi:10.1155/2017/4270904 () — a SINGLE-ANIMAL post-operative case report, n=1. The formulary tables print only the class row 0.1-0.5 mg/kg PO, SC q24-48h for Most species.

· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 5.6, Table 5.13 (the served figure is printed in each; all lie in the chapter covering this species); located 2026-08-06. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, Table 9.4, Meloxicam, p.792 (ref 130 = Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed. Elsevier; 2021:620-630), read directly at FRR printed p.627. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9780323484350, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323484350

· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed. | Open-access corroboration 2026-07-20: doi:10.1186/s44149-023-00072-0 PMID:36974080 — Chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera), 0.3 mg/kg PO (peer_reviewed). — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 10.4 (Chemical Restraint/Sedative/Anesthetic/Analgesic Agents Used in Rabbits) and Table 10.18 (Treatments Used in the Management of Rabbit Gastrointestinal Syndrome) - 1 mg/kg PO q24h, supporting the 1.0 endpoint. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary 10th ed, Part B - Exotic Pets, printed p.195: 'Rabbits: 0.3-0.6 mg/kg s.c., p.o. q12-24h', supporting the 0.3 endpoint. Corroborated: Carpenter et al. J Zoo Wildl Med 2009,40:601-606 doi:10.1638/2007-0115.1 (abstract), Delk et al. Am J Vet Res 2014,75:195-199 doi:10.2460/ajvr.75.2.195 (abstract).

· Colditz IG, Paull DR, Lloyd JB, Johnston L, Small AH. Efficacy of meloxicam in a pain model in sheep. Aus Vet J. 2019;97(1-2):23-32. doi:10.1111/avj.12779 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.855 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.825, Meloxicam monograph spanning p.825-828; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207

· Cole GA, Paul-Murphy J, Krugner-Higby L, et al. Analgesic effects of intramuscular administration of meloxicam in Hispaniolan parrots (Amazona ventralis) with experimentally induced arthritis. Am J Vet Res. 2009;70:1471-1476. doi:10.2460/ajvr.70.12.1471; Molter CM, Court MH, Hazarika S, et al. Pharmacokinetics of parenteral and oral meloxicam in Hispaniolan parrots (Amazona ventralis). Proc Annu Conf Assoc Avian Vet/Assoc Exot Mam Vet; 2009:317-318. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.460 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.6 (Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Agents Used in Birds). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· D'Urso ES, Martorelli M, Bersanetti G, Selleri P, De Gennaro C. Combination of Dexmedetomidine and Low-Dose Ketamine in 4 Sugar Gliders (Petaurus breviceps) Undergoing Elective Castration. Vet Sci. 2025;12:699. doi:10.3390/vetsci12080699. Open access, full text read. Source of the verbatim methods passage held in this rule's notes: "Balanced electrolytic solution 10 mL/kg (Hartmann's lactated ringers), enrofloxacin 5 mg/kg diluted […]" n=4, no control arm, and the paper itself states "The pharmacokinetic profile of meloxicam in sugar gliders has not been studied yet". Dose figure corroborated by carpenter Table 7.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Sugar Gliders): "0.1-0.2 mg/kg q24h PO, SC11,32" and "0.2 mg/kg PO, SC q12h30". carpenter prints q24h or q12h, never "before the procedure", and gives no perioperative framing.

· Divers SJ, Papich MG, McBride M, et al. Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam following intravenous and oral administration in green iguanas (Iguana iguana). Am J Vet Res. 2010;71:1277-1283. doi:10.2460/ajvr.71.11.1277 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.254 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.6 (Analgesic (Including Antiinflammatory) Agents Used in Reptiles). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855

· Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Appendix Table A.4, PDF p.639 (printed p.627), Hedgehogs: 'Meloxicam 0.5 mg/kg PO, SC q12h' — for the 0.5 endpoint; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed. p.742 and BSAVA Small Animal Formulary 10th ed. Part B - Exotic Pets, PDF p.209 (printed p.195) 'Hedgehogs: 0.2 mg/kg p.o., s.c. q24h' — for the 0.2 endpoint. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 8.6 (Analgesic/Antiinflammatory Agents Used in Hedgehogs). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9780323484350, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323484350

· Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Appendix Table A.4, PDF p.639 (printed p.627), Hedgehogs: 'Meloxicam 0.5 mg/kg PO, SC q12h'; plus Carpenter's 6th ed. p.742 and BSAVA Part B PDF p.209 (printed p.195) for 0.2 mg/kg PO q24h. https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.738 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 8.6 (Analgesic/Antiinflammatory Agents Used in Hedgehogs). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9780323484350, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323484350

· Fleming G. Clinical technique: chelonian shell repair. J Exot Pet Med. 2008;17:246-258. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.254 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.6 (Analgesic (Including Antiinflammatory) Agents Used in Reptiles). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Greenacre, C.B., Luna, G.L., and Morishita, T.M. (2018). Backyard poultry and waterfowl. In: Exotic Animal Formulary, 5e (ed. J.W. Carpenter), 377-432. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier. — Source: Greenacre & Morishita, Backyard Poultry Medicine and Surgery, 2nd Ed, p.590 — CORROBORATED 2026-08-06 by independent literature: Pharmacokinetic Parameters and Estimating Extra-Label Tissue Withdrawal Intervals Using Three Approaches and Various Matrices for Domestic Laying Chickens Following Meloxicam Admin (Frontiers in veterinary science, 2022). doi:10.3389/fvets.2022.826367. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.826367. The paper reports this drug at this dose in this species: "ntrations from live birds to determine if plasma data could be used as a proxy for estimating […]". This is a second source alongside the book already cited; it corroborates the figure and does not by itself establish that the dose is correct. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Backyard Poultry Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9781119511755, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781119511755

· Hess L. Sugar gliders. In: Aiello SE, eds. Merck Veterinary Manual; Merck & Co., Kenilworth, NJ; 2016:2035-2043. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.710 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Sugar Gliders). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Hess L. Sugar gliders. In: Aiello SE, eds. Merck Veterinary Manual; Merck & Co., Kenilworth, NJ; 2016:2035-2043.; Ness RD, Johnson-Delaney C. Sugar gliders. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2012:393-410. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.710 (2026-08-01). — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9780323484350, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323484350

· High-dose Meloxicam Provides Improved Analgesia in Female CD1 Mice: A Pharmacokinetic and Efficacy Study. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci (JAALAS). PMID 36755203; DOI 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-22-000064. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9936853/ URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9936853/

· Innis CJ, Feinsod R, Hanlon J, et al. Coelioscopic orchiectomy can be effectively and safely accomplished in chelonians. Vet Rec. 2013;172:526-531. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.255 doi:10.1136/vr.101475 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.6 (Analgesic (Including Antiinflammatory) Agents Used in Reptiles). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Jepson L. Ferrets. In: Jepson L, eds. Exotic Animal Medicine: A Quick Reference Guide. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.944 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 11.6 (Analgesic Agents Used in Ferrets). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Keller KA, Nevarez JG, Rodriguez D, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of anaplastic mammary carcinoma in a sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps). J Exot Pet Med. 2014;23:277-282. doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2014.06.008 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.710 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Sugar Gliders). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Liu Y, Zhu L, Yan M, et al. Case Report: Anesthesia for cloacal prolapse fixation surgery in an Argentine black and white tegu (Salvator merianae). Front Vet Sci. 2026;13:1770284. doi:10.3389/fvets.2026.1770284 (corroborated by Catoi S, Pop R, Bel LV, Melega I, Tabaran AF. First report of an iridophoroma in a Tegu (Salvator merianae). BMC Vet Res. 2026;22(1):198. doi:10.1186/s12917-025-05255-0 https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13051652

· METACAM - Meloxicam 0.5 Mg/ML Oral Suspension [US Product Label for Dogs]. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc.; 2019. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ca78caf5-2b47-46c1-abec-0f925b39f455 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.854 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.827, Meloxicam monograph spanning p.825-828; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207

· METACAM - Meloxicam 0.5 Mg/ML Oral Suspension [US Product Label for Dogs]. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc.; 2019. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ca78caf5-2b47-46c1-abec-0f925b39f455; METACAM - Meloxicam 1.5 Mg/ML Oral Suspension [US Product Label for Dogs]. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc.; 2019. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ca78caf5-2b47-46c1-abec-0f925b39f455; METACAM - Meloxicam 5 Mg/ML Solution for Injection [US Product Label for Dogs and Cats]. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc.; 2019. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ca78caf5-2b47-46c1-abec-0f925b39f455 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.854 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.825, Meloxicam monograph spanning p.825-828; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207

· METACAM - Meloxicam 0.5 Mg/Ml Oral Suspension for Cats and Guinea Pigs [UK Datasheet]. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd; 2018. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ca78caf5-2b47-46c1-abec-0f925b39f455 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.855 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.825, Meloxicam monograph spanning p.825-828; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207

· METACAM - Meloxicam 15 Mg/ML Oral Suspension [Australia Product Label for Horses]. Boehringer Ingelheim; 2014. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ca78caf5-2b47-46c1-abec-0f925b39f455 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.855 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.828, Meloxicam monograph spanning p.825-828; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207

· METACAM - Meloxicam 20 Mg/Ml Solution for Injection for Cattle, Pigs, and Horses [UK Datasheet]. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd; 2020. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ca78caf5-2b47-46c1-abec-0f925b39f455 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.855 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.825, Meloxicam monograph spanning p.825-828; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207

· METACAM - Meloxicam 5 Mg/ML Solution for Injection [US Product Label for Dogs and Cats]. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc.; 2019. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ca78caf5-2b47-46c1-abec-0f925b39f455 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.854 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.827, Meloxicam monograph spanning p.825-828; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207

· Mason AK, Lee J, Perry SM, Boykin KL, Del Piero F, Lierz M, Mitchell MA. Determining the Effects of Serial Injections of Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin on Plasma Testosterone Concentrations, Testicular Dynamics, and Semen Production in Leopard Geckos (Eublepharis macularius). Animals (Basel). 2021;11(9):2477. doi:10.3390/ani11092477 (PMID 34573443, PMC8470321). The 0.3 mg/kg SC figure is a PRE-OPERATIVE PREMEDICATION line from that study's Materials and Methods, not a formulary recommendation. Corroborating range for reptiles generally: carpenter Table 4.6, "Meloxicam 0.1-0.5 mg/kg PO, SC q24-48h63 | Most species" - NO leopard-gecko meloxicam row is printed in carpenter or in mader Table 127.6.

· Montesinos A, Ardiaca M, Gilabert JA, et al. Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam after intravenous, intramuscular and oral administration of a single dose to African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus). J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 2017;40:279-284. doi:10.1111/jvp.12350 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.459 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.6 (Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Agents Used in Birds). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Montesinos A, Ardiaca M, Juan-Salles C, et al. Effects of meloxicam on hematologic and plasma biochemical analyte values and results of histologic examination of kidney biopsy specimens of African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus). J Avian Med Surg. 2015;29:1-8. doi:10.1647/2013-056 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.459 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.6 (Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Agents Used in Birds). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.792 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Rodents). Located 2026-08-05: the only table covering this species in which the drug's own row prints this dose. The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9780323484350, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323484350

· Olesen MG, Bertelsen MF, Perry SF, et al. Effects of preoperative administration of butorphanol or meloxicam on physiologic responses to surgery in ball pythons. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2008;233:1883-1888. doi:10.2460/javma.233.12.1883 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.254 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.6 (Analgesic (Including Antiinflammatory) Agents Used in Reptiles). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted), Meloxicam, Dosages/DOGS, printed p.827 (corpus PDF p.854), citing METACAM US product labels for dogs (refs 1-3); corroborated by Papich printed p.490 (PDF 518) and BSAVA Part A printed p.251 (PDF 267) — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part A — Canine and Feline — ISBN 9781910443705, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443705; Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855

· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted), Meloxicam, Dosages/SMALL RUMINANTS b) Goats, printed p.828 (corpus PDF p.855) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.825, Meloxicam monograph spanning p.825-828; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207

· Quesenberry, Orcutt, Mans & Carpenter, Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Table 37.6, p.552 - Guinea Pig: meloxicam 0.3-0.5 PO, SC q24h — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: 'p.552' is the PRINTED page number, confirmed by finding the drug named on it in the held copy. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9780323484350, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323484350

· Ramsey I, ed. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed. Part B: Exotic Pets. Gloucester: British Small Animal Veterinary Association; 2023. p.209. — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.209' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.195; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.195. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712

· Sarfaty AE, Zeiss CJ, Willis AD, Harris JM, Smith PC. Concentration-dependent Toxicity after Subcutaneous Administration of Meloxicam to C57BL/6N Mice (Mus musculus). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2019 Nov 1;58(6):802-809. PMID: 31540585. DOI: 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-19-000037. URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31540585/

· Souza MJ, Bailey J, White M, et al. Pharmacokinetics and egg residues of meloxicam after multiple day oral dosing in domestic chickens. J Avian Med Surg. 2018;32:8-12. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.648 doi:10.1647/22016-227 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 6.5 (Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Agents Used in Backyard Poultry, Gamebirds, and). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Backyard Poultry Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9781119511755, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781119511755

· Subcutaneous meloxicam suspension pharmacokinetics in mice and dose considerations for postoperative analgesia. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. PMID 26896236; DOI 10.1111/jvp.12297; PMC7166601. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7166601/ — SOURCE EDITION: Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics — ISBN 9781118855829, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781118855829

· Uney K, Altan F, Aboubakr M, et al. Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta scripta) after single intravenous and intramuscular injections. Am J Vet Res. 2016;77:439-444. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.254 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.6 (Analgesic (Including Antiinflammatory) Agents Used in Reptiles). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — CORROBORATED 2026-08-06 by independent literature: Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) after single intravenous and intramuscular injections. (American journal of veterinary research, 2016). doi:10.2460/ajvr.77.5.439. https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.77.5.439. The paper reports this drug at this dose in this species: "njections in red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans). ANIMALS 8 healthy red-eared […]". This is a second source alongside the book already cited; it corroborates the figure and does not by itself establish that the dose is correct. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 — INTERVAL IS PRINTED: "0.2-0.4 mg/kg IM q24h — Red-eared slider turtles, Eastern painted turtles, yellow-spotted Amazon […]".

· Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.854 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.825, Meloxicam monograph spanning p.825-828; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207

· a. Chinnadurai SK, Messenger KM, Papich MG, et al. Meloxicam pharmacokinetics using nonlinear mixed-effects modeling in ferrets after single subcutaneous administration. J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 2014;37:382-387. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.944 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 11.6 (Analgesic Agents Used in Ferrets). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855

· b Cole GA, Paul-Murphy J, Krugner-Higby L et al. (2009) Analgesic effects of intramuscular administration of meloxicam in Hispaniolan parrots (Amazona ventralis) with experimentally induced arthritis. American Journal of Veterinary Research 70(12), 1471-1476 | c Lacasse C, Gamble KC and Boothe DM (2013) Pharmacokinetics of a single dose of intravenous and oral meloxicam in Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) and Great Horned Owls (Bubo virginianus). Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery 27(3), 204-210 — Source: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th Ed, Part B: Exotic Pets, p.209 doi:10.2460/ajvr.70.12.1471 — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.209' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.195; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.195. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712

Meloxicam

Drug Class

Routes

Indications

Mechanism of Action

Side effects & warnings

Species with Meloxicam dosing data (77 dose rules)

Evidence levels across 77 dose rules

Backed by 58 published sources

Sample dosing (2 of 77 cited rules)

Upgrade for Full Details

Other formulations of Meloxicam

Meloxicam

Drug Class

Routes

Indications

Mechanism of Action

Side effects & warnings

Species with Meloxicam dosing data (77 dose rules)

Evidence levels across 77 dose rules

Backed by 58 published sources

Sample dosing (2 of 77 cited rules)

Upgrade for Full Details

Other formulations of Meloxicam

Articles mentioning Meloxicam

More Analgesic drugs