Pocket Pet · Oryctolagus cuniculus · typical adult weight 1.00–5.00 kg
Meloxicam Oral Suspension is dosed at 0.3–1 mg/kg PO q24h in rabbits, per Fredholm DV, Carpenter JW, KuKanich B, et al. Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in rabbits after oral administration of single and multiple doses. Am J Vet Res. 2013;74:636-641. doi:10.2460/ajvr.74.4.636; Delk KW, Carpenter JW, KuKanich B, et al. Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam administered orally to rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculis) for 29 days. Am J Vet Res. 2014;75:195-199. doi:10.2460/ajvr.75.2.195 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.861 (2026-08-01). — figure located 2026-08-05 at Carpenter's 6th ed, Table 10.4 (Chemical Restraint/Sedative/Anesthetic/Analgesic Agents Used in Rabbits.a,b); the page cited previously does not carry it. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929. Meloxicam Oral Suspension is used in rabbits for Osteoarthritis, chronic pain. Routes documented in rabbits: PO. A typical adult rabbit weighs 1.00–5.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Meloxicam Oral Suspension in rabbits, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Metacam Oral, Loxicom
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication |
|---|
| Evidence |
|---|
| Source |
|---|
| PO | 0.3–1 mg/kg | q24h | Long-term | Osteoarthritis, chronic pain | Strong | Fredholm DV, Carpenter JW, KuKanich B, et al. Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in rabbits after oral administration of single and multiple doses. Am J Vet Res. 2013;74:636-641. doi:10.2460/ajvr.74.4.636; Delk KW, Carpenter JW, KuKanich B, et al. Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam administered orally to rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculis) for 29 days. Am J Vet Res. 2014;75:195-199. doi:10.2460/ajvr.75.2.195 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.861 (2026-08-01). — figure located 2026-08-05 at Carpenter's 6th ed, Table 10.4 (Chemical Restraint/Sedative/Anesthetic/Analgesic Agents Used in Rabbits.a,b); the page cited previously does not carry it. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3–0.6 | SC | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.209 | 0.3-0.6 mg/kg s.c., p.o. q12-24h; studies have shown that rabbits may require a dose exceeding 0.3 mg/k |
| 0.3 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.209 | tudies have shown that rabbits may require a dose exceeding 0.3 mg/kg q24h to achieve optimal plasma levels of meloxicam over a 24-hour interval and doses of 1 |
| 1.5 | SC | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.209 | ma levels of meloxicam over a 24-hour interval and doses of 1.5 mg/kg s.c., p.o. are well tolerated for 5 days |
| 1 | PO | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.4 |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your rabbit's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Preferential COX-2 inhibitor. Oral suspension allowing precise low-dose administration for cats.
0.5mg/ml formulation for cats (single dose FDA-approved, chronic use controversial). 1.5mg/ml for dogs. Honey-flavored. Renal and GI risks. Cats: lowest effective dose for shortest duration.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for rabbits may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Meloxicam Oral Suspension dose range in rabbits, with cited source references: PO 0.3–1 mg/kg q24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Meloxicam Oral Suspension in rabbits: PO.
Cited course lengths for Meloxicam Oral Suspension in rabbits include: Long-term. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Meloxicam Oral Suspension is indicated in rabbits for: Osteoarthritis, chronic pain.
These are general warnings for Meloxicam Oral Suspension across species; consult the rabbit dosing table above for species-specific guidance. 0.5mg/ml formulation for cats (single dose FDA-approved, chronic use controversial). 1.5mg/ml for dogs. Honey-flavored. Renal and GI risks. Cats: lowest effective dose for shortest duration.
Why a species-specific page? Meloxicam Oral Suspension pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in rabbits — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.
| 1 mg/kg PO q24h × 29 days |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.