Reptile · Python regius · typical adult weight 1.00–2.00 kg
Meloxicam is dosed at 0.1–0.3 mg/kg IM q24-48h in ball pythons, per 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. Meloxicam is used in ball pythons for Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory - analgesic efficacy NOT demonstrated in ball pythons, the cited study reports physiologic changes not consistent with analgesia (Olesen 2008), Pain, inflammation. Routes documented in ball pythons: IM, PO. A typical adult ball python weighs 1.00–2.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Meloxicam in ball pythons, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Metacam
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM |
| 0.1–0.3 mg/kg |
| q24-48h |
| 1-3 days |
| Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory - analgesic efficacy NOT demonstrated in ball pythons, the cited study reports physiologic changes not consistent with analgesia (Olesen 2008) |
| Extrapolated |
| 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 |
| PO | 0.1–0.3 mg/kg | q24-48h | 3-7 days | Pain, inflammation | Extrapolated | 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). — 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 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.
| Dose (%) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 128.4 | 0.5% gel topically q24h; do not exceed 0.4 mg/kg52 Antiinflammatory for localized wounds |
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1–0.5 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.209 | 0.1-0.5 mg/kg p.o., s.c., i.m. have been suggested although analgesic effect unproven in reptiles |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your ball python's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Preferential COX-2 inhibitor, reducing prostaglandin synthesis. Provides anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic effects.
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.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for ball pythons may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Meloxicam dose ranges in ball pythons, with cited source references: IM 0.1–0.3 mg/kg q24-48h; PO 0.1–0.3 mg/kg q24-48h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Meloxicam in ball pythons: IM, PO.
Cited course lengths for Meloxicam in ball pythons include: 1-3 days; 3-7 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Meloxicam is indicated in ball pythons for: Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory - analgesic efficacy NOT demonstrated in ball pythons, the cited study reports physiologic changes not consistent with analgesia (Olesen 2008), Pain, inflammation.
These are general warnings for Meloxicam across species; consult the ball python dosing table above for species-specific guidance. 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.
Why a species-specific page? Meloxicam pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in ball pythons — 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.
| 0.1–0.5 |
| PO |
| Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.6 |
| 0.1-0.5 mg/kg PO, SC q24-48h |
| 0.3 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.6 | 0.3 mg/kg IM q24h |
| 0.3 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.6 | 0.3 mg/kg IM249 Ball pythons/physiological changes not consistent with analgesia |
| 0.4–1 | PO | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 128.4 | 0.4-1 mg/kg PO, SC, ICe q24h51 Antiinflammatory; presumptive analgesia; adjunct therapy for septicemia |
| 0.4 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 128.4 | 0.5% gel topically q24h; do not exceed 0.4 mg/kg52 Antiinflammatory for localized wounds |
| 0.1–0.5 | PO | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.6 | 0.1-0.5 mg/kg PO, SC q24-48h149-151 Most species |
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.