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).. Meloxicam is used in ball pythons for Post-surgical pain, 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 | Post-surgical pain | 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). |
| 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). |
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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: Post-surgical pain, 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.