Reptile · Pogona vitticeps · typical adult weight 0.38–0.51 kg
Meloxicam is dosed at 0.1–0.2 mg/kg IM q24-48h in bearded dragons, per 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.. Meloxicam is used in bearded dragons for Acute pain, post-surgical, Pain, inflammation. Routes documented in bearded dragons: IM, PO, SC. A typical adult bearded dragon weighs 0.38–0.51 kg. ExoticRx lists 3 cited dose rules for Meloxicam in bearded dragons, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Metacam
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.1–0.2 mg/kg | q24-48h | 1-3 days | Acute pain, post-surgical | Extrapolated | 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. |
| PO | 0.1–0.2 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). |
| SC | 0.1–0.2 mg/kg | q24h | 1-3 days | Acute pain, post-surgical | 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 bearded dragon'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 bearded dragons may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Meloxicam dose ranges in bearded dragons, with cited source references: IM 0.1–0.2 mg/kg q24-48h; PO 0.1–0.2 mg/kg q24-48h; SC 0.1–0.2 mg/kg q24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Meloxicam in bearded dragons: IM, PO, SC.
Cited course lengths for Meloxicam in bearded dragons 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 bearded dragons for: Acute pain, post-surgical, Pain, inflammation.
These are general warnings for Meloxicam across species; consult the bearded dragon 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 bearded dragons — 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.