Livestock · Bos taurus · typical adult weight 250.00–900.00 kg
Meloxicam is dosed at 0.5 mg/kg SC single dose in cattle, per 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).. Meloxicam is used in cattle for Pain associated with dehorning, castration. Routes documented in cattle: SC. A typical adult cattle weighs 250.00–900.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Meloxicam in cattle, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Metacam
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 0.5 mg/kg | single dose | Pain associated with dehorning, castration | Moderate | 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). |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your cattle'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 cattle may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Meloxicam dose range in cattle, with cited source references: SC 0.5 mg/kg single dose. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Meloxicam in cattle: SC.
Meloxicam is indicated in cattle for: Pain associated with dehorning, castration.
These are general warnings for Meloxicam across species; consult the cattle 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 cattle — 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.