Meloxicam for Cattle
Livestock · Bos taurus · typical adult weight 250.00–900.00 kg
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.
Trade names: Metacam
Dose ranges
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 0.5 mg/kg | single dose | Pain associated with dehorning, castration | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
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.
Mechanism of action
Preferential COX-2 inhibitor, reducing prostaglandin synthesis. Provides anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic effects.
Side effects & warnings
Use with extreme caution in cats (single SC dose labeled; repeated oral use controversial). 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.
Other Analgesic drugs with cattle dosing
Meloxicam dosing in other species
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.