Reptile · Iguana iguana · typical adult weight 1.00–5.00 kg
Meloxicam is dosed at 0.2 mg/kg IV single dose in green iguanas, per Divers SJ, Papich MG, McBride M, et al. Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam following intravenous and oral administration in green iguanas (Iguana iguana). Am J Vet Res. 2010;71:1277-1283. doi:10.2460/ajvr.71.11.1277 — 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; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855. Meloxicam is used in green iguanas for NSAID (analgesia/anti-inflammatory) - pharmacokinetic parameters reported, Analgesia / antiinflammatory - PK-derived (green iguana), source prints no evidence of efficacy, Antiinflammatory/analgesia - PK-derived, source prints Green iguanas/PK, no evidence of efficacy. Routes documented in green iguanas: IV, PO. A typical adult green iguana weighs 1.00–5.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 4 cited dose rules for Meloxicam in green iguanas, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Metacam
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 0.2 mg/kg | single dose | NSAID (analgesia/anti-inflammatory) - pharmacokinetic parameters reported | Weak | Divers SJ, Papich MG, McBride M, et al. Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam following intravenous and oral administration in green iguanas (Iguana iguana). Am J Vet Res. 2010;71:1277-1283. doi:10.2460/ajvr.71.11.1277 — 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; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855 |
| IV | 0.2 mg/kg | q24h | Analgesia / antiinflammatory - PK-derived (green iguana), source prints no evidence of efficacy | Weak | Divers SJ, Papich MG, McBride M, et al. Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam following intravenous and oral administration in green iguanas (Iguana iguana). Am J Vet Res. 2010;71:1277-1283. doi:10.2460/ajvr.71.11.1277 — 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, ; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.209 | 0.2 mg/kg i.v., p.o. q24h d |
| 0.1–0.5 |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your green iguana'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 green iguanas may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Meloxicam dose ranges in green iguanas, with cited source references: IV 0.2 mg/kg single dose; IV 0.2 mg/kg q24h; PO 0.2 mg/kg q24h; PO 0.2 mg/kg single dose. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Meloxicam in green iguanas: IV, PO.
Meloxicam is indicated in green iguanas for: NSAID (analgesia/anti-inflammatory) - pharmacokinetic parameters reported, Analgesia / antiinflammatory - PK-derived (green iguana), source prints no evidence of efficacy, Antiinflammatory/analgesia - PK-derived, source prints Green iguanas/PK, no evidence of efficacy.
These are general warnings for Meloxicam across species; consult the green iguana 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 green iguanas — 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.
| PO | 0.2 mg/kg | q24h | Antiinflammatory/analgesia - PK-derived, source prints Green iguanas/PK, no evidence of efficacy | Weak | Divers SJ, Papich MG, McBride M, et al. Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam following intravenous and oral administration in green iguanas (Iguana iguana). Am J Vet Res. 2010;71:1277-1283. doi:10.2460/ajvr.71.11.1277 — 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; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855 |
| PO | 0.2 mg/kg | single dose | NSAID (analgesia/anti-inflammatory) - pharmacokinetic parameters reported | Weak | Divers SJ, Papich MG, McBride M, et al. Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam following intravenous and oral administration in green iguanas (Iguana iguana). Am J Vet Res. 2010;71:1277-1283. doi:10.2460/ajvr.71.11.1277 — 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; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855 |
| 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 |
| 0.1–0.5 | PO | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.6 | 0.1-0.5 mg/kg PO, SC q24-48h |
| 0.2 | PO | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.6 | 0.2 mg/kg PO, IV q24h |
| 0.2 | PO | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.6 | 0.2 mg/kg PO, IV q24h72 Green iguanas/PD; no evidence of efficacy |
| 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.