Meloxicam for Mouses
Pocket Pet · Mus musculus · typical adult weight 0.02–0.04 kg
Meloxicam is dosed at 20 mg/kg PO See source in mouses, per Ingrao JC, Johnson R, Tor E, Gu Y, Litman M, Turner PV. Aqueous stability and oral pharmacokinetics of meloxicam and carprofen in male C57BL/6 mice. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2013 Sep;52(5):553-559. PMID: 24041210; PMCID: PMC3784660. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3784660/. Meloxicam is used in mouses for Dose administered in the pharmacokinetic study (postoperative analgesia context), Pharmacokinetic simulation estimate — 3 mg/kg estimated to cover the IC50 (12 h/dose), Post-operative analgesia (ovariectomy via ventral laparotomy); authors' concluded efficacious high dose, Pharmacokinetic finding: therapeutic plasma concentrations for at least 12 h. Routes documented in mouses: PO, SC, unspecified. A typical adult mouse weighs 0.02–0.04 kg. ExoticRx lists 11 cited dose rules for Meloxicam in mouses, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Trade names: Metacam
Dose ranges
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 20 mg/kg | See source | — | Weak | Ingrao JC, Johnson R, Tor E, Gu Y, Litman M, Turner PV. Aqueous stability and oral pharmacokinetics of meloxicam and carprofen in male C57BL/6 mice. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2013 Sep;52(5):553-559. PMID: 24041210; PMCID: PMC3784660. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3784660/ |
| SC | 1.6 mg/kg | every 24 h (at 0, 24, and 48 h); up to 3 doses | Dose administered in the pharmacokinetic study (postoperative analgesia context) | Weak | Subcutaneous meloxicam suspension pharmacokinetics in mice and dose considerations for postoperative analgesia. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. PMID 26896236; DOI 10.1111/jvp.12297; PMC7166601. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7166601/ |
| SC | 3 mg/kg | q12 h | Pharmacokinetic simulation estimate — 3 mg/kg estimated to cover the IC50 (12 h/dose) | Weak | Subcutaneous meloxicam suspension pharmacokinetics in mice and dose considerations for postoperative analgesia. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. PMID 26896236; DOI 10.1111/jvp.12297; PMC7166601. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7166601/ |
| SC | 10 mg/kg | every 12 h | Post-operative analgesia (ovariectomy via ventral laparotomy); authors' concluded efficacious high dose | Weak | High-dose Meloxicam Provides Improved Analgesia in Female CD1 Mice: A Pharmacokinetic and Efficacy Study. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci (JAALAS). PMID 36755203; DOI 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-22-000064. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9936853/ URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9936853/ |
| SC | 10–20 mg/kg | See source | Pharmacokinetic finding: therapeutic plasma concentrations for at least 12 h | Weak | High-dose Meloxicam Provides Improved Analgesia in Female CD1 Mice: A Pharmacokinetic and Efficacy Study. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci (JAALAS). PMID 36755203; DOI 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-22-000064. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9936853/ URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9936853/ |
| SC | 2.5 mg/kg | every 12 h for 36 h | Low-dose comparison arm for post-operative analgesia (found LESS effective than 10 mg/kg) | Weak | High-dose Meloxicam Provides Improved Analgesia in Female CD1 Mice: A Pharmacokinetic and Efficacy Study. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci (JAALAS). PMID 36755203; DOI 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-22-000064. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9936853/ URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9936853/ |
| SC | 20 mg/kg | daily (for 6 d) | — | Weak | Sarfaty AE, Zeiss CJ, Willis AD, Harris JM, Smith PC. Concentration-dependent Toxicity after Subcutaneous Administration of Meloxicam to C57BL/6N Mice (Mus musculus). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2019 Nov 1;58(6):802-809. PMID: 31540585. DOI: 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-19-000037. URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31540585/ |
| unspecified | 0.3–20 mg/kg | every 12–24 h | Wide dosage range reported from publicly accessible university formularies (not the study's own recommendation) | Weak | Subcutaneous meloxicam suspension pharmacokinetics in mice and dose considerations for postoperative analgesia. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. PMID 26896236; DOI 10.1111/jvp.12297; PMC7166601. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7166601/ |
| unspecified | 1–2 mg/kg | every 24 h | Commonly used dosage reported from publicly accessible university formularies | Weak | Subcutaneous meloxicam suspension pharmacokinetics in mice and dose considerations for postoperative analgesia. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. PMID 26896236; DOI 10.1111/jvp.12297; PMC7166601. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7166601/ |
| unspecified | 1.6 mg/kg | every 12 h | Study recommendation to maintain plasma concentration at or above the COX-2 whole blood IC50 | Weak | Subcutaneous meloxicam suspension pharmacokinetics in mice and dose considerations for postoperative analgesia. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. PMID 26896236; DOI 10.1111/jvp.12297; PMC7166601. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7166601/ |
| unspecified | 20 mg/kg | See source | peri- and post-operative analgesia | Weak | Sarfaty AE, Zeiss CJ, Willis AD, Harris JM, Smith PC. Concentration-dependent Toxicity after Subcutaneous Administration of Meloxicam to C57BL/6N Mice (Mus musculus). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2019 Nov 1;58(6):802-809. PMID: 31540585. DOI: 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-19-000037. URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31540585/ |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your mouse'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 mouses may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Frequently asked questions
What is the dose of Meloxicam for Mouses?
Meloxicam dose ranges in mouses, with cited source references: PO 20 mg/kg See source; SC 1.6 mg/kg every 24 h (at 0, 24, and 48 h); up to 3 doses; SC 3 mg/kg q12 h; SC 10 mg/kg every 12 h.
How is Meloxicam administered in Mouses?
Documented routes for Meloxicam in mouses: PO, SC, unspecified.
What conditions does Meloxicam treat in Mouses?
Meloxicam is indicated in mouses for: Dose administered in the pharmacokinetic study (postoperative analgesia context), Pharmacokinetic simulation estimate — 3 mg/kg estimated to cover the IC50 (12 h/dose), Post-operative analgesia (ovariectomy via ventral laparotomy); authors' concluded efficacious high dose, Pharmacokinetic finding: therapeutic plasma concentrations for at least 12 h, Low-dose comparison arm for post-operative analgesia (found LESS effective than 10 mg/kg), Wide dosage range reported from publicly accessible university formularies (not the study's own recommendation), Commonly used dosage reported from publicly accessible university formularies, Study recommendation to maintain plasma concentration at or above the COX-2 whole blood IC50, peri- and post-operative analgesia.
What are the side effects of Meloxicam in Mouses?
These are general warnings for Meloxicam across species; consult the mouse dosing table above for species-specific guidance. 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.
Other Analgesic drugs with mouse 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 mouses — 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.