Meloxicam for Rabbit
Pocket Pet · Oryctolagus cuniculus · typical adult weight 1.00–5.00 kg
Meloxicam is used in rabbit for Pain, post-operative analgesia, dental pain, Dental pain and GI stasis secondary to pain, Post-operative analgesia. Routes documented in rabbit: PO, SC. A typical adult rabbit weighs 1.00–5.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 3 cited dose rules for Meloxicam in rabbit, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Trade names: Metacam
Dose ranges
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 0.3–0.6 mg/kg | q24h | 3-7 days | Pain, post-operative analgesia, dental pain | Strong | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed |
| PO | 0.3–1 mg/kg | q24h | As needed | Dental pain and GI stasis secondary to pain | Moderate | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed |
| SC | 0.3–0.6 mg/kg | q24h | 1-3 days then switch to oral | Post-operative analgesia | Moderate | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your rabbit'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 rabbit may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Other Analgesic drugs with rabbit 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 rabbit — 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.