Target species
Cats.
Indications for use, specifying the target species
Alleviation of mild to moderate post-operative pain and inflammation following surgical procedures in cats, e.g. orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery.
Alleviation of inflammation and pain in acute and chronic musculo-skeletal disorders in cats.
Contraindications
Do not use in pregnant or lactating cats.
Do not use in cats suffering from gastrointestinal disorders such as irritation and haemorrhage, impaired hepatic, cardiac or renal function and haemorrhagic disorders.
Do not use in case of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients
Do not use in cats less than 6 weeks of age.
Special warnings for each target species
None.
Special precautions for use
Special precautions for use in animals
If adverse reactions occur, treatment should be discontinued and the advice of a veterinarian should be sought.
Avoid use in any dehydrated, hypovolaemic or hypotensive animal, as there is a potential risk of renal toxicity.
Post-operative pain and inflammation following surgical procedures:
In case additional pain relief is required, multimodal pain therapy should be considered.
Chronic musculoskeletal disorders:
Response to long-term therapy should be monitored at regular intervals by a veterinary surgeon.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals
People with known hypersensitivity to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should avoid contact with the veterinary medicinal product.
In case of accidental ingestion, seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician.
Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness)
Typical adverse reactions of NSAIDs such as loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, faecal occult blood, lethargy and renal failure have occasionally been reported. Gastrointestinal ulceration and elevated liver enzymes were reported in very rare cases.
These adverse reactions occur generally within the first treatment week and are in most cases transient and disappear following termination of the treatment but in very rare cases may be serious or fatal.
The frequency of adverse reactions is defined using the following convention:
•very common (more than 1 in 10 animals treated displaying adverse reactions)
•common (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 100 animals treated)
•uncommon (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 1,000 animals treated)
•rare (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 10,000 animals treated)
•very rare (less than 1 animal in 10,000 animals treated, including isolated reports).
Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay
The safety of the veterinary medicinal product has not been established during pregnancy and lactation, (see Contraindications)
Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Other NSAIDs, diuretics, anticoagulants, aminoglycoside antibiotics and substances with high protein binding may compete for binding and thus lead to toxic effects. Loxicom must not be administered in conjunction with other NSAIDs or glucocorticosteroids. Concurrent administration of potential nephrotoxic drugs should be avoided.
Pre-treatment with anti-inflammatory substances may result in additional or increased adverse effects and accordingly a treatment-free period with such veterinary medicinal products should be observed for at least 24 hours before commencement of treatment. The treatment-free period, however, should take into account the pharmacological properties of the products used previously.
Amounts to be administered and administration route
Oral use.
To be administered with food or directly into the mouth.
Shake well before use.
Dosage
Post-operative pain and inflammation following surgical procedures:
After initial treatment with Loxicom 5 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Dogs and Cats continue treatment 24 hours later with Loxicom 0.5 mg/ml oral suspension for cats at a dosage of 0.05 mg meloxicam/kg body weight. The oral follow-up dose may be administered once daily (at 24-hour intervals) for up to four days.
Acute musculo-skeletal disorders:
Initial treatment is a single oral dose of 0.2 mg meloxicam/kg body weight on the first day. Treatment is to be continued once daily by oral administration (at 24-hour intervals) at a dose of 0.05 mg meloxicam/kg body weight for as long as acute pain and inflammation persist.
Chronic musculo-skeletal disorders:
Initial treatment is a single dose of 0.1 mg meloxicam/kg bodyweight on the first day. Treatment is to be continued once daily by oral administration (at 24 hour intervals) at a maintenance dose of 0.05 mg meloxicam/kg bodyweight.
A clinical response is normally seen within 7 days. Treatment should be discontinued after 14 days at the latest if no clinical improvement is apparent.
Dosing Procedure:
The syringe fits onto the bottle and has a kg-body weight scale which corresponds to the maintenance dose of 0.05 mg meloxicam/kg body weight. Thus for initiation of the treatment of chronic musculo-skeletal disorders on the first day, twice the maintenance volume will be required. For initiation of the treatment of acute musculo-skeletal disorders on the first day, 4 times the maintenance volume will be required.
Particular care should be taken with regard to the accuracy of dosing. The recommended dose should not be exceeded. The suspension should be given using the Loxicom measuring syringe provided in the package.
Avoid introduction of contamination during use.
Overdose (symptoms, emergency procedures, antidotes), if necessary
Meloxicam has a narrow therapeutic safety margin in cats and clinical signs of overdose may be seen at relatively small overdose levels. In the case of overdose, adverse reactions are expected to be more severe and more frequent. In the case of overdose symptomatic treatment should be initiated.