Dogs and cats.

Alleviation of inflammation and pain in both acute and chronic musculo-skeletal disorders. Reduction of post-operative pain and inflammation following orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery.

Reduction of post-operative pain after ovariohysterectomy and minor soft tissue surgery.

Do not use in pregnant or lactating animals.

Do not use in animals 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 animals less than 6 weeks of age nor in cats of less than 2 kg.

For post-operative pain relief in cats, safety has only been documented after thiopental/halothane anaesthesia.

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.

During anaesthesia, monitoring and fluid therapy should be considered as standard practice.

Accidental self-injection may give rise to pain. People with known hypersensitivity to NSAIDs should avoid contact with the veterinary medicinal product.

In case of accidental self-injection, seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician.

Typical adverse reactions of NSAIDs such as loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, faecal occult blood, apathy and renal failure have occasionally been reported.

In very rare cases elevated liver enzymes have been reported.

In very rare cases, haemorrhagic diarrhoea, haematemesis and gastrointestinal ulceration have been reported.

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.

In very rare cases anaphylactoid reactions may occur and should be treated symptomatically.

The frequency of adverse reactions is defined using the following convention:

The safety of the veterinary medicinal product has not been established during pregnancy and lactation, (see contraindications)

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. In animals at anaesthetic risk (e.g. aged animals) intravenous or subcutaneous fluid therapy during anaesthesia should be taken into consideration. When anaesthesia and NSAID are concomitantly administered, a risk for renal function cannot be excluded.

Pre-treatment with anti-inflammatory substances may result in additional or increased adverse effects and accordingly a treatment-free period with such drugs should be observed for at least 24 hours before commencement of treatment. The treatment-free period, however, should take into account the pharmacokinetic properties of the products used previously.

Musculo-skeletal disorders: Single subcutaneous injection at a dosage of 0.2 mg meloxicam/kg bodyweight (i.e. 0.4 ml/10 kg bodyweight). Loxicom 1.5 mg/ml oral suspension and Loxicom 0.5 mg/ml oral suspension may be used for continuation of treatment at a dosage of 0.1 mg meloxicam/kg bodyweight, 24 hours after administration of the injection.

Reduction of post-operative pain (over a period of 24 hours): Single intravenous or subcutaneous injection at a dosage of 0.2 mg meloxicam/kg bodyweight (i.e. 0.4 ml/10 kg bodyweight) before surgery, for example at the time of induction of anaesthesia.

Reduction of post-operative pain in cats where no oral follow-up treatment is possible e.g. feral cats:

Single subcutaneous injection at a dosage of 0.3 mg meloxicam/kg bodyweight (i.e. 0.06 ml/kg bodyweight) before surgery, for example at the time of induction of anaesthesia. In this case do not use oral follow up treatment.

Reduction of post-operative pain in cats when administration of meloxicam is to be continued as an oral follow-up therapy:

Single subcutaneous injection at a dosage of 0.2 mg meloxicam/kg body weight (i.e. 0.04 ml/kg body weight) before surgery, for example at the time of induction of anaesthesia.

To continue treatment for up to five days, this initial dose may be followed 24 hours later by administration of 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 for up to a total of four doses at 24 hour intervals.

Particular care should be taken with regard to the accuracy of dosing.

A suitably graduated 1 ml syringe should be used for administration of the product to cats.

Avoid introduction of contamination during use.

In the case of overdose, symptomatic treatment should be initiated.