Target species
Dogs and cats.
Indications for use, specifying the target species
Dogs:
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.
Cats:
Reduction of post-operative pain after ovariohysterectomy and minor soft tissue surgery.
Contraindications
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.
Special warnings for each target species
For post-operative pain relief in cats, safety has only been documented after thiopental/halothane anaesthesia.
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 increased renal toxicity.
Any oral follow-up therapy using meloxicam or other Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) should not be administered in cats, as appropriate dosage regimens for such follow-up treatments have not been established.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals
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.
Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness)
Typical adverse reactions of NSAIDs such as loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, faecal occult blood, apathy and renal failure have occasionally been reported. In dogs, these side effects 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.
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.
Meloxidyl 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.
Amounts to be administered and administration route
Dogs:
Musculo-skeletal disorders: Single subcutaneous injection at a dosage of 0.2 mg meloxicam/kg body weight (i.e. 0.4 ml/10 kg body weight).
Meloxidyl 1.5 mg/ml oral suspension may be used for continuation of treatment at a dosage of 0.1 mg meloxicam/kg body weight, 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 body weight (i.e. 0.4 ml/10 kg body weight) before surgery, for example at the time of induction of anaesthesia.
Cats:
Reduction of post-operative pain: Single subcutaneous injection at a dosage of 0.3 mg meloxicam/kg body weight (i.e. 0.06 ml/kg body weight) before surgery, for example at the time of induction of anaesthesia.
Particular care should be taken with regard to the accuracy of dosing.
Avoid introduction of contamination during use.
Overdose (symptoms, emergency procedures, antidotes), if necessary
In the case of overdose symptomatic treatment should be initiated.
Withdrawal period(s)
Not applicable