Target species
Dogs.
Indications for use, specifying the target species
Alleviation of inflammation and pain in both acute and chronic musculo-skeletal disorders.
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, or where there is evidence of individual hypersensitivity to the product.
Do not use in dogs less than 6 weeks of age.
Special warnings for each target species
None.
Special precautions for use
Special precautions for use in animals
If side effects occur, treatment should be discontinued and the advice of a veterinarian should be sought.
Avoid use in any dehydrated, hypovolaemic or hypotensive animal, if there is a potential risk of increased renal toxicity.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals
People with known hypersensitivity to 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 drug reactions of NSAIDs such as loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, faecal occult blood and apathy have occasionally been reported. 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.
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. The product must not be administered in conjunction with other NSAIDs or glucocorticosteroids.
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
Oral use. Shake well before use.
To be administered mixed with food.
Initial treatment is a single 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 maintenance dose of 0.1 mg meloxicam/kg body weight.
Particular care should be taken with regard to the accuracy of dosing. The suspension can be given using the measuring syringes provided in the package. The syringe fits onto the bottle and has a kg-body weight scale which corresponds to the maintenance dose (i.e. 0.1 mg meloxicam/kg body weight). Thus, for the first day, twice the maintenance volume will be required. The suspension could be administered using the smallest syringe for dogs less than 7 kg body weight (one graduation corresponding to 0.5 kg of body weight) or the largest syringe for dogs over 7 kg body weight (one graduation corresponding to 2.5 kg of body weight).
A clinical response is normally seen within 3 – 4 days. Treatment should be discontinued after 10 days at the latest if no clinical improvement is apparent.
Avoid introduction of contamination during use.
Overdose (symptoms, emergency procedures, antidotes), if necessary
In the case of overdosage, symptomatic treatment should be initiated.
Withdrawal period(s)
Not applicable