Meloxidyl 0.5mg/ml Oral Suspension for Cats (Meloxicam) – Post-Operative & Chronic Pain Relief | 15ml

What Is Meloxidyl 0.5mg/ml Oral Suspension for Cats?

Meloxidyl 0.5mg/ml is a veterinary oral suspension containing meloxicam 0.5mg per ml, manufactured by CEVA Santé Animale, specifically formulated for cats. It is used to manage post-operative pain and inflammation, and for the long-term treatment of chronic musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis in cats.

The suspension is supplied in a 15ml bottle with a calibrated dosing syringe marked from 1 to 10 kg body weight. This syringe is calibrated for the maintenance dose — twice the volume is required on the loading day for chronic conditions.

⚠️ Why Cats Need Their Own Meloxicam Formulation

This is the most important fact about meloxicam in cats. Cats cannot metabolise meloxicam at the same rate as dogs because they have a significantly reduced capacity for glucuronidation — the liver enzyme pathway (UGT — UDP-glucuronosyltransferases) that metabolises meloxicam and many other drugs is substantially deficient in cats compared to dogs and humans.

This means:

• Meloxicam is eliminated from a cat’s body far more slowly than from a dog’s
• Doses appropriate for dogs rapidly accumulate to toxic levels in cats
• The margin between an effective dose and a toxic dose in cats is extremely narrow

NEVER give a cat the dog formulation (Meloxidyl 1.5mg/ml or Metacam 1.5mg/ml for dogs). The dog formulation is three times more concentrated than the cat formulation. A cat dosed with the dog product — even at what appears to be a small volume — receives a dramatically excessive dose and can develop acute kidney failure, GI haemorrhage, or die. The cat formulation exists precisely because the dog formulation is dangerous to cats.

How Meloxicam Works

Meloxicam is a COX-2 preferential NSAID. It inhibits cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2) that produce prostaglandins — the chemical mediators responsible for pain, inflammation, swelling, and fever. By suppressing prostaglandin synthesis, meloxicam reduces all signs of inflammation at the site of disease, relieving pain and improving mobility.

Its preference for COX-2 over COX-1 gives it a marginally improved GI safety profile compared to non-selective NSAIDs, though GI effects are still possible, particularly at higher doses or in dehydrated patients.

Indications

• Post-operative pain and inflammation — following orthopaedic surgery (e.g. fracture repair, joint surgery) and soft tissue surgery, as oral follow-up after initial injectable meloxicam
• Chronic musculoskeletal disorders — osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease; long-term pain management in older cats

Dosage

For Post-Operative Pain (following initial meloxicam injection)

After an initial injectable meloxicam dose given before/during surgery:

0.05mg/kg body weight once daily for up to 4 days

Use the syringe at the cat’s body weight mark — this delivers the maintenance dose directly.

For Chronic Musculoskeletal Disorders

Weight-Based Dosing Table (Maintenance: 0.05mg/kg/day)

A positive clinical response should be seen within 7 days. Discontinue if no improvement after 14 days. Do not exceed recommended doses — cats are extremely sensitive to meloxicam overdose.

Administration

1. Shake well before use
2. Attach the supplied syringe to the bottle
3. Invert the bottle and draw the suspension to the cat’s body weight mark (maintenance dose)
4. Administer directly into the mouth or mixed with a small amount of food
5. For the loading dose on day 1 of chronic treatment: draw twice the body weight mark volume
6. Replace the cap after use; maintain good hygiene to avoid contamination

Do Not Use If:

• The cat is pregnant or nursing
• Gastrointestinal disease, irritation, or bleeding is present
• Liver, heart, or kidney dysfunction is present or suspected
• Bleeding disorders exist
• Known sensitivity to meloxicam or any other NSAID
• The cat is under 6 weeks of age
• The cat weighs less than 2 kg
• The cat is dehydrated or hypovolaemic (low blood pressure/volume) — high renal risk

Drug Interactions

• Other NSAIDs (aspirin, robenacoxib, ketoprofen): additive toxicity; never give two NSAIDs simultaneously; washout period of at least 24 hours between products
• Corticosteroids (prednisolone, dexamethasone): severely increased GI ulceration and haemorrhage risk; do not use concurrently
• Diuretics: reduced diuretic efficacy; increased renal risk
• Anticoagulants: altered clotting; avoid concurrent use
• Aminoglycoside antibiotics: combined nephrotoxicity; avoid concurrent use
• Nephrotoxic drugs: avoid all nephrotoxic agents during meloxicam therapy
• Highly protein-bound drugs: competition for binding sites may alter drug levels of both agents

Monitoring for Long-Term Use in Cats

Long-term meloxicam use in cats requires veterinary oversight and regular monitoring:

• Baseline bloodwork before starting: kidney function (BUN, creatinine, SDMA), liver enzymes (ALT, ALP), and ideally urine specific gravity
• Repeat every 3–6 months during ongoing therapy
• Signs to watch for: vomiting, reduced appetite, increased or decreased thirst/urination, lethargy, weight loss, mouth ulcers
• Discontinue immediately if any of these develop and consult your veterinarian

Overdosage Warning

Cats have very low tolerance for meloxicam overdose. Even modestly exceeding the recommended dose can cause intensified and potentially life-threatening side effects. Never exceed the prescribed dose, never give more than once daily, and always use the supplied calibrated syringe. If accidental overdose is suspected, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Side Effects

• GI signs — reduced appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, blood in stools; most common
• Renal failure — serious; risk elevated in dehydrated, elderly, or pre-renally compromised cats
• Lethargy
• These signs generally resolve on discontinuation but can in rare cases be severe or life-threatening

Storage

• Store at room temperature, protected from freezing
• Keep in original bottle with cap replaced tightly after each use
• Note the date of first opening; discard within the period stated on the packaging
• Keep out of reach of children

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the dog Meloxidyl (1.5mg/ml) for my cat at a lower dose?

No — absolutely not. Even at apparently small volumes, the 1.5mg/ml dog formulation delivers three times the intended meloxicam concentration per ml compared to the cat product. Accurate dosing at feline doses using the dog concentration is practically impossible with standard syringes, and errors at these tiny volumes are immediately dangerous. Always use the purpose-formulated 0.5mg/ml cat product with its dedicated calibrated syringe.

How long can cats stay on Meloxidyl?

With appropriate veterinary monitoring, meloxicam can be used long-term in cats for chronic osteoarthritis management. The EU/EMA approved long-term use after studies demonstrated an acceptable safety profile at the maintenance dose of 0.05mg/kg/day with regular monitoring. However, this requires regular blood and urine monitoring every 3–6 months. Cats with pre-existing kidney disease need especially close monitoring, and some may not be suitable candidates for long-term NSAID therapy.

Can Meloxidyl be used alongside other cat medications?

Not with other NSAIDs or steroids. Many cats with osteoarthritis are on other medications (e.g. gabapentin for pain, heart medications, thyroid medications). Always inform your vet of all medications your cat receives before starting Meloxidyl, as some combinations increase toxicity risk significantly.

What if my cat misses a dose?

Give the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue on schedule. Never give two doses at once to compensate — cats are extremely sensitive to dosing errors with meloxicam.

Also available: Meloxidyl 1.5mg/ml for Dogs (32ml) | Meloxoral 1.5mg/ml for Dogs (50ml)