Metacam Dosage Calculator for Cats
Metacam dosage calculator for cats allows you to check the appropriate dosage of pain medications for your favorite feline. 🐈
Looking for something specific? Read on to discover:
- Side effects of meloxicam for cats;
- Safety profile of this medication;
- Recommended doses of Metacam for cats;
- How can we administer the drug; and
- Rules of dosing meloxicam in cats in short-term treatment.
💡 We try to do our best when creating our calculators. However, you must remember that the Metacam dosage calculator for cats cannot replace actual medical advice and mustn't serve as a sole source of clinical decisions. Contact your vet in case of any doubt.
What is meloxicam for cats?
Meloxicam finds its place among pain meds for cats. It belongs to a group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and is used to alleviate chronic, acute, and postoperative pain.
Meloxicam's brand names include Metacam, Mobic, Vivlodex and Meloxicam.
🙋 Meloxicam might also be used in other animals, e.g., canines. Try our metacam dosage calculator for dogs and find out more.
What are the side effects of meloxicam for cats?
The Meloxicam dosage for cats is considered relatively safe; side effects happen in less than 1 out of 10,000 animals treated.
Possible complications include:
- Loss of appetite;
- Vomiting, diarrhea;
- Faecal occult bleeding (diagnosed with a stool sample);
- Lethargy;
- Elevated liver enzymes;
- Gastrointestinal ulcers;
- Renal failure; and
- Allergic reactions.
Meloxicam blocks cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) more than cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) – that's why it has fewer side effects connected to the stomach and intestines.
To compare, a popular drug aspirin blocks almost only COX-1 in an irreversible manner.
How to calculate Metacam dosage for cats?
Regarding meloxicam oral suspension for cats and its dosage, things get simpler than expected!
Let's think of a typical prolonged treatment dosage equal to 0.05 mg/kg. The recommended solution is the 0.5 mg/ml one.
We'll need a simple equation:
Daily dosage = Cat's weight (kg) × 0.05 mg
If we want to calculate the exact number of drops, we'll use the formula:
Daily drops = Dosage × 60
The calculated Metacam dosage for cats must be given once daily by mouth.
You'd like to know more, and you just can't help it? 🤔
Let's dig into other feline tools: how about calculating the cat Benadryl dosage or the fish oil dosage for cats?
How to use the dosage charts for meloxicam for cats?
Wondering what the proper meloxicam dosage is for your specific indication? Let's check it out using the table below:
First 24 h | After 24 h | |
|---|---|---|
Post-operative pain | 0.2 mg/kg* | 0.05 mg/kg |
Acute musculoskeletal pain | 0.2 mg/kg | 0.05 mg/kg |
Chronic musculoskeletal pain | 0.1 mg/kg | 0.05 mg/kg |
*The first dose is given before the operation as a single subcutaneous injection. This particular dose calls for a different solution: 2mg/mL.
How long does Metacam stay in a cat's system?
The half-life of Metacam is 24 hours.
It means that after 24 h, half of Metacam is already eliminated from your cat's body. After 2 days, only 1/4 of it remains.
It usually takes more than 6 days for Metacam to leave the cat's system entirely.
💡 Want to know more about the half-life of substances? Check our drug half-life calculator.
How to calculate the amount of substance in 10 mL Metacam for cats?
The amount of substance depends on the concentration of Metacam. There are two different solutions used in cats:
- 0.5 mg/mL; and
- 2 mg/mL.
Let's use the following equation:
Amount of substance = Concentration × Volume
Amount of substance = 0.5 mg/mL × 10 mL
Amount of substance = 5 mg
Or:
Amount of substance = 2 mg/mL × 10 mL
Amount of substance = 20 mg
Depending on the concentration, 10 mL of solution contains 5 mg or 20 mg of meloxicam for cats.
💡 As you can see, weight is often used as a basis for dosage calculations. When was the last time you calculated your cat's BMI and checked whether it's within healthy range?
💊 After the surgery: use the 0.5 mg/mL solution.
• Single subcutaneous injection.
• 24-hour intervals.
• Up to 4 days.