Meloxicam For Dogs: Uses, Dosages, & Side Effects
Meloxicam for dogs is a drug that is also known by its brand name Metacam for dogs. It is a medically prescribed drug that is given to dogs to reduce pain and inflammation.
The Meloxicam for the dogs is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This drug is at the veterinarians’ disposal, and they can prescribe them to the dogs who are suffering from conditions like Osteoarthritis. It can even be used to reduce the pain of the dogs after any surgeries.
What Is Meloxicam?
Meloxicam, also known as Metacam, Mobic, and Loxicom, spending on the manufacturer, is a medical Drug for dogs. It helps dogs reduce inflammation and pain. It is even used to reduce after surgery pains for the dogs.
Currently, the human painkillers are called Mobic and can be prescribed to the human-only; however, Meloxicam’s generic form can be prescribed to the dogs by veterinarians.
While Mobic is only used for humans, Meloxicam or Metacam can be used for humans and dogs. Whereas, Loxicom is an oral susp[ention for the dogs only.
Varieties Of Meloxicam
While we are talking about the Meloxicam for dogs, let’s have a deep understanding of their varieties. Meloxicam for dogs comes in different varieties and dosages that help your dog get the best out of the medications.
The generic form of medication that you can give to your dogs is Meloxicam. However, there are other manufactures as well that have the same drug by the name Mobic and Metacam.
All three kinds of drugs have different forms and are used for different purposes. Mobic is a pain killer that is used on humans only. It is not prescribed to the dogs. Dogs and humans can use Metacam, and Loxicom is an oral suspension only for the dogs.
It is important to know the purposes of every kind of Meloxicam so that you can give the right medication to the right person.
Uses Of Meloxicam For Dogs
When you visit a vet for your pet, there is always a possibility that your pet’s prescription will have Meloxicam. Meloxicam for dogs is the most common medication that works for every kind of pain. It helps to reduce pain from inflammation, body stiffness, and internal injuries.
Meloxicam for dogs works like charms. It is proved that Meloxicam can help to treat bone disorders and other muscle problems. And the best part is that it does all triage miracles without the help of the steroids.
If your dog has undergone any surgeries, it is most likely that they have been prescribed Meloxicam for dogs. The drug not only reduces the pain but also treats chronic condition and acute pain symptoms.
Dosage Of Meloxicam For Dogs
When drugs are involved, it is important to listen to what the vets say about the dosages. You cannot just use the dosage as per your liking. This practice can result in overdosing on the drugs, which can invite symptoms like fainting, vomiting, headaches, cardiac arrest, and breathing problems.
The Meloxicam’s usual dosage is around 0.09 mg to 0.1 mg per pound on the first day of the treatment. The dosage decreases by half with the oral suspension administered.
Usually, the strength of the one Meloxicam tablet is around 7.5 mg. The veterinarian will be able to instruct you on how to measure the dosage for the dogs properly. These tablets can be given to dogs with or without food.
Meloxicam for dogs comes in the form of liquid as well. You can add this liquid to your dog’s food. Depending on the injury, your vet can instruct the number of dosages for the dogs. With proper examination, your vets can give you the minimum amount of the Meloxicam for the dogs while still having the effects on the symptoms.
Meloxicam Side Effects
Anything overdosed can leave long-lasting negative effects. The same thing can be said for the Meloxicam for dogs. With the overdose of Metacam, it can cause gastrointestinal problems for your dog. These symptoms normally happen as well when you are treating your dog with Metacam for the pain.
However, if the symptoms become extreme, it is advisable to contact your vets. They might help you with the dosages and or find some other alternative for pain-relieving.
We all know that three is always a risk of allergic reaction with any medication that can lead to anaphylaxis. If you come across any symptoms that have been mentioned above, contact your vets immediately.
Puppies or dogs who are pregnant are not allowed to have Meloxicam for dogs. It would be best to tell everything about your dog’s condition to the vets for the relevant treatment.
Meloxicam And Dog Behavior
Meloxicam is highly potent and deals lots of damage to your p[[et if not used as prescribed by the vets. On the contrary, you will be able to make behavioral changes in your pet while he/she is on Metacam. The behavioral changes might include:
- Laziness
- Depression
- Aggression
- Lack of coordination
Ensure that you are keeping an eye on these kinds of changes while treating your dog with the Meloxicam. The sign of changes might be very small, but you, as a pet owner, need to take everything into consideration in your caretaking duties.
Symptoms Of Meloxicam Poisoning
Pets can communicate with their body language. So as a pet owner, it becomes very important that you keep tabs on their behavioral changes to understand what they want from you.
Generally, these symptoms will be quick, and there will be chances that you will miss out on most of them. However, if you see these symptoms, make sure to contact your vets as soon as possible.
Here are some of the common side effects of the Meloxicam overdose.
- Diarrhea.
- Black or Bloody stool.
- Swelling up due to fluid retention.
- Frequent urination.
- Fatigue.
- Itchiness.
- Abdominal pain.
- Weight loss.
- Behavior changes
Precautions
Though Meloxicam is commonly used for treating dogs, you need to keep in mind that Meloxicam is not a safe choice for dogs. There are situations when it is advisable never to use Metacam.
You should avoid using Meloxicam for dogs when your dog is facing these problems.
- Lactating.
- Breeding.
- Pregnant.
- Dehydrated.
- Cardiovascular problems.
- Renal issues.
- Too young (<6 weeks).
- Bleeding disorder.
In addition to this, there are circumstances where you are advised not to use the Meloxicam with the other drugs as a combination. Tell your vets about the other medication your dog is taking so that vets can give the most relevant and risk-free treatment to your dog.
Alternative Solution
Meloxicam for dogs is not the only medication that is used for treating pain. In recent years, CBD has grown strongly as a potential solution as an alternative. The best part of using this drug is that it can be used in several ways.
For those who have become a new pet owner, let me clarify this that CBD is not something that will get your dog high. CBD is a hemp plant rather than a marijuana plant. Hence, it can provide the medicinal benefits of marijuana without tapping into psychoactive results.
Furthermore, the medicinal benefits of hemp and CBD are immense. They have shown great potential in treating epilepsy, joint pains, depression, anxiety, and even cure symptoms of the cancers in the past.
Things To Consider
Medication sure is helpful for treating the dogs in many ways. But in many cases, they act like bandages that cover up the wounds without providing the right solution. It is worth knowing that once the pain is gone, dogs can get excited to overdo everything. This can lead to further damage to the pain after the medication wears off. Hence, instead of going for the medication without actually knowing the root cause can affect your dog’s health in the long run.
Meloxicam For Dogs: Final Thoughts
Pets do not know how to speak. Hence, it becomes your responsibility to take care of them and understand their body language. To do so, you need knowledge. When they suffer from pain, you need to understand suffering from their symptoms and provide them with the relevant medication.
Meloxicam for dogs is one of the commonly used pain killers for dogs. You can keep Meloxicam for dogs in your home and give it to your dogs when they are in pain. I have enumerated every information possible that can be a help in taking care of your dog.
If there is anything that you need to know about the dogs, you can drop your queries below. I will make sure that every query is answered.
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