How this instrument works
Meloxicam, sold under the brand name Metacam, is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) FDA-approved for controlling pain and inflammation from osteoarthritis in dogs. Its FDA label specifies a distinct two-step regimen rather than one flat daily dose: an initial loading dose of 0.2 mg/kg given only on the first day of treatment, followed by a lower maintenance dose of 0.1 mg/kg once daily starting on Day 2.
This calculator is built for dogs only, and that limit is deliberate, not an oversight. Meloxicam carries an FDA boxed warning specific to cats: repeated use has been associated with acute renal failure and death in cats, and the only FDA-approved feline use is a single, professionally administered perioperative injection — not an ongoing home regimen. Do not extrapolate this dog calculator's numbers to a cat under any circumstances.
This tool provides a reference range based on published veterinary sources. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian before giving any medication, and contact your vet or an animal poison control hotline — for example the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, (888) 426-4435 — immediately if you suspect a toxic ingestion. NSAIDs like meloxicam also carry general risks — gastrointestinal ulceration, kidney or liver effects — that are more likely in dehydrated dogs, dogs on other NSAIDs or steroids, or dogs with existing kidney or liver disease, all of which your veterinarian screens for before prescribing.
- Weigh your dog on a reliable scale, or use a recent veterinary weight, in kilograms.
- Read the Day 1 loading dose — the milligram figure computed from 0.2 mg/kg, given only once.
- Read the Day 2-onward maintenance dose — the milligram figure computed from 0.1 mg/kg, once daily.
- Never repeat the higher loading dose on later days; only the first day uses the 0.2 mg/kg figure.
- Confirm this regimen, the product concentration, and the treatment length with your veterinarian first.
Worked example — a 20 kg dog
A 20 kg dog: the Day 1 loading dose is 20 × 0.2 = 4 mg, given only once. Starting Day 2, the maintenance dose drops to 20 × 0.1 = 2 mg, given once daily for as long as the veterinarian's treatment plan calls for — typically titrated down over time to the lowest dose that controls symptoms.
A smaller 10 kg dog loads at 2 mg and maintains at 1 mg/day; a larger 34 kg dog loads at 6.8 mg and maintains at 3.4 mg/day. Notice the maintenance dose is always exactly half the loading dose at any given weight — that 2:1 ratio is built into the FDA label itself, not something this tool adds.
Questions
Can I give this dose to my cat instead?
No — never. Meloxicam carries an FDA boxed warning specific to cats: repeated use has been associated with acute renal failure and death. The only FDA-approved feline use is a single professionally administered injection before surgery, not a home dosing regimen of any kind. This tool provides a reference range based on published veterinary sources for dogs only; it is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice, and it must not be extrapolated across species.
Do I repeat the loading dose every day?
No. The 0.2 mg/kg figure is a Day 1 loading dose only, per the FDA/DailyMed label. From Day 2 onward, the dose drops to 0.1 mg/kg once daily. Giving the higher loading dose repeatedly is an overdose risk, not a faster path to relief.
What side effects should I watch for?
Vomiting, diarrhea, reduced appetite, lethargy, or black/tarry stools can signal gastrointestinal irritation or bleeding; increased thirst or urination can signal kidney effects. Contact your veterinarian promptly if you notice any of these, and always consult your veterinarian before giving any medication, especially alongside other NSAIDs or steroids.
Is a lower long-term dose possible once symptoms improve?
Often yes — many veterinarians titrate the maintenance dose down to the lowest amount that still controls a dog's pain and inflammation once a therapeutic effect is established. That adjustment is a clinical decision for your veterinarian to make based on your dog's response, not something to estimate on your own.
Can meloxicam be combined with other pain medications?
Not without veterinary guidance. Combining meloxicam with other NSAIDs or with corticosteroids meaningfully raises the risk of gastrointestinal ulceration and kidney injury. Tell your veterinarian about every medication and supplement your dog is currently taking before starting meloxicam.
References
- FDA/DailyMed — Metacam (meloxicam) Oral Suspension label
- Merck Veterinary Manual — NSAIDs in Animals (meloxicam dosing)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — (888) 426-4435
Read this first: This instrument computes a screening figure from population formulas — it is not a diagnosis, and it cannot see the whole picture a clinician can. Use it to inform a conversation, not to replace one.