The label says, word for word:
Oral suspension: "METACAM Oral Suspension is indicated for the control of pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis in dogs." Injection, cats: "For the control of postoperative pain and inflammation associated with orthopedic surgery, ovariohysterectomy and castration when administered prior to surgery."
Dogs with known hypersensitivity to meloxicam should not receive METACAM Oral Suspension. Do not use METACAM Oral Suspension in cats. Acute renal failure and death have been associated with the use of meloxicam in cats.
Additional doses of meloxicam or other NSAIDs in cats are contraindicated, as no safe dosage for repeated NSAID administration has been established.
BOXED WARNING: Repeated use of meloxicam in cats has been associated with acute renal failure and death. Do not administer additional injectable or oral meloxicam to cats.
Not for use in humans. Keep this and all medications out of reach of children. Consult a physician in case of accidental ingestion by humans. For oral use in dogs only.
The safe use of METACAM Oral Suspension in dogs younger than 6 months of age, dogs used for breeding, or in pregnant or lactating dogs has not been evaluated.
Meloxicam is not recommended for use in dogs with bleeding disorders, as safety has not been established in dogs with these disorders.
Injection, cats: Do not administer a second dose of meloxicam. Do not follow the single, one-time dose of meloxicam with any other NSAID. Do not administer METACAM Oral Suspension following the single, one-time injectable dose of meloxicam.
Every approved medicine has a field study behind it, and the label prints what happened:
Oral suspension: "Field safety was evaluated in 306 dogs. Based on the results of two studies, GI abnormalities (vomiting, soft stools, diarrhea, and inappetence) were the most common adverse reactions associated with the administration of meloxicam." Post-approval (dogs): Gastrointestinal: vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, melena, gastrointestinal ulceration. Urinary: azotemia, elevated creatinine, renal failure.
From the sheet the maker writes for owners:
Two labels: METACAM Oral Suspension (dogs only; NADA 141-213) and METACAM Injection (dogs and cats; NADA 141-219). Cats: single injection only; FDA states "Oral meloxicam products are not approved for cats at all; they are only approved for dogs" and "Injectable meloxicam products are not approved for more than one dose in cats in the United States."
The emergency page sorts the signs by how long you have, and the symptom checker asks what you are seeing. Reactions to a medicine can also be reported to the FDA yourself: how to report a problem.
These answers come from the approved label on DailyMed, read on 2 October 2026. Where the label does not say, the answer says so, and the vet or the pharmacist is the one to ask.
The approved use is quoted at the top of this page. The label read for these answers is METACAM Oral Suspension, the liquid for dogs, which is given to control the pain and inflammation of osteoarthritis.
The owner sheet that comes with the label says that in most dogs improvement can be seen in a matter of days. The label also says the level of the drug in the blood peaks about 7.5 hours after a dose given by mouth.
It is a liquid given by mouth. The label sets a different dose for the first day of treatment and says that after day one it is given once a day. It says to shake the bottle well before use and to put the cap back on tightly afterwards. For a dog over 10 pounds, it may be mixed with food or placed straight into the mouth. For a dog under 10 pounds, the label says to put it on food only and never straight into the mouth, to prevent an accidental overdose in a small dog. The package includes a measuring syringe with a scale in pounds of body weight, and the vet decides the dose. The label tells vets to use the lowest dose that works for the shortest time that fits the dog's response.
The label does not say what to do about a missed dose. Call the clinic or the pharmacy before you give the next one. The owner sheet does say that if METACAM is stopped or not given as directed, the dog's pain and inflammation may come back.
The studies and the warnings are quoted above. The label says to stop METACAM and contact the vet immediately if you see signs that your dog is not tolerating it. The signs it lists are vomiting, diarrhea, eating less, dark or tarry stools, drinking more, urinating more, pale gums, yellowing of the gums, skin or whites of the eyes, low energy, loss of coordination, seizures and changes in behavior. It also says to contact the vet immediately if your dog swallows more than the prescribed amount, and that this liquid for dogs must not be given to cats.
Store it at room temperature, between 68° and 77°F. The label allows short spells between 59° and 86°F, and it says brief heat up to 104°F may be tolerated but should be kept to a minimum. Keep it out of the reach of children. If a person swallows it, the label says to consult a physician.
The FDA says the best way to get rid of most unused or expired medicines is a take-back option: a drug take-back location, which can be at a pharmacy or a police station, or a prepaid mail-back envelope. If you cannot use one, the FDA says a medicine that is not on its flush list can go in the trash at home. Its steps are to mix the medicine with something unappealing such as dirt, cat litter or used coffee grounds, and to seal the mixture in a plastic bag before throwing it away. Flushing is only for medicines on that list, such as opioids. Do not give leftovers to another pet.
Write the dose, the times and the stop date here, then print this page for the fridge.
Dose and times: _____________________________________________
Stop date: _____________________________________________