Metacam

Oral use.

Cats:

Post-operative pain and inflammation following surgical procedures:

After initial treatment with Metacam solution for injection with a starting dosage of 0.2 mg/kg, continue treatment 24 hours later with Metacam 0.5 mg/ml oral suspension for cats and guinea pigs at a dosage of 0.05 mg meloxicam/kg body weight. The oral follow-up dose may be administered once daily (at 24-hour intervals) for up to four days.

Acute musculo-skeletal disorders:

Initial treatment is a single oral dose of 0.2 mg meloxicam/kg body weight on the first day. Treatment is to be continued once daily by oral administration (at 24-hour intervals) at a dose of 0.05 mg meloxicam/kg body weight for as long as acute pain and inflammation persist.

Chronic musculo-skeletal disorders:

Initial treatment is a single oral dose of 0.1 mg meloxicam/kg body weight on the first day. Treatment is to be continued once daily by oral administration (at 24-hour intervals) at a maintenance dose of 0.05 mg meloxicam/kg body weight. A clinical response is normally seen within 7 days. Treatment should be discontinued after 14 days at the latest if no clinical improvement is apparent.

Route and method of administration

Dosing procedure using the drop dispenser of the bottle:

Dose of 0.2 mg meloxicam/kg body weight: 12 drops/kg body weight Dose of 0.1 mg meloxicam/kg body weight: 6 drops/kg body weight Dose of 0.05 mg meloxicam/kg body weight: 3 drops/kg body weight.

Dosing procedure using the measuring syringe:

The syringe fits onto the drop dispenser of the bottle and has a kg-body weight scale which corresponds to dose of 0.05 mg meloxicam/kg body weight. Thus for initiation of the treatment of chronic musculo-skeletal disorders on the first day, twice the maintenance volume will be required. For initiation of the treatment of acute musculo-skeletal disorders on the first day, 4 times the maintenance volume will be required.

To be administered orally either mixed with food or directly into the mouth. The suspension can be given using the drop dispenser of the bottle for cats of any body weight. Alternatively and for cats with a body weight of at least 2 kg, the measuring syringe provided in the package can be used.

The recommended dose should not be exceeded.

Guinea pigs:

Post-operative pain associated with soft tissue surgery:

Initial treatment is a single oral dose of 0.2 mg meloxicam/kg body weight on day 1 (pre-surgery). Treatment is to be continued once daily by oral administration (at 24hours intervals) at a dose of 0.1 mg meloxicam/kg body weight on day 2 to day 3 (post-surgery).

The dose can, at the discretion of the veterinarian, be titrated up to 0.5 mg/kg in individual cases. The safety of doses exceeding 0.6 mg/kg has, however, not been evaluated in guinea pigs.

The suspension should be given directly into the mouth using a standard 1 ml syringe graduated with ml scale and 0.01 ml increments.

Dose of 0.2 mg meloxicam/kg body weight: 0.4 ml/kg body weight

Dose of 0.1 mg meloxicam/kg body weight: 0.2 ml/kg body weight

Use a small container (e.g. a teaspoon) and drop Metacam oral suspension into the container (it is advised to dispense a few drops more than required into the small container). Use a standard 1 ml syringe to draw up the veterinary medicinal product according to the bodyweight of the guinea pig. Administer the veterinary medicinal product with the syringe directly into the mouth of the guinea pig. Wash the small container with water and dry prior to the next use.

Do not use the cat syringe with the kg-body weight scale and the cat pictogram for guinea pigs.

Particular care should be taken with regard to the accuracy of dosing. To ensure a correct dosage, body weight should be determined as accurately as possible. The use of suitably calibrated measuring equipment is recommended. Shake well before use.

Avoid introduction of contamination during use.