POM-V Prescription Required Companion Animal

Metaxx 5 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cattle, Pigs, Dogs and Cats

Active ingredient: Meloxicam

Form

Injection

Species

Cats Cattle Dogs Pigs

Manufacturer

Alfasan Nederland B.V.

VMD MA No.

36408/3009

What it's used for

For use in diarrhoea in combination with oral re-hydration therapy to reduce clinical signs in calves of over one week of age and young, non-lactating catt...

Full indications, dosage and side effects ↓

View official SPC (PDF)

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Paying less for Meloxicam

1

Ask your vet for a written prescription

They must provide one on request. Under the CMA Order the fee is capped at £21 from 2027.
2

Fill it at a registered online retailer

The CMA found online pharmacies 50–60% cheaper than practice dispensing on common medicines — typically £200–£300 a year.

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Prescription required

Your vet must provide a written prescription on request. You can then purchase from any licensed online retailer.

Clinical information

Metaxx 5 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cattle, Pigs, Dogs and Cats — SPC Details

Source: VMD Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). Last updated 27 Mar 2026.

For use in diarrhoea in combination with oral re-hydration therapy to reduce clinical
signs in calves of
over one week of age and young, non-lactating cattle.
For the relief of post-operative pain following dehorning in calves.
Pigs:
For use in non-infectious locomotor disorders to reduce the symptoms of lameness
and inflammation.
For the relief of post-operative pain associated with minor soft tissue surgery such as
castration.
Dogs:
Alleviation of inflammation and pain in both acute and chronic musculo-skeletal
disorders. Reduction of post-operative pain and inflammation following orthopaedic
and soft tissue surgery.
Cats:
Reduction of post-operative pain after ovariohysterectomy and minor soft tissue
surgery.

Dogs:
Musculo-skeletal disorders:
Single subcutaneous injection at a dosage of 0.2 mg meloxicam/kg body weight (i.e.
0.4 ml veterinary medicinal product /10 kg body weight). A suitable oral meloxicam
formulation, e.g. suspension or tablet, administered in accordance with label
recommendations, may be used for continuation of treatment 24 hours after
administration of the injection.
Reduction of post-operative pain (over a period of 24 hours):
Single intravenous or subcutaneous injection at a dosage of 0.2 mg meloxicam/kg
body weight (i.e.
0.4 ml veterinary medicinal product /10 kg body weight) before surgery, for example
at the time of induction of anaesthesia.
Cats:
Reduction of post-operative pain:
Single subcutaneous injection at a dosage of 0.3 mg meloxicam/kg body weight (i.e.
0.06 ml veterinary medicinal product /kg body
weight) before surgery, for example at the time of induction of anaesthesia.
Cattle:
Single subcutaneous or intravenous injection at a dose of 0.5 mg meloxicam/kg body
weight (i.e.
10.0 ml veterinary medicinal product /100 kg body weight) in combination with
antibiotic therapy or with oral re-hydration therapy, as appropriate.
Pigs:
Locomotor disorders:
Single intramuscular injection at a dosage of 0.4 mg meloxicam/kg body weight (i.e.
2.0 ml veterinary medicinal product /25 kg body weight). If required, a second
administration of meloxicam can be given after 24 hours.
Reduction of post-operative pain:
Single intramuscular injection at a dosage of 0.4 mg meloxicam/kg body weight (i.e.
0.4 ml veterinary medicinal product /5 kg body
weight) before surgery.
Particular care should be taken with regard to the accuracy of dosing including the
use of an appropriate dosing device and careful estimation of body weight.
Avoid introduction of contamination during use.
The stopper may not be punctured more than 50 times.

Do not use in pregnant or lactating dogs or cats.
Do not use in animals suffering from impaired hepatic, cardiac or renal function and
haemorrhagic
disorders, or in animals suffering from gastrointestinal disorders such as irritation and
haemorrhage.
Do not use in cases of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the
excipients.
For the treatment of diarrhoea in cattle, do not use in animals of less than one week
of age.
Do not use in pigs less than 2 days old.
Do not use in cats and dogs less than 6 weeks of age nor in cats of less than 2 kg.

Cattle:
Common
(1 to 10 animals / 100 animals
treated):
Injection site swelling
.
Very rare
(<1 animal / 10,000 animals
treated, including isolated
reports):
Anaphylactoid reaction
1
Only a slight transient swelling at the injection site following subcutaneous
administration.
May be serious (including fatal) and should be treated symptomatically.
Pigs:
Very rare
(<1 animal / 10,000 animals
treated, including isolated
reports):
Anaphylactoid reaction
1
May be serious (including fatal) and should be treated symptomatically.
Dogs and cats:
Very rare
(<1 animal / 10,000 animals
treated, including isolated
reports):
Appetite loss
1,2
, Lethargy
1.2
Vomiting
1,2
, Diarrhoea
1,2
, Blood in faeces
(occult)
1,2
, Haemorrhagic diarrhoea
,
Haematemesis
, Gastrointestinal ulceration
Renal failure
1,2
;
Elevated liver enzymes
.
Anaphylactoid reaction
1
Typical adverse reactions of NSAIDs
Occur generally within the first treatment week and are in most cases transient and
disappear following termination of the treatment but in very rare cases may be
serious or fatal.
Should be treated symptomatically.
If adverse reactions occur, treatment should be discontinued and the advice of a
veterinarian should be sought.
Reporting adverse events is important. It allows continuous safety monitoring of a
veterinary medicinal product. Reports should be sent, preferably via a veterinarian, to
either the marketing authorisation holder or the national competent authority via the
national reporting system. See the package leaflet for respective contact details.

Treatment of calves with the veterinary medicinal product 20 minutes before
dehorning reduces post-operative pain. The veterinary medicinal product alone will
not provide adequate pain relief during the dehorning procedure. To obtain adequate
pain relief during surgery co-medication with an appropriate analgesic is needed.
Treatment of piglets with the veterinary medicinal product before castration reduces
post-operative pain. To obtain pain relief during surgery co-medication with an
appropriate anaesthetic/sedative is needed. To obtain the best possible pain relieving
effect post-surgery the veterinary medicinal product should be administered 30
minutes before surgical intervention.

Special precautions for safe use in the target species:
If adverse reactions occur, treatment should be discontinued and the advice of a
veterinarian should be
sought.
Avoid use in dehydrated, hypovolaemic or hypotensive animals which require
parenteral rehydration, as there may be a potential risk of renal toxicity.
During anaesthesia, monitoring and fluid therapy should be considered as standard
practice.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal
product to animals:
Accidental self-injection may give rise to pain. Meloxicam and other non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may cause hypersensitivity (allergic reactions). In
case of accidental self-injection, seek medical advice immediately and show the
package leaflet or the label to the physician.
People with known hypersensitivity to NSAIDs should avoid contact with the
veterinary medicinal product.
This veterinary medicinal product may cause eye irritation. In case of contact with the
eyes, immediately rinse thoroughly with water.
In view of the risk of accidental self-injection and the known adverse class-effects of
NSAIDs and other prostaglandin inhibitors on pregnancy and/or embryofoetal
development, this veterinary medicinal product should not be administered by
pregnant women or women attempting to conceive.
Special precautions for the protection of the environment:
Not applicable.

Other NSAIDs, diuretics, anticoagulants, aminoglycoside antibiotics and substances
with high protein
binding may compete for binding and thus lead to toxic effects.
Do not administer concurrently with glucocorticosteroids, other non-steroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs or with anticoagulant agents.
Concurrent administration of potential nephrotoxic drugs should be avoided. In
animals at anaesthetic risk (e.g. aged animals) intravenous or subcutaneous fluid
therapy during anaesthesia should be taken into consideration. When anaesthesia
and NSAID are concomitantly administered, a risk for renal function cannot be
excluded.
Pre-treatment with anti-inflammatory substances may result in additional or increased
adverse effects and accordingly a treatment-free period with such veterinary
medicinal products should be observed for at least 24 hours before commencement
of treatment. The treatment-free period, however, should take into account the
pharmacological properties of the products used previously.

Do not refrigerate or freeze.
Protect from frost.

Cattle: Meat and offal: 15 days
Pigs: Meat and offal: 5 days.
Not authorised for use in animals producing milk for human consumption.

This information is sourced from the official Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) published by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). It is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace professional veterinary advice. Always consult your vet before administering any medication.