My small dog ate Meloxicam from another dog's food. Is it dangerous?

Hi! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Katie just ingested a very high dose of meloxicam. The big problem with an overdose of meloxicam (or any other NSAID) is that it can definitively result in side effects such as gastrointestinal ulceration (which may manifest as black, tarry stools which basically means digested blood), kidney disease, liver disease and gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting, diarrhea and anorexia. I advice that you take Katie to a veterinarian (perhaps a bit farther from you) for evaluation and further treatment. If it has been less than 2 hours, vomiting could still be induced which could make the outcome better. If there is no way possible you can do that then take her first thing in the morning tomorrow. Good luck!

Poor pup! Yes, it's certainly possible that the meloxicam could have caused these symptoms if J ate one of your tablets off the floor - this drug can be used safely in dogs, but 7.5 mg in a 17-18 kg dog is far too much. Overdoses of meloxicam can cause severe stomach ulcers, internal bleeding, and even perforation of the stomach or intestines as well as kidney damage in some cases. If J is still having problems, I would definitely recommend letting your vet know that this is a possibility - he should have blood work to check his kidney function, as well as fluids, anti-nausea medication, and stomach protectants. Most dogs can recover from a one-time meloxicam overdose like this with supportive care, so it's not necessarily a reason to panic - just let you vet know that this might be the problem, to make sure that J is being treated appropriately.

Hello, Lola is indeed at higher risk for adverse reactions even after a single dose of meloxicam, however your veterinarian is likely not too concerned with the severity of her kidney disease. Therefore, the side effects of meloxicam to her kidneys would be dependent on how severe her kidney disease is. I would recommend monitoring her kidney values for the next five days as Meloxicam has a long half-life and can take up to 5 days to remove completely from the body. This could be done with daily blood checks. Also know that of all the NSAIDs, Meloxicam has the widest safety margin in the phase of kidney disease. Look for any signs of increased drinking, decreased urinations, lethargy, painful abdomen, vomiting, or a decreased appetite and have her evaluated immediately if you note any. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Hi, I see you've posted again...you have confirmed that this is a massive overdose of meloxicam for a dog that size and it would definitely cause her to be lethargic. Overdoses are most concerning for causing stomach and/or intestinal ulcers/bleeding. It can also cause significant damage to the kidneys. For these reasons, I recommend you take Polly to the vet immediately. There are medications and treatments that can keep this from getting worse and it's imperative that they are given soon. However, it's worth double-checking the syringe. Liquid meloxicam is usually given with a small 1ml syringe. The 1ml may be written as 1.0ml, which could be confused with 10. A 10ml syringe is considerably bigger and would be quite difficult to give to a cat. Below is a link to a guide that explains the syringe sizes better: http://www.vgr1.com/metacam/

The dose of meloxicam is not toxic for a dog this size. I am unsure how much Carprieve he received as you just state "half a tablet". There are multiple milligram strengths of carprieve. The big concern with these is when you give multiple NSAIDs together you could cause a stomach ulcer. Be on the lookout for vomiting / lethargy and if you see anything, I would get Steel in to a veterinarian as soon as possible. I hope this helps!

Unfortunately this is a very large dose for his size. Also, if he has kidney problems he could be even more sensitive than normal cats. I would have your vet or your local emergency take a look at him. They may want to check his bloodwork to ensure his kidney values look okay and also make sure he is able to pass irons. If he is blocked and cannot urinate then This can also cause more issues with his kidneys. I hope this helps and he starts to feel better soon.

That is quite a large dose for a dog that small. While it may just make Max very drowsy, it is best to seek out care ASAP in the event of a large dose or if Max is acting ill. Signs to watch out for include vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy/confusion.