Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My dog is lethargic after taking meloxicam. Is it an overdose?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Bedlington Terrier | Female | spayed | 6 years and 10 months old | 22 lbs

Polly has an anal abscess and is taking 10ml of meloxicam and Antirobe 150mg, she is eating and drinking, poo and wee as normal but she is very lethargic . She is a 10,7 kg dog and the 10 ml of meloxicam is given in a syringe Drew up to 10 ml level. She has been on this since Thursday . Is the lethargy a result of her medication?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on August 26th, 2017

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/

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Susan England-Foster
Veterinarian
I am sorry Polly is not feeling well. I would call your vet and discuss the meloxicam dose. We do not use it at that high of a dose in the United States by they might in the U.K. However it is usually dosed by pounds. Do you think you are giving a 10lbs dose. If he is taking to much meloxicam it can cause gi upset but so can antibiotics. I just think the best option is to take Polly back to the veterinarian to discuss her being lethargic and meloxicam dose. Hope that helps
0Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on December 9th, 2017
This is somewhat concerning, because he got about 3x the recommended dose and this class of drugs can quickly become problematic at high doses. However, it's possible that there will be no adverse effects from this. The most common adverse effect is vomiting, inappetence (stops eating), or diarrhea. If you notice this, or signs of lethargy or other abnormal behavior, then it will be best to take him to the vet fro an evaluation and treatment.

For now, it's best to not give anymore meloxicam until you are able to contact the veterinarian that prescribed it. They will be able to better advise you on the best course of action.

I hope that helps and all is well with Bob.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

What if my dog ate human Meloxicam and vets are closed?

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!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

Dog ate Metacam. Vomiting, lethargic, pale gums. Is it delayed?

Hello. As a general rule of thumb, we will begin to see gastrointestinal problems with Metacam if a dog receives 4-5 times the regular therapeutic dose. In Louis' case, he is just at that point. His gums look to be a nice pink color, but he may still be experiencing a fairly intensive gastroenteritis. He may need some stomach protectants & anti-nausea medication to help him get over this, so please call your veterinarian as soon as you can. He should feel much better once he has some medication to treat his symptoms. I hope Louis is feeling better soon & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog ate my meloxicam. Could this cause coughing blood and bile?

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

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

As long as the smaller dog doesn't have any pre-existing liver or kidney issues, its unlikely that this will be a problem. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, or decreased appetite, or lethargy; if you notice any of these symptoms, take him to the vet for an exam and bloodwork. Again, though, based on what you are describing, as long as Bean is otherwise healthy, I think its extremely unlikely that this will cause any issues. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My cat had a Metacam overdose. What symptoms should I watch for?

That may result in gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting, diarrhoea even with fresh or digested blood in it (due to ulcers) or may lead to kidney failure ( which can happen acutely). Metacam is a liquid and gets rapidly absorbed ( so make her sick is usually not very useful). If you notice any of signs such as vomiting ,diarrhoea ,lethargy ,depression ,inappetence,increased drinking level increase urination or complete cessation of it, then I would recommend (even after several hours or few days from ingestion) to take her to your veterinarian for a check up.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog with kidney disease took Metacam. Is one dose safe for her?

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My cat with kidney issues got too much Meloxicam. Vet needed?

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share