Meloxivet 1.5 mg/ml is an oral suspension suitable dogs for the treatment of Alleviation of inflammation and pain in both acute and chronic musculo-skeletal disorders.

Meloxivet is white to yellowish opaque suspension for dogs and is available in 0.5mg 10ml, 1.5mg 10ml, 1.5mg 30ml and 1.5mg 150ml.

Meloxivet 1.5 mg/ml and 0.5mg/ml is an oral suspension suitable dogs for the treatment of Alleviation of inflammation and pain in both acute and chronic musculo-skeletal disorders.

Meloxivet is white to yellowish opaque suspension for dogs and is available in 0.5mg 10ml, 1.5mg 10ml, 1.5mg 30ml and 1.5mg 150ml. The composition for 1 ml: Meloxicam 1.5 mg. Sodium benzoate 1 mg. Oral suspension. White to yellowish opaque suspension for dogs and for alleviation of inflammation and pain in both acute and chronic musculo-skeletal disorders.
Oral use. Shake well before use. To be administered with food.

Initial treatment is a single dose of 0.2 mg meloxicam/kg body weight on the first day. Treatment is to be continued once daily by oral administration (24 hour intervals) at a maintenance dose of 0.1 mg meloxicam/kg body weight.

Particular care should be taken with regard to the accuracy of dosing. The suspension has to be given with the measuring syringes provided in the package of the 30ml and 150ml pack size or with one of the two measuring syringes provided in the package of the 10ml pack. The syringe fits onto the bottle and has a kg-body weight scale which corresponds to the maintenance dose (ie. 0.1 mg meloxicam/kg body weight). Thus for the first day, twice the maintenance volume will be required.

The suspension in the 10ml pack size could be administered using the smaller syringe for dogs less than 8 kg body weight (one graduation corresponding to 0.5kg of body weight) or the larger syringe for dogs over 8kg body weight (one graduation corresponding to 2.0kg of body weight).

A clinical response is normally seen within 3 - 4 days. Treatment should be discontinued after 10 days at the latest if no clinical improvement is apparent.
Avoid introduction of contamination during use.

Do not use in pregnant or lactating dogs.Do not use in dogs suffering from gastrointestinal disorders such as irritation and haemorrhage, impaired hepatic, cardiac or renal function and haemorrhagic disorders. Do not use in case of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients. Do not use in dogs less than 6 weeks of age.

If side effects occur, treatment should be discontinued and the advice of the veterinarian should be sought. Avoid use in any dehydrated, hypovolaemic or hypotensive dog, as there is a potential risk of increased renal toxicity. Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the the veterinary medicinal product to animals. People with known hypersensitivity to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should avoid contact with the veterinary medicinal product. In case of accidental ingestion, seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician.

Typical adverse reactions of NSAIDs such as loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, faecal occult blood and apathy have occasionally been reported.
These side effects 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.

The safety of the veterinary medicinal product has not been established during pregnancy and lactation. Other NSAIDs, diuretics, anticoagulants, aminoglycoside antibiotics and substances with high protein binding may compete for binding and thus lead to toxic effects. Meloxivet must not be administered in conjunction with other NSAIDs or glucocorticosteroids. Pre- treatment with anti-inflammatory substances may result in additional or increased adverse reactions and accordingly a treatment-free period with such should be observed for at least 24 hours before commencement of treatment. The treatment-free period, however, should take into account the pharmacokinetic properties of veterinary products used previously.

In case of overdose symptomatic treatment should be initiated. Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) of the oxicam class which acts by inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, thereby exerting anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-exudative and antipyretic effects. It reduces leukocyte infiltration into the inflamed tissue. To a minor extent it also inhibits collagen-induced thrombocyte aggregation. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that meloxicam inhibits cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) to a greater extent than cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1).

Absorption: Meloxicam is completely absorbed following oral administration and maximal plasma concentrations are obtained after approximately 6.1 hours. When the product is used according to the recommended dosage regime, steady state concentrations of meloxicam in plasma are reached on the second day of treatment.

Distribution: There is a linear relationship between the dose of meloxicam administered and plasma concentration observed in the therapeutic dose range. Approximately 97 % of meloxicam is bound to plasma proteins. The volume of distribution is 0.3 l/kg.
Metabolism: Meloxicam is predominantly found in plasma and is also a major biliary excretion product whereas urine contains only traces of the parent compound. Meloxicam is metabolised to an alcohol, an acid derivative and to several polar metabolites. All major metabolites have been shown to be pharmacologically inactive.

Elimination: Meloxicam is eliminated with a half-life of 24 hours. Approximately 75 % of the administered dose of meloxicam is eliminated via faeces and the remainder via urine.

Shelf life after first opening the immediate packaging: 6 months. This veterinary medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
10 ml presentation: amber glass bottle (type III) with polyethylene child resistant closure, polyethylene insert and clear polypropylene dosing syringe. Two measuring syringes are provided. 30 ml and 150 ml presentation: amber glass bottle (type III) with polypropylene child resistant closure, polyethylene insert and clear polypropylene dosing syringe. Any unused veterinary medicinal product or waste materials derived from such veterinary medicinal products should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.

POM-V