Loxicom is a brand of Meloxicam oral suspension prescribed by vets for the treatment of pain and inflammation in dogs following surgery, or for musculoskeletal disorders such as arthritis. It comes as a palatable oral liquid.

Dosage Protocol

Loxicom is given once daily. The initial (loading) dose on Day 1 is 0.2 mg/kg. From Day 2 onwards, the maintenance dose is reduced to 0.1 mg/kg once daily. Always use the syringe provided to measure the volume accurately.

Available Concentrations

Loxicom oral suspension for dogs is available at 1.5 mg/ml. Some generic meloxicam suspensions may differ — always check the label and select the correct concentration in the calculator above.

Safety & Side Effects

Give with food to minimise GI upset. Do not use alongside other NSAIDs or corticosteroids. Not suitable for dogs with renal, hepatic or cardiac disease. Stop treatment and contact your vet if vomiting, diarrhoea, or loss of appetite occurs.

💊 NSAID · Preferential COX-2 Inhibitor

Dog Loxicom Dosage Calculator

Precise meloxicam (Loxicom, Metacam) oral suspension dosing for dogs — covering the critical loading-dose Day 1 protocol, maintenance dosing, breed-specific considerations, and syringe measurement guidance for the 1.5 mg/mL suspension.

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Prescription NSAID — veterinary supervision required. Never combine with other NSAIDs, aspirin, or corticosteroids. Loxicom/Metacam suspension is for dogs ONLY — do not use in cats unless using the licensed feline formulation (0.5 mg/mL). Obtain baseline bloodwork before starting; monitor every 3–6 months.

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About Meloxicam (Loxicom / Metacam / Mobic)

Drug Class

Preferential COX-2 Inhibitor — NSAID Analgesic/Anti-Inflammatory

Mechanism of Action

Meloxicam preferentially inhibits COX-2 over COX-1 at therapeutic doses, reducing prostaglandin synthesis that drives pain, inflammation, and fever while providing relative GI protection compared to non-selective NSAIDs. Available as an oral liquid with a dosing syringe for accurate small-dose measurement.

Primary Uses in Dogs

Osteoarthritis, post-operative pain (orthopaedic and soft tissue), acute musculoskeletal pain, fever. Liquid formulation allows precise dosing in small dogs that makes it popular for long-term use.

Dosing Quick Reference

Indication	Dose	Frequency
Day 1 loading dose	0.2 mg/kg	Once PO with food
Maintenance (Day 2+)	0.1 mg/kg	q24h PO with food
IV perioperative	0.2 mg/kg	Single IV dose slow

Common Side Effects

GI upset, vomiting (less than non-selective NSAIDs)
GI ulceration with prolonged use
Renal dysfunction — especially risk in dehydrated patients
Elevated liver enzymes
Fluid retention (rare)

Monitoring

Renal and hepatic function (BUN, creatinine, ALT) at baseline, then every 6 months for chronic use. Urinalysis. Dogs with pre-existing renal disease require more frequent monitoring.

⚠️ Critical to start at correct Day 1 loading dose (0.2 mg/kg) then reduce to maintenance (0.1 mg/kg) from Day 2 onwards — do NOT continue at the loading dose. Never combine with corticosteroids or other NSAIDs. The oral liquid should be shaken well before use and stored at room temperature.

What Is Loxicom / Metacam (Meloxicam)?

Loxicom and Metacam are brand names for meloxicam oral suspension for dogs — a preferential COX-2-inhibiting NSAID of the oxicam class. Meloxicam selectively inhibits cyclooxygenase-2 over COX-1 at therapeutic doses, reducing prostaglandin synthesis at inflammatory sites while causing less gastric mucosal damage than non-selective NSAIDs like aspirin.

The oral suspension (1.5 mg/mL) is supplied with a calibrated oral dosing syringe, allowing precise dosing across a wide weight range. The product uses a unique dosing protocol: a higher loading dose on Day 1 (0.2 mg/kg) to rapidly reach therapeutic plasma concentrations, followed by a lower maintenance dose (0.1 mg/kg q24h) from Day 2 onwards. This protocol is important — many owners accidentally continue the loading dose beyond Day 1.

Pharmacokinetics in Dogs

Oral bioavailability: ~98% — near-complete absorption; food does not significantly reduce absorption
Time to peak (Tmax): ~7.5 hours (oral suspension in fed dogs)
Half-life (dogs): ~24 hours — enables once-daily dosing
COX selectivity: ~10× more COX-2 selective than COX-1 at therapeutic doses
Protein binding: ~97%
Elimination: Primarily faecal (bile-excreted); ~25% renal
Suspension concentration: 1.5 mg/mL (standard); also available as 5 mg/mL injectable

Indications

Osteoarthritis — long-term management
Post-operative pain (orthopaedic and soft tissue)
Acute musculoskeletal pain, spinal pain (IVDD)
Dental procedures (perioperative analgesia)

How to Use This Calculator

Enter your dog’s body weight in kg or lbs — use lean/ideal body weight if obese
Select whether this is Day 1 (loading dose: 0.2 mg/kg) or Day 2 onwards (maintenance: 0.1 mg/kg)
Select concentration of suspension (standard is 1.5 mg/mL)
Click Calculate to see dose in mg and mL to draw on the syringe
Give directly into the mouth or mix with a small amount of food
Shake well before each use

🧮 Loxicom Meloxicam Dose Calculator

Dog’s Weight

Weight Unit

Treatment Day

Suspension Concentration

Body Condition

Loxicom Dosing Result

Day 1 vs Maintenance — Why It Matters

Day	Dose Rate	Purpose	Example (20 kg dog)
Day 1 only	0.2 mg/kg	Loading — achieves rapid therapeutic plasma levels	4.0 mg = 2.67 mL
Day 2 onwards	0.1 mg/kg q24h	Maintenance — steady-state anti-inflammatory effect	2.0 mg = 1.33 mL

⚠️ Common error: continuing the Day 1 (0.2 mg/kg) dose from Day 2 onwards delivers double the maintenance dose — significantly increasing the risk of GI ulceration and renal injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

Meloxicam has a half-life of approximately 24 hours in dogs. Without a loading dose, it would take 4–5 days of maintenance dosing to reach steady-state therapeutic plasma concentrations. The higher Day 1 dose (0.2 mg/kg) rapidly saturates plasma protein binding sites and achieves peak tissue concentrations within hours, so effective analgesia and anti-inflammatory action begins on the first day of treatment. From Day 2 onwards, the 0.1 mg/kg maintenance dose replaces what is eliminated each day, maintaining steady-state levels.

Both are excellent, well-studied NSAIDs for dogs, and direct comparative trials show similar efficacy for OA pain and inflammation. The key differences are formulation and COX selectivity: meloxicam is available as an oral suspension (useful for small dogs or dogs that refuse tablets), has slightly greater COX-2 selectivity than carprofen, and uses a once-daily dosing protocol. Carprofen has more flexibility (tablet sizes from 25–100 mg) and a longer track record in large dogs. The choice often depends on individual dog preference, owner compliance, and cost. Both require equivalent monitoring.

Loxicom 1.5 mg/mL (the dog formulation) should NOT be used in cats — the concentration is too high for accurate dosing in small cats. Cats also have significantly reduced glucuronidation capacity, making them more susceptible to NSAID toxicity. A specific feline formulation of meloxicam exists (0.5 mg/mL, licensed in EU/UK as Metacam for cats) for short-term post-operative use only. Long-term NSAID use in cats requires specialist guidance. If you own both a dog and cat, keep medications clearly labelled and separate.

The Loxicom / Metacam oral syringe is calibrated in weight (kg body weight of the dog) rather than in mL, which simplifies dosing for owners at maintenance (0.1 mg/kg). Align the plunger ring to the dog’s body weight mark on the syringe barrel for the maintenance dose. For the Day 1 loading dose, you will need to draw double the amount (or your vet may have pre-calculated the mL). If using a standard mL syringe instead, use the mL volume calculated by this calculator. Always shake the bottle before drawing the dose and administer directly into the side of the mouth or mix with a small amount of food.

Signs of NSAID toxicity from meloxicam overdose include vomiting (with or without blood), diarrhoea, black/tarry stools (melaena indicating GI bleeding), decreased appetite, lethargy, increased thirst and urination (renal effects), pale mucous membranes, and abdominal pain. In severe cases, acute kidney injury or GI perforation can occur. If overdose is suspected, contact your vet or animal poison control immediately. Do not induce vomiting without veterinary guidance. Treatment includes GI decontamination, IV fluids, GI protectants (sucralfate, PPI), and renal monitoring.

References

Loxicom/Metacam (meloxicam) oral suspension prescribing information. Norbrook / Boehringer Ingelheim; 2023.
Plumb DC. Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th ed. Wiley-Blackwell; 2018.
Papich MG. Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th ed. Elsevier; 2016.
Montoya L, et al. Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in dogs after single intravenous and oral doses. J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 2004;27(6):503-505.
Deneuche AJ, et al. Analgesic comparison of meloxicam or ketoprofen for orthopaedic surgery in dogs. J Small Anim Pract. 2004;45(3):117-122.