Metacam Dosage Calculator for Dogs
Estimate the Day 1 loading dose and ongoing daily maintenance dose of Metacam (meloxicam) oral suspension based on your dog's weight and the product concentration.
Estimated Metacam Dosing
Day 1 — Loading Dose
Day 2+ — Daily Maintenance
Overview
Metacam is the brand name for meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) prescribed to dogs to relieve pain and inflammation — most commonly for osteoarthritis, soft-tissue injuries, and post-operative recovery. Because it is dosed by body weight and measured in small volumes of liquid, getting the amount right matters: too little offers poor relief, while too much raises the risk of stomach, kidney, and liver problems.
This calculator is built for dog owners and caregivers who want to double-check the volume their veterinarian prescribed, and for anyone who wants to understand how Metacam dosing works. It converts your dog's weight into both the first-day loading dose and the lower daily maintenance dose, in milligrams and in millilitres, for the exact product concentration you have on hand.
How It Works
- Enter your dog's body weight and choose whether it is in kilograms or pounds.
- Select the Metacam concentration printed on your bottle — 1.5 mg/mL is standard; 0.5 mg/mL is the small-dog formulation.
- Click Calculate Dosage. The tool shows the Day 1 loading dose and the ongoing once-daily maintenance dose.
- Review the full breakdown — weight in kg, dose in mg, and the exact volume in mL for each stage.
- Click Reset to clear everything and start again.
Formula Explanation
Metacam oral suspension for dogs follows a two-stage, weight-based protocol. Day 1 uses a higher "loading" dose to get pain under control quickly; every day after that uses half of that amount.
dose (mg) = body weight (kg) × 0.2 mg/kg
dose (mg) = body weight (kg) × 0.1 mg/kg
volume (mL) = dose (mg) ÷ concentration (mg/mL)
If you enter the weight in pounds, it is first converted to kilograms (1 lb = 0.453592 kg). Volumes are rounded to two decimal places for practical dosing with the syringe supplied.
Practical Benefits
- Catch measurement errors early. Cross-check the mL your vet wrote down against your dog's current weight before you draw up a dose.
- Handles both formulations. Get the right volume whether you have the 1.5 mg/mL or 0.5 mg/mL bottle.
- Separates Day 1 from ongoing days. Avoids the common mistake of continuing the higher loading dose past the first day.
- Weight in kg or lb. No manual conversion needed — enter whatever your scale shows.
- Peace of mind for chronic use. For arthritis and other long-term conditions, a quick recheck each time your dog's weight changes keeps dosing accurate.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Day 1 dose (0.2 mg/kg) is a loading dose designed to build up an effective, steady level of medication quickly so your dog gets relief sooner. From Day 2 onward the dose drops to 0.1 mg/kg once daily, which is enough to maintain that effect while keeping side-effect risk lower.
Give the missed dose when you remember, then continue once daily as usual — but never give two doses at once or "double up" to catch up, as this increases the risk of stomach and kidney problems. If you are unsure, skip the missed dose and resume the normal schedule the next day, and ask your vet.
No. This tool uses canine dosing only. Cats are far more sensitive to meloxicam and follow completely different, much lower dosing rules. Never give a dog's Metacam dose to a cat, and always consult a vet for feline dosing.
Stop the medication and contact your vet immediately if your dog shows loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea (especially with blood), black or tarry stools, unusual tiredness, or increased thirst and urination. These can signal gastrointestinal, kidney, or liver problems and need prompt veterinary attention.
