Death after Meloxicam (Metacam) in cats

The FDA has received 865 reports of death in cats after Meloxicam. That is 24% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 8.9% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

865Reports

30%Marked serious

0.0%Recovered

99%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

63 26%

1–2 days

62 25%

3–7 days

51 21%

1–4 weeks

44 18%

Over a month

27 11%

How the animals did

Died

718 83%

Euthanised

136 16%

Not known

11 1.3%

Problems reported at the same time

460 53%

372 43%

330 38%

239 28%

162 19%

115 13%

113 13%

99 11%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

148

1–3 years

120

4–7 years

160

8–11 years

153

12+ years

239

About this medicine

Meloxicam relieves pain and inflammation.

Products with this ingredient include Metacam. The FDA hides brand names in its public data, so these reports cover every product with the same active ingredients.

NSAIDs can affect the stomach, liver and kidneys. Vets usually recommend blood tests before and during long-term use.

Questions owners ask

Can Meloxicam cause death in cats?: 865 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within 2 days of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Death with similar medicines

Death after Robenacoxib (Onsior) 531 reports · 16% of its reports
Death after Carprofen (Rimadyl) 164 reports · 9.6% of its reports
Death after Deracoxib (Deramaxx) 27 reports · 27% of its reports

All reported side effects of Meloxicam in cats · Medicines most reported with death