My dog ate meloxicam – what should I do?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: Pet Poison Helpline

Call a vet now

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. Meloxicam can be toxic to dogs when eaten in toxic amounts.

What to do now

What to do right now

Note what was eaten, how much and when.
Bring the packaging.
Keep your dog calm.
Remove what is left.

Don't

Do not make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.
Do not give any human medicine.

Why it can be dangerous

Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).^[1] Meloxicam is used to treat inflammation and pain associated with osteoarthritis in dogs.^[1] When ingested in toxic amounts, meloxicam can be toxic to companion animals.^[1]

Signs to watch for

vomiting
diarrhea
excessive urination
depression
coma
death

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

How much meloxicam is dangerous?

A toxic amount can be dangerous to a dog.

What signs should I watch for?

Use the signs listed above and call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now.

What should I do now?

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now.

Sources

Pet Poison Helpline

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages