Because goats are a minority species in most Western countries, there are few drugs specifically licensed for use in goats, so that is generally necessary to use drugs licensed for use in other species of farm animals. Although the exact regulations vary from country to country, regulatory authorities expect that a genuine veterinarian–client relationship exists and that animals are under the clinical control of the veterinary surgeon before drugs are prescribed ‘off-label’. In the United Kingdom, a veterinary surgeon, or someone acting under his direction, may only administer a product to a food-producing animal if it contains substances found in a product authorised for use in other food-producing animals and other countries have similar restrictions on the use of drugs. Furthermore, so far as most regulatory authorities are concerned, all goats are food-producing animals and they do not recognise a separate category of ‘pet goat’, which will never enter the food-chain
Dosage and Administration
Cattle: Single subcutaneous or intravenous injection of 0.5 mg meloxicam/kg body weight (2.5 mL/100 kg). For reduction in pain associated with abdominal surgery, administer 10 to 20 minutes before the painful procedure.
Sheep: Single subcutaneous injection administered 15-30 minutes prior to painful procedure. Inject the product high on the neck behind the ear at a dose of 1.0 mg meloxicam/kg body weight (1.0 mL/20 kg).
Contraindications
Do not use in animals suffering from gastrointestinal disorders such as irritation and hemorrhage, impaired hepatic, cardiac or renal function and hemorrhagic disorders, or where there is individual hypersensitivity to the product.
Do not administer concurrently with steroidal, other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or with anti-coagulant agents.
Concomitant use of NSAIDs with aminoglycoside antimicrobials in very young animals may result in renal toxicity.
Cautions:Do not use in bulls, rams or boars intended for breeding.
Avoid use in very severely dehydrated, hypovolaemic or hypotensive animals which require parenteral rehydration, as there may be a potential risk of increased renal toxicity.
Use of anti-inflammatories in very young or debilitated animals may involve additional risk. The safety of meloxicam has not been evaluated in lambs less than 14 days of age. The safety of meloxicam in breeding and pregnant sows has not been fully evaluated.
Available data suggest that meloxicam has no harmful effects in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. However, the potential effects of meloxicam on imminent parturition have not been evaluated. This product can be used in lactating sows.
Treatment of cows with meloxicam before abdominal surgery reduces post-operative pain. An anti-inflammatory alone will not provide adequate pain relief during the surgical procedure. To obtain adequate pain relief during surgery, co-medication with an appropriate analgesic is recommended.
Warnings
– Treated animals must not be slaughtered for use in food for at least 20 days for cattle, 5 days for swine and 11 days for sheep after the latest treatment with this drug.
– Milk taken from treated cows during treatment and within 96 hours after the latest treatment with this drug must not be used in food.
– Do not use in lactating ewes or pregnant ewes within 11 days of lambing where milk may be used or processed for human consumption.
– Do not use in calves to be processed for veal as a withdrawal period has not been established for pre-ruminating calves.
– People with known hypersensitivity to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should not handle this product.
– Caution should be taken to avoid accidental self-injection, ingestion and contact with eyes.
– This product can cause eye irritation. In case of contact with the eyes, immediately rinse thoroughly with water.
– Keep out of reach of children.
Special precautions for use in animals
If adverse reactions occur, treatment should be discontinued and the advice of a veterinarian should be sought.
Avoid use in very severely dehydrated, hypovolaemic or hypotensive animals which require parenteral rehydration, as there may be a potential risk of renal toxicity.
In case of inadequate relief of pain when used in the treatment of equine colic, careful re-evaluation of the diagnosis should be made as this could indicate the need for surgical intervention.
Withdrawal periods
Cattle:
Meat and offal – 15 days.
Milk – 5 days.
Pigs:
Meat and offal – 5 days.
Horses:
Meat and offal – 5 days.
Not authorised to use in horses producing milk for human consumption.
Prices of Metacam For Goats
$33.10 – $189.92