Metacam Dosage Calculator for Dogs

This Metacam dosage calculator for dogs counts the correct dose of the drug Metacam (meloxicam) for your best friend.

Last updated: January 9, 2026

CreatorFrank Zhao

Dog's weight

More info

Metacam form

Solution strength

🐕

Enter your dog's weight to see the dosage recommendation

1First day dose

\text{firstDay} = 0.2\cdot \text{weight}

2Daily dose after day 1

\text{otherDoses} = 0.1\cdot \text{weight}

3Solution amount

\text{amount} = \frac{\text{dose}}{\text{strength}}

weightDog's weight (kg)

firstDayDose on day 1 (mg)

otherDosesDose after day 1 (mg)

strengthmg/mL

firstAmountmL on day 1

otherAmountmL after day 1

🧾

Introduction / Overview

This Metacam dosage calculator estimates a common two-phase dosing plan based on your dog’s weight: a higher initial dose for day 1, followed by a lower daily maintenance dose. It can display results for the oral solution (in mg and mL) or tablets (in tablet count).

⚠️ Important: dosing decisions should always follow your veterinarian and the product label. This tool is meant for planning and double-checking, not for self-prescribing.

Who is this for?

Dog owners, vet tech students, and anyone who wants a quick weight-based estimate before discussing a plan with a vet.

Helpful pairings

If you’re comparing medications or tracking symptoms, our Dog Life Expectancy Calculator can add context for long-term care planning.

🚀

How to Use / Quick Start Guide

Enter your dog’s weight

Use kilograms, pounds, or ounces — the calculator converts internally.

Choose the form: solution or tablets

If you pick solution, you can also choose the concentration.

Read the two-part result

You’ll see a Day 1 dose and a Day 2+ daily dose.

💡

Practical tip:

If your dog is between tablet ranges or is very small, the solution usually allows finer adjustments.

🧪

Step-by-Step Examples

Example 1: Solution (0.5 mg/mL)

Suppose your dog weighs $23\ \mathrm{lb}$ . Convert to kilograms, compute the Day 1 dose, then convert dose to volume.

w = 23\ \mathrm{lb} \times 0.453592 = 10.43\ \mathrm{kg}

D_1 = 0.2\ \frac{\mathrm{mg}}{\mathrm{kg}} \times 10.43\ \mathrm{kg} = 2.09\ \mathrm{mg}

V_1 = \frac{D_1}{0.5\ \mathrm{mg/mL}} = \frac{2.09}{0.5} = 4.18\ \mathrm{mL}

The calculator will also show the Day 2+ dose using the lower rate.

Example 2: Maintenance dose (Day 2+)

Using the same weight $w = 10.43\ \mathrm{kg}$ , the daily maintenance dose is:

D_{2+}

=

0.1\ \frac{\mathrm{mg}}{\mathrm{kg}}\times 10.43\ \mathrm{kg}

=

1.04\ \mathrm{mg}

If you’re using solution, the calculator converts $\mathrm{mg}$ to $\mathrm{mL}$ based on the selected concentration.

🏡

Real-World Examples / Use Cases

🦴

Post-op inflammation

You want a fast check on the Day 1 vs Day 2+ pattern so you can follow the plan precisely.

⚖️

Weight changes

If weight fluctuates, you can quickly see how the dose shifts because the formula scales with $w$ .

🧴

Switching concentrations

If the solution concentration changes, the volume updates through $V = D/S$ .

📋

Medication log

Use the share link as a “saved plan” you can send to a family member who helps with dosing.

🧠

Learning / training

Great for vet-tech practice: convert units, compute $\mathrm{mg}$ and translate to $\mathrm{mL}$ .

If your dog is taking other medications, it’s worth keeping an organized history. For general planning, our Dog Pregnancy Calculator is another example of a “set-and-check” tool that owners often bookmark.

🗓️

Common Scenarios / When to Use

This calculator is especially useful when:

You have a vet-provided mg/kg plan and want to convert it to mL for the solution.
You want a quick Day 1 vs Day 2+ comparison to avoid mixing them up.
You’re switching between pounds and kilograms and want a reliable conversion.

🚫 It may not be appropriate if your dog has special risk factors (for example, kidney or liver problems) — always check with a vet.

✅

Tips & Best Practices

Use an accurate weight

Small differences can matter. If your dog is between sizes, weigh them as close to dosing day as possible.

Double-check units

Make sure you’re not mixing $\mathrm{mg/mL}$ and $\mathrm{mL}$ . The calculator highlights each to reduce mistakes.

Prefer solution for very small dogs

Tablets can be “chunky” in dosing steps. Solution often gives finer control.

Save and share

Use the Share button to save a link with the current inputs — handy if multiple people help with care.

🧮

Calculation Method / Formula Explanation

The calculator uses a simple weight-based model. Let $w$ be the dog’s weight in kilograms.

Day 1 dose

D_1 = 0.2\,w\ \mathrm{mg}

(a common starting rate expressed in mg)

Day 2+ maintenance dose

D_{2+} = 0.1\,w\ \mathrm{mg}

(daily maintenance rate)

Converting mg to mL (solution)

If the solution strength is $S$ in $\mathrm{mg/mL}$ , then volume is:

V = \frac{D}{S}\ \mathrm{mL}

Where $D$ is the dose in $\mathrm{mg}$ .

📖

Related Concepts / Background Info

What does “mg/kg” mean?

It’s a weight-normalized dose. If the plan is $0.1\ \mathrm{mg/kg}$ , then a dog of weight $w$ kilograms gets $0.1w\ \mathrm{mg}$ .

Why two different doses?

Many medications use a “loading then maintenance” approach. The calculator shows both clearly to reduce mix-ups.

❓

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why does the calculator ask for weight?

Because the underlying model scales with $w$ (your dog’s weight). The core idea is proportional dosing.

What if I only know pounds?

That’s fine — select pounds and enter the number. Internally the calculator converts to kilograms before applying the formulas.

Why does solution volume change when I switch concentration?

The dose in $\mathrm{mg}$ stays the same, but volume is $V = D/S$ . A larger $S$ means fewer milliliters.

Can I use this for cats?

No — dosing is species-specific. Use a vet-approved plan for the specific animal.

Is this medical advice?

No. This is an educational calculator. Always follow professional guidance for medication decisions.

🛡️

Limitations / Disclaimers & Sources

This calculator is not a prescription tool. It does not account for individual risk factors, concurrent medications, lab values, or diagnosis. Use it only to understand or verify a vet-provided plan.