Drug Name
Petcam Tablets (Metacam)

Drug Uses
Petcam Tablets (Metacam) are a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug of the oxicam class.
Petcam Tablets (Metacam) were first launched for dogs in 1993, and are now licensed in over 40 countries around the world.
The Petcam Tablets (Metacam) formulations are available for pets include honey flavoured oral suspension and tablets, as well as an aqueous solution for injection.
All Petcam (Metacam) formulations can be stored at room temperature.
As the oral formulations are primarily used by animal owners, they are supplied in child resistant packaging, i.e. bottles (suspension) or blisters (tablets).
The variety of formulations licensed for Metacam offers veterinarians and dog owners the flexibility to use the formulations they prefer to manage the various levels of inflammation and pain associated with the licensed indications.
Only Petcam (Metacam) oral suspension can be dosed in half kg increments, allowing easy adaptation of the dose e.g. in case of weight loss as the mobility of the patient improves.
Post-operative pain management can be initiated by pre-operative use of the solution for injection, which is compatible with most anaesthetic drugs commonly used in multi-modal pain management protocols.
In vivo and in vitro studies demonstrate meloxicam to inhibit COX-2 to a greater extent than COX-1.

How to use
Petcam (Metacam) oral formulations are administered once daily with or without food. The oral suspension can be administered either via a dispenser syringe or dropper.
Petcam (Metacam) solution for injection is administered as a single dose. It can be administered subcutaneously to cats, and also intravenously to dogs.

Drug Class and Mechanism
Petcam is Generic for Metacam.
Its active ingredient is Meloxicam. Meloxicam Oral Suspension BP(Vet). Alleviation of inflammation and pain in both acute and chronic musculo-skeletal disorders. Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) of the oxicam class which acts by inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, thereby exerting anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-exudtive and antipyretic effects.It reduces leukocyte infiltration into the inflamed tissue.
Alleviation of inflammation and pain in acute and chronic musculo-skeletal disorders, such as osteoarthritis, in dogs.
Reduction of post-operative pain following orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery in dogs after ovariohysterectomy and soft tissue surgery in cats.

Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of Petcam, skip the missed dose and go back to the regular dosing schedule. Do not let your animal take 2 doses at once.

Storage
Store Petcam at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C), in a tightly closed container. Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Petcam out of the reach of children and away from pets.

Warnings/Precautions
Petcam Tablets use can result in gastrointestinal toxicity and bleeding, tinnitus, headache, rash, very dark or black stool (sign of intestinal bleeding).

Possible Side Effects
It is not recommended to use Petcam Tablets in pregnant and lactating dogs or in dogs younger than 6 months of age.

More Information
Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your veterinarian. Use Petcam Tablets exactly as directed.

The dosage is easily adjusted according to the dog's weight. The medicine is usually administered as a single dose of 0.2 mg/kg body weight on the first day of treatment. Thereafter it is administered once daily as 0.1 mg/kg. The oral suspension can be either mixed with food or placed directly into the dog's mouth.