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Is it safe to give my senior dog human meloxicam for arthritis?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Miniature Pinscher | Female | spayed | 10 lbs

my 12 yr old min pin 10 pounds has what appears to be arthritis pain. she has been given meloxicam by our vet before. I have some of my own human meloxicam. can I break it up and give her some

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on March 4th, 2017

No, I would not give this to Dixie. It may be the incorrect dose for her, and you can accidentally do harm to her by giving her it. I would have her seen by a vet first thing Monday. Until then, I would rest her and keep her as quiet as possible. You can give her glucosamine and chondrotin sulfate supplements which help with joint problems such as arthritis.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on November 30th, 2018

    Hi there. No, I would definitely NOT give your pup any of your meloxicam. While this is a medication that is sometimes used in dogs, the dose for a dog this size would be much too small to be able to use human tablets. In addition, this medication isn't safe for some older dogs if they have any pre-existing liver, kidney, or GI issues, which is something your veterinarian would likely need to determine via lab work before prescribing. Since it does sound like Ruby may have some arthritis issues, I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam when you are able to. Your veterinarian can prescribe a safe and effective pain medication for her to help make her more comfortable. In the meantime, you could try starting her on a daily glucosamine/chondroitin supplement like Cosequin or Dasuquin, as this can be helpful for some arthritic dogs and can be purchased over the counter.

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