Piroxicam
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Piroxicam during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
Piroxicam
(per-ox-i-kam)
Description: Piroxicam for pets
Piroxicam for pets. This medicine is a non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (an anti-swelling and pain medicine that is not a steroid). It is also used as an anti-tumor medicine (a medicine used as part of cancer treatment).
Other Names for this Medication:
- Feldene®
Common Dosage Forms:
- Veterinary: There is no standard animal-labeled form, but a pharmacy may prepare a custom form (a “compounded” form) that fits small animals.
- Human: Capsules taken by mouth: 10 mg and 20 mg.
This handout does not include every piece of information that exists for this medicine, and it has not been reviewed by the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine. It is meant to address common questions, but it does not replace medical guidance. If you still have questions or need additional details about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
Key Information
- Best given with a meal to help lower the chance of stomach upset.
- Stomach sores and bleeding can happen, and kidney issues are also possible (especially in cats).
- This medicine is most often used as part of cancer drug treatment in dogs, cats, and horses.
How is this medication useful?
Piroxicam is mainly used together with other cancer medicines for certain cancers in dogs and cats, especially cancers involving the urinary bladder. It is also used for some cancers in horses. This medicine may help the body better destroy cancer cells. In people, it is also used to ease pain and inflammation (such as swelling and redness). However, for dogs, cats, and horses, there are other medicines that are considered safer for pain and inflammation.
The FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration) has approved this medicine for people, but it is not officially approved for animals. In some cases, the FDA allows veterinarians to prescribe medicines containing this drug for different animal species or for different health problems. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this medicine is the best choice for your animal.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many factors can change how this medicine works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make treatment choices together.
- Other medicines can affect how this medicine works. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. Also share how much you give and when you give each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had before.
- If your animal has been treated before for the same illness or problem, tell your veterinarian what was used and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss the possible risks of using this medicine.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any past medicine reactions or side effects your animal has had (including allergic reactions, not wanting to eat, diarrhea, itching, or hair loss).
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
You may notice your animal seems better within 1 to 2 hours after a dose. After that, the signs you are seeing should improve. The effects last a medium amount of time, which means they can continue for a few days. The helpful effects may last longer if your animal’s kidneys and/or liver are not working as well.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any special concerns for your animal.
This drug should be used WITH CAUTION in patients:
- If your animal has any of the conditions or signs listed below, talk with your veterinarian about weighing the possible risks and benefits.
- Animals that have an allergy to this medicine, aspirin, or other NSAIDs (for example, meloxicam).
- Animals that are having surgery, or are in the recovery period after surgery.
- Animals that currently have, or previously had, stomach or intestinal sores (ulcers). This medicine can cause those sores to get worse or come back.
- Animals with serious heart disease. This medicine can make fluid build-up worse.
- Animals with kidney disease.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Side effects that usually are not serious include:
You do not need to be highly worried if you notice these, unless they are strong, get worse, or do not go away. If that happens, contact your veterinarian.
- Vomiting within 1 to 2 hours after a dose. Giving the dose with food or a small snack may help.
- Taking longer than usual for bleeding to stop after a cut.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you notice any of the following, contact your veterinarian right away.
- Eating less, vomiting (especially if it looks like coffee grounds), or changes in stool (such as diarrhea, black tar-like stool, or stool with blood). These can be signs of stomach sores or bleeding in the intestines.
- Effects on the brain and nerves. Signs may include being unusually tired, low energy, or unusually active; poor coordination or weakness (such as stumbling); seizures; or aggressive behavior (threatening actions).
- Kidney trouble. Changes in how much your animal drinks, how often they drink, or changes in urination (how often, the color, or the smell) can be signs.
- Liver trouble. Yellow color on the gums, skin, or the whites of the eyes can be a sign.
- Skin trouble. Redness, crusts/scabs, or scratching.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
If you see an overdose happen, or you think it may have happened, call your veterinarian or an animal poison control center right away for instructions. These poison control centers are open 24 hours a day:
- Pet Poison HELPLINE (855-764-7661)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435)
These services charge a consultation fee.
How should this medication be given?
To get the intended effect, give this medicine exactly the way your veterinarian prescribed it. Always read the prescription label so you confirm you are giving it correctly.
- You can give this medicine with food or without food. Giving it with food may lower the chance of stomach upset. If your animal vomits or seems unwell after getting it without food, try giving the next dose with a meal or a small treat. If vomiting continues, contact your veterinarian.
- If you are using a custom-made liquid form (a compounded liquid), measure the dose with care. Your veterinarian or pharmacist can provide special spoons or oral syringes to help you measure.
- If giving the medicine is difficult, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for ideas to make dosing easier and to reduce stress during medicine time.
- This medicine may be used for different lengths of time. Make sure you understand how long your veterinarian wants your animal to stay on it. You may need prescription refills before treatment is finished. Do not stop this medicine without speaking with your veterinarian, because there may be important reasons to keep using it.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
- Dogs, Horses: If you forget a dose, give it when you remember. If it is within 12 hours of the next scheduled dose, do not give the missed dose. Instead, give the next dose at the regular time and then continue the normal schedule. Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
- Cats: If you forget a dose, give it when you remember. Then wait the full amount of time between doses that your veterinarian recommended before giving the next dose. Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine at room temperature, in its original prescription container or in an approved pill organizer, and keep it away from light.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist prepared a custom-made form for your animal (a compounded product), follow the storage directions and the expiration date provided for that product.
- Store it where children and other animals cannot reach it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
- People who are pregnant (especially during the third trimester) and anyone who is allergic to this medicine should take extra care to avoid accidentally taking it.
- Because this medicine has a higher chance of causing birth defects, pregnant women should not breathe in dust from tablets or capsules that are split or crushed. If powder or liquid containing this medicine gets on the skin or in the eyes, wash the area right away and thoroughly.
- After handling any medicine, wash your hands.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not put this medicine into the toilet or pour it into a sink drain.
- If your area has a community medicine take-back program, use that.
- If there is no take-back option, combine the medicine with used coffee grounds or cat litter so it is unpleasant to children and animals and not recognizable to someone searching trash.
- Put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag to prevent leaks, and place it in the household trash.
- Do not keep extra medicine for later use, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- Some animal competitions do not allow the use of this medicine. Check the rules before entering your animal in a competition while your animal is receiving this medicine.
- Your veterinarian will suggest regular blood testing while your animal is taking this medicine. Keep these follow-up appointments.
- If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”