Rheumocam for Dogs and Cats
Formulation
Liquid / tablets
Active ingredient
Meloxicam
Category
Pain relief / anti-inflammatory
What is Rheumocam?
Rheumocam is the brand name for meloxicam manufactured and marketed by Chanelle Pharma. It’s a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) useful to control pain and inflammation. It’s in the same class as human ibuprofen (but much less dangerous for pets).
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What does Rheumocam do?
Rheumocam is absorbed from the gut after your dog takes it orally. It then targets an enzyme called COX, which is important in the production of inflammatory prostaglandins. By blocking this enzyme, it prevents prostaglandin H2 from being made. In turn, this stops the chain reaction which causes pain, redness, and swelling.
Rheumocam preferentially targets COX-2, which is mainly involved in inflammation, rather than COX-1, which is important for normal function of the kidneys. This means it has fewer side effects than some non-selective COX inhibitors.
What is Rheumocam used for?
Meloxicom is often the first drug your vet will reach for when your pet has inflammation or pain, especially when they’re young and healthy. It’s particularly helpful in:
- Arthritis: Rheumocam can reduce joint pain and inflammation in pets with arthritis.
- Musculoskeletal injury: From sprains to broken legs, Rheumocam is helpful in dogs and cats with damage to muscles and bones.
- After surgery: Surgery is painful without medications, and inflammation after damage like cutting the skin is natural. However, it can get in the way of healing. Rheumocam is commonly prescribed post-surgery to control pain and inflammation.
- Tooth pain: Rheumacam is also used in cases of tooth pain.
Rheumocam is a commonly used drug, so if your pet’s condition isn’t listed here, don’t be surprised. We couldn’t possibly cover all situations when meloxicam could be useful!
What are the side effects of Rheumocam in dogs and cats?
While side effects are uncommon when Rheumocam is used properly, they do happen. The side effects noted with Rheumocam are generally the same as for other NSAIDs. You might spot the following:
- Gastrointestinal issues: A loss of appetite, vomiting, or diarrhoea have sometimes been reported. There is sometimes blood in the diarrhoea or in the vomit.
- Liver and kidney problems: Rheumocam can rarely cause kidney failure and raised liver enzymes. Your vet will recommend monitoring of these organs if your pet needs to take Rheumocam for a long time.
- Changes in behaviour: Lethargy is a noted side effect of Rheumocam.
Remember, this list doesn’t include all possible side effects, and most pets won’t experience any of these. However, if you notice any side effects (whether they’re listed here or not) or if your cat or dog still seems uncomfortable after taking Rheumocam, it’s always best to contact your vet right away. Don’t give any more doses until you’ve spoken to a veterinary professional.
Your vet has a duty to report side effects, or medications that aren’t working as expected, to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) so that safety can be monitored.
As a pet owner, you can also report a suspected side effect to the VMD if you think Rheumocam caused problems for your pet. Or, read our article for more advice about reporting suspected pet drug side effects to the VMD.
How to give Rheumocam safely
You should always give medications safely to reduce the risk of side effects. Here are some things you can do reduce the risk of side effects from Rheumocam in your pet:
- Follow vet instructions: Always use Rheumocam exactly as your vet has prescribed. This includes the right dose and frequency. Never adjust the dose on your own, even if your dog or cat seems to be feeling better or worse. If you aren’t sure of the dose prescribed, please call your vet to confirm.
- If using the liquid product, only use the syringe provided: The Rheumocam syringe is not a normal syringe. It’s a specially-calibrated syringe where the numbers on the side correspond to your pet’s weight. This means that the ‘5’ on the syringe is for 5kg, not 5mls. It’s therefore essential that you only use the Rheumocam syringe with Rheumocam.
If you lose the syringe that comes with the bottle, call your vet and arrange to get a spare. Do not use a syringe from a different brand or product as this could lead to the wrong dose being given. - Shake the bottle: Liquid Rheumocam is a suspension. This means the drug is a powder ‘suspended’ in a liquid. It may settle to the bottom over time, causing underdose or overdose. So, make sure you shake the bottle before drawing up a dose of Rheumocam.
- Use the right concentration: Liquid Rheumocam comes in two concentrations – 0.5mg/ml for cats and 1.5mg/ml for dogs. Do not use the dog product for cats, or the cat product for dogs, as under- and over-dosing will be likely.
- Give with or after food: Rheumocam should be given on a full stomach. You can either put it on your pet’s food or syringe it directly into their mouth after they’ve eaten. If using the tablet version of Rheumocam, it can be put directly into the mouth or given as a treat after some food has been eaten.
- Check with your vet if giving anything else: Your vet should be aware of other drugs your pet is on, but it’s always worth double-checking in case there’s been a miscommunication somewhere.
If your dog is on supplements or non-prescription treatments you should also tell your vet when they prescribe Rheumocam, as they may not be suitable to be given together. This is still the case for natural treatments, homeopathic treatments, and herbal treatments. - Report any accidental overdose to your vet immediately: If you have mistakenly given too much Rheumocam, report it to your vet as soon as you realise the error. They may recommend blood tests, intravenous fluids, or monitoring, depending on the severity of the overdose.
- Stop using if vomiting or diarrhoea occur: Vomiting and diarrhoea can cause dehydration, which can make Rheumocam more dangerous. If your pet experiences vomiting or diarrhoea, stop the medication and contact your veterinarian for advice.
How much monitoring do pets on Rheumocam need?
Moderate
It’s recommended that pets taking Rheumocam long-term have blood tests to monitor their kidney and liver function
Your vet will need to perform a ‘clinical assessment’ to continue giving your pet Rheumocam. What this assessment includes varies depending on the drug, your pet, their condition, and the vet. In general, pets having long-term Rheumocam will need vet checks every 3-6 months, and your vet may recommend a blood test to check their liver and kidney values.
How much does Rheumocam cost?
£ – Inexpensive
Rheumocam is relatively inexpensive.
Rheumocam is a relatively inexpensive drug. A 4kg cat costs about £20 per month on Rheumocam, while it will cost about £18 per month to keep a 10kg dog on Rheumocam liquid. A large 40kg dog might cost more like £60 per month. The tablets are usually used for shorter durations of treatment – a 10kg dog costs as little as £0.50-£1 per day, while a 50kg dog could cost £3 per day.
Rheumocam FAQs
How quickly does Rheumocam work in cats and dogs?
Rheumocam is fully absorbed within about 5 hours of eating it. This means improvement can be seen within just a few hours. However, depending on your pet’s condition and the level of inflammation present it can take 4-5 days for Rheumocam to improve your pet’s pain. If your cat or dog hasn’t improved after 5 days, you’ll need to take them back to your vet.
How much Rheumocam should I give my dog or cat?
You should always follow the prescribing vet’s directions when giving Rheumocam. These should be written clearly on the medication – usually printed on the label. If they aren’t clear, phone your veterinary practice, who can check for you.
In general, the liquid drug is given with the special syringe, and you draw the dose up to your pet’s weight. So, for a 12kg dog, you’d draw up to the 12 on the syringe. However, this might be changed depending on your pet’s age, health, or size.
In general, Rheumocam tablets are given at a dose of 0.1mg per kilogram of bodyweight. A 1mg tablet does 10kg, and a 2.5mg tablet doses for 25kg, with half-tablets helping to make up most of the inbetween weights. However, this can again be adjusted by the prescribing vet depending on your pet’s age, health conditions, or level of obesity, so you should always go with your prescribing vet’s dose.
Is Rheumocam a painkiller?
Yes, Rhemocam is used as an anti-inflammatory and pain killer.
Can I give my dog Rheumocam without food?
Rheumocam is designed to be given with or after food, and the chance of side effects are increased if it’s taken on an empty stomach. If your pet has no appetite, you should contact your vet for advice, as Rheumocam may no longer be suitable.
Can I give Rheumocam twice a day?
No, Rheumocam is designed to be given once a day. It has a half-life of 24 hours, which means that after 24 hours (one day), half of the first dose is still in your dog’s system. If you give Rheumocam sooner than 24 hours, it could cause an overdose due to the amount of drug still present in your dog’s body.
If your dog appears to be painful as the Rheumocam wears off, you should talk to your vet, who may recommend a different medication or adding in another medication.
Can cats and dogs take Rheumocam long term?
Dogs and cats can take Rheumocam long term, and it has been safely used for many years in both species. In order to keep your pet safe, your vet will need to re-examine your pet periodically in order to re-prescribe the drug. This should include an up-to-date weight measurement, so that the dose can be adjusted if necessary.
Because Rheumocam should be used with care in dogs with kidney and liver disease, and because it can theoretically cause these problems, your vet may recommend periodically checking your dog’s blood for kidney and liver health markers.
What is the difference between Metacam and Rheumocam?
Metacam and Rheumocam are different brand names for the same drug – meloxicam. There are no major differences between the two, it’s just different branding/packaging. Apart from the active ingredients, Metacam and Rheumocam share several ingredients, but there are minor differences.
This is the ingredients list for Metacam
While this is the ingredients list for Rheumocam.
As you can see, Metacam contains Sorbitol, Saccharin sodium and Xylitol (don’t worry, just a tiny amount!) while Rheumocam contains Xanthan gum and Simethicone emulsion instead.
Can I buy Rheumocam over the counter?
Rheumocam is not able to be bought over the counter. Like all pain relief for dogs, Rheumocam is a prescription-only medication and needs prescribing by a vet. Once your vet has prescribed the drug, you can buy it from any pharmacy you like, including online pharmacies.
What are Rheumocam Alternatives?
Rheumocam contains the active ingredient meloxicam, so a direct alternative would be any other meloxicam products for dogs and cats, including:
However, if your pet is struggling with the side effects of Rheumocam, or you don’t think Rheumocam is working, your vet might prescribe a different NSAID, such as:
- Grapiprant (Galliprant)
- Mavacoxib (Troxocil)
- Firocoxib (Previcox)
- Robenacoxib (Onsior)
Your vet might also suggest using other pain-relief drugs for dogs or cats, such as Gabapentin or tramadol (Tralieve, Tramavet) alongside the NSAIDs. If your pet has arthritis, Solensia for cats or Librela for dogs might also be recommended.
There are no Rheumocam alternatives available over-the-counter. All pain relief drugs in dogs are prescription-only medications, which means that your vet will need to prescribe them to you, although you can buy the medication from any pharmacy you like. If you want to use a different drug than Rheumocam, you should book an appointment to discuss your pet’s pain with your vet.
Rheumocam Datasheet
All drugs have a manufacturer’s datasheet, which gives information about the drug’s use and possible side effects. There is usually one in your Rheumocam box, but if you have lost it you can click on the button below to be taken on an online version.
More help for painful pets
If your dog or cat is taking Rheumocam, our vet-written resources can help. We’ll help you understand what your pet’s condition is doing to them, how they’ll change as time goes on, and everything you can do at home to help. The information in our e-learning courses is regularly updated, and we’ll let you know by email if anything major changes.
Please note that the information contained herein is provided for informational purposes only. Although it has been written by a vet, we cannot consider the individual nature of your pet’s problems so it does not constitute veterinary advice. If you have questions about your pet’s medication or their health you should contact a vet, who will be able to help.
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