Pets and safety
Can you give Melonex to a dog or cat?
No, do not give Melonex capsules to a dog, a cat or any other animal. They are a dietary supplement made for adults. The pet drug sold as Melonex in some countries is meloxicam, a prescription NSAID that only a vet should dose. If a pet swallows capsules, call your vet or the ASPCA poison line at 1-888-426-4435.
Written by the Melonex label deskUpdated
Short answer01
Can you give Melonex capsules to a dog or cat?
No, Melonex capsules should never be given to a dog, a cat or any other pet. They are a human dietary supplement, and the label speaks only to people.
The caution on the bottle names pregnant or nursing mothers, children under 18 and adults with a medical condition. It says nothing about animals, and no study has tested the capsules in any animal. So there is no safe pet amount to quote, and we will not invent one.
Many pet searches for "Melonex" are really about a different product: a meloxicam painkiller sold under the same name in parts of South Asia. That drug is covered below, without doses.
This bottle is for people
- 60 capsules of a 500 mg amino acid blend
- Directions written for adults: 1 capsule with 8 oz of water, up to 2 a day
- "Keep out of the reach of children" on the label, and pets belong in the same rule
- No pet dose, no pet version, no vet approval
The vet drug02
What is the pet medicine called Melonex?
The pet medicine sold as Melonex is meloxicam, a prescription NSAID. In the US, the FDA has approved meloxicam for dogs, by mouth and by injection, and for cats only as a one-time injection around surgery (FDA, pain relievers for pets).
Abroad, the Melonex brand of meloxicam shows up as injections, oral suspensions, boluses and syrups. It contains no arginine or citrulline. The capsules contain no meloxicam.
Only a vet should decide whether an animal gets meloxicam, and how much. We publish no amount per kilogram, per day or per animal, and we ask readers not to trust any site that does without a vet in the loop.
| Question | Melonex capsules | Meloxicam (vet drug) |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Amino acid dietary supplement | Prescription NSAID (FDA, pain relievers for pets) |
| Made for | Adult people | Dogs; cats only around surgery |
| Who sets the amount | The label, for people | Your vet, for that animal |
| Cats | Never | One injection at surgery; repeated doses can cause kidney failure and death (FDA, pain relievers for pets) |
| Side effects to watch | Not studied in animals | Vomiting, diarrhea, appetite loss, ulcers, kidney and liver damage (FDA, pain relievers for pets) |
| Doses on this site | None for animals | None. Ask your vet. |
The full comparison of the two products is on Melonex vs meloxicam.
Cats03
Why is meloxicam risky for cats?
Meloxicam is risky for cats because repeated doses can cause kidney failure and death (FDA, pain relievers for pets). That is why the FDA approval for cats covers only one injection given around surgery.
No NSAID is approved for long-term use in cats (FDA, pain relievers for pets). A leftover bottle from a past surgery, or a dog's prescription, is not safe to share with a cat.
Human pain pills are a danger too. The FDA says ibuprofen and naproxen may not be safe for pets, and acetaminophen is fatal to cats (FDA, pain relievers for pets).
Do not give a cat any human pain reliever, any leftover pet NSAID or any supplement capsule. Call your vet, who can weigh the kidney risk for that cat.
Side effects04
What NSAID side effects should pet owners watch for?
The NSAID side effects to watch for in pets are vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, ulcers, and kidney and liver damage, according to the FDA (FDA, pain relievers for pets). If your vet has prescribed meloxicam and you notice any of these, call the vet.
Ask your vet which signs of kidney or liver trouble to look for, and whether follow-up checks make sense for your pet.
Stomach and gut
Vomiting, diarrhea and ulcers are on the FDA list for pet NSAIDs.
Eating
A pet that stops eating while on an NSAID needs a call to the vet.
Kidneys and liver
Damage to these organs is the most serious risk, and cats are the most exposed.
Melonex: from $49 a bottle60 capsules · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 3 or 6 · 60-day guarantee
See packsIf it happens05
What should you do if a pet swallows Melonex capsules?
If a pet swallows Melonex capsules, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 right away (ASPCA, top pet poisons). Do not wait for signs to show up.
Have the bottle in your hand when you call. The label lists the blend and the other ingredients, which is what the vet or the poison center will ask about.
Do only what the vet or the poison center tells you. Do not give the pet another medicine or a home remedy on your own.
Move the pet away
Pick up the bottle and any loose or chewed capsules from the floor.
Count what is missing
A full bottle holds 60. A rough count helps the vet judge the amount.
Call for help
Your vet, or the APCC at 1-888-426-4435 (ASPCA, top pet poisons). Note the pet's weight and the time.
Follow their advice
Watch the pet as told, and go in if the vet asks you to.
Storage06
How should you store Melonex capsules around pets?
Store Melonex capsules closed, up high and out of a pet's reach, in a cool, dry place. The label says to keep the bottle away from heat, light and humidity and out of the reach of children.
Pills are a common pet poison. In 2013, human prescription medicines were the top category of calls to the ASPCA poison center, at 19.8%, led by heart and blood pressure medicines (ASPCA, top pet poisons). Over-the-counter products, supplements among them, ranked third at 14.7%.
The ASPCA advice is simple: keep all medicines out of reach, take pills away from pets, and pick up dropped pills quickly (ASPCA, top pet poisons).
- Take your capsule at a table or counter, not over the floor.
- Put the cap back on before you walk away.
- Do not leave the bottle in a bag a dog can open.
- Keep a pet's prescribed meloxicam apart from your own bottles.
For you07
Can a pet owner still take Melonex themselves?
Yes, an adult pet owner can take Melonex as the label directs: one capsule a day with an 8 oz glass of water, up to two. Owning a pet changes only where you keep the bottle.
The usual human checks still apply. Talk to your doctor first if you take blood pressure medicine or a nitrate, and do not start the capsules after a heart attack (Mayo Clinic, L-arginine).
Do not stop or change any prescription because you started a supplement. The full list of who should ask first is on who Melonex is for, and reactions are covered on side effects.
FAQ08
Pets and Melonex: more questions
Is Melonex safe for dogs?
No safety data exist for Melonex capsules in dogs, so do not give them. The meloxicam drug sold as Melonex abroad is approved for dogs in the US only as a vet prescribes it, and the vet sets every amount (FDA, pain relievers for pets).
Is Melonex safe for cats?
No. The capsules have never been tested in cats. The meloxicam drug is approved for cats only as one injection around surgery, and repeated doses can cause kidney failure and death (FDA, pain relievers for pets). Ask your vet about any cat pain.
Can Melonex be given to birds or rabbits?
Not the capsules. They are for adult people only. We have no source on meloxicam for birds or rabbits, so ask a vet who treats those animals. Never use a dose from a chart meant for another species.
My dog ate a few Melonex capsules. Is that an emergency?
Treat it as one until a vet says otherwise. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 (ASPCA, top pet poisons). Say how many capsules are missing, give the pet's weight, and read them the label. Do not wait for symptoms first.
Is there a Melonex made for pets?
Not from this seller. The capsules sold here are a single human supplement. Products sold as Melonex for animals in other countries are meloxicam, a prescription drug that belongs with your vet. Never swap one for the other.
Should I give my dog a heart supplement instead?
Only if your vet suggests one. Human heart supplements are not made for dogs. A dog's heart needs are judged by a vet who has examined it. Our post on heart supplements for dogs lists what to ask at the visit.
Where is the safest place to keep the bottle?
In a closed cabinet up high, cool and dry, away from heat, light and humidity. Keep the cap on, and pick up any dropped capsule at once, as the ASPCA advises for all pills (ASPCA, top pet poisons).
Who wrote this09
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, AHA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a USA authorized Melonex retailer, not by the manufacturer or the distributor. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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