Drug profile

The FDA adverse-event record for Metacam

105 adverse-event reports submitted to the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine reference Metacam. See the species affected, top reactions, and outcomes below.

105
adverse-event reports
26.7%
death-coded share
Dog
most-reported species
16
Death by euthanasia - top reaction
Verify with FDA CVM →
Important: Adverse event reports do not establish that a drug caused or contributed to the event. Consult your veterinarian before making treatment decisions.
105
Total Reports
28
Deaths Reported
26.7%
Death Rate

Active Ingredients

Metacam

Administration Routes

UnknownOralSubcutaneousIntramuscular

Species Affected

Dog 81
Cat 23
Rabbit 1

Most Affected Breeds

Domestic Shorthair 13
Chihuahua 9
Retriever - Labrador 6
Shepherd Dog - German 5
Terrier (unspecified) 5
Retriever - Golden 4
Spitz - German Pomeranian 4
Dachshund - Miniature 3
Shepherd Dog - Australian 3
Cat (other) 3

Most Reported Reactions

Death by euthanasia 16
Vomiting 12
Lack of efficacy - NOS 12
Death 12
Ataxia 11
Decreased appetite 9
Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in Neurological) 9
Weight loss 8
Diarrhoea 8
Polydipsia 7
Panting 7
Not eating 7

Outcome Breakdown

Ongoing
47 (44.8%)
Recovered/Normal
17 (16.2%)
Euthanized
16 (15.2%)
Outcome Unknown
12 (11.4%)
Died
12 (11.4%)
Recovered with Sequela
1 (1.0%)

Metacam Adverse Event Insights

105 reports name Metacam; 28 recorded a death outcome (26.7% of reported events, not a population-level mortality rate). Active ingredient: Metacam. Administration routes: Unknown, Oral, Subcutaneous, Intramuscular.

By species: Dog (81 reports), Cat (23 reports), Rabbit (1 reports). By breed: Domestic Shorthair (13), Chihuahua (9), Retriever - Labrador (6).

Leading clinical signs: Death by euthanasia (16), Vomiting (12), Lack of efficacy - NOS (12), Death (12). Outcome, 105 coded reports: Ongoing leads at 44.8%.

Read these counts as reporting volume, not risk: per our methodology, a widely-prescribed drug will rack up more raw FDA reports in a given year than a rarely-used one at an identical true rate, so we recommend comparing within similar-exposure products rather than across the full 2025 catalog.

Source: FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine openFDA Animal & Veterinary Adverse Events (CVM AER) · 2025

Every figure on PlainBreed is rendered directly from FDA openFDA adverse event data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on FDA openFDA data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.