FOI release

FOI2026/00380 – Adverse events numbers for specific products

Published 22 May 2026

Your request

Please could you provide me with the numbers and types / severity of adverse events recorded for:
Rimadyl 50 mg/ml Injectable for Small Animals - Carprofen
Meloxicam 2 mg/ml Injectable for Cats - Meloxicam
Meloxicam 5 mg/ml Injectable for Dogs and Cats - Meloxicam.

Our reply

Rimadyl Small Animal Solution for Injection 50 mg/ml is a veterinary medicinal product (VMP) used to relieve pain and inflammation in cats and dogs during recovery from orthopaedic and soft tissue surgeries. This medication contains the active ingredient Carprofen.

Meloxicam is an active substance used to treat pain and inflammation in animals. It is present in several VMPs in different pharmaceutical forms. As an injectable for use in cats, it is presented as a 2 mg/ml solution for injection and for dogs and cats, it is presented as a 5 mg/ml solution for injection.

Please be aware the data provided below are not subject to independent verification and the VMD does not guarantee their accuracy. The figures are based on adverse events submitted to the VMD for the purposes of pharmacovigilance.   

We have included all adverse event reports. This includes: 

• where an adverse event has occurred that is already listed on the Summary of Product Characteristics 

• where more than one product was used. There may have been prior exposure to the reported product or to other products, and other products may have been administered at the same time. 

• when the product was used off-label, that is using a medicine in a way that is not specified on the product’s label, including prescribing of unauthorised medicines following the prescribing cascade 

• where, on further evaluation, there were other reasons for the adverse event occurring such as underlying illnesses or an alternative cause for the clinical signs seen. 
• Duplicate cases are combined, however if there is doubt as to whether two cases are true duplicates then both cases will be included. VMD databases change over time as new and follow-up information is constantly being received and reviewed. 
• Evaluation is dependent on the accuracy and quality of data received from veterinary professionals and animal owners, and reporting frequency can vary over time (reporting frequency may be affected by a product being new to the market or social media interest, for example).  

We have provided you with the total number of adverse event reports in animals for Rimadyl Small Animal Injection 50 mg/ml and for products in the form of a solution for injection containing Meloxicam at 5 mg/ml for use in cats and dogs and Meloxicam at 2 mg/ml for use in cats in Great Britain from the date of initial authorisation until 26th February 2026. We have excluded adverse event reports related to human exposure.  

All adverse events submitted to the VMD have their clinical signs coded using the Veterinary Dictionary for Drug Regulatory Activities (VeDDRA). We are able to provide the number of reports coded to system organ class (SOC) which is one of the hierarchical levels of VeDDRA. Further information regarding VeDDRA can be located on the European Medicines Agency website, including the VeDDRA list of clinical terms for reporting suspected adverse events and the Guidance notes on the use of VeDDRA terminology. 

Please be aware that some adverse event reports included in the data below may involve more than one animal. 

Rimadyl Small Animal Solution for Injection 50 mg/ml

SOC term	Total
Application site disorders	41
Behavioural disorders	15
Blood and lymphatic system disorders	19
Cardio-vascular system disorders	38
Digestive tract disorders	209
Ear and labyrinth disorders	8
Endocrine system disorders	4
Eye disorders	12
Hepato-biliary disorders	23
Immune system disorders	33
Investigations	134
Medication and product use errors	3
Musculoskeletal disorders	15
Neoplasia	7
Neurological disorders	73
Renal and urinary disorders	78
Reproductive system disorders	5
Respiratory tract disorders	39
Skin and appendages disorders	23
Systemic disorders	295

We have also provided the number of reports classified as serious and non-serious. Seriousness categories are based on the definition of a serious adverse event as per VICH guideline 24 (Guidelines vichsec): “any adverse event which results in death, is life-threatening, results in persistent or significant disability/incapacity, or a congenital anomaly or birth defect. For animals managed as a group only an increased incidence of serious adverse events as defined above exceeding the rates normally expected in that particular group is considered a serious adverse event.”

Severity of Adverse events recorded

Severity	Number of cases
Serious	246
Non-serious	189
Total number of cases	435

Meloxicam (active) Solution for Injection 2 mg/ml for cats

SOC term	Total
Application site disorders	40
Behavioural disorders	104
Blood and lymphatic system disorders	13
Cardio-vascular system disorders	62
Digestive tract disorders	203
Ear and labyrinth disorders	12
Endocrine system disorders	11
Eye disorders	41
Hepato-biliary disorders	9
Immune system disorders	24
Investigations	196
Mammary gland disorders	1
Medication and product use errors	17
Metabolism and nutrition disorders	5
Musculoskeletal disorders	53
Neoplasia	5
Neurological disorders	117
Other event	1
Product defects	1
Renal and urinary disorders	87
Reproductive system disorders	2
Respiratory tract disorders	86
Skin and appendages disorders	40
Systemic disorders	378

Severity of Adverse events recorded

Severity	Number of cases
Serious	285
Non-serious	269
Total number of cases	554

Meloxicam (active) Solution for Injection 5 mg/ml for cats and dogs

SOC term	Total
Application site disorders	117
Behavioural disorders	189
Blood and lymphatic system disorders	58
Cardio-vascular system disorders	266
Digestive tract disorders	1235
Ear and labyrinth disorders	42
Endocrine system disorders	15
Eye disorders	73
Hepato-biliary disorders	44
Immune system disorders	117
Investigations	727
Mammary gland disorders	7
Medication and product use errors	165
Metabolism and nutrition disorders	12
Musculoskeletal disorders	94
Neoplasia	13
Neurological disorders	307
No signs	3
Other event	3
Renal and urinary disorders	328
Reproductive system disorders	39
Respiratory tract disorders	245
Skin and appendages disorders	152
Systemic disorders	1326

Severity of Adverse events recorded

Severity	Number of cases
Serious	1093
Non-serious	1029
Total number of cases	2122