Flunixin Meglumine: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Anti-inflammatory

Also known as

Banamine, Resflor Gold

Species with doses

Dogs, Cattle, Horses, Goats, Sheep, Pigs, Birds, Rabbits, Ferrets, Guinea pigs, Reptiles, Chinchillas, Hamsters, Rats, Mice, Gerbils, Sugar gliders and Primates

General dose range

1.1–2.2 mg/kg IV q24h — check the species tables for the indication

Routes

IV, IM, SC

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Equine colic / visceral pain
• Equine musculoskeletal inflammation and pain
• Equine endotoxaemia / laminitis support
• Bovine respiratory disease pyrexia
• Bovine endotoxaemia / acute coliform mastitis
• Swine respiratory disease pyrexia

Flunixin Meglumine dose by species

Doses are per administration unless stated. mg/kg doses scale with body weight; per-animal, per-quarter and infusion-rate doses are shown as the reference writes them.

Dogs

• Surgical pain / antipyretic (short-term only): Plumb's p.540 (Tams 1999; Johnson 1996): surgical pain 1 mg/kg IV/SC/IM once; pyrexia 0.25 mg/kg, may repeat in 12–24 h. Do NOT give after corticosteroids. Not for chronic use — high GI-ulceration risk in dogs.

Cattle

• BRD pyrexia / endotoxaemia (label): Papich 5e and Plumb’s p.540 (Banamine label): 1.1–2.2 mg/kg slowly IV once daily, or divided q12h, for up to 3 days; veal calves 2.2 mg/kg IV. IV only in the USA — IM/SC causes residues and tissue damage. US label withdrawal: meat 4 days, milk 36 h. Transdermal pour-on 3.33 mg/kg once (Papich). Higher analgesic regimens (q6–12h) need a 72 h milk withdrawal (Walz).
• Visceral analgesic: Plumb’s p.540 (Anderson 2006): visceral pain 0.25–1 mg/kg IV q12–24h. Extra-label frequency — obtain a FARAD withdrawal.

Horses

• Musculoskeletal pain / colic: Papich 5e and Plumb’s p.540 (Banamine label): 1.1 mg/kg IV or IM once daily for up to 5 days (paste/granules 1.1 mg/kg PO daily). Medical colic 0.25–1.1 mg/kg IV q8–12h, usually 1.1 mg/kg q12h (Blikslager). May mask signs of surgical colic. ARCI Class 4.
• Endotoxaemia / anti-eicosanoid: Papich 5e and Plumb’s p.540 (Moore 2003): 0.25 mg/kg IV q8h to interrupt eicosanoid production in endotoxaemia (effective even in septic foals).
• Laminitis support: Plumb’s p.540: 0.5–1.1 mg/kg IV or PO q8–12h (Moore); 1.1 mg/kg IV three times daily with hydration, renal and GI monitoring (Belknap).

Goats

• Analgesia: Plumb's p.541 (Snyder 2009): 1–2 mg/kg IV q24h; oral paste 1–4 mg/kg PO once daily. Extra-label — observe FARAD withdrawal.

Sheep

• Analgesia: Plumb's p.541 (Snyder 2009): 1–2 mg/kg IV q24h; oral paste 1–4 mg/kg PO once daily. Extra-label — observe FARAD withdrawal.

Pigs

• Respiratory pyrexia (Banamine-S, IM neck only): Papich 5e and Plumb’s p.540 (Banamine-S label): 2.2 mg/kg IM once, in the neck only, max 10 mL per site. US label slaughter withdrawal 12 days.

Buffalo

No buffalo-specific doses are on file, so buffalo are dosed as cattle.

• BRD pyrexia / endotoxaemia (label): Papich 5e and Plumb’s p.540 (Banamine label): 1.1–2.2 mg/kg slowly IV once daily, or divided q12h, for up to 3 days; veal calves 2.2 mg/kg IV. IV only in the USA — IM/SC causes residues and tissue damage. US label withdrawal: meat 4 days, milk 36 h. Transdermal pour-on 3.33 mg/kg once (Papich). Higher analgesic regimens (q6–12h) need a 72 h milk withdrawal (Walz).
• Visceral analgesic: Plumb’s p.540 (Anderson 2006): visceral pain 0.25–1 mg/kg IV q12–24h. Extra-label frequency — obtain a FARAD withdrawal.

Birds

• Anti-inflammatory analgesic: Plumb's p.541: 1–10 mg/kg IM once daily. WARNING: renal disease and death occur occasionally in psittacines after repeated doses — use lowest effective dose, ensure hydration.

Rabbits

• Pain / inflammation: Plumb's p.541 (Ivey & Morrisey 2000): rabbits 1.1 mg/kg SC, IM or IV q12–24h.

Ferrets

• Pain / inflammation: Plumb's p.540 (Williams 2000): 0.5–2 mg/kg PO or IM once daily.

Guinea pigs

• Pain / inflammation: Plumb's p.541 (Adamcak & Otten 2000): 2.5–5 mg/kg SC q12h.

Reptiles

• Anti-inflammatory (efficacy unproven): Carpenter's 6th ed (Reptile analgesic table): 0.1–0.5 mg/kg IM q12–24h (most species), up to 0.5–2 mg/kg IM; lizards 1–2 mg/kg IM q24h ×2. ⚠ No evidence of analgesic efficacy in reptiles and NSAID nephrotoxicity risk — ensure hydration; use ≤3 days.

Chinchillas

• Pain / inflammation: Plumb's p.541 (Adamcak & Otten 2000): 1–3 mg/kg SC q12h.

Hamsters

• Pain / inflammation: Plumb's p.541: 2.5 mg/kg SC q12–24h.

Rats

• Pain / inflammation: Plumb's p.541: rodents 2.5 mg/kg SC/IM q12h (Huerkamp 1995); 2.5 mg/kg SC q12–24h (Adamcak & Otten 2000).

Mice

• Pain / inflammation: Plumb's p.541: 2.5 mg/kg SC q12–24h.

Gerbils

• Pain / inflammation: Plumb's p.541 (Adamcak & Otten 2000): Gerbils/Mice/Rats/Hamsters 2.5 mg/kg SC q12–24h.

Sugar gliders

• Anti-inflammatory / analgesic: Carpenter Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7-4 (p.500): sugar gliders 1 mg/kg SC/IM q12–24h up to 3 days. Ensure hydration — NSAID nephrotoxicity risk with short courses.

Primates

• Anti-inflammatory / analgesic (New World monkeys): Carpenter Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 13-5 (p.701): New World monkeys 0.5–2 mg/kg SC/IM/IV q12h; rhesus macaques 1 mg/kg IM q12h; monkeys 2 mg/kg IM q12h; prosimians 0.25–0.5 mg/kg SC/IM/IV q24h.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity. Cats: generally contraindicated. Avoid IM in food animals (longer withdrawal, clostridial myonecrosis risk). NEVER intra-arterial. Avoid prolonged use in horses with EGUS.

Species-specific warnings

Horses: IV ONLY — IM or SC injection causes fatal clostridial myositis. Right dorsal colitis with chronic use. Avoid in foals <1 month.

Cattle: Approved for BRD and acute mastitis. US: NOT approved for lactating dairy at the 50 mg/mL labelled dose; extra-label requires FARAD-defined withdrawal. EU: separate label.

Dogs: NOT first-choice — more GI toxicity than COX-2 selective NSAIDs (meloxicam, carprofen, robenacoxib). Reserved for acute visceral pain when other NSAIDs unavailable.

Cats: NOT recommended — cats are highly sensitive to non-selective NSAIDs. Use buprenorphine or robenacoxib instead.

Pigs: Approved at 2.2 mg/kg IM for pyrexia and inflammation associated with swine respiratory disease. Withdrawal 12 d slaughter (US label).

Adverse effects

• Anaphylaxis (rare, especially after rapid IV)
• GI ulceration / oral and gastric ulcers (high dose / prolonged use)
• Renal injury (dehydrated patients)
• Clostridial myonecrosis (IM in cattle)
• Renal ischaemia / nephrotoxicity in birds
• Haematochezia / haematuria (cattle on prolonged use)

Drug interactions

• Other NSAIDs (meloxicam, ketoprofen, phenylbutazone): additive GI ulceration and renal toxicity — DO NOT stack
• Corticosteroids (dexamethasone): synergistic GI ulceration — avoid concurrent
• Aminoglycosides / cyclosporine: additive nephrotoxicity
• Furosemide / loop diuretics: reduced diuretic effect + additive renal risk
• Methotrexate: decreased clearance — toxicity
• Anticoagulants (warfarin, heparin): increased bleeding risk
• ACE inhibitors: blunted antihypertensive effect

Pregnancy and lactation

AVOID in pregnant animals near term — premature closure of fetal ductus arteriosus, delayed parturition (suppresses prostaglandin-driven cervical ripening and uterine contractions). Excreted in milk in low concentrations. Single peri-partum dose for post-calving mastitis / metritis is widely used despite this caution. FDA Category C.

Monitoring

• Hydration status before every dose — never give to dehydrated animals
• Injection site (horses): IV only, never IM — risk of fatal clostridial myositis
• Renal function (BUN, creatinine) before and during prolonged use
• GI signs: anorexia, melaena, colic, weight loss — discontinue at first sign
• Cattle: strict adherence to withdrawal — 4 d slaughter / 36 h milk (US label)
• Horses on chronic use: faecal occult blood; right dorsal colon ultrasound if suspected colitis

Toxicity and overdose

Horses: IM injection causes severe muscle necrosis and clostridial myositis — IV ONLY. Renal papillary necrosis with chronic use or dehydration. GI ulceration (right dorsal colitis in horses is a classic complication). Foals (<1 month): not used — immature renal/hepatic metabolism. Cattle: extra-label use in lactating dairy is FDA-prohibited in the US for the 50 mg/mL injectable.

Management: Decontamination if oral overdose <2 h: induce emesis or gastric lavage, activated charcoal. Aggressive IV fluid diuresis (2× maintenance) for 48–72 h. GI protection: misoprostol (PGE1 analogue) 2–5 µg/kg PO q8h + omeprazole + sucralfate. Monitor renal function (BUN, creatinine), CBC, total protein daily for 5 days. Discontinue any other NSAID / nephrotoxin. Horses with right dorsal colitis: extended rehab, low-residue diet, sucralfate.

Clinical pearls

• Horse colic: 1.1 mg/kg IV slow gives rapid visceral analgesia — but mask of more serious surgical lesions; reassess after 2 h
• Bovine acute coliform mastitis: 2.2 mg/kg IV single dose reduces endotoxaemia, improves recovery — combine with antimicrobial
• Equine endotoxaemia: 0.25 mg/kg IV q8h (low-dose protocol) reduces TXA2/PGE2 with less GI toxicity than standard 1.1 mg/kg
• Post-calving downer cow: 2.2 mg/kg IV single dose to reduce pain and inflammation while diagnosing cause
• Horse IM injection = fatal myositis risk — IV ONLY. Even SC is contraindicated.
• "Banamine paste" is the oral form for horses — 1.1 mg/kg PO q12–24h × up to 5 days

Mechanism of action

Non-selective COX inhibitor (carboxylic acid NSAID, nicotinic acid derivative). Blocks both COX-1 and COX-2, reducing prostaglandin synthesis — anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-endotoxic. Particularly effective against visceral pain (colic, post-partum metritis, mastitis). Anti-endotoxic effects make it the NSAID of choice for bovine acute coliform mastitis and equine endotoxaemia.

Formulations and products

• Banamine injection 50 mg/mL
• Banamine oral paste 1500 mg per 30-g syringe (50 mg/g — Plumb’s p.542; Papich 5e p.382)
• Banamine oral granules 250 mg/sachet
• Unizif injection 50 mg/mL (Intas, 20/50 mL)
• Megludyne injection 50 mg/mL (Virbac, 30 mL)
• Unizif (Intas (Neovet)) — 50 mg/mL, Injection
• Megludyne (Virbac) — 50 mg/mL, Injection
• Sureflunix (Assure Biotech, Jagadhri (HR)) — Flunixin meglumine 83 mg/mL (eq. flunixin 50 mg), Injection
• Sunflu (Assure Biotech, Jagadhri (HR)) — Flunixin meglumine 83 mg/mL (eq. flunixin 50 mg), Injection

Storage

Injectable: 15–30 °C, protect from light. Multidose vial: discard 28 days after broaching. Granules: 15–25 °C, dry. Oral paste: 15–30 °C.

Before you use this dose

Reference doses for veterinary professionals. Confirm the dose against the product label, the patient’s condition, current guidance and local regulations before use; the attending veterinarian remains responsible for every clinical decision.

Other anti-inflammatory drugs

• Dexamethasone
• Diclofenac
• Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)
• Firocoxib
• Grapiprant
• Isoflupredone Acetate
• Ketoprofen
• Mavacoxib

Frequently asked questions