What to give cats for pain

Are you on the hunt for something you can give your cat to relieve pain?

Whatever you do, don’t go into your own medicine cabinet.While it might seem like a good idea to pop open a pain reliever for your cat, according to Dr. Catherine Lenox, a veterinarian and regulatory veterinary manager at Royal Canin, that’s the last thing you should do. So why can’t you share your go-to pain relievers with your cat? And what can you actually give her to help relieve pain? Read on to find out.

Can cans have human pain medicine?

“Even though your cat may be showing signs of pain, do not ever give your cat human pain relievers,” Dr. Lenox told The Dodo.

This list of toxic human pain relievers for cats includes any and all medications that are commonly available over the counter for us, like Tylenol, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like Advil and Aleve.

Why is Tylenol dangerous for cats?

Tylenol, an acetaminophen, can cause severe anemia in cats, Dr. Lenox warned. Even giving your cat one tablet can have enough acetaminophen in it to be fatal.

Why are NSAIDs dangerous for cats?

According to Dr. Lenox, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like Advil and Aleve, can cause life-threatening medical issues, like:

• Liver failure
• Kidney failure
• Gastrointestinal bleeding

“I cannot stress enough to NEVER give these medications to cats, as some of their complications can be fatal or cause lifelong health problems,” Dr. Lenox said.

What can I give my cat for pain?

If your cat seems like she’s in pain, the best option is to call or make an appointment to see your veterinarian so they can diagnose (and possibly treat) any underlying issues as well as prescribe prescription pain medication.

“If the pain is a new problem, it’s important to see what’s causing it and if it can be localized to a body part, like your cat’s abdomen, back or one of the legs,” Dr. Lenox said. “Depending on where the pain is, it will be managed differently.”

Once your cat’s evaluated, your vet will recommend something to address your cat’s exact problem that’s causing pain.

“Luckily, there are some veterinary medications (like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids) if your cat is showing signs of pain, so your vet can prescribe medications at the visit to help your cat feel better,” Dr. Lenox said.

How else can I help a cat in pain?

If your cat’s pain is a symptom of being diagnosed with arthritis, there are other ways to help relieve pain.

Controlling her weight

Getting your cat's diet under control can be beneficial when treating pain due to arthritis.
“If your cat is overweight, getting them down to an ideal weight may help reduce the stress on the joints and help your cat feel more comfortable,” Dr. Lenox said.

Physical therapy, acupuncture and supplements

According to Dr. Lenox, these methods aren’t used as much as diet changes and medications, but they can still be beneficial for cats with arthritis.

“Physical therapy and rehab are not for every cat, but these modalities might be beneficial depending on the location of your cat’s pain and your cat’s attitude about treatment,” Dr. Lenox said. “There are also certified veterinary acupuncturists, and acupuncture does help some cats with arthritis and muscle weakness.”

For supplements, Dr. Lenox suggested that omega-3 fatty acids or other joint supplements might be beneficial for your cat.

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“Ask your veterinarian about what might be helpful for your cat, and your vet may be able to recommend a specialist in sports medicine and rehabilitation or a certified veterinary acupuncturist if those services aren’t offered with your usual veterinary hospital,” Dr. Lenox said.

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Cats being cats, when they hurt because of illness or injuries, their instincts cause them to mask their pain. This natural behavior creates a problem when the animal has a serious condition that should receive veterinary attention, but instead goes unchecked.

To maintain the health of their pet, it is important that clients be vigilant in watching for signs that their animal is experiencing discomfort. Veterinarians educate clients when they explain the feline’s natural tendency to hide their pain, and when they provide observable tips that could signal the start of a problem.
Signs that indicate a cat is in pain may include:

• Behavioral changes
  • Increased vocalization
  • Acting agitated by biting or slapping
  • Withdrawal from play activities
  • Excessive sleeping
  • Loss of interest in being handled, cuddled, picked up
  • Aggression when handled
  • Acting depressed, hiding, or disappearing for long lengths of time
  • Changes in grooming habits
    • Decreased grooming, hair matts
    • Increased grooming in a specific area, pulling out hair
  • Subtle changes in personality
• Physical changes
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Shallow breathing
  • Trembling
  • Increase in blood pressure
  • Increased heart rate
  • Limb stiffness or limping

Veterinarians and Cats

Hiding their pain also makes it difficult for the veterinarian to diagnose the cause of the animal’s discomfort. A cat can encounter many causes for pain, for example:

• Trauma
• Injury
• Poison
• Recovering from medical treatment or surgery
• Dental infections
• Degenerative disease
• Urinary tract diseases
• Ear infections
• Systemic infections
• Cancer
• Age
• Arthritis

Medicine to Manage Pain in Cats

Determining the cause to alleviate the pain is imperative to helping the animal feel better. However, in cats, pain management does not always have a straightforward approach. While there are many ways for a veterinarian to medically manage animal pain, unfortunately, there are fewer options for cats than there are for dogs.
Pain relief medications that can be used on cats include:

• Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Used to treat mild to moderate pain
  • Provide analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic help
  • However, caution must be shown when used with cats
    • Recommended only for short-term use
    • NSAIDs can cause liver, kidney, stomach, intestinal problems
      • For example, acetaminophen is toxic to cats and can be fatal
• Opioids
  • Used to treat cats with severe pain, for example:
    • Following surgery
    • Advanced cancer
    • Severe arthritis
  • Certain opioids are considered to have few side effects than others
  • Felt to offer quality of life for cats with severe chronic pain
• Corticosteroids
  • Used to treat cats with anti-inflammatory needs, for example:
    • Arthritis pain
    • Allergic discomfort
  • Caution must be shown when used with cats
    • Potential long-term side effects

Alternative Therapies for Managing Pain in Cats

Two types of alternatives methods for managing feline pain include:

• Acupuncture
  • Considered a natural, non-invasive therapy that acts as an aid to stimulate the body to repair itself.
  • Therapy typically requires a series of treatments and should not be considered to be a quick fix.
  • Outcome usually recommends a series of treatments before animal can return to its original pain-free state.
  • Has been proven to help animals with conditions such as:
    • Traumatic nerve injuries
    • Arthritis
    • Seizures and epilepsy
    • Immune function
    • Systemic inflammatory conditions
    • Degenerative joint disease
    • Cancer, to provide pain relief and aid fatigue
    • Cancer, to alleviate gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting, nausea, inappetence
• Prolotherapy
  • Type of holistic rehabilitative therapy, also referred to as non-surgical ligament reconstruction
  • Therapy has been used in human rehabilitative medicine with minimal side effects.
  • Involves a series of injections that are a mixture of medicines that work to:
    • Relieve pain
    • Reconstruct and regenerate ligaments and tendons
    • Speed healing
  • Injections are inserted into the area where ligament or tendon attaches to the bone, increasing the blood supply which stimulates the repair of the tissues and provides pain relief.
  • Therapy has been shown to reduce pain in animals diagnosed with medical issues such as:
    • Ligament, tendon, and/or cartilage damage
    • Joint degeneration
    • Arthritis
    • Degenerated or herniated spinal discs

Looking for additional information for treating cats? Call 855.724.3461 to talk to your Covetrus representative today. 

http://www.aahc.us/holistic-medicine/prolotherapy.html

http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.aava.org/resource/resmgr/AAVA_Acupuncture_brochure.pdf

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/02/03/how-to-know-if-your-cat-is-in-pain-and-what-to-do-about-it.aspx

http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/pain-management-for-cats/6584

http://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/Guidelines%20for%20the%20Long%20Term%20Use%20of%20NSAIDS%20in%20Cats_0.pdf