Cat Arthritis Pain Relief Medication

Opioids will likely need to be injected.

Cat arthritis pain relief medication.

Veterinarians often prescribe a variety of medications to treat arthritis but these often aren t well tolerated by cats. Veterinarians will occasionally prescribe the forms of nsaids that are formulated for people such as aspirin and ibuprofen for specific conditions but you should never give them to your cat for pain relief without veterinary guidance. It comes in a specific cat formula that is easy to give. Options they may recommend include.

It should always be given with or after food just as you shouldn t take aspirin on an empty stomach because this risks gastric ulceration. Cats are extremely sensitive to the side effects of nsaids. Treatment for arthritis in cats. Nsaids are usually the first line of defense.

Non steroidal anti inflammatories help reduce pain and inflammation. Side effects of nsaids include vomiting diarrhea and loss of appetite. This type of medication is often given every day. Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs nsaids when used carefully neuromodulating drugs like gabapentin.

Common examples of this are codeine or morphine. Although fairly uncommon in felines arthritis tends to affect the elbow joint when it does strike but many joints can be afflicted. Several classes and types of prescription medications can ease a cat s pain. Arthritis also known as osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease causes pain and inflammation in a cat s joints.

Meloxicam is currently the only licensed pain relief medication for long term use in cats. Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs nsaids are sometimes prescribed for feline arthritis which is similar to how the condition is treated in humans. These include nonsteroidal anti inflammatory medications acetaminophen and aspirin as well as anti inflammatory medications like corticosteroids. For more severe pain opioids might be prescribed such as tramadol ultram conzip oxycodone oxycontin roxicodone others or hydrocodone hysingla zohydro er.

Your vet will help you to decide on the best treatment for your cat. This means that your cat will need to regularly attend a clinic. These medications help reduce pain but have no effect on inflammation. Your vet may prescribe the.

The fda hasn t approved any nsaids for long term pain management but certain ones are cleared for short term use in cats.