My cat has worsening back pain. How to relieve it before his X-ray?

Definitely pursue those x-rays. That is a good idea. I also recommend that you have his blood and urine tested for abnormalities. Drinking excessive amounts of water and urinating excessively can indicate kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, liver disease or diabetes. Blood tests and the urine testing should give you some answers. Try to get these tests done ASAP. At home you can start him on an omega-3 fatty acid supplement, as well as a joint supplement for cats. Both of these will act like natural anti-inflammatories and improve the health of the joints in the spine. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I'm sorry to hear that Elijah is limping and painful! Unfortunately, I don't think it's advisable to give him the Onsior that you have on hand without having first checked his bloodwork to assess his kidney values. Cats are very sensitive to pain medications, particularly NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like Onsior, so they should only be given when specifically prescribed for the incident at hand. Aspirin (like Bufferin) is highly toxic to cats and should not be given under any circumstances. Since he seems so uncomfortable, it would be ideal to take him to an ER this weekend for more urgent evaluation. The ER vet will be able to prescribe pain medication for him. I hope that he feels better soon!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There are medications to help with back pain but none of them are over the counter unfortunately. The one thing you can do at home which is often times the most important component of medical therapy for back pain is rest him. This means limiting Buddy's activity to just walks to go to the bathroom but otherwise to keep him calm. I recommend that you have Buddy evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Your veterinarian can prescribe pain control medications. Good luck and have a good night!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! An orthopedic bed is not likely to help though it is very hard to make any recommendations with the information provided. It really depends on what the source of her condition is. I would highly recommend you check in with your veterinarian if he has not been improving as they would know more about his condition and would be able to make more specific recommendations. General medications for pain include buprenorphine for example. If they think he is painful, they may start him on something like that. Good luck!

Poor Forte! The weight loss and the reluctance to move around, and the apparent sensitivity around his back are all very concerning. If he hasn't had x-rays of his back yet, that might be a good idea. He could have an injury if he fell off something in the house or possibly got hit by a car outside. Another possibility is a disc disease in his spine, but these don't show up well on x-rays. I would definitely take him back to the vet for a recheck and let them know what you noticed about his back. It might be difficult to get a similar reaction at the vet (because cats are usually upset about EVERYTHING at the vet clinic and don't react more when something is sore), but it might give the vet ideas for treatments to try such as pain medication, medication to decrease inflammation, and possibly a muscle relaxer. The best way to check out the spine is an MRI, so that's a possibility for the future if you vet isn't finding other issues. Good luck to you and Forte! I hope he's feeling better very soon. Let me know if this was helpful information and definitely submit another question or set up a consultation if you'd like more information.

Oh my. Ginger could have a lower back injury or even an issue with his prostate. You really need to have him examined by your vet now so that they can palpate his lower back and belly to try and determine the underlying cause here. X-rays may also be needed to make a final diagnosis. The vet can then prescribe pain medication for Ginger to help him get more comfortable. Please don't give him any over the counter human pain medication, as these are all extremely toxic to cats. I do hope that your furry friend Ginger feels better soon! Best of luck and take care.

I would be concerned that Rocket was attacked by another animal, or may have been hit by a car. Sometimes bites from other animals can be hard to find, or injuries from trauma are internal and cannot be seen without tests such as x-rays. It's very concerning he is in a lot of pain, and he needs to see a vet now. He needs pain medications, and he should be evaluated to see what is causing the pain so he can be treated. You cannot give him any OTC human pain medications, as many are toxic to cats and are fatal if given. He absolutely needs veterinary care now, please take him into one immediately.