My cat is sick and in pain. What can I give her for pain and appetite?

Mirtazipine usually only stays in their system for 24-72 hours dependent on how high the dose was. If he was being dosed daily it likely was a small dose and will only be effective for approximately 24-36 hours. I would talk to your vet about continuing it. If they haven’t figured it why he isn't eating, then they may recommend additional diagnostics like blood work or X-rays. If you already know then you can continue mirtazipine longer until he is feeling better. And yes, he may have developed a preference for the tuna juice. You can continue to add tha to his other food. I hope this helps.

Mirtazapine does have a side effect of drowsiness or sedation in pets. It is commonly used in cats as an appetite stimulant. 30mg would be 4 times higher than I normally use, and this overdosage can cause: 57% vocalizing, 38% agitated, 23% vomiting, 21% tachycardic, 15% ataxic and 11% lethargic. The symptoms can last a little longer than 72 hours. As long as Dolly is still eating and drinking normally, I would continue to watch her. If the she is still not completely normal in a day or two, she may need a checkup with a vet.

Good morning. I'm so sorry to hear about Mimi. If you have seen a veterinarian recently then I would reach out to them for some pain management. Hopefully they will prescribe something for you over the phone since they are aware of her condition. There are not really any safe over the counter pain medications for cats. Also, you may want to discuss with your veterinarian their process for euthanasia. It's not always pleasant to talk about, but having a plan and knowing what to expect is usually very helpful when the time comes. I'm so sorry Mimi is sick, and I wish you both the best.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear Katniss has been ill. Cerenia is an anti-nausea medication. Animals with vestibular disease often feel "motion sick" - having something similar to vertigo. So this is great for that. It also helps settle the stomach which helps with appetite. Mirtazapine is a true appetite stimulant. Even with both of these, the balance apparatus is very mad and so falling over may still happen. I recommend bringing slightly warmed wet food to his face a few times daily to encourage eating. If no improvement in the vestibular signs within a week, I recommend a CT scan of the head to look for inner ear infection or, heaven forbid, a tumor. Vaseline is ok for paw pads, though olive oil or coconut oil is even better. To be honest, most cracked paw pads are not painful and do not need treatment. I'd recommend an over the counter laxatone product for the hair balls, along with frequent brushing. Omega 3 fatty acid supplements can help with the dandruff. Best wishes to you and Katniss.

Poor guy. Morphine wouldn't cause lack of appetite nor would it cause worsening of his debilitation. It is likely it isn't enough therapy to overcome the advanced stages of his osteoarthritis. Especially since morphine is strictly a pain management medication and doesn't help with inflammation, joint fluid, or cartilage repair. He likely would benefit from more advanced therapy such as Adequan (GAG) injections, joint supplements (Dasuquin) or even physical therapy sessions can help provide him more mobility. His lack of appetite is quite worrisome however and I would highly recommend getting his kidney values rechecked to make sure he doesn't need further treatment to stabilize him first. Because the inability to move could also be caused by generalized weakness due to his underlying kidney condition.

Mirtazipine can cause serotonin syndrome which is characterized by hyperactivity, muscle tremors, vocalization and behavior changes. This is more likely at high doses but has been reported to occur at typical doses as well. It is cleared through the kidneys so a dose reduction is typically recommended for cats with decreased kidney function. Megacolon should not be a concern.

Unfortunately, there aren't any over the counter medications that are safe for pain in cats. Even Tylenol could be deadly. My concern is that this may not be arthritis. Arthritis can be hard to diagnose in cats, and is often underdiagnosed, because they are so good at hiding the symptoms. Other disease processes, like kidney disease, liver disease, or masses in the abdomen can also cause similar symptoms. I would recommend saving up some money to have Lil Miss examined by a vet.