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My cat had surgery, why no pain meds? Dogs get them, is this normal?
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | 8 months and 27 days old | 1.5 lbs
So I work at a shelter, and wee have a vet here. After spay and neuter surgeries she always sends dogs home with at least 3 to 5 days of pain medication. However gives nothing to the cats except a 24 hr pain injection. In addition, a kitten that she removed the eye on yesterday wasn't set up for pain meds and it cries all day. I can't help but feel like this is wrong but I'm not a vet so I wanted to ask. Is this normal?
1 Answer
Most Helpful Answer
Answered By Laura Johnson VMD
Veterinarian
Published on March 13th, 2018
Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!
There may be reasons, based on health or blood work, why the Vet doesn't send the cats home with pain medications. Cats in general are more sensitive to NSAIDs. They can not metabolize them and can die from improper use. There are drugs like onsior that are approved for cats for 3 days. You can use gabapentin, tramadol and buprenex orally to send home. I tend to NOT send home my cat spays with pain medications, but for an enucleation I would. I think you should calmly and respectfully discuss your concerns for the lack of pain control in cats and see if they will share their reasoning with you. The Vet may not know that some of these cats are indeed very painful, you are their best advocate!
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best!
There may be reasons, based on health or blood work, why the Vet doesn't send the cats home with pain medications. Cats in general are more sensitive to NSAIDs. They can not metabolize them and can die from improper use. There are drugs like onsior that are approved for cats for 3 days. You can use gabapentin, tramadol and buprenex orally to send home. I tend to NOT send home my cat spays with pain medications, but for an enucleation I would. I think you should calmly and respectfully discuss your concerns for the lack of pain control in cats and see if they will share their reasoning with you. The Vet may not know that some of these cats are indeed very painful, you are their best advocate!
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful