My senior cat has a torn ligament. Are there OTC pain relief?

Poor Sagan! I'm glad to hear that he's bearing weight on his right front leg. Since he's a young and presumably active cat, limping occurs most commonly from injuries. As you'd mentioned, it's possible that he has a soft tissue injury of the muscles, tendons or ligaments, or a fracture. Unfortunately, there are no safe over the counter pain medications for cats, as all cause serious toxic side effects. It would be ideal for Sagan to go to his vet for an exam. The vet may recommend x-rays right away, or may offer a trial of prescription pain medications and rest. If you aren't able to take him to a vet right away, then be sure to restrict his activity to a dog crate or small room where he is unable to run, jump or play for a few days. (Easier said than done, I realize.) If this is a mild soft tissue injury, he may just need some time to rest and heal. If the limping continues or worsens, then he will certainly need veterinary attention. I hope this helps and that Sagan is on the mend soon!

I hate to hear that about Blaire. I am concerned that you mention extreme pain. While cruciate ligament tears are painful, most cats limp and are somewhat uncomfortable but are generally not described as being in extreme pain. I do not have any more information about Blaire so I will discuss some general things. Things that do cause extreme pain are blood clots blocking the blood flow to one or multiple legs. A urethral blockage will also cause extreme pain. Both of these conditions are emergencies and can be fatal if left untreated. That being said, other things can cause extreme pain as well. Each pet also has varying degrees of pain tolerance and some are more stoic thank others. If Blaire is really uncomfortable, I would recommend to have Blaire examined by a veterinarian asap to make sure there is nothing more sinister happening. Cats do not tolerate human pain medications so there’s nothing safe over the counter to give him that would be effective. The veterinarian may be able to give Blaine pain killers to make him hurt less and that are less likely to damage his organs. For a knee injury in general, gentle massage, a cool compress (not too cold) and keep Blaine from walking around or jumping tend to make them feel better. Omega 3 Fatty acid supplements also help to naturally decrease inflammation and they could help as well. I do hope this helps and I hope he feels better quickly!

I am so sorry Mazzy isn't feeling well. There is nothing over the counter that you can give her- she is too small and nothing is safe for cats. There is also limited medications in veterinary medicine for cats. I would recommend keeping her confined with her litter box and food in a small crate or bathroom, so she doesn't re-injure herself. She does need to see a vet to rule out a fracture or dislocation. They will be able to prescribe something safe for pain for her. Good luck and kisses to Mazzy!

I am sorry but we at Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach are unable to prescribe or recommended medications, this can only be done by your treating vet who knows and has recently examined your pets. Rest and confinement will help prevent further injury but I strongly recommend a full physical exam to determine the type of injury and the options to manage it and reduce pain

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Kitty! Sadly all you can do at home is rest him (not running, jumping, keep indoors). Cats can not tolerate human pain medications (deadly to cats). Sometimes rest alone can really help a strain or sprain. You can start feline Dasuquin or Cosequin which is a joint supplement for arthritis. It is best to have Kitty evaluated by a Vet as soon as you are able. There are approved pain medications for cats but they are prescription only. Possible causes are: infection or abscess (especially if he goes outside), arthritis, strain or sprain, fracture, immune joint disease, cancer. I wish Kitty a speedy recovery!

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!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. You can give Blackie maximum of 2 days with rest indoor and oral administration of buprenorphine. If it is only muscle or joint pain, he should be much better by Sunday. If there is no improvement in 2 days time, you should get Blackie seen at your local vets, possibly to x-ray the leg. Also, transmucosal buprenorphine lasts about 6-8 hrs in cats. You can increase the dose to 0.2ml 3 times a day.