Safe pain relief for senior cat with joint issues and heart risk?

Hello, and thank you for your question. It is great to hear that Ace is doing well! It is true that gabapentin is metabolized in the kidneys. If he is doing well on it, though, it would be reasonable to use as long as it is tapered to the lowest effective dose. I would also make sure that his kidney values are monitored regularly, ideally every 3-6 months. A narcotic is also a reasonable choice but can sometimes cause mild sedation. Ultimately what it comes down to is Ace's quality of life, and ensuring that he is comfortable and happy. I hope this helps, and that Ace continues to do well!

Cats are very sensitive to pain medication so only use it if it’s been prescribed by your veterinarian. Giving omega 3 supplementation wiill help reduce the pain and inflammation from arthritis. Switching to Hills J/D diet, a prescription cat diet formulated for cats with arthritis helps also. In addition I find massage, laser and acupuncture to be effective for pain relief without medication. Also CBD oil can reduce arthritis pain. Please use a veterinary brand that has been tested and is correctly dosed for cats. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Anabel.

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!

Hi. Poor buster. If all those tests were normal, I would recommend radiographs to look at the bones, also consider a referral to neurologist. If it isn't orthopedic, it could be neurological in which the nerves that control the movement and signals aren't working appropriately. I would discuss this with your veterinarian.

I am very sorry to hear about your kitty! We do sometimes resort to steroids in cases where quality of life is suffering but try to avoid when possible. I would ask your vet about starting a glucosamine chondroutin joint supplement and starting Adequan injections. These can help many of these cases be more comfortable with no ill effects.

Hello. There are many wonderful medication availably to make Sassy much more comfortable in her older years. You can start with a good glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate supplement ( I like Dasuquin by Nutramax ). Then, you can visit with your vet about some of the amazing medications we have to keep our elderly pets so much more comfortable, like NSAIDS ( Previcox, Rimadyl, Deramax, Meloxicam, Galliprant ) to which we can add additional medications such as Gabapentin, if necessary. In addition, adding Adequan injections may actually lower the amount of medications that Sassy might need to keep her comfortable. We have so many safe medications available, but they do need some monitoring. I hope you can talk to your vet soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

You should get glucosamine and SAMe tablets - they are natural supplements with scientific proof that they do something good for the joints. You should be able to get these products over-the-counter at pet shops or at the vets.