Can I give my senior cat gabapentin and Metacam for pain relief?

Meloxicam can be used in cats but with caution. Giving the wrong dose of meloxicam can be very dangerous for cats. The low dose (0.5 mg/ml) formula can be dosed with the provided syringe. In the cat this product is given either as a single one time injection in association with surgery (its FDA approved use) or long term 2-3 times per week (its non-U.S. dose). Long term use of this product in cats is "off label" in the U.S. In my opinion, there is a specific NSAID made for cats called Onsior that would be safer to give.

Gabapentin and amantadine can be given simultaneously, as there are no interactions between these drugs. They work quite well together to manage cases of neuropathic pain! Make sure to follow the dosing instructions from Kitkat's vet closely. If you are questioning the efficacy of Kitkat's medications, consider discussing alternative medication options with her vet.

If this was prescribed by your vet , then this is the amount of medicine he needs. Gabapentin may make him a bit drowsy in the beginning, but that should subside after about two weeks. Gabapentin is against nerve pain. Tramadol is an opioid which takes some pain as well and Metacam is a non-steroidal antiinflammatory which takes away inflammation and therefore also pain. These medicines are safe, however watch your dog's poo in the first two weeks. If it is black or tarry then stop the Metacam and inform your vet.

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!

Metacam is a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug which is a powerful pain killer. Gabapentin is also a very good pain killer, but it takes time for it to work and it sedates the dog initially. I suggest you call your vet tomorrow and ask him which one he recommends this time, as depending on the type of pain one or the other can be better.

Yes, it is safe to give gabapentin with Metacam and the joint supplement. Gabapentin is a drug that affects the nerves in the brain that are involved with the pain response. It can take up to three weeks before the body is used to the gabapentin and is not affected by drowsiness. The drowsiness is not something you have to worry about, it will go away. Be patient, it will take at least a week , up to three weeks.

Unfortunately we cannot, by law, recommend that you give any medication to poor Oliver that was not personally prescribed by your own veterinarian. Even with that said, Gabapentin is rarely used in cats because we don't have enough clinical evidence to support using it safely in them for analgesic (pain management) purposes. It sounds like Oliver may have suffered a concussion or even has a musculoskeletal injury around his neck area. You can apply a cold compress on the neck area for 5-10 minutes to help with any suspected swelling for now, and then I recommend getting him seen in the morning by your local vet. Your regular vet may not be open on the weekend; however, there are usually some clinics open (like VCA or Banfield) that can help Oliver get examined, tested for internal injury, and treated appropriately with safe medication specific to his particular injury.