Key Takeaways: Quick Answers About Gabapentin for Cats π. What is gabapentin used for in cats? Pain relief, anxiety reduction, and seizure control. What is the standard dosage? π 5-40 mg/kg depending on the condition. Can gabapentin cause side effects? π¨ Yes, sedation and ataxia are common but mild. Is it safe for long-term use? For Gabapentin to remain safe, the dose for cats will usually not exceed 50β100 mg per animal. The dosage varies depending on the condition, and generally is in the range of 5-10 mg/kg, or 2.5-5 Some cats will need the injectable sedation in addition to gabapentin, and this is okay. Downingβs preferred protocol is acepromazine (1 mg/mL at 0.02 mg/kg), hydromorphone (2 mg/mL at 0.05 mg/kg), and midazolam (5 mg/mL at 1/4 of the normal anesthetic induction dose) given subcutaneously 15 minutes prior to the appointment. Learn how to use gabapentin for cats safely and effectively for seizures, pain and sedation. Find out the recommended dosage by weight, available forms, side effects and precautions. In cats, single-dose gabapentin (50-100 mg/cat) may result in decreased stress, but not necessarily sedation, 2 to 3 hours after oral administration. Gabapentin may be safely administered before anesthesia and routine surgery in healthy patients older than 4 months. Give oral anxiolytic at home 2-3 hours prior to visit. Options: Gabapentin 20 mg/kg PO 2 - 3 hours prior to leaving home. Trazodone approx. 10 mg/kg PO 2 hours prior to leaving home. Liquid preparations can facilitate administration of the medication and accuracy of dosing. Gabapentin may be given with or without food. If a dose is skipped, do not double up on the next dose; however, if you are unsure if a dose was accepted, the only consequence of dosing extra will likely be sedation and incoordination, manageable with confining your pet safely in their crate or pet-proof area of a room, etc. This study set out to investigate the effect of giving a single dose of gabapentin for fear-based aggressive behaviors in cats during veterinary visits. The researchers compared a dose of either 100 or 200 mg/cat to placebo capsules 2 hours prior to the vet visit. Correlations between favorable outcomes were measured based on compliance scores. Gabapentin (50 β 100 mg per cat or 150 mg if big cat, PO, 2 β 3 hours before arrival) β’ Sprinkle the gabapentin powder on 1 TBS wet food and add flavor enhancer (eg, FortiFlora, tuna juice, etc). RESULTS Owner-assessed cat stress scores during transportation and veterinary examination and veterinarian-assessed compliance scores were significantly lower when cats received gabapentin than when they received the placebo. Sedation was a common effect of gabapentin administration, and ataxia, hypersalivation, and vomiting were also reported. cats (gabapentin for analgesia in cats = 5 β 10 mg/kg or 25 β 50 mg per cat, PO, BID) The use of pre-hospital gabapentin has been the single most effective tool for reducing fear and anxiety in healthy cats that I and many clinicians have used. Gabapentin 50β150 mg/cat PO, 20β40 mg/kg PO (dog) 2β3 hr before visit Use label dose for patient size** Light sedation Opioid Butorphanol 0.2β0.4 mg/kg IV/IM NB: The sedative dose (>20 mg/kg) is higher than the analgesic dose of gabapentin in cats (gabapentin for analgesia in cats = 5 β 10 mg/kg or 25 β 50 mg per cat, PO, BID) The use of pre-hospital gabapentin has been the single most effective tool for reducing fear and anxiety in healthy cats that I and many clinicians have used. Dose for petite or geriatric cats: reduce dose to 50 mg per cat NB: The sedative dose (>20 mg/kg) is higher than the analgesic dose of gabapentin in cats (gabapentin for analgesia in cats = 5 β 10 mg/kg or 25 β 50 mg per cat, PO, BID) The use of pre-hospital gabapentin has been the single most effective tool for Gabapentin Dosage for Cats. The dosage for gabapentin may vary depending on a catβs size, as well as whether itβs being used as a pain medication, as part of seizure management, or as a sedative before vet visits or travel.
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